VALENTINA
I don’t know for how long I cried and tried to pull myself out of the effect of that nightmare, memories.
I lost track of time and my brain also gave up on me, sending me into a deep slumber where memories once again came back to haunt me.
I wasn’t dreaming about these memories for so long, but now I think I am starting to fall into the abyss of PTSD once more.
The time when I wake up, I find myself on the bed and alone in the room. My puffy eyes search the room, recalling what had happened earlier.
Inhaling deeply, I ignore the ache I feel in my head, throat and heart.
I can’t believe I held him and cried like a clueless child. He could be laughing at me for all I know.
‘ It’s alright. It was just a nightmare. ’ His deep voice whispers in my ears, making me gulp my saliva.
He comforted me even if it felt like he didn
MATTEO Valentina was going to ruin the whole thing for me by telling Caelum that she had already revealed many things to me. I got here in time. I should Thank the Devil because God is never on my side. “ Get the fuck out. ” I stand in front of Valentina, hiding her from Caelum unconsciously as I hiss at him. “ Why are you getting so angry? I came because you asked me to come. ” He shrugs his shoulders, making me grit my teeth. If my goal was not stopping me, I would have shown this bastard how getting on my nerves can affect him. “ This is my job, Caelum. Don’t fuck with me. Get out of here. ” I stand tall, my eyes drilling holes in Caelum’s head. His eyes squint, making my jaw tick. The asshole is really suspicious about me and he wants to poke his nose in my business…This won’t end good for him if he continues getting his ass in my way. “ Relax. I was just having a harmless conversation with… ” He le
VALENTINA“ Thanks…for uh - last night and I am sorry…I didn’t want to wake you up. ” I whisper in a timid voice, forgetting about what just happened for a brief moment.His wrist is in my hand and the warmth radiating off his skin is seeping through mine. My fingertips are tingling and itching to be dragged over his skin which feels a little rough against my soft skin.This is a different kind of feeling, nothing like the disgust I felt whenever any man in my life touched me.Agent Vitali turns around to face me all of a sudden. His coal globes lift to mine and I cease breathing for a mere second.“ You can wake me up every night if you want. I won’t refuse to come. ” He replies seductively, the killer tempting smile lazily stretching across his thick lips.There is a hidden meaning behind his words this time and for once, I think it’s more than just a dirty offer. It&rs
VALENTINAMy smile falls off my lips after a while and I make my way to my bed.What am I thinking? I think, sitting down on the bed.Did Agent Vitali really manage to get my mind off the main topic? We were talking about Caelum.Caelum said that I haven’t told anything to Agent Vitali when I have already told him many things. What’s happening? I don’t understand.As I think about it too deeply, I can only think of two reasons for Caelum to be behaving this way.Number One. Caelum and Agent Vitali are playing games with me so they can confuse me and eventually make me talk about all the other things that I know.And Number Two. Agent Vitali kept all the information to himself instead of reporting it to the Agency.The second option is absurd. Agent Vitali works for the Agency…Why would he hold off information?I shake my head to my
VALENTINASuch a tempting offer. As usual.Just stay put and everything will be over soon, he says. I can’t tell what the hidden meaning behind this offer is.“ Okay. ” I nod my head in a trance.He watches me until I leave the bedsheets and place my hands in my lap. I realise how hot my face is and it must be turning red, giving away every emotion he made me feel just now.“ Good. ” He smiles lazily and gets up from the bed before walking out of the room that I call mine, temporarily.Just as he leaves, I take in huge intake of air. Then, I release the breath through my nose slowly.Something is wrong with him and it’s confirmed now. Everyone is playing their own games here and they all have their own goals to achieve just like me.What do I want in all this madness going around me? I have to make it clear to myself.Agent Vitali made my heart flutter today. Even if I
VALENTINA“ I want to go outside. ” I let out and his eyes narrow down, observing me, wanting to know my reason behind this demand.“ What are you planning? ” He asks, just like I expected.“ I have lived in a cage my whole life, Agent Vitali. I want to see the outside world. ” I gulp and reply, my eyes still staring in his.It’s not completely a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either.His grip on my waist and then hair loosens up. In his eyes, I see a unique emotion which can easily pass as pity.My gut twists, but I don’t back down. I can’t let his pity get to me when I am so close to getting what I want from him.“ You just want to run away, Valentina. But, you can’t. ” He takes a step back from me and his hands leave me at once.I loose the breath I held back for a while.H
VALENTINATaking his words to be true, I grab the plate from him. I am still suspicious, but I guess there is no harm in eating the sandwiches if this is what he wants me to do.I grab the first sandwich and start eating it. My eyes meet his dark eyes occasionally. The tension between us is dangerous.The way he looks at me always does strange things to me. I want to lean in, touch him, want to know what he truly feels and thinks and needs.Agent Vitali pushes his hand forward and places my stray hair behind my ear. My chewing mouth pauses as I find it difficult to move for a second.His thumb slides down my cheek and halts at the corner of my lips. My heart does somersault in my chest, wanting to break out of the ribcage and land near his feet if given the chance.“ What do you want so bad? ” His voice is a mere sensual whisper, a question he is asking to himself
MATTEOStanding on the rooftop of one of the highest buildings in the X city, I wait for Leo while I stare at the city before me. Everything seems so bright and dazzling from up here. The whole city is drowning in light and it feels like darkness has no home down there.But, I know what resides down there. It’s anything, but light and something like the evil darkness.Blood, Gore and Coldness exists in every corner of this city. It’s because this is the Thorn Clan territory. The rule and order of this city has long been in the hands of the Mafia Clan everyone fears. I have seen it from close, before I was kicked far away from the life of luxury and pleasure.I inhale the cold air and push my hands into my pockets.I aim to bring the light back.With the thought of light, Valentina’s face revolves in my mind. She looked so hurt when she realised that I was onl
VALENTINA~LITTLE WHILE EARLIERAgent Vitali leaves me in my cage and for some time, I just stand in front of the door, staring at it emotionlessly.Then, anger sears inside me. I want to get out of here - these words become an itch under my skin.I turn around on my heels and go to the kitchen to drink water. I need to calm the hell down.When I am near the sink, my eyes land on the knife holder placed close to it. I pause in my way, a glass held in my hand.He manipulated me, lied to me, gave me hope just to snatch it away once more. Just like everybody else.My emotions turn hard, my eyes zeroing in on the knife holder.I think there is only one way to get out here. I need to threaten Agent Vitali somehow or injure him a little so he can let me go. It’s a foolish idea - I know, but I can’t think of anything else right now.
VALENTINAI don’t know for how long I cried. I told him everything, almost everything and then cried for him too.Can I do anything worse than this?I sigh, now laying over my bed. He left earlier, saying he had to be somewhere else. I don’t know why but he looked baffled, as if there was something he couldn’t understand and didn’t like either or as if he had to make a decision he didn’t like.I release another heavy breath and stare up at the ceiling. My hand reaches out to my dry lips, my fingers tracing the outline. The touch of his lips still lingers on mine.I never knew a man’s touch could feel so good. I am only familiar with the agony the men in my life brought me.Pulling my hand down, I purse my lips and continue drilling holes in the ceiling.The loud ding noise of the main door opening breaks me out of my trance. I sit up in the bed.My heart begins to beat fast. Fixing my eyes at the door, I wait for Agent Vita—no—Matteo to come to my room.Time passes but he doesn’t come
MATTEOShe is so beautiful. When I look at her from close, that’s what I always think.She is beautiful but she is beaten and broken. She is damaged and dangerous.They had taken her innocence and her peace of mind. It hurts me to know that whatever she does now to bring her old self back, it won’t ever be enough.Valentina is gone. It seems the innocent girl, the one who was whole, had died a long time ago and what I see now is the broken shell of a person she once was.She is a danger to herself at this point, because she can’t control her rage, her thoughts, her memories from claiming her again and again.I hate to admit this, but she is a threat to everyone around her as well.As I hold her broken, crying self in my arms, I silently feel miserable for her.So beautifully broken she is. So impossible it is to fix her now.I should have
VALENTINAI close my eyes. The vein in my neck throbs against the tip of the bloodied sharp knife.He is going to kill me.“ If you attack someone, you have to do it right, Darling because if you fail and give them a chance, they won’t hesitate before slicing your pretty throat open. ” He whispers against my lips.The tip of the knife presses further into my neck but never pierces my skin. He doesn’t want to kill me.I open my eyes, meeting his gaze from up close. He looks like the epitome of perfection, someone without any flaws when he is so near.For a moment, I forget where I am standing. I forget about the knife held against my neck, I forget about the seduction and hidden serious look in his eyes.I see him for what he is. The emotions flickering in his eyes, the raw desire and the painful ne
VALENTINA~LITTLE WHILE EARLIERAgent Vitali leaves me in my cage and for some time, I just stand in front of the door, staring at it emotionlessly.Then, anger sears inside me. I want to get out of here - these words become an itch under my skin.I turn around on my heels and go to the kitchen to drink water. I need to calm the hell down.When I am near the sink, my eyes land on the knife holder placed close to it. I pause in my way, a glass held in my hand.He manipulated me, lied to me, gave me hope just to snatch it away once more. Just like everybody else.My emotions turn hard, my eyes zeroing in on the knife holder.I think there is only one way to get out here. I need to threaten Agent Vitali somehow or injure him a little so he can let me go. It’s a foolish idea - I know, but I can’t think of anything else right now.
MATTEOStanding on the rooftop of one of the highest buildings in the X city, I wait for Leo while I stare at the city before me. Everything seems so bright and dazzling from up here. The whole city is drowning in light and it feels like darkness has no home down there.But, I know what resides down there. It’s anything, but light and something like the evil darkness.Blood, Gore and Coldness exists in every corner of this city. It’s because this is the Thorn Clan territory. The rule and order of this city has long been in the hands of the Mafia Clan everyone fears. I have seen it from close, before I was kicked far away from the life of luxury and pleasure.I inhale the cold air and push my hands into my pockets.I aim to bring the light back.With the thought of light, Valentina’s face revolves in my mind. She looked so hurt when she realised that I was onl
VALENTINATaking his words to be true, I grab the plate from him. I am still suspicious, but I guess there is no harm in eating the sandwiches if this is what he wants me to do.I grab the first sandwich and start eating it. My eyes meet his dark eyes occasionally. The tension between us is dangerous.The way he looks at me always does strange things to me. I want to lean in, touch him, want to know what he truly feels and thinks and needs.Agent Vitali pushes his hand forward and places my stray hair behind my ear. My chewing mouth pauses as I find it difficult to move for a second.His thumb slides down my cheek and halts at the corner of my lips. My heart does somersault in my chest, wanting to break out of the ribcage and land near his feet if given the chance.“ What do you want so bad? ” His voice is a mere sensual whisper, a question he is asking to himself
VALENTINA“ I want to go outside. ” I let out and his eyes narrow down, observing me, wanting to know my reason behind this demand.“ What are you planning? ” He asks, just like I expected.“ I have lived in a cage my whole life, Agent Vitali. I want to see the outside world. ” I gulp and reply, my eyes still staring in his.It’s not completely a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either.His grip on my waist and then hair loosens up. In his eyes, I see a unique emotion which can easily pass as pity.My gut twists, but I don’t back down. I can’t let his pity get to me when I am so close to getting what I want from him.“ You just want to run away, Valentina. But, you can’t. ” He takes a step back from me and his hands leave me at once.I loose the breath I held back for a while.H
VALENTINASuch a tempting offer. As usual.Just stay put and everything will be over soon, he says. I can’t tell what the hidden meaning behind this offer is.“ Okay. ” I nod my head in a trance.He watches me until I leave the bedsheets and place my hands in my lap. I realise how hot my face is and it must be turning red, giving away every emotion he made me feel just now.“ Good. ” He smiles lazily and gets up from the bed before walking out of the room that I call mine, temporarily.Just as he leaves, I take in huge intake of air. Then, I release the breath through my nose slowly.Something is wrong with him and it’s confirmed now. Everyone is playing their own games here and they all have their own goals to achieve just like me.What do I want in all this madness going around me? I have to make it clear to myself.Agent Vitali made my heart flutter today. Even if I
VALENTINAMy smile falls off my lips after a while and I make my way to my bed.What am I thinking? I think, sitting down on the bed.Did Agent Vitali really manage to get my mind off the main topic? We were talking about Caelum.Caelum said that I haven’t told anything to Agent Vitali when I have already told him many things. What’s happening? I don’t understand.As I think about it too deeply, I can only think of two reasons for Caelum to be behaving this way.Number One. Caelum and Agent Vitali are playing games with me so they can confuse me and eventually make me talk about all the other things that I know.And Number Two. Agent Vitali kept all the information to himself instead of reporting it to the Agency.The second option is absurd. Agent Vitali works for the Agency…Why would he hold off information?I shake my head to my