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 inside me 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
Cloud's POV Aaaaahhhh!!! SLAP! As soon as I started hearing that sound, I snapped my eyes open and immediately started scanning my environment. Then I noticed Athena staring at me with concern, and I began screaming once more, absolutely petrified. SLAP! As I started to feel the stinging sensation on my cheeks, I was silenced. When I looked at Athena, I could tell she was dumbfounded by my initial response. I decided to sit back on the bed and raised her chin to glance into her eyes. Then I traced her cheeks and started to look at where her heart should be located. I took a deep breath, taking it easy. Everything is still very much intact. What a disturbing nightmare! Then, without warning, I managed to draw Athena in close, having caused her to bury her face in my broad shoulders as I enveloped my arms around her, ingesting her sweet
Unknown POVThe time is always three o'clock in the morning. It really does not matter if it is the 10th, September, or Monday,it will always be the same regardless.It will always be three o'clock in the morningwhen my heart drifts in order to find answers to the numerous amounts ofwhy's in my head. Begins to question towards which I may indeed know all the answers but nevertheless keep refusing to sink itin. I kept asking some questions because I had no idea what the solution was, clinging to the hope that one day I could very well comprehend all the turmoil within me.Maybe this is why I absolutely despise sleeping at night, having known that I will be sleep-deprivedsubsequently at the same ungodly hour. To continue sauntering and staring intently at those dazzling constellations from above, beginning to wonder why I am still here. It is somewhat heartbreaking that no matter how many people I ask, I still have si
Cloud's POVI could not really quit staring at my wristwatch and pondering for the past two hours, and I took a deep breath, "I miss Athena," I muttered to myself.Somebody else casually tapped me on the shoulder as I took a sip atmy cold beer. When I glanced up, I eventually realized it was Zidane. He grinned as he drew the chair next to me and sat down."Is everything okay?" he inquired loudly because of sound pumping up on the audio system was drowning out his voice.I nodded and wondered aloud, "Where is Chad?"He smirked and started pointing to the man who has been dancing nastily on a petite young lady. I followed my gaze to where he is pointing out, and we both burst out laughing. Chad, our friend, has always been a womanizer."How are you and Athena doing?" he queried abruptly.When I heard her name, I instantly smiled,"Yes, we are perfect,""So, the playboy has served his purpose,"
Megan's POV I kept pacing back and forth while looking intently in the mirror. I took a deep breath, plaintively, as I turned and swirled around, my reflection mimicking my movement patterns. Lovi and I went to visit a highly regarded shopping mall in the heart of New York City. They have lavish, high-quality brand products with a hefty price tag. I had persuaded her to accompany me after work so that I could try on newdesigner clothes and eventually make a purchase. Lovi started rolling her eyes and commented, "Megan, you have been standing there looking at yourself in the mirror for over an hour! I am not quite certain just what is taking you so long to finally decidewhat you reallywant." And, yes, she is completely right. I have been going around the dress shelves for about an hour, trying to pick random dresses. The saleswoman was very open and accepting at first, then after an hour of trying to follow me around
Megan's POV "Oh, yes, baby. Yeah," as he unleashed all of his inner demons and desires on me, the man groaned. He then wrapped his calloused fingers around my hips, attempting to catch his breath. After which, he started to shift his position from lying down to rolling up. He is now on top of me and superior to me. Then he kissed me vociferously, his hands fondling my smooth, silky skin while thrusting harder and deeper. As for myself, I have not been in the mood for this. I am not quite certain why, but ever since I had an impeccable encounter with Cloud, it crafted me to want him even more. Ever since that night, the baggage counter man from the extravagant shopping mall Lovi and I had decided to visit in the city had already shown a possessive desire for me. When I decided to walk out of the boutique after such shopping humiliation and anguish, I heard loud footsteps behind me. When I decided to turn around, I have seen the
Megan's POV I seemed to have no idea what has happened next. I just ended up finding myself buried in Greg's broad shoulders while gently caressing my back, comforting me. Then he started to pull away from me and lightly tried to wipe the tears rolling down my cheeks, which I have never come to the realization have been there in the first place. "Is everything all right, Megan?" he worriedly queried. I sniffed and nodded, then smiled at him. "What actually happened? Would you like to share it with me? "He inquired once more. I shook my head sternly and dismissively, conveying my disapproval. It must have been interesting to speak to a complete stranger every once in a while, but never to the significant degree of unraveling all the grave and confidential events that have taken place to me directly. Things that had a debilitating impact on my psychological well-being as a woman. Thoughts that would not e
Cloud's POVI continued to keep capturing Athena's lips, and I can nevertheless feel how initially reluctant she was to respond. So I came up with a plan to intensify my kiss, deepening its sensation and almost devouring her entire lips. I started to notice her quivering as a result of the current sensation I was continuing to give her. In contrast to how aggressive I am right now, she was only used to the tender, loving kisses I have been giving her before.I started teasing her, daring her to open her mouth. I bit her bottom lip, which caught her off guard. I took control of the situation by entering my tongue into her mouth and continuing to play with it. After a moment's delay, I can perceive her having to pick up the pace and adapting to my ravenous kisses.Then my hands started to migrate around her, up and down her body. After I was entirely satisfied with her lips, I dropped my lips into her neck, smooching, sipping, and breathing her en
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