Alison sat at the dining table, slowly eating the food Nicholas made. The silence between her and Nicholas was getting more suffocating as time passed by. She could feel his presence in the room even though he hadn't said anything.He stood by the window, his back facing her, staring out at the surroundings. She could tell his body was tense. He seemed to be thinking.“Do you ever talk?” Alison asked, finally breaking the silence between them.Nicholas turned slightly, his gray eyes narrowing. "Do you ever stop asking questions?"She bit her lip, holding back a reply. His dismissive attitude hurt her, but she reminded herself not to push him."I'm just trying to figure out what's going on," she said this time in a calmer tone.“I don't need you to understand, I just need you to be alive,” he said sharply.“How am I supposed to do anything when you barely say a word, how do you expect me to know what's going on” she could feel herself getting frustrated again.Nicolas turned around com
Alison walked into the living room, her heart racing.She was waiting to hear what he would say. Nicholas was leaning against the window, arms crossed over his chest, his grey eyes fixed on her as she entered. His face was blank, so serious.Sit, he said, pointing to the chair in front of him.She hesitated for a moment before sitting down.The silence was oppressive. Nicolas finally spoke, his voice cold and hard. "You have tested my patience and it’s over. There are rules to live by if you want to stay alive."Alison’s eyebrows furrowed. "Rules?" What rules?"You speak only when necessary," Nicholas said, "Don’t go anywhere without my permission." Get out of my way, and more importantly..." He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers and her stomach twisted. "Don’t ask questions."He closed his eyes, his disappointment rising to the surface. "I can’t ask questions?" How am I supposed to know what’s going on if you don’t tell me?"That’s none of your business," he said. Your job is t
Everything seemed to going slowly for Alison. She tried her possible best to be out of Nicholas's sight. She rarely sees him anyway. He was mostly out. She buried herself in her painting nowadays. It was the only way she was able to escape this harsh reality, ironically also what got her into this huge mess. She wasn't going to blame anyone, including herself, for the past days, she had come to accept her fate now. She stared in awe at her masterpiece which she just completed. She missed this. Just staring at the painting made her homesick, she thought about her parents and friends. Do they realize she's missing? Are they desperately trying to reach her? So many things came to mind. She had the urge to find where Nicholas hid her phone and call them but she knew that was just a big risk. She will risk Nicholas's wrath and the possibility of them being caught. She quickly banished the thought. She sighed as she stared at her painting once again. The painting reflected how she was fee
Alison stood in front of the mirror, her hands shaking slightly as she grabbed a black fitted T-shirt which was part of the clothes Nicholas got her. Her mind raced, what did he mean by ‘fight’. She thought of many scenarios and it didn't end pleasant.She sighed defeatedly, using her hands to brush back her hair before eventually leaving the room. Nicholas was still where he was waiting in his constant black outfit with his expression unreadable as usual.“Let's go,” he said, not even sparing her a glance. He headed out and she followed suit quickly.The evening breeze hit Alison as she reached outside. It was slowly getting dark and her mind raced of so many possibilities. “Was he going to punish her or was it some kind of test” “Where was he leading her to” “ What if he was sick of hiding and wanted to turn her in”l Her stomach twisted as she taught of so many things.Nicholas suddenly stopped walking and quickly turned startling her a bit. “ You need to learn how to defend yourse
The next morning, Alison woke up with a dull ache in her muscles, a constant reminder of her “training” with Nicholas. Every joint protested as she struggled out of bed, her body stiff and sore from the countless times he had thrown her to the floor. She groaned, rubbing her shoulder, silently cursing him under her breath. But she knew one thing for sure: giving up was not an option. Giving up wasn't in her vocabulary. Dragging herself into the kitchen, she found Nicholas already there, casually leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. His dark eyes locked on her for a brief second before returning to the phone in his hand. "Did you sleep well?" he asked dryly, not even attempting to hide the sarcasm in his voice. Alison watched him, reaching for a glass of water just to hold herself from throwing something at him. "Like a baby," she muttered under her breath. Nicholas's lips tightened slightly, almost as if he were fighting a smile. But it disappear as quick
Alison’s heart raced as she followed behind Nicholas to the house. Her body was in pain but fear overshadowed every ounce of pain.“Company.” The word echoed repeatedly in her mind, adding to the fear she was feeling.Nicholas didn’t say much and moved quickly, his sharp gaze scanning the windows and doors carefully. He went straight to a hidden compartment under the living room floor and pulled out a black bag.When he opened it, Alison’s stomach twisted: a collection of guns, knives, and bullets neatly packed inside.“Go upstairs,” he ordered without looking.Alison hesitated. "But...""Now, Alison." His voice was low, terribly serious, piercing her like a blade.She swallowed hard, shaking her head as she turned toward the stairs. But halfway up, curiosity pinned her to the spot. She leaned forward, peering through the wooden railings, watching Nicolas load a rifle with full concentration.A few moments later, a loud bang echoed through the house.Nicolas was not afraid. He simply
Adrian spent her time hiding in her room. Too scared to face them after the embarrassment she just faced leaving Tristan with Nicholas. “ The place is still the same, huh,” Tristan said, moving and looking around. “So why coming here, you couldn't message” Nicholas questioned “Adrian is suspicious of us, he probably wiretapped it, you know Luke is missing right” Of course, he didn't know. He thought of the last time he saw him. “He'll come back, he's a survivor, he's probably in hiding like us” “ Sure he is, but Adrian’s recent actions are strange.” Tristan put his hand on his chin as if trying to think. “ What do you mean” Nicholas asked curiously. “It's like he doesn't care any longer, he called off the bounty hunters and stopped his men from looking for you guys which is so confusing cause I know the chaos he made because of you guys” The statement puzzled Nicholas the most. What was Adrian planning? He knew Adrian the most. Adrian wasn't the type to give up easily especia
The rain started falling unexpectedly, its large droplets hitting the dusty windows and blurring the gray sky outside. Alison stood close to the window, her arms crossed, watching the rain. It reminded her of home. Inside the house, the silence felt heavier with the sound of the rain—each drop constantly reminding her of a feeling of stuckness. Nicholas sat by the kitchen table entirely focused on what he was doing. The table was in a mess of maps, files, and ruffled notes. His coffee was cold, left untouched since he poured it. His sharp eyes scanned all the documents, his expression as that of a stone. Alison wondered how anyone could stay so still for so long , getting more annoyed as she watched him longer. She snapped. "You staring at those papers all day won’t magically solve anything.” She knew she was being annoying but that was the only way to grab his attention. Nicholas didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look up. “And pacing by the window won’t change anything either.” S
The night passed with Alison experiencing no sleep. Frustration wove through her thoughts as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The way Nicholas was acting was still on her mind. It made her uneasy. He had pulled back once again just when she thought she was drawing nearer to him. The silence in the house felt eerie. It was as if the world beyond her bedroom had vanished. Something was definitely wrong. She suddenly sat up from the bed and ran a hand through her hair. The tension in the house was already suffocating, how could she lie here and act as if nothing was happening? She had already made her choice before she had had time to think it through. If Nicholas doesn't tell her anything, she is going to find out for herself. She got up quietly and padded across the room toward the door, swinging her legs over the bed. She slowly opened it and looked into the dark corridor. She felt a slight excitement. She shouldn't have been out here.Her bare feet hardly made a sound on the c
Alison could tell something was clearly wrong. She sensed a shift with how Nicholas was behaving but she couldn't place a finger on what it was.Nicholas definitely wasn't acting like himself, not that she knew well enough to actually know he's like. But she knew something happened to him. He's like he was waiting for someone to burst right through the door. He was colder than ever all of a sudden. Things were just going well between them. She wondered where the change came from.He was paranoid,he didn't let her go outside. She now had her training at the basement and she did them alone. He was more distant. She was sure something happened and it terrified her for some reason. She knew Nicholas wouldn't tell her anything. When has he ever told her anything?He was constantly working in his office and making a bunch of calls. She didn't know the kind of work but she imagined something dreadful. She noticed he was busier than before. She rarely sees him, mostly when she eats breakfast.
The light turned on in the warehouse as soon as Adrian entered, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the room with every steps he took. His men were ready, their weapons positioned to shoot if needed. The message he received was simple: We need to talk.Adrian wasn't the type to be summoned, he summons people, no one dare summons him maybe that was why he found the message intriguing. This was no ordinary informant. This person knew Nicholas and they knew him well.A figure stepped into the light emerging from the shadows. The man had a relaxed posture and was fully clothed in dark clothings. Adrian's eyes narrowed. He had anticipated a low-level mole, an unnamed traitor. Not the person he was seeing.The man before him was thought to be dead. Luke. It took a while before Adrian spoke, studying him for signs of deceit. Adrian folded his arms with ease and remarked, "So," he paused "You're the one feeding me information from.”Luke smirked. “Took you long enough to figure it out.”Adri
Nicholas didn't sleep at all. He couldn't allow himself to sleep. He guarded the window, his eyes glued outside in search of any movement or hidden shadows. The symbol craved in Alison's window was plainly on his mind. He knew they were watching, they were waiting and Nicholas was ready for them whenever they were ready to strike.The hours dragged on yet nothing happened. No movement or attack at all. Just pure silence. This was the hardest part. The certainty that something was meant to happen but nothing was happening at all.By morning, the house remained untouched. Nicholas understood assuming they were out of danger would be a big mistake. The moment he was about to sleep, his phone let out a buzz. It was the same number.Unknown Number: You didn’t sleep, did you? His fingers tightened around the phone. Whoever was behind this wanted to mess with him. They wanted to make him doubt his own security.Unknown Number: Nicholas, you're slipping. You can't keep her safe forever.He a
Nicholas's grip tightened around his phone as he reread the messages. “You don't know how close we are.”He stared into his phone as the word reverberated in his ears. The statement was straightforward, but it was as if a knife had been driven into his heart.As he inhaled, his jaw tightened as he felt repressed wrath wanting to surface. This person wasn't merely making fun of him. It served as a warning. It was more like a statement. They were aware of her she was here. Could it be Adrian? Adrian don't bother using a burner phone. He texts him directly.Nicholas was aware he had so many people. He had killed a lot of people and he wouldn't be surprised if their loved ones goes out seeking revenge. He doesn't have time to think whether it was Adrian or not. Whoever it was. They are probably on their way by now Nicholas's first impulse was to summon his men and order everyone in the vicinity to return right away.However, he stopped himself. No. Adrian could not afford to alert his sold
Although the night was silent, his thoughts were not. Nicholas stood by the window. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand, even though he barely took a sip out of it. Though his mind was centered on the darkness outside, his thoughts were else that was not here. They accompanied her. Alison.He sighed deeply, feeling that familiar weight in his chest—the one he had grown used to in the past days. This wasn’t meant to happen. She wasn't meant to be anything. Just a tool to be used. A reminder of Amelia, yes, but nothing more. But every day that passed, she became less of that reminder and more of… herself. He was frightened by that.She spoke to him as though he were a human who hadn't committed grievous sins, as though he was someone worth worrying about, and then she said, "I just don't want you to get hurt."Nicholas felt the burn through his throat as he gulped down the whiskey, calling his attention back to the present. He needed to wake up, remember who he was, what he had lost,
The times passed slowly and Alison busied herself sketching and painting. She took a moment to realize she was drawing him. Him. He has been in her mind these days. Like a force that refuses to leave. She wanted to rip it off.The painting was magnificent. His eyes. His gray eyes looked so enchanting. His sharp jaw. His eyes in the painting held a soothing softness. One she hasn't seen in his eyes.She hated it. She hated the fact she wanted to see this on his face when he looked at her. She hated the fact he was invading her thoughts. She hated the fact that she let her guard down even if it was only a little.This was dangerous and she knew it.By afternoon, Alison heard footsteps at the door. She was certain Nicholas had returned.She felt her heart skip a beat but it was not out of fear.She quickly hid her sketchbook, the last thing she wanted was for Nicholas to see the drawing and think she was obsessed with him or anything. She started to read an old book she found on a dusty
Alison sat down peacefully on the couch as Nicholas tended to her injury. He cleansed her ankle's wound with delicate, cautious hands.There was something softer in his countenance, despite the fact that his brows were wrinkled in concentration. It was something something she hadn’t seen before.She tried not to feel anything.But she did.The warmth of his touch. The faint smell of his cologne. The way his eyes flickered to hers every now and then, as if checking to see if she was okay.“You need to be more careful,” he muttered, his voice low. “Things could have gone worse.”“I can handle it,” she replied, though her voice was losing its usual sharpness. “It’s only a scratch.”“ Just a scratch, huh” he mocked, pretty sure he saw her limping.Nicholas looked up; their eyes briefly met for a moment, but it was enough for Alison's heart to be at faster. Neither of them spoke but everything unsaid seemed to hang in the air between them.But then, as always, Nicholas was the first to bre
Alison carried on like nothing happened.It was an accident. Nicholas was half asleep. He probably didn't remember anything. She had been stupid to let her guard down. Only one thing mattered —Survival.No matter how she tried to forget, she could still feel his warmth, his arms around it. She could still remember how his face looked so peaceful, so vulnerable. It was so unsettling to her. She shouldn't be thinking like that. She mustn't. When she entered the living room, Nicholas was already there sipping his coffee. He was back to his usual self—cold and distant. It was nothing like the pain in his eyes she saw last night. She was right, he probably didn't remember anything.“Training starts in ten,” he said, his voice sharp, sparing her a quick glance..Alison nodded quickly. “Got it.”Neither of them said anything. But the silence between them felt different. Not cruel. There was this tension in the air that Alison felt, she wasn't if he felt it too.The training was tense that d