Lovi's POV
I arrived early at the office and began reviewing all the chapters submitted to me by our authors, but it appears that my mind became stuck somewhere. I was reading one of my author's manuscripts and making recommendations and revisions when I noticed my phone next to my computer.
I grabbed it and began sending random texts to Athena, hoping she would respond as she reads them.
It has been five days since the incident in Athena's neighborhood, and I have been continuing to follow the news coverage of the crime. She had stopped responding to our texts since then. When I asked our boss about it, he said that Cloud had called in and see if Athena could take vacation leave to get back on her feet.
I have known Athena since we were children. I feel like I know her from head to toe. I know exactly what her personality is like, as well as her likes and dislikes. We were there for each other through every moment of pain and sorrow. And
Cloud's POV I have been staring at Athena for about an hour, trying to read her facial expressions and whatever she has beenthinking. She had been completely speechless and unable to move a single muscle since that night. She spends most of her time staring blankly at the wall or, on rare occasions, just staring out the window. I have a great conviction that what had happened had a detrimental impacton her. The unidentified reasonclearly traumatized her. She declined to say anything. Whenever I try to talk to her, she just stares blankly at me. Since that night, Athena has been staying with me. It is indeed my way of making sure she does not have anybreakdown, which she has been highly susceptible to recently. I decided to bring her with me so that I could takecare ofher and keep a close eye on her. I need to make certain that she is absolutely safe. Similarly, I pledged myself that I would do everything in
Athena's POV When we saw the person outside our door, Cloud and I were flabbergasted. We just exchanged puzzled looks, having no idea what to say. The person then cheerfully started the conversation. "Hello, guys! Athena, my dear friend. How are you doing?" "Megan?" I confirmed. "Who else is there? Your sexiest friend!" Megan remarked jokingly. I returned my gaze to Megan, still perplexed as to why she would come to see me despite the distance I had requested from them as I worked to getting back on my feet. She was, indeed, my sexiest friend. As always, she is stunningly beautiful and flirtatiously attractive. What I really do not understand is why she would wear such a tight-fitting skirt just above her knee in the middle of the night. Although I must admit that she looks like a model in that outfit because her curves are clearly highlighted by her dress. "Do we just stand there staring at each other? Is this
Cloud's POV I stumbled on my seat and covered my face as soon as Megan left and shut the door in this room. I really cannot believe what had just happened to me. Megan's playful tricks in an attempt to lure me into her traps and temptations were well known to me. I always thought I had good self-control, but I was completely wrong. When she came into my house this evening, I purposefully excused myself because I had noticed the way she was staring at me when Athena was not looking. I had the impression that she was physically and psychologically undressing me slowly. I left Athena and Megan in the living room to talk in private, and I concentrated on finishing my task at my office library. Athena is aware that she cannot enter this room while I am working because my tasks require a high level of concentration. And I appreciate her respect for that. I have had Athena with me since the night of the incident, just to make sure sh
Athena's POV I was barely asleep when I heard our bedroom door open and close softly. Then, from behind me, I hear slow, approaching footsteps. I could not bring myself enough to open my eyes to see who the figure was. I am absolutely petrified of inspecting to see whether it's the killer's silhouette I have seen from my bathroom a week ago. I could feel the soft mattress is lightly pressed down, as though someone had just climbed the bed and laid down. The figure then edged closer to me in a split second. I breathed the scent discreetly and eventually realized immediately that it was Cloud. I felt relieved because I had recognized his presence. I can finally fall asleep because I now feel more secure with him by my side. I had the assumption that he had been looking intently at me while I was trying to sleep. I fought the intense desire to open my eyes, mystified by his action. Instead, I scrutinized his movements, anticipating his e
Cloud's POV I spent the rest of the day with Athena, and we had a wonderful time doing our usual stuff. I am fully cognizant of my drawbacks to her because as a result of the recent workloads that I need to comply with, and that I havewronged her the night before without her awareness. I locked my gaze on her as she lounged in front of the television, watching a film. I became totally absorbed in my feelings and thoughts about her. About us. Completely dazzled. These days, I have had the perception that fate was indeed playing a trick on me. As ifdropping hints all over the place and I am not that stupid to recognize that Athena is the only one for me. I know she is because I can feel it in my core. Everything has changed since the very first time I met her. There is a charm between her armsand fingers that makes me wary to move and thus unable to say anything. I could feel my heartbeat faster whenever
Detective's Amiri's POV As I finally completed taking a shower, I started to turn off the shower and managed to reach for my towel, brushing away all theextra water on my skin. I exited the bathroom and turned off the light, then headedtowardsthe front door to double-check ifI had successfullylocked everything and powered up my sound alert system. I started walking up to the bedroom while still trying to wipe the water streak out from my hair. I proceeded into my room and dressedinto my most comfy clothes in order to relax and sleepbetter. Tonight is a fantastic time to wind down and catch up on sleep, and even more so since it was pouring with rain and sensually encouraging me to do so after a sequence of restless nights and a physically demanding volume of work at the department. I reached forthe lampshade from my bedside table and turned it off. Then I laidon the bed. As soon as my exha
Athena's POV I was lying on the bed, completely engrossed in my thoughts, when I caught a glimpse of Cloud, who was sleeping soundlessly beside me. There are so many things going on insideme that I simply can not comprehend or convey. I became indifferent after the incident, similar to a computer system beginning to fail after being contaminated by a virus. And I was detrimentally impacted as a result of what happened, which would be plainly apparent to everyone else around me. For weeks, all I did was stop and look silently at the ceiling and return my eyes for a moment to the person who speaks to me, invoking no response or attempting to make any other kind of visual cues in response to what it was they were saying. To be transparent, I am comprehensively aware of what is happening around me. I totally and utterly understand what people are trying to say to me. But I am so completely helpless and vulnerable that I cannot even muster t
Cloud's POV I was sound asleep when I suddenlyheara faint sound. I did not actually bother opening upmy eyes at first, instead of observing my surroundings based on the noise that took me by surprise. Furthermore, I repeatedly tried to vaguely remember the last situation which I had before finally losing consciousness. Oh, Athena and I were having somehilarious discussion, and afterward, I cuddled her and fell asleep without realizing it. Oh, yes, I remember. When I heardthe faintsound again, so I decided to finallyopen my eyes. I adjusted my vision atfirst, then started turning myhead inthe direction of such noise. I started to notice Athena sitting on a chair in front of the mirror. Not only that, but I observed her shoulders shaking violently and instantly concluded that the sound I must have been hearing was coming from her — she was obviously crying. I called out to her
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