- NINA - There he is, stepping inside. I watch a man, from the comfort of my suv, covered in black from head to toe waltz out of the back entrance of an underground flat. Two large, rusted, metal bins cover the entry, making the area look deserted. The man walks up to me and mutters something in mandarin. “Nǐ de wénjiàn.” He says in a calm, grumpy tone as he sways his head to both sides, checking for passersby. His body movement is unstable. Although standing in a spot, he’s moving a bit too restlessly. [Translation: The files you need.] I stretch my hand out of the car window and take the thick, black, leather travel bag from him. This will be given anonymously to the FBI. “Xièxiè. Hurios wǒ dǎzhāohū.” I say to the Asian back in mandarin with an Irish accent. [ Translation: Thank you. Tell Hurios I said Hi.] My face is straight. Although with a full disguise on my face, I have my shades on and my fingers are padded with gloves and a fake hand. The face this man se
- CAMERON - There she is, standing by the entrance, looking like someone sculpted with diamonds by a god. I am completely mesmerised by the beauty standing before me with an innocent and confused look on her face. Her ears are adorned with silvery earrings, falling down in aligned pairs according to the height from both ends till they reach the longest one at the center. On her neck is chain necklace laced with diamonds, the same kind as her earrings. My eyes trail a little higher and a subtle gasp leaves my lips. Her lips are bright red with lipstick in a very lustrous way forcing me to bite the end of my bottom lip with greed. I want to taste that. I want to taste her. My gaze falls on her body. On her is a silver, sleeveless, body hug dress with a long v line drawing from both ends at the start of the dress which cups her tits elegantly to just a bit above her stomach, exposing the right amount of cleavage. There’s a slit drawing from the side of her thighs. Numerous silve
- ISOBEL -My ears buzz from the noise. Laying on the floor, with my side pressed hard on his chest and his arms around me and palm pressed around my ears, is my traumatised self.My body is quivering and the continuous sound of gun shots gives me a reminiscing trauma of what it felt like seeing Cain murder someone in cold blood. It was night as well and I was just coming back from work when he killed my colleague.That was the main reason I quit my job and the scenes are replaying in my head. I feel my chest heave and my breathing quicken as a panic attack hits me like a wave. “Are you okay?” Cameron’s voice comes as comforting as he clenches his arm around me. I try to raise my upper body and feel a prick on my shoulder. This makes me wince. Glass.Broken glass pieces are dug into my skin. I shake my head ferociously, trying to breathe. “Panic attack.” I manage to murmur.He leans his chest forward and raises me up. The moment his hands rests on my arms, I shriek. He takes them o
- ISOBEL - Guilt. I’m laying down on a bed with people by my side pushing the bed I’m on forward. My vision is blurred and I can’t make sense of my environment but all I can see is white and so many lights. What happened? I hear the sound of my breathing. It’s loud. Almost like my mouth and nose are enclosed in something I can’t wrap my head around. I want to move but I can’t. My hands feel glued to the moving bed even though I know they’re not. I may be partially out of touch with my environment and my body but one thing I can tell is there’s nothing binding my body to anything. Where’s Nina? Where’s Cameron? My eyes close. They slowly open. I’m not moving anymore yet the lights are still as blinding as ever. I squint, trying to block excessive light from reflecting on my face. Why is there some kind of guilt eating me up like something bad happened to them and it’s my fault? My head turns to the side. Someone’s standing by my side. I try to move my fingers out
- ISOBEL - “Thank you! Please wait in the car.” I breath out loud to Cameron, getting out of the passenger seat while heading to my phone. My heart is beating fast against my chest. My house looks normal. It’s not ash as I expected but since my mom was home when everything happened, it is a good thing, right? It means Nina probably had to stop the fire which I still can’t process how. I look back for a second. Cameron is out there waiting for me. Good. I may need to run away from this place soon. I knock on the door. I have my key although I’m not sure my mind is at the right place to remind me to search for it. I left my purse in the hospital and I never thought I’ll be coming back to this place. My fingers scratch each other as I wait for an answer. I got none. This time, I ring the door bell. I am anxiously eager to meet someone. I want to see mom. I wonder if she’s in a hospital or if anyone’s home. I got no message from either of them. Cain is probably in jail, so th
- CAMERON - ‘Please wait in the car’ The text from Isobel glares at me from my phone. I’ve been here for over half an hour since a group of people waltzed out of her house yet she’s still inside. If I choose to calculate how long I’ve been out here in total, I’m sure it’ll be nearly an hour or a few minutes past an hour. I sigh. I wanted this so I’m ready to wait, just right now, I’m torn between going in there or waiting. Her message does tell me to wait in the car, not sure if that entails actually staying in the car. I run my hand through my hair and let out an exhale. The last two days were insane. I couldn’t think. She severed a serious injury while alone with me and I couldn’t help but be worried. I felt uneasy and just then, I forgot everything else. This woman is really amazing. I don’t know anything about her yet she’s on my mind twenty four-seven, occupying my thoughts. She’s definitely an intriguing character and has my restraint hanging on a thread. The next time I
- ISOBEL - Benjamin, my step father, is infuriating and mom just stood there watching him degrade me! Like she didn’t meet me first, love me first, live with me first. Like I’m not her daughter. I called her name. I remember yearning for her to step up to him when he called me names but she didn’t say a word. I would’ve believed it was due to the tiredness caused by the gasoline and oil mix up accident if this was her first time, but it’s not. She always does this. He blamed me for wanting to harm HIS family, like I am not part of it. He blamed the for the fire the moment those men left. I mean, I’m guilty, but in that house, I’m the least person to be suspected of doing something devious. His son is a master at it. Both of them are basically devils in human form. I huff, staring out the window in Nina’s room in the comfort of her bed with my legs folded to my chest and arms crossed around it. I’m crashing here for a while but not for long. I resume the thoughts protr
- CAMERON - I’m sat outside on an open street bench, waiting for her. She said she was coming. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here in this freezing cold night, yet I’m still waiting. I hold my phone in my hand and exhale slowly. I can see the steam formed due to the hotness of my breath in contrast to the weather. I’m putting on my suit jacket and a long, black coat yet my skin still feels the effect of the cold. Another sigh leaves my lips as my eyes peers lower at my phone screen. I’ve gotten no text since the last time. I raise my head up. Parked in front of me is my car with the front lights on. Apart from that, no one is in sight. I dip my hands in my pocket, leaving my phone on my thighs. The only reason I’m not in the comfort of my car with the heaters on is because I want her to see me when she arrives. But that is taking forever. She sure has a nack for making people wait. It’s cute but not that comfortable. “Cameron!” Someone calls my name. From the faintn
- ISOBEL -I squeal as I step into the bathroom to rinse my face. I’m sleepy but not too sleepy and since I’ll be on a bed for much longer, I know I’ll dose off but for now, I’ll do my best to stay awake as much as I can.He touched me! My heart dances in my chest.I can’t get over the fact that Cameron laid his hands on my skin. I felt his need. I felt the desire as he fondled my skin. My eyes close as the images of us together drops in my mind. I move my hand over my body, imagining his, and a smile forms on my lips. My eyes comes open and I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I turn the sink tap off, maintaining my smile.I guess some good does come from having no place to stay. Speaking of which, I need to start virtual apartment hunting, it’s urgent. I walk out of the bathroom and sit on my bed, pulling the covers open so I can lie down comfortably. Just the thought of Cameron funding my apartment gives me an unsettling feeling but I guess it’ll be alright. It has to be. Back
- CAMERON - My thumb flips over my lower lip. I’m in the cubicle, under the shower and warm water runs down my body. My decision shocks me sometimes, I had her right where I wanted yet I chose to be decent. I raise my chin up and close my eyes, letting water pour down my face. I have a lot of things on my mind. I’ve got so many questions about our dinner night and other things yet I choose to ignore finding the answers. Is this what we call fear? Is it possible I’m afraid of something that I don’t want to accept as a reality so I choose to bask in the moment rather than doing what the old me would do? I have no answer to this and it’s shocking. Who is the old me? The old me was a ruthless punk who preyed on weaker beings. Sometimes. Deep inside, there was a human who yearned to be seen and be free and now I’ve got that freedom, I guess part of me doesn’t want to ruin it by reading too deep into situations. I guess this is me trying so desperately to be normal. The ends of
- ISOBEL - I can feel my heart pounding ridiculously fast in my chest as he leans over me. Did I just ask that? How bold can I actually be? I feel my throat tighten as his thighs brushes over mine. He hasn’t laid his lips on me yet but his body movement is already playing mind games in my head. The sharp fall of the chair backwards makes me squirm. “For easy access.” Cameron mutters. As I open my mouth to speak, he slips a tongue in, closing the distance between us as he kneels in front of me. His hand holds my head to his face as he devours my mouth and claim my body in his arms like it’s his. I want it to be his. My eyes close voluntarily the moment my tongue tasted the spiciness in his tongue. I moan. Every movement, every suck on my tongue and bite of my lips leaves my head in a temporary distortion at how good I feel. Like I’m being revived into a whole new world through the feel of his tongue. I moan in his mouth, shifting back a little. “Cameron,” I breath sharply wi
- CAMERON - I’m sat outside on an open street bench, waiting for her. She said she was coming. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here in this freezing cold night, yet I’m still waiting. I hold my phone in my hand and exhale slowly. I can see the steam formed due to the hotness of my breath in contrast to the weather. I’m putting on my suit jacket and a long, black coat yet my skin still feels the effect of the cold. Another sigh leaves my lips as my eyes peers lower at my phone screen. I’ve gotten no text since the last time. I raise my head up. Parked in front of me is my car with the front lights on. Apart from that, no one is in sight. I dip my hands in my pocket, leaving my phone on my thighs. The only reason I’m not in the comfort of my car with the heaters on is because I want her to see me when she arrives. But that is taking forever. She sure has a nack for making people wait. It’s cute but not that comfortable. “Cameron!” Someone calls my name. From the faintn
- ISOBEL - Benjamin, my step father, is infuriating and mom just stood there watching him degrade me! Like she didn’t meet me first, love me first, live with me first. Like I’m not her daughter. I called her name. I remember yearning for her to step up to him when he called me names but she didn’t say a word. I would’ve believed it was due to the tiredness caused by the gasoline and oil mix up accident if this was her first time, but it’s not. She always does this. He blamed me for wanting to harm HIS family, like I am not part of it. He blamed the for the fire the moment those men left. I mean, I’m guilty, but in that house, I’m the least person to be suspected of doing something devious. His son is a master at it. Both of them are basically devils in human form. I huff, staring out the window in Nina’s room in the comfort of her bed with my legs folded to my chest and arms crossed around it. I’m crashing here for a while but not for long. I resume the thoughts protr
- CAMERON - ‘Please wait in the car’ The text from Isobel glares at me from my phone. I’ve been here for over half an hour since a group of people waltzed out of her house yet she’s still inside. If I choose to calculate how long I’ve been out here in total, I’m sure it’ll be nearly an hour or a few minutes past an hour. I sigh. I wanted this so I’m ready to wait, just right now, I’m torn between going in there or waiting. Her message does tell me to wait in the car, not sure if that entails actually staying in the car. I run my hand through my hair and let out an exhale. The last two days were insane. I couldn’t think. She severed a serious injury while alone with me and I couldn’t help but be worried. I felt uneasy and just then, I forgot everything else. This woman is really amazing. I don’t know anything about her yet she’s on my mind twenty four-seven, occupying my thoughts. She’s definitely an intriguing character and has my restraint hanging on a thread. The next time I
- ISOBEL - “Thank you! Please wait in the car.” I breath out loud to Cameron, getting out of the passenger seat while heading to my phone. My heart is beating fast against my chest. My house looks normal. It’s not ash as I expected but since my mom was home when everything happened, it is a good thing, right? It means Nina probably had to stop the fire which I still can’t process how. I look back for a second. Cameron is out there waiting for me. Good. I may need to run away from this place soon. I knock on the door. I have my key although I’m not sure my mind is at the right place to remind me to search for it. I left my purse in the hospital and I never thought I’ll be coming back to this place. My fingers scratch each other as I wait for an answer. I got none. This time, I ring the door bell. I am anxiously eager to meet someone. I want to see mom. I wonder if she’s in a hospital or if anyone’s home. I got no message from either of them. Cain is probably in jail, so th
- ISOBEL - Guilt. I’m laying down on a bed with people by my side pushing the bed I’m on forward. My vision is blurred and I can’t make sense of my environment but all I can see is white and so many lights. What happened? I hear the sound of my breathing. It’s loud. Almost like my mouth and nose are enclosed in something I can’t wrap my head around. I want to move but I can’t. My hands feel glued to the moving bed even though I know they’re not. I may be partially out of touch with my environment and my body but one thing I can tell is there’s nothing binding my body to anything. Where’s Nina? Where’s Cameron? My eyes close. They slowly open. I’m not moving anymore yet the lights are still as blinding as ever. I squint, trying to block excessive light from reflecting on my face. Why is there some kind of guilt eating me up like something bad happened to them and it’s my fault? My head turns to the side. Someone’s standing by my side. I try to move my fingers out
- ISOBEL -My ears buzz from the noise. Laying on the floor, with my side pressed hard on his chest and his arms around me and palm pressed around my ears, is my traumatised self.My body is quivering and the continuous sound of gun shots gives me a reminiscing trauma of what it felt like seeing Cain murder someone in cold blood. It was night as well and I was just coming back from work when he killed my colleague.That was the main reason I quit my job and the scenes are replaying in my head. I feel my chest heave and my breathing quicken as a panic attack hits me like a wave. “Are you okay?” Cameron’s voice comes as comforting as he clenches his arm around me. I try to raise my upper body and feel a prick on my shoulder. This makes me wince. Glass.Broken glass pieces are dug into my skin. I shake my head ferociously, trying to breathe. “Panic attack.” I manage to murmur.He leans his chest forward and raises me up. The moment his hands rests on my arms, I shriek. He takes them o