Mag-log inShare
Chapter XXXIX: Grief
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Grief is not spontaneous or random.
It's the smallest things which set it off: the reminiscing of the past, minor similarities between the deceased and a stranger, or just an old face which reminds you of them.
It's always the smallest things which have the biggest impact.
You feel your heartache like someone is squeezing it from inside your chest, your entire face gets warm, and your stomach drops to your feet; you are unable to stand right because you feel light-headed and your knees are shaking. Your hand trembles and your head pounds. A lump forms in your throat, your vision blurs as the tears spring forth and the next thing you know, you're crying because of how much their presence meant to you, because you see that look on the faces of the people around you, and you can see how lifeless their eyes look, how much pain they are in by the monotony of their features, and it hurts, knowing
Kaugnay na kabanata
Unknown Territory Chapter XL: "I found you,"
November had come and gone, as had December and January; and spring had just come into full bloom as May rolled around. Salvatore had spent 2 months with a therapist, who then deemed him well enough to discontinue the sessions, and halfway through his first month, Nicole joined a 12-week PTSD group council which helped her immensely in overcoming the trauma of her mother's death.With spring rolling around, the weather lifted to that warmer notes and the flowers bloomed. In all that expanse of green, they have the courage to be anything else, to stand out with a beauty that draws people close. The flowers command a strength, a fragility, a vibrancy, a soft fragrance. They come as children do, boldly unique, born to grow in their own way. They come as the kind of smiles that reach the eyes. They come to help us to see with our hearts, for a love is a light that turns cold reason into an ever-branching and deeply rooted joy.
Unknown Territory Chapter XLI: Charity Gala
The warmth of the sun wasn't too harsh to stay indoors, and a slight chill loomed in the air with the gentle breeze that caressed the leaves on the tree. Salvatore sat on one of the garden chairs, his blazer draped over the back as he sat leaning forward, lost in thought. Across from him was his elder brother, Arsenio, a finger to his temple in contemplation and looking between them at the marble and steel chest set the latter had gifted the former on his 29th birthday.His hand hovered over the chessboard, looking around at his possible moves before Salvatore took hold of his rook and moved it across the board to be in place of Arsenio's knight."Check," The mafia boss stated and put the white tile to the side."I found you," The voice had Salvatore look up before a smile split across his face to see his wife making her way to him, dressed in a plain white loose-fitted A-line dress with but
Unknown Territory Chapter XLII: Regaining Consciousness
The first thing Salvatore registered upon regaining consciousness was the pounding against his forehead, the ache having him scrunch his eyebrows together before groaning. Then everything hit him all at once: the strong smell of the disinfectant, the sheets beneath his fingertips and the needle in the back of his hand, the mask over his mouth, and the sweat beading his forehead with the light bleeding in through his closed lids.Struggling to open his eyes, he grunted at how heavy they felt and how difficult it was for him to get his body working again like a computer rebooting. It took him a while, but eventually, he managed to open them, bringing his hand up to shield them from the brightness, a figure looming over him suddenly, their faces blurred and their voices muffled. Pulling the oxygen mask off him, he tried to speak, but his throat was parched and he couldn't manage to get a sound across.Apparently, the p
Unknown Territory Chapter XLIII: Emeralds and Diamonds
The day Salvatore asked the old team to get back, his current men knew it meant trouble. The very next day, all 5 men showed up with haircuts,shaven faces or trimmed beards, and in their freshly pressed suits, ready to get back to work.Gun and Hulk decided they will work with the recruits, train them and drill it into their minds that you follow orders. Alberto chose to work with the patrol officers, see how well their aim was and how quick they reacted under pressure. Sean helped Piero with the investigation as best as he could, while Major opted to stay in Salvatore's vicinity, working alongside Tazio and talking to Stephen who had been forced to live in the estate now – not that it bothered him, given that he would be treated like royalty.They all had been trying to figure out where Nicole was, trying to trace her phone, watching and re-watching the video feeds in case they had missed something. It
Unknown Territory Chapter XLIV: Growth
Nicole remembered how confused she felt when she had woken up in a room that wasn't her own. And her bewilderment had just grown exponentially to see herself dressed in the attire she had worn to the gala. Stumbling out of the bed, she had looked around herself, the room was scarcely furnished, with a wooden platform bed in the center, a wardrobe to her right along with a door leading to the bath, and a window to her left.Gathering her dress in her hands, she looked out, surprised to find it being dark, but her body was awake like it was morning. Walking towards the door, she tried turning it, finding it to be locked."Hey!" Nicole banged on the door with her fist. "Let me out!"The moment she had awoken she had realized she was kidnapped, and she had to wonder what happened to Salvatore, remembering the way he had stopped breathing. Knowing she had no way out, she settled back on the bed,
Unknown Territory Chapter XLV: Bedtime stories
Nicole did not know how long she had been locked away in that holding cell. She did not know what date it was, nor what time it was, but there were two things she was most certain of. One, her husband would come and find her soon; and two, she had a friend.Davide had proven to be quite trustworthy.She had been hesitant at first, but he kept talking to her, and she had been so deprived of human interaction of late that she took what she could get. He had the day duty with her four days of a week, and every time when he came to guard her, he'd bring one game or another and always had the most fascinating stories to share. Nicole laughed every once in a while and sometimes told him stories about herself, granted he didn't know who she was or whom she's married to, and he was very content with not prying.Davide had warmed up to her as well.She felt like a little sist
Unknown Territory Chapter XLVI: Sunrise
Rushing down the flight of stairs, Salvatore stepped out into the late October chill as their breath fogged up. Guards creating a circle with their guns pointed at the suit-clad man kneeling on the grass with his hands behind his head and breathing heavily.The man had brown hair that fell into his beady black eyes, a hooked nose with a jutting square jaw and had a rather pale complexion – either that or he was terrified."Who are you?" Salvatore stepped forward and clenched the ring in his palm, the guards stepping to the side with their guns poised."I need to see Salvatore Regnante," He looked up at him, causing the Mafia Boss to raise his eyebrows, realizing he had no idea who Salvatore was. "Please," He pleaded in desperation."Why do you need to see him?""I...God..." He choked out. "They took the ring and I-"
Unknown Territory Chapter XLVII: Fragmented
A groan escaped Salvatore as he was regaining consciousness and felt himself being dragged against the moss-covered forest floor before the texture changed from the rugged natural terrain to smooth marble. His head lolled from side to side as the stench of death attacked his senses, feeling someone pat him down before taking out all the weapons that he had; his phone included and then took off the bullet proof vest he had been wearing.With his skull pounding, he tried to open his heavy eyelids suppressing shiver when a warm sensation tickling down his nape and down his back.Suddenly he was dropped to the floor without warning and his head hit the marble floor with a grotesque crack that had the Mafia Boss groan in pain, clutching at his skull. A pained moan escaped Salvatore as he rolled onto his stomach, sitting up to be kneeling on the floor, a hand cradling the abused area and slowly cracking open his eye
Pinakabagong kabanata
Unknown Territory Epilogue
18-MONTHS-LATERThe sunlight filtered in through the cracks in the curtains, bathing the room in a limited glow. The illumination showing a master bedroom with an off-white carpet and walls that were half white and half sea-green wooden planks. The window was to the beds right and covered by cream-colored drapes. A grey high backed bed against the center of the wall with white sheets and two leather single benches at the foot of the bed, with an antique ottoman rug beneath the structure.Two people slept in silence, the beeping of the alarm disrupting the peace.A hand poked out from beneath the covers and fiddled with the device before turning it off, her ring glittering in the sunlight pouring in.No soon had she
Unknown Territory Chapter LI: End of the Line
Nicole choked on her sobs, unable to breathe as she clutched her knees, throwing her head back to inhale deeply, a trembling hand against her chest as she tried to regain her bearings."Nicole," Her father called out behind her softly and tried to lift her off the floor, stumbling back when she lost her footing.The lump and tears made it difficult for her to breathe, forcing her to wheeze as she pulled herself away from her father, making her way forward. Both Marco and Arsenio took a step back, allowing her to walk towards the bed, watching her shoulders shaking with her tears before she fell on his chest, gasping for breath.A hand stroked the back of her hair as she cried into his chest."Breathe," He croaked beneath her, stroking her hair with drips connected to the back of his palm. "Breathe, Nicole,"Shaking her head, she pulled back h
Unknown Territory Chapter L: Searching
Nicole had gotten discharged a few days ago with a prescription for medicine and instructions stating that she should rest and come for a check-up every month for the next four months. When she signed the forms, she had turned towards her guards, handing one of them the prescription and sending him to get the medicine, while the other was instructed to get her a fresh change of clothes, while she went and settled in Salvatore's room.She slept and woke there, didn't move from the place and always asked the doctor the same question."Have they found a heart yet?"But given that the Mafia Boss was an O-positive, it was difficult to find someone with that blood type and was a donor.His wife decided to speak to him in case she went insane from things left unsaid."You had no right to order Major to pull the plug,"Nico
Unknown Territory Chapter XLIX: Official Mandate
No matter how hard the doctors tried, Nicole refused to stay in her room.She would allow them to do their check-ups and would patiently sit through the 6-hour hemodialysis therapy, but the moment they would take her off the machine, she refused to sit in her room; instead, she would go and sit beside Salvatore.Day by day, she was regaining her strength, she began walking around her room, but wasn't strong enough to walk all the way to his room as of yet. So she had insisted that the doctors shift her to a room closer to his and promised to rest more if they did. It had taken a day or two, but eventually, she was moved to the room beside his.She even visited Serafina when the doctors would be in Salvatore's room.Nicole had to wonder, how beautiful and peaceful Serafina looked. Her hair was washed and brushed, her complexion fair, and her eyes closed, she loo
Unknown Territory Chapter XLVIII: Breaking of hearts
The light overhead is what awoke Nicole, that and the incomprehensible jumble of words swarming around her. Groaning, she blinked open her eyes, shielding them from the harshness of the light, and was surprised to find something tugging at the back of her palm. Turning her hand, she found I.V drips and various wires connecting her to different machines, an oxygen mask over her mouth, and what looked like a dialysis machine purifying her blood through her left arm.Looking towards the large machine to her left, she blinked her eyes, seeing her father seated and hunched over a book, murmuring the words out loud.Straining to listen, sherecognized the words, her eyebrows knitting in confusion before noticing the rosary in his hands."Since have you taken to reciting Holy Scripture?" Nicole asked in a hollow voice, suddenly realizing how parched she felt."Christ!"
Unknown Territory Chapter XLVII: Fragmented
A groan escaped Salvatore as he was regaining consciousness and felt himself being dragged against the moss-covered forest floor before the texture changed from the rugged natural terrain to smooth marble. His head lolled from side to side as the stench of death attacked his senses, feeling someone pat him down before taking out all the weapons that he had; his phone included and then took off the bullet proof vest he had been wearing.With his skull pounding, he tried to open his heavy eyelids suppressing shiver when a warm sensation tickling down his nape and down his back.Suddenly he was dropped to the floor without warning and his head hit the marble floor with a grotesque crack that had the Mafia Boss groan in pain, clutching at his skull. A pained moan escaped Salvatore as he rolled onto his stomach, sitting up to be kneeling on the floor, a hand cradling the abused area and slowly cracking open his eye
Unknown Territory Chapter XLVI: Sunrise
Rushing down the flight of stairs, Salvatore stepped out into the late October chill as their breath fogged up. Guards creating a circle with their guns pointed at the suit-clad man kneeling on the grass with his hands behind his head and breathing heavily.The man had brown hair that fell into his beady black eyes, a hooked nose with a jutting square jaw and had a rather pale complexion – either that or he was terrified."Who are you?" Salvatore stepped forward and clenched the ring in his palm, the guards stepping to the side with their guns poised."I need to see Salvatore Regnante," He looked up at him, causing the Mafia Boss to raise his eyebrows, realizing he had no idea who Salvatore was. "Please," He pleaded in desperation."Why do you need to see him?""I...God..." He choked out. "They took the ring and I-"
Unknown Territory Chapter XLV: Bedtime stories
Nicole did not know how long she had been locked away in that holding cell. She did not know what date it was, nor what time it was, but there were two things she was most certain of. One, her husband would come and find her soon; and two, she had a friend.Davide had proven to be quite trustworthy.She had been hesitant at first, but he kept talking to her, and she had been so deprived of human interaction of late that she took what she could get. He had the day duty with her four days of a week, and every time when he came to guard her, he'd bring one game or another and always had the most fascinating stories to share. Nicole laughed every once in a while and sometimes told him stories about herself, granted he didn't know who she was or whom she's married to, and he was very content with not prying.Davide had warmed up to her as well.She felt like a little sist
Unknown Territory Chapter XLIV: Growth
Nicole remembered how confused she felt when she had woken up in a room that wasn't her own. And her bewilderment had just grown exponentially to see herself dressed in the attire she had worn to the gala. Stumbling out of the bed, she had looked around herself, the room was scarcely furnished, with a wooden platform bed in the center, a wardrobe to her right along with a door leading to the bath, and a window to her left.Gathering her dress in her hands, she looked out, surprised to find it being dark, but her body was awake like it was morning. Walking towards the door, she tried turning it, finding it to be locked."Hey!" Nicole banged on the door with her fist. "Let me out!"The moment she had awoken she had realized she was kidnapped, and she had to wonder what happened to Salvatore, remembering the way he had stopped breathing. Knowing she had no way out, she settled back on the bed,
