Athena's POV
In the midst of packing my belongings and settling my final bill at the front desk of the hotel, I received a phone call from Dimitri informing me that Lovi and Chad were on their way to pick me up. I couldn't help but tremble a little as I was filled with nervousness and excitement.
The fact that it was the very first time in all of my years of knowing Lovi that I had not communicated with her while I was away, or perhaps better said, while I was in the process of escaping from the so-called reality, caused me to feel the utmost excitement as I anticipated seeing her again after a few weeks of being away and isolating myself from everyone. Moreover, I was apprehensive because I knew how deeply worried and seriously concerned she would be, and that I would undoubtedly receive a barrage of lectures from her in the coming days, and possibly weeks. But, I suppose, I couldn't care less about it any longer. It was all I ever wanted to do was se
Cloud's POVAfter a few days, I was left completely befuddled and emotionally shattered. It had already been a month since I had last seen her after months of being apart, and I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of shame and regret having done so despite the fact that I had seen her almost every single day for the previous month. That isn't to say that we were back together or anything, but because Lovi and Chad were constantly dragging her around, and I wanted to take advantage of any and all opportunities to spend time with her, I would always go along with them, regardless of the circumstances."Cloud, everything was in working order. There has been no harm done in this situation. Please allow us to put the past behind us and move forward with our lives, now."These last few words pierced my heart and penetrated deep into the very core of my being, leaving a stinging sensation in my chest and throat. In the beginning, I attempted to strike
Athena's POVI awoke with a slew of emotions building up in my chest that had been building since the previous night. I catch a glimpse of Cloud, who was still peacefully sleeping on the couch while I remained in the bed, but we were both in the same room. I simply couldn't comprehend the sentiment that was lurking in the recesses of my thoughts and consciousness.I am relieved to learn that Cloud has finally decided to return for me and for us all. When we made the decision to try again, it was almost as if a hole in my heart was instantly filled. The fact that he had abandoned me, for whatever reason, was something I could not shake from my mind. And I'm just holding on to the hope that whatever the reason may be, it will be something acceptable and rational that will make the pain bearable and ultimately worthwhile.I got to my feet and walked over to my full-length mirror, where I looked myself in the eyes. I've noticed how his decision to l
Detective Amiri's POVMy arrival at the crime scene was greeted by the foul odor of the decaying corpse, which caused me to scrunch my nose and grimace as I breathed in the once-fresh air. Despite the fact that I was already wearing a double layer surgical mask, the smell was so overwhelming that it could easily make you feel nauseous and sick at the same time.On the same day as the phone call from Dimitri, I received another strange phone call. He sounded nervous and frantic as if panic had been his most prized possession throughout his entire life. Aside from mentally taking note of it to make sure that I had written and documented everything accurately enough, he had told me the exact details, which I had efficiently listed down.Today, we received a report from a concerned citizen who stated that they had been smelling something that was extremely unpleasant in every way. As soon as we arrived on the scene, we conducted a perimeter search o
Dimitri's POVGuests and newlyweds-to-be were seated at a fine dining restaurant to commemorate Chad and Lovi's preparations for their impending engagement. As I sat down in my seat, I couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable I felt. I looked across the table to where Athena was sitting, and there was Cloud Hendricks, her former and current boyfriend, sitting next to her. She caught my gaze and gave me a warm, appreciative smile, which I reciprocated with a warm smile. Then, when my gaze was accidentally drawn into Cloud's direction, his lethal glare did not manage to escape my line of vision at that precise moment.I've made the decision to completely disregard Cloud's glowering tactics and instead direct my attention to the soon-to-be newlyweds in question."Chad, you've done a fantastic job! You're the real deal!" I greeted him cheerfully and extended my hands, which he took and firmly shook as he warmly accepted my greeting."Thank
Megan's POVMy eyes were drawn to a familiar silhouette of a man in the distance as I strolled through the city lights. He was not far from where I was wandering. I couldn't be certain, so I took the opportunity to get closer and take a look for myself."Cloud?" It was a question I asked as I wondered, with a heightened sense of excitement and hope written all over my face, as I guessed.As soon as he heard my voice, the man slowly walked towards me, his face contorted with surprise. My initial assumption turned out to be correct all along. When I realized it was Cloud, I couldn't believe that it was still possible for him to become even more handsome and mature than the last time I had seen him."Hey," he said, a cold greeting to me.Just as I was about to say something, I noticed a subtle figure move just beside him, and I turned to look and try to figure it out on my own. And there she was, Athena, my old friend from back in the
Cloud's POVNo matter what I did, I couldn't seem to keep my eyes open.This is where I am right now, nervously sitting at one of the diner tables that I have reserved specifically for myself and Athena. After looking at my wristwatch for a moment, I moved my gaze to my mobile phone, then back to the front hall, as I waited desperately for her arrival. Because of the incident with Megan, I had been calling her for a few days and it was a bit surprising to receive a callback from her after numerous pathetic attempts to reach her had been unsuccessful. I had summoned the courage to invite her to meet me at one of our favorite diners in the city, holding out hope that we might be able to talk things over and work things out together. I honestly had no expectation that she would accept my invitation, so when she said yes, I was taken completely by surprise. She agreed to meet me here at 7 p.m. in the evening, and I swear I was here as early as 5 p.m. when
Cloud's POVIt has been days since I have not heard anything from Athena. I do not know why, but I feel like I am on the verge of going insane any minute now.The last time that we have talked at the diner's, I am very clear about what our initial agreement would be. And I could not bring to blame myself enough for having to agree with what she had asked for, as I have fully understood and respected her decision because I have tremendously hurt her.A few months ago, I had met her unconscious at the sidewalk while drenched in a torrential downpour in the middle of the night. Despite her haggard appearance, her beauty was what stunned me the most. She looked so beautiful even if she looks like a mess, and I could not bring myself to completely overlook and have a cold heart on the heavily intoxicated woman lying on the sidewalk. Based on her soaked clothes, she seemed to be drenched in heavy rain for long hours, and she could get sick should I ma
Dimitri's POVIt was the ninth time I tried to ring the doorbell, and each time I did, the apartment was deafeningly quiet. In spite of the fact that I had been sending her text messages and phone calls on a regular basis, she had never taken the time and effort to respond to me, even with a short-word response.I was now standing in front of her apartment, eager to see her and perhaps have a conversation with her. I knew exactly how things had ended up between her and Cloud, and I knew deep down that she would be the same mess of a broken woman that I had found her at the moment Cloud decided to vanish without a trace. I knew she would be the same mess of a broken woman that I had found her in when Cloud decided to vanish without a trace.It was the twelfth doorbell that I finally heard someone unlock the front door's locks, and it was a relief. Then the door swung open, revealing the pale face and swollen red eyes of the woman I had once adore
The Last Chapter "MOMMY!! Uncle Dimitri was so annoying!! I could not help but laugh whenever I hear my son complaining. "Sky! Don't go too far, alright?" Dimitri called out to my son. And my son Sky being so obedient, nodded and waved happily as he ran to play with his kite. "Hey, are you okay?" Dimitri asked me. I smiled and nodded. Eight years have passed.. Cloud, I'm not sure how I'm going to tell him about you. Sky expressed an interest in learning more about you as he grew older. I'm terrified and perplexed. Because the last time I told him about you, he was aware of how well things were going between us at the time. He knew there was no way we could be this far apart—because he knew you've been deeply in love with me since the day we met and that you'd waited so long just to be able to hold my hand respectfully in yours. He was well aware that I had fallen in love with your inconsequential effor
Athena's POV"ATHENA!! LOOK OUT!!" Megan suddenly screamed.Then suddenly, I just found the entire world spinning right before my very eyes.Then nothing.. But darkness.I tried to open my heavily drooping eyelids, as though I was forcefully knocked unconscious by some nauseous fragrance that has my world spinning around.After a few seconds, I finally recalled all the past occurrences before I had fallen asleep which instantly made me open my eyes and wander around.I was seated and tied up in a chair where you can see a fully painted ambiance in the room. White walls, white ceilings, and there was a window on the corner. It was filled with the chilliness coming from the air condition unit mounted to the wall, and there was a long table made with metal on each corner of the room with glass jars and lids on top of it. Judging from the overall appearance, it certainly looks like a laboratory that you
Athena's POVJust when I thought it was going to be the end of my once miserable life, a powerful voice echoed in my ears in the middle of the night. It was just a soft whisper, but enough to give me enough hope and strength.It was no other but Cloud.I watched as he carefully and steadily released the thick rope tightly wrapped around my body as I was groped into the branch of a tree. Then he gestured me to remain as silent and calm as I could until we could escape from the area of the incident.We were already running hand in hand, with no reason to look back, when the vivid image of Zidane, Lovi, and Chad's lifeless body, along with the missing heart on the facet of their chest, made my entire body shiver in fear and cowardness."Cloud, what the hell was going on?" As though I could no longer restrain the confusion that was starting to occupy my entire thoughts and consciousness, I asked as I muffled a sob.Clou
Athena's POVI was about to go into a deep slumber when I suddenly hear an ear-piercing, bloodcurdling scream from a distance. Along with its frightful screams in the dark, followed by the howling of the wolves from somewhere.Shivering because of the eeriness of the night, I tried to reach for my pillow and wrap it all over my body so I might as well find some comfort. I turned my body to another side and was about to give Cloud an embrace when I had come to the realization that there was no one sleeping next to me.Feeling dazed, I sat up and confirmed that he was, indeed, gone. Where the heck was he in the middle of the night? I wondered to myself. I pulled on a jacket and unzipped the tent. As I went out to search for Cloud, the cold and chilly breeze brushed through my skin that sends shivers down my spine.I was strolling around when I accidentally slipped because I could not see through the darkness of the night. I almost
Lovi's POVZidane's death had been a tragic event for us. We were just here for three days, yet the despicable crime behind his death was enough to spoil the vibe of the whole camping trip which was meant to celebrate Athena and Cloud's recent engagement. Yet, we were all gathered around to feel the remorse and sorrow of one of our friend's unexpected passing. What was alarming was that, his heart was missing, which means to say that he was one of those victims of the controversial crime lingering for over a year now. And to mention that if Zidane was killed right at this time and place, then there was no doubt that the serial killer of all the past crimes was just out here in the mountain, lingering with us. Probably watching us."Shit!" I overheard Cloud curse. He was holding his mobile phone up in the air, while Chad also did the same."No signal either. We should all plan to return to the city tomorrow morning," Chad informed us. I took a de
Dimitri's POVI have heard from Chad that they will be out camping in celebration of Athena and Cloud's recent engagement and that they will be staying there for a week. I have also learned that aside from the soon-to-be weds, they have a bunch of friends spending the time and celebrating with them. If I remember it correctly, they were 6 in total.In all honesty, Athena sent me a text message a few days ago inviting me to come with them, but I politely refused and used the excuse that I could not leave Detective Amiri alone seeing that this would be short notice. But in reality, I would gladly grab this opportunity just to accept her invitation if things were only different. However, it clearly was not, so I give myself some credit for being mature enough to respect myself even more by setting my boundaries and knowing my place and limitations.I heard a single knock at the door, where it revealed Detective Amiri. He was holding a folder with d
Athena's POVEveryone in the group was laughing and having a good time as we ate our dinner at the diner's when the doorbell rang, signaling that someone had just entered the vicinity. My attention was drawn away from the task at hand by the soft and subtle background noise, which piqued my interest. From the hallway, a familiar figure appeared out of nowhere after only a few seconds or minutes.In the end, Cloud noticed my distraction and shifted his gaze to the figure, which I had observed as his jolly and humorous expression on his face suddenly and unexpectedly vanished in an instant. We must have drawn Lovi and Chad's attention to his distressed appearance because they both turned their heads in the direction of where we were looking."Hi, guys," Megan said as she walked up to us and gave us a timid smile."What are you doing here, Megan?" When Megan suddenly appeared, it was Lovi who inquired, her brows furrowed in irritation and di
Megan's POVThis week felt like a bumpy roller coaster ride. All the synonyms and antonyms of misery that can be found in dictionaries were mixed in with it: sorrow and pain, shock and dismay, guilt and innocence, and everything in between. I've lost one person in my life who has stood by me through my witticisms and sobriety, and I'm devastated. My body has become frail, and I've become careless with the things I've been guarding for a long period of time. My immune system was undoubtedly weakened as a result of an exhausting and draining life challenge. I was almost convinced that this was the end of my life—I was almost ready to blame myself for all of those unhealthy matters and to feel ashamed. My sources of courage and energy have dried up, and I'm at a loss for what to do when it feels like living is a sinful pleasure. And what hurts the most is the realization that this moment marked the beginning of an unforgettable chapter in my life, one that
Athena's POVJust before you came across me, I allowed myself to drown and suffocate in an ocean of uncertainties. I figured it was fine as long as I got some, as long as I had a couple of them. I mistakenly believed that happiness consisted solely in giving your all to see someone smile, when in fact it is comprised of actually doing so while loving yourself at the same time. I've allowed myself to look outside of myself for happiness when it should have begun within me. And then you came along, making me feel valuable and sufficient all of the time. You look after me, taking advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate your affection. Even on your busiest days, you find the time. The fact that you never forget to check in on me is amusing, especially given the fact that it always happens when I am missing your presence the most. When I thought I was already deserving of less, you showed me that I am deserving of even more. And it was there that I disco