-=Martina's Point of View=-Just like they said, it was easier said than done, and that was exactly what happened to me.I thought it would be breezy to get the study room's key from Zeke, but it seemed that it was almost impossible.I've been keeping an eye on Zeke every now and then, and in none of those instances did I even see the key from him. It also made me wonder if maybe he wasn't bringing that key all the time, which really frustrates me because if he didn't have that key, then where else could I find it?"Is there something bothering you, Martina?" I was startled when I heard Annie's voice wake me up from my deep thoughts.For a moment, I forgot that she was with me in my room as we were casually talking about things and plans we had for the future."No, it's nothing," I replied with a shake of my head. I heard Annie sigh, and when I looked at her, I saw understanding on her face."You don't have to lie, Martina. I know what was bothering you," she said, making me feel nerv
-=Martina's Point of View=-I took a deep breath while looking where Lucy, the keeper of the keys, bedroom was. I was feeling so nervous that I had half the heart to turn around and forget the whole thing, but I was reminded that Kian needed my help.I honestly didn't remember meeting someone with that name, but then again, there were a lot of helpers in this castle, and it was impossible for me to remember all of their names or even recognize their faces. For all I know, I probably hadn't met her before, or maybe I did, during my arrival on the island, but since I was so nervous, I didn't take a good look at her face.I arranged my visit to Lucy's room without alerting Annie, making sure she was busy charging her electric bike outside the castle and Zeke was nowhere in sight to avoid generating suspicion.I'd wager everything that if he found out I was going to meet Lucy, he'd already know what my goal was, and he could not know it, or else that would be the end of my investigation.
-=Martina's Point of View=-I secretly glanced in Zeke's direction, who was busy giving instructions to one of the maids in the dining room, while I ate in silence.I was trying to gauge if he knew about my visit to Lucy's room. I was kind of worried that Lucy actually told Zeke about it, and the result was Zeke having doubts about my real reason for meeting Lucy. Didn't he already catch me trying to approach Zion's room already?I kept monitoring him, but I didn't notice anything different from him, or maybe he was just good at pretending."Or maybe you were just overthinking, Martina," I cascaded myself, and maybe I was just overthinking things, but can anyone blame me?I mean, I felt like what I was about to do was a make-or-break for me. If I succeeded, then I would be able to help Kian, but in case I am caught, I can already say goodbye to helping Kian with his condition.I had no idea what Zeke had hidden in the drawer on the table in the study room until now, but this instinct
-=Martina's Point of View=-"No, it was definitely not me," I thought to myself after a few minutes had passed.We may have shared the same face, but I was sure that the girl in the picture wasn't me; she was wearing old clothes, which were probably in style during her time, and I was positive that I didn't wear such clothes.I would know if such instance happened when I wore this kind of clothes, but even thought I tried to rack my brain, I couldn't think of such instance.I was positive that I hadn't seen her in my entire life, but for some reason, there was this warm feeling inside me, a feeling akin to meeting an old friend.I had no idea how long I had been staring at the photo; my mind had gone blank, and all that mattered was the picture in my hand.Ten enthralling minutes passed before I could break out of my daze, and when I finally looked back at the picture, my eyes grew wide as I tried to comprehend the truth it was showing.I was feeling at a loss while I tried to make se
-=Martina's Point of View=-Even though I was looking at him, lying in bed with his eyes closed, finding him here felt unreal. Given that he was meant to be elsewhere, I couldn't figure out what he was doing in this room. It was here, of all places, that I found him."Kian..." I tried calling his name, but his eyes still remained closed.I wanted to approach him, but I was scared that he would disappear when I got near him, making me realize that this was all a dream.I pinched myself in my arm and immediately felt the pain, making me understand that this was no dream, and if that was the case, then why was Kian in here, in Zion's room?"Did Zeke know that Kian was here?" I wondered.Despite my fear, I mustered the courage to approach Kian's bed, where he lay unconscious. Initially, I was filled with dread, fearing the worst. However, as I watched his chest rise and fall, my anxieties altered, and the idea that he was dead began to recede.As I looked at Kian's stunning face, a wave o
-=Martina's Point of View=-The word shock was such an understatement to describe how I was feeling right now. I mean, how would you feel if you saw the man you love who was supposed to be a young man turn into someone older, and that person turned out to be your husband, whom you were supposed to be cheating on with the same man you expected to be?I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at Zion until he opened his eyes again after a few moments. His tired features were accentuated by an expression of guilt and apprehension on his frail face."Martina..." he said, barely audible but loud enough for me to wake up from my reverie.I wasn't prepared to talk to Zion, Kian, or whoever his name and identity were at that point because I was so bewildered at the moment. I still couldn't believe the transformation I witnessed just a few minutes ago, from the youthful Kian to the elderly Zion. a young man to an elderly Zion.What I saw felt like something out of a fantasy movie, and my mind couldn
-=Martina's Point of View=-While on the ship that would carry me to the main island, I continued to stare out at the immense ocean. I have chosen to board this ship instead of accepting Zeke's offer to fly me to my destination in Zion's chopper.Not because I'm being difficult, but rather because I enjoy the solitude and the opportunity to reflect. I'm assessing everything that happened while aboard this ship.I still can't believe what happened this morning when I saw a picture in Zion's study area that looked exactly like me, which I assumed was Esmeralda. Then I decided to go to Zion's room, where I was surprised to find Kian. Kian's transformation turned him into Zion within a few minutes, if the mystery I already uncovered wasn't enough.That's when I realized the person I love is also my husband, whom I believed I had cheated. Maybe that's why my feelings for Zion are so strong, similar to my feelings for Kian, since they are the same person."Father and son," I whispered with
-=Martina's Point of View=-I automatically turned around to look for the source of that voice, and when I saw who it was, my eyes became watery from the tears that started to flow from them.I couldn't believe I'd run into him at this moment, right when I needed someone. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own, rushing toward him, and I found myself in his open arms before I could even think.Tears poured freely from both of my eyes as I tried to draw strength from the one I knew would never abandon me or hurt me, and most importantly, would never lie to me.He kept whispering near my ear, as if trying to encourage me that everything would be alright, assuring me that everything would be fine. But could things really be fine and return to the way they used to be?I tried to think of my life now that I don't have Kian or Zion in it, and the words that popped into my mind are empty and hollow.I didn't know if I could really go back to normal after everything that happened; it wasn'