I open the messages first, and Natalie, my classmate from BYU, one of the very few people I talk to has sent me multiple messages since last night asking if I am okay. What is she talking about? I scroll up to the first message and it is a link to an article. I click on it with my heart in my throat.By the time I finish reading it, I am shaking. I think I am more scarred by the intimate paintings of my mother than the implications of the article. In all three paintings, Kathryn is in different poses, utterly naked. Vulnerable and yet disturbingly beautiful. I can't wipe the images out of my head even if I tried. That was my mother. It is not exactly far- fetched from what I knew she was capable of, but to see evidence of it, so stark and shameless, it takes my breath away. The paintings are life-like. Detailed. And so disturbing, fucking hell.The artist, Arthur Beau doesn't ring a bell for a short second before I am remembering an afternoon in Linc's office where he was turning me a

"I am sorry, ma'am. You can't leave. Orders from Mr. Dmitri." Creed repeats the mantra. I wonder if he even recognises me. He looks the same as three years ago. The stoic looking middle aged security agent that mans the main entrance to the mansion. I know he doesn't work alone, he is just the one that you see. And he is a mean looking bastard, I don't think I have ever seen him smile.I am exasperated at this point. I am barely holding myself from lashing out at his cool demeanour as he sits there in his cubicle, eyes concealed behind thick dark glasses, big lips held in a straight line."I am literally going out to meet him. Should I call him and tell him you're being a stuck up and keeping him waiting?" I yell so my voice carries over across the partition of his cubicle. The glass looks solid and heavy but I know he can hear the slightest sound. Even though he keeps his expression neutral.Creed turns his head to look at me, my lie must have gotten him to waver. I just have to keep

"Okay, sir. I get you. We will get to work immediately." Mrs. Delgado says calmly.I end the call without waiting for Mr. Harvey, the lawyer, to chip in. I am sick of the seemingly endless back and forth conversation. I just need it fixed. And now. I am so mad that I predicted the angle this shit would take once it hit right. I had hoped I was just being paranoid. But now I know better. People are insane. Why the fuck would Amelia be roped into this? How did Arthur even know about her? Kathryn rarely talks about her daughter to her flings.I push all the thoughts aside as I walk out the office."Mr. Dmitri, sir, you have backlogged meetings. I have got the most important on hold right now, are you on your way out already?" Charlotte follows me as I head straight for the elevator, when I step inside the waiting car without so much as turning to look at her or even acknowledge her with a word, she turns around, getting the message.Nothing is as important as getting back to Amelia right

Something very vital that is just out of my reach.I hear footsteps at a distance that I can't judge from my position, bound on this metal chair, but it is clear that it is someone walking by. I can't mistake the rhythmic sound of hard boots slamming on the cement floor."Is someone there?" I yell, but the sound comes out pathetic. Low and weak. My throat is parched. I am tired and I am scared.I have just been kidnapped. I don't know what to think. My best friend betrayed me. My heart lies in a million shattered pieces at the bottom of my stomach.The footsteps stop. Then it starts moving again, but by the faint sound of each step, I can tell it is receding instead of coming towards me. I clear my throat and open my mouth."Hello! Who is there! Help! Hello!" My voice echoes back at me emptily. Whoever it was is gone. I sag dejectedly into the uncomfortable metal chair. My body heat has warmed it to a point, but my back is bent at an angle that makes my whole body hurt. I don't know h

Our classmates might not believe this if I told them. He was able to deceive Ashley for fuck's sake. My best friend. People in his everyday life who have not witnessed this part of him wouldn't believe it. "Well fuck. Open your mouth." Tyler says and pours the lukewarm content of the bottle on my face, I don't have a choice other than to open my mouth else the water goes down my nose. His face has a maniacal glint to it as he watches me struggle with drinking the water pouring down my face. It is all I can do to not cry. It is over in a moment. I swallow the water and surprisingly, feel better. If only by a fraction. Tyler walks away and I remember Ashley behind me. "Wait, please. Ashley. She needs it." I am unable to say more. I guess I am still numb but he stops and looks back at me. He looks past me and scoffs. He walks off to the window and drops the bottle of water so it spills. I watch this with a crazed kind of terror. I am mad at Ashley and all, but I know she is in a worse