Cloud's POV
When Athena told me earlier that she believed in me and trusted me, I did not know how to feel. I am not sure what that's about, but as soon as I got to hear that, I felt a toughening smudge form in my throat, starting to make me feel like I was suffocating on my own deception and lies.
I did not feel any shame or negative perception when I was doing it with Megan earlier. All I can think about is the pleasure and enjoyment I experienced as I demonstrated my wanderlust to her. I had become so enthralled that I lost track of time and even completely missed fulfilling my assurance to Athena. I soon realized it was late in the evening, but I have not scooped her up yet, and my mind was soon stuffed with apprehensions and horrible concern for her safety. Because of my selfish greed, I had totally forgotten that Athena was still deathly afraid of her previous horrific experiences, regardless of the fact that I had previously become e
Unknown POV I was looking straight at the woman, who had altered into her favorite nightwear. Looking through the window, she seemed to befatigued and emotionally drained from her routine tasks and responsibilities at work. I documented her as she waited anxiously for her boyfriend for two hours. I observed her troubled, worried, and scared to death expression as she started to look around her in pitch darkness. She was unceasingly scribbling something on her mobilephone and trying to call someone, but the way she dropped significantly her shoulders suggested that the interaction was a failure. When I landed at their house, I discovered his boyfriend trying to have some fun with another woman. He seemed to be so interested and engaged that they had replicated their malicious and deceitful activities over and over. Worse, they got it done in the very same bedroom and are on the same mattress where the legitimate girlfriendand
Detective Amiri's POV I was staring intently at my computer screen as I review the current case I am handling when a soft knock from my office door was heard. I called in with my loud and firm voice as I kept my eyes glued on the case I was evaluating. "Detective Amiri," a voice greeted me. I shifted my gaze to the person standing in front of me and recognized it was Dimitri. I nodded in acknowledgment as a response to his greeting. "What do we have?" I asked. Dimitri paused for a moment and took a deep and heavy sigh before he placed a file on my table. I looked at the file securely wrapped inside a thick, brown envelope. Then reverted my gaze on him with eyes full of question and curiosity. "It was the woman's file that was mentioned in Andrew Wilkins' case," he clarified. I remained to stare back at him as I waited for him to elaborate on what he was talking about. He cleared his throat. "Athena Collins, det
Athena's POV I have been calling Cloud countless times now, but he had not shown up yet. My shift has just ended, and he was supposed to be here to pick me up from work, but his figure nor his car was nowhere to be found. I have been standing here waiting for half an hour now, and I could feel my legs started to have some cramps because of standing for so long. It was 6:30 PM now, and all my co-workers and even my boss had already gone home after I politely refused their offer to bring me home. I hate to admit it, but I was actually starting to get worried. Cloud has been acting so strange and different ever since the night he forgot to pick me up at work. He seldom replies to my text messages, he rarely picks up my call, nor gives me a call. He also seemed to give me an update way too long. At home, he was still the sweet and caring Cloud that I know. But there was something about him that seemed to be so odd. And not only that, but
Unknown POV I almost got her. The one person I have been planning to save from this cruel nightmare has been taken away by those detectives. I slammed my fist into the long metal table, and it created an immeasurable, defeating noise. I was panting and gasping so hard, struggling to catch my breath. Not only that, but I had nothing to feel but the blazing fury inside me as I remembered what had transpired earlier. As I was tracking Athena Collins and her boyfriend for a month now, I got so used to their daily routine that I struggled so hard to strategize a concrete plan and execute it seamlessly. Lately, I have been seeing some loopholes in their daily routine. The boyfriend suddenly became negligent about Athena Collins, for the perfect reason that he began hanging out and giving more time to the other woman who recently intruded on their once-perfect relationship. Because of that, I was able to execute all my plans into rea
Athena's POV I jerked out of bed, my eyes wide open. My head spun, andI felt physically sick as a result of the sudden movement. I unthinkingly gripped my head, which I eventually discovered was sealed in a sterile dressing. I began to look around my body and started to notice that intravenous fluid had been infused into my right wrist. Then I glanced around and observed soft gel artifacts wallpapered on my chest, which I presumed were linked in some way to the equipment that was steadily rhythmic thumping on my side. I must have been dressed in a white gown that I later found for a hospital gown. I decided to shift my body into a better position, but I grimaced in extreme discomfort and pain. Just then, the door to my hospital room suddenly opened, and I was jolted by the sudden appearance of a person who could be my doctor. My attention has been drawn to the man who was trailing behind my doctor. He was dressed in a black coat and loo
Chad's POV Lovi and I are casually walking around the shopping complex andenjoying each other's company. I would never want to jump to any conclusions or misconstrue it, but I definitely think this is just what they consider a getting-to-know-you phase. We were snacking a cottoncandy, which would have been a sickly sweet treat with colors of the rainbow. I am sorry to have to say that I had never evenheard of it, although it was full of flavor and perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. I remembered her simply trying to point out to a vendor standing just next to his candy cart earlier, and the manner her lips pouted with her puppy dog eyes, I started to realize she was so sweet and adorableand looks almost exactly like a pre-schooler askingherfather to purchase her some candy bars. Dad? Yuck. There is really no way I am a child predator, and if we are having a discussion about age, we are
Megan's POV I had only just successfully completed taking a shower and had been dolled up in a crimson red sleeveless top that partially covered my body. It accentuatesall my body's perfect contours, and even more so my cleavage and my fair-skinned and lengthy thighs. I tried to swing in front of my full-length mirror and spritzed a mist of perfume to give myself a more alluring pervasiveness. Then I slowly opened the bathroom door to my room and decided to stand there leaning against it. I bit my finger as I gazed coquettishly at Cloud, who may have been sitting in bed, totally and utterly, deeply engaged in his own thoughts. I was expecting him to be gobsmacked and approach me in the door frame like he should have to, but his mind and thoughts seemed to have been somewhere else. He seemed tobe staring straight at me, but then you can see that his field of vision was not largely centered on me. I took a deep breath and tr
Unknown POV I am interested to know how often these days I had already left to sort this mess out. I have spent so long hovering the very same nook and cranny for the recent months. Furthermore, Imanaged to keep myself distracted with things thatI wanted to do to take the focus away from myself from the actuality that was seeking for me through my front door. There seem to be days when I am capable of handling my self-destructive sentiments, and that some nights are extremely critical, and I am continuing to learn that the next day I would get by is existence. I am trying to ascertain how many months I will really sketch various shades on my portrait; I do not even have a particular strategy. Some hours each night, I do not really feel positive about what I have accomplished in the last several months. It seems to be like something is seriously lacking as if I should have performed more. Especially given the fact that I grew up knowing I
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