he darkness swirling in my mind. I was still awake-my eyes wide, red, and raw from the te

ion of peace had shattered, and I was left with nothing but the tru

evi... then so be it. Safety had become my only currenc

me. His breath shifted. A soft yawn followed-innocent, almost childlike. He stretched, the s

me more than

so soundly after what ha

no hesitation-so full of grace and quiet charm

hts betr

it t

pire built

a warning bell, still ringing when

warm and smooth, like v

lin

The same lips that had ordered death now wish

barely escaped my throat. My voice tre

playing tricks on me? Could this rea

lked to the bathroom, took his time in the shower. I listened to the

an immaculate dark suit, h

were some old married couple in a normal life. "Make your

st like that

-but to me, it might as well have

eath

s my c

moved. I summoned Sara-my maid. M

ts later, her usu

you ca

ly, lowering my voice. "And I

he smiled gently.

, trying to mask my de

ing alone, you know, without anyone knowin

've been obvious,

wned, he

a path through the garden. There's a gate there-old

rt flu

," I

g her head. "Who exactly ar

mile. "That'

, clearly unconvinc

ited until late afternoon, until the sun had begun

in a small bag. Nothing too obviou

lway, every step screaming in my ears. I moved through the g

d, the gate was ther

even lo

tood just

ing, scanning for a bus-anything tha

it ha

o

ed to a stop

ut it was too late. One of them slammed something over my eyes, plunging me into darkness.

The van roared to life and sped off, t

dn't b

ldn't

eing ki

head like a siren, lo

d hell, I realized I had only st

-I couldn't tell. My mind was

n stopped. The

one of th

ng me out into a space I couldn't see.

shoved me into a chair-wooden, rough-and tied me t

front of me. All m

br

I did, please-ple

thing. Not a

they turned and left

op crying. Couldn't stop shaking. I didn't know

night

r en

ic

os

welcom

Heavy. Rhythmic. My

n he ap

e

fr

o

no

isbelief. The same Levi I had left that morning-elegant,

s tr

as their

sured, calculated. His presence filled th

to feel. Fear. Be

of them

him had a weap

.. he loo

a man look

ing looks at so

me a version of himsel

happene

et it for the r