Unveiling Shadows: Echoes of Vengeance, Ties of Betrayal

CHARLIE

“WWhy? WWhere am I again?” The horror of my recurring nightmare engulfed me once more, an inescapable torment that refused to release its hold.

I was aware that it was not real, yet I was unable to stop experiencing it. In addition to that, I was unable to make it disappear.

I had found my way back to the same endlessly eerie dungeon. I felt my heart beating fast even though there was no one following closely after me.

“HHelp! PPlease! Help me!” Even though I wasn't being pursued by anybody, I continued to scream hysterically, and it didn't faze me in the least whether I made a mess of myself or fell along the hallway.

It was really dark in there, the ground was filthy, it was damp, and the air gave off the impression that it was trying to kill you by suffocating you in some way.

“I don’t want to die yet. Not here, not now! Someone, help me out of here!”

Rust wafted through the air in that dungeon, and the discomfort it caused was so intense that I got the impression I could practically taste it.

After some time, I became exhausted from all of the running. Exhausted from my futile attempts to flee, I finally surrendered and sank to the ground.

I came to a halt when all of a sudden, I became aware of the presence of another person just behind me. I didn't waste any time turning around and spotted a man.

“It was him, again!” The same guy in every nightmare I had. The guy without a face.

I had a focused eye on him, and I made sure to take in his whole physique. It was covered with enormous, gruesome open wounds, and he gave the appearance of being close to death from bleeding out.

I stood up from the ground as I can no longer take his gaze upon me. But as I was about to walk away, he asked me once again with the same inquiry he does in every nightmare, "Where do you think you’re going?"

It made me stunned as I was well aware for the next thing that was going to take place. The man will definitely slap me, just how he did on the previous nightmares.

“No!” Aware of the impending blow that would knock me to the ground, I startled awake just before its impact.

“No!”

Unlike the initial encounter, there was no fear or unease gripping me upon awakening. Instead, a strange calmness settled within, my breath steady and undisturbed.

The nightmare now felt like a distant movie, one I observed from afar with detached indifference, devoid of any emotional impact. A peculiar tranquility engulfed me, even though its origin eluded my understanding. I simply felt obviously calm.

Even though I was awake, I couldn't open my eyes since I am can feel that I am somewhere unfamiliar.

In addition to this, I was aware that there was someone sitting next to me, but I was unable to identify him.

But is it possible that the presence of this person was the cause, that I had reached a state of calm after the reoccurring nightmare?

The person’s whispers grew faint, and his words were no longer comprehensible.

It wasn't Gideon, and it wasn't Julius, either. It sounded like someone else, maybe someone I had never seen or spoken to before. Although I was not acquainted with his voice, it seemed to me that I had heard it before.

Amidst the murmurings, I caught fragments of his words, "Sorry, I am really sorry. I hope you could still forgive me. But I would still choose to belong in this chaotic world of mine now..."

Slowly, I opened my eyes, recognizing the face of a man who stirred a vague sense of familiarity. Our mutual surprise lingered in the air as I observed him more closely, noticing the wheelchair he occupied. Searching my memory, I struggled to place his identity or recall any prior encounters.

‘Who in the world is this man? Why does he appear familiar even if he is not? Is he famous or something? Have our paths crossed before? Or did I meet him somewhere?’ Immediately, a wave of these ideas swept over my head.

The man remained silent as he avoided my gaze. I couldn't hold back any longer and finally blurted out, "Who are you?!"

The guy recoiled, averting his gaze, dismissing my presence entirely. Undeterred, I persisted, desperately seeking answers, yet he remained obstinately silent.

"Who are you and why are you here? Or where I am and why? What have you done to me?"

I felt like I had suddenly turned into a ghost. A ghost that no one could see or hear when it appeared. He turned aside and then just shouted something to the nurse.

One of the nurses who had helped me earlier had rushed in and said, "Yes, sir. What can I do for you?”

When I looked at the two of them, I had no idea what to think. I was lost in bewilderment.

"Take me back to my room immediately!" the man in the wheelchair commanded with a firm tone, which seems so scary.

"Yes, sir!" the nurse responded dutifully, guiding him out of the room with careful haste.

"No, wait! Answer me first, please!" I pleaded, attempting to halt their departure.

“Please, don’t leave me here. Where are you going? Please, tell me who you are! And where am I, and why am I here? What do you need from me? Please! I'm utterly confused! What is happening?"

He had no compassion or whatsoever and ignored me in every way possible. I broke down into tears due to my annoyance. After a while, I was no longer able to comprehend what was going on.

“This will make me insane!”

One day, a horrible image of Julius was sent to me along with a message, a warning.

After then, the next thing I knew, I found myself held captive by unknown men.

Following that, I was locked up in a dark and dangerous prison, feeling lost and helpless. “And now? What happened?”

I was rescued miraculously and was sent in a supposed safe haven? “No way! It was too surreal to be true.”

When the nurses assured me that I was in a secure location and that I did not need to be concerned about anything, I know, it was a lie. They most likely lied to me. I was trapped.

“Why does it have to turn like this? What did I do to deserve this? I just want a peaceful life!”

I wept, seeking solace on my bed as a throbbing ache returned to my head. Thoughts swirled, consumed by Julius and Gideon.

The questions continued their relentless assault—Was Julius unharmed? Was he safe? Where was Gideon? Was he searching for me? Will he be able to save me?

After some time had passed, I came to the conclusion that I needed to be brave.

Mentally and emotionally, I needed to pull myself together, so I forced myself to stop crying.

Eventually, a resolve ignited within me. I had to find strength, both in mind and spirit. Wiping away tears, I steeled myself, determined to uncover the truth.

"If none of them have the courage to speak the truth... then I shall embark on my own quest for answers," I resolved, devising a plan whose efficacy remained uncertain, yet held a glimmer of hope.

As I pondered the events that had transpired, confusion washed over me like a tidal wave.

“How did I end up in this twisted nightmare?”

“When did my life spiral into such chaos?” The questions swirled in my mind, demanding answers that remained elusive.

I found myself trapped in a web of uncertainty, haunted by memories that seemed to belong to someone else.

“Was it fate that led me down this dark path? Or were there sinister forces at play, orchestrating the events that had shattered my world?”

“Or perhaps… the blame lies within me from the very beginning, when I dared to challenge and disrupt the hidden underworld society… The world of mafias...”

CHARLIE

I was lounging on a plush white sofa, enjoying its low and comfortable embrace one evening.

Piles of papers covered my lap as I jotted down questions, engrossed in my work. Suddenly, my phone on the table jolted me out of my reverie with its insistent ringing.

“Who could it be this time, huh?”

There were calls made for some phony news and perspectives, there were people who demanded favors that were beyond of my authority, and there were even some death threats that were made.

It was and has always been like that ever since I joined the tumultuous world of media.

They would contact me so early in the morning that it would interrupt my sleep on occasion, and other times they would even call me at midnight. There were times when I answered the phone and there was complete silence on the other end of the line.

It was just the sound of the crickets or perhaps the sound of someone breathing, but there was never a single word or a hazy speech.

"Kids nowadays really know how to make fun of other people huh," This is what I thought every time I accepted or before ending some of the said phony calls.

I extended my arms and placed some papers down on the sofa before stretching. I was being obnoxious by reaching for my phone, which was sitting on the end table.

I attempted to ignore it, but the call persisted even after that. It was relentless in its pursuit of snuffing out my momentum on thinking and writing, but just when I was ready to switch it off, a message suddenly popped up from an unknown number.

'Princess Mirabella' these two words appeared as a message on the screen in quick succession.

"Princess Mirabella?" I read silently with a frown.

I was taken aback by the strange messages that I've been receiving as of late. Even though I didn't have the slightest clue as to who the sender might be – I couldn't help but wonder if they were making fun of me or if they were just sending random texts to the wrong people.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed some answers and needed to figure out who was sending me these strange messages. I didn't even have a single idea as to who the sender might be.

When I read these words again that appeared on the screen, I felt a tightening in my chest, and I couldn't quite put my finger on how to describe the sensation accurately. It appeared to me that I had a connection to it, and I felt that connection.

“Princess Mirabella…”

I inhaled deeply before pushing myself off the sofa and standing up. After tying my hair up and grabbing my coffee cup from the table – which had been piping hot only an hour earlier but was now ice cold – I made my way to the window.

I paused for a few seconds to gaze out the window. Outside, there was nothing but complete and utter blackness. After a few more deep breaths, I attempted to recapture the momentum that I had been losing as a result of the distressing and weird phone calls and texts that I had been getting.

“Focus self. Focus!” I mumbled to myself while taking a gulp of my coffee.

On the other hand, the reverse occurred, as instead of finding clarity, a rush of memories flooded my mind.

Flashes of my brother Alejandro chasing me in our garden. We were playing together, and he never wanted me to get injured in any way. He was such a gentleman in a young age.

I looked over and saw my mother and father standing in a gazebo. They were yelling at us to come out of hiding because they said it was going to start raining and we needed to get back inside as soon as possible.

A resumption of my brother's pursuit coincided with the beginning of a loud ringing sound coming from my phone. My body felt as if it had been brutally kidnapped and yanked out of a foreign dimension – maybe a realm of unwelcome flashbacks – but anyway, it caused me to be jolted out of reality, and I was horrified as a result.

As soon as I tasted the delicious coffee that had been turned into a sour one, I thought to myself, "This coffee is no longer helping."

As my anger level rose, I hurriedly placed the item back where it had been and reached for my phone instead. I was quite fortunate that it was not yet another call from an unknown number.

When I saw her name, some of the tension in my body began to release. It was Avery. Avery Guavez. She was my best friend and one of the only individuals in my life whom I trusted and who stood with me throughout my struggles.

She was gorgeous and our height was the same, and I really appreciated her laidback, calm attitude toward life. I can say that she’s, my constant. Her calm and easygoing nature always brought me solace.

"Hey there, Charlie! What’s up?" Avery's voice greeted me with enthusiasm the moment I answered the call.

"Oh, hi there," I still wasn't able to come up with the words. I was still feeling a little amount of frustration as a result of all the ideas that had been going through my head because of the phone calls that seemed to have already damaged my eardrum and brain at the same time.

“What’s with that tone, girl? Are you okay?” Avery asked, concern was evident in her tone.

"Hmm, just tired, I guess. This evening had been a little bit hectic. As per usual, I'm working on my papers, and it’s giving me headache now. But, thank goodness you called, because I really need some rationality right about now. You are my savior, Avery!” I joked, trying to downplay the chaos in my mind.

"Just a little bit hectic, huh? Are you sure it was just a bit? Oh, come on, dear friend, don’t fool me!” she exclaimed, still concerned.

I just made a soft giggle as a response and then before I could even say a word, she continued talking.

"You never stop saying that, Charlotte! It’s not a bit, you are super busy. And now, you sounded like you were under a lot of pressure. Perhaps you might benefit from a little diversion!”

“A little diversion? What do you mean?” I inquired and I heard her heaved a sigh on the other line.

CHARLIE

“Well, you know, have some fun! You've forgotten how to enjoy yourself! Sometimes, you need to shake things up a bit and then return to your path," Avery suggested, her voice taking on a more serious tone. She really understood the pressures of my job.

"I didn't think a little distraction was what I needed, perhaps… maybe I just needed a little more focus?"

We shared a giggle as I cautiously balanced my phone on my ear with the shoulder of one of my hands.

I was anticipating an offer to hang out with her, and it was possible that she might want a movie night at my house as well, so I did some light cleaning and attempted to retrieve the papers that I had thrown on the sofa earlier.

I was only trying to tidy up a little since I knew it when Avery talked like way. It's not like we aren't comfortable with each other yet to see each other's homes in disorder or in a complete mess.

She was presumably up to something something that would need me to quit my work for a while and shake things off a little bit, and as soon as I thought of that, she simply spoke with excitement.

“No! You already focused enough with your work, Charlie. So for now, you need to have fun. And I am sure you’re up for it!”

"Yeah, right. When will I ever learn to say no to you, Avery?" To alleviate some of the uneasiness, I let out a lighthearted chuckle.

All my worries, I didn't really want to speak about it just now — neither the odd phone calls nor the ludicrous text messages that I've been getting a lot more often recently.

In addition, since I was working as a journalist at the time, I made an effort to classify them as belonging to the category of "normal."

To allow these things to impact me in real life and, of course, in a more intimate manner, I felt it could be unprofessional of me to do so because of the nature of the relationship we had.

My first reaction was that it was probably not essential for me to become involved with or immerse myself in these straightforward hoax calls and texts.

“Yes, and it sounds like a lot of fun! Trust me!" Avery exclaimed once more.

"Okay, fine. Tell me, when will it be?" I inquired once more and I did not stop her from continuing.

“Tonight, Charlie! The celebration was in honor of Mason's birthday. One of our close pals from high school, do you remember him? Additionally, he was a student in our English class!”

I gave Mason a little amount of my attention and did my best to picture his appearance in my mind.

"What’s with the silence, Charlie? Oh God! How could you possibly forget the only student in our English class who knew twenty other languages?” Avery sneered at me.

"Mason Kingston? Oh that guy!” As soon as I recalled him, I instantly referred to him as ‘the one who always sits beside Fiona’.

“Yes! And while we're on the subject of Fiona, she would be there as well. I've heard that several of our old friends and classmates from high school will also be there! Exciting, right?” It sounded as if she was rather thrilled.

“Hmm, I see…” I only murmured as I was trying to make an educated estimate about the list of persons whom I could run into later on at the party.

"Just say yes! You already know you can’t say no to me so, I'll come get you up at nine o'clock!”

After I gave my ‘okay’, the two of us ended the call. After that, all I did was put my phone somewhere else and concentrate on getting my assignments done.

Thankfully, after I had eliminated all potential sources of distraction, I was able to complete my work well in advance of 7 o'clock and had plenty of extra time to get ready for the party.

Just now I was wearing a formfitting cocktail dress. It was dark in color and had a seductive slit along with a little bit of glitter on the bottom part of it.

Avery came to get me at 9 o'clock that night, as we had previously arranged, and we drove to a lavish penthouse that was given the name “Pentagon”.

The apartment was decorated with a sophisticated color scheme of black and dark blue.

Everything, from the floor to the furnishings, and even the strobe lights, was a rental. Avery and I went outside, up to the rooftop, where there was a large bar that seemed to be rather elegant as well as a pool.

On the edge of the rooftop, there was a seating area with sofas that gave off an upscale appearance, while another was located by the pool.

A lengthy bar had been stocked with expensive bottles of booze in neat rows. Because the volume of the music was higher inside than it was here, we decided against going back inside initially.

I was a bit selfconscious since there were a lot of people around me whose faces I didn't remember, even if some of them seemed somewhat familiar. In contrast to Avery, she seemed to be smiling at everyone she saw as if they were all old good friends.

"Gotcha! There he is!" Avery exclaimed and pointed to a guy who had a wide back with his finger.

To my surprise, I struggled to recognize the resemblance between our dorky high school classmate Mason and the striking figure before me.

“That was Mason, right?” I spoke to Avery in a hushed tone.

CHARLIE

"Unbelievable, right? But yeah! It was him all along! He has gone through a lot of transformation and has become a lot more gorgeous as a result!” Just now I became aware that Avery had begun drinking when she waved to Mason while holding a bottle of vodka in her hand.

Mason approached us with a kind grin, instantly putting me at ease. "Wow! Hey, there! Charlie Caivano and Avery Guavez, right?"

“Yeah! And last but certainly not least, the unrivaled Mason Wickson! What a wonderful birthday!" Avery gave Mason a bear hug, which made it uncomfortable for me to not reciprocate, so I gave Mason a little bear hugs out of embarrassment instead. Mason seemed to appreciate the gesture.

"You caught me off guard! You both look amazing. I wanted to catch up, but more guests keep arriving. Let's reconnect with our old classmates later. For now, just enjoy the night," Mason said graciously before excusing himself to attend to other guests.

I hadn't expected him to have such a large circle of friends. In high school, Mason was an awkward dork, rarely seen with companions.

He hurriedly turned around and entered the penthouse before leaving. He had a lot on his plate between mingling with the freshly arriving guests and walking about.

"See? I told you he was so adorable now!" Avery chortled and dragged me closer to the water as she glanced about for a spot to sit down.

"And when did you start admiring nerds?" I teased.

"Oh, for God's sake! Just take a look at him now! He is not like anybody else!” Avery replied.

“There!” She continued right away while pointing to the large sofa that was next to the pool.

"You know what, Ms. Journalist? Instead of secondguessing your preferences, why don't you fetch us some vodka?" Avery settled onto the sofa, gesturing toward the bar. As Avery relaxed into the party, my shyness waned. I agreed and headed toward the bar.

I approached the bartender who was standing closest to the edge, despite the fact that all of them seemed to be in good grooming.

"Vodka for two, if you could, please!" The bartender seemed to be no more than 20 years old based on his appearance alone. After receiving the order, he began preparing the beverages.

"Yes, two vodkas coming right up, for you lovebirds," the bartender joked as he started preparing the drinks. I waved off his comment, not wanting to entertain any romantic notions.

“Love birds…” I began to say, but before I could finish, a familiar voice interrupted me from behind.

To my utter astonishment, I recognized an old friend. A tall, gorgeous man who wore a suit that seemed like it cost a lot of money – almost as much money as the broad grin he sported on his face while glancing at me.

"Hi Charlotte!" I was speechless, my jaw dropping at the unexpected encounter. Memories flooded back, and it took a moment for me to regain my composure.

I had no way of forgetting that this person was involved. It took me a few seconds to blink before I understood that he was listening for me to make a comment or question.

I gave myself some time to process the fact that I was gazing at Julius for an extended period of time. I was really captivated by him. It was indeed him, right in front of me.

‘Julius Ferguson.’

However, he was not like any of the other students in our high school class. He was one of a kind of our classmates.

In my mind, he was never just an average student who shared the same classroom as I did and sat next to me. He was priceless to me; he was a star, serving as a fascinating inspiration and a source of motivation for me throughout those days, and I could tell... maybe even till today.

“Charlotte, I apologize for appearing out of nowhere like a specter here. Have you forgotten me already?" Julius grinned and walked closer to where I was standing.

"Oh hello! Julius! It was –" Even though there was no genuine cause for my nod, I nevertheless gave it. "It was wonderful to have you with us today. I simply... didn't really expect to see you around"

As I blurted out my response, I was aware that my face was becoming pink. So, I had to look away.

"You haven't changed one bit, Charlie. You still get tonguetied around me, and I have no idea why," Julius said with a playful smile, approaching me.

"What do you mean?" I chuckled nervously, feeling the intensity of his gaze. Even looking at him was too much for me to bear.

"Perhaps because I always seemed to show up unexpectedly. But don't worry, I won't be the only one here tonight," Julius teased, walking beside me.

I slowed my pace, unable to process his sudden presence. I had no right to inquire why he was here, and I didn't want to embarrass myself further.

Julius was standing next to me as I turned to face the counter. Unfortunately, by the time I had feigned to observe the bartender, he had already finished making the drinks.

"Here it goes! Two vodkas for you, love birds!" As he was setting the drinks down on the counter, the bartender again mentioned the word, ‘love birds’.

“Uh no–” I made an aggressive motion with my hand. "He was not... my... I wasn't even his—"

When I looked across at Julius for a moment. He seemed to be making fun of me by smiling widely and giving me the impression that he was taunting me.

"Sorry, but we’re not love birds. Thanks for these, by the way!" I immediately accepted the beverages, and Julius stopped me just as I was going to make an embarrassment of myself by walking away.

“Charlotte, calm down. There is no need for you to behave awkwardly. He was unaware of it," he uttered.

I was completely taken aback by him, being here, and I had no idea what action to do next. I am not allowed to inquire why, and I never had the right to do so.

"You're hanging out with Avery, right?" After giving him another quick glance, I nodded in his direction.

"Oh, I see. Well, let me introduce myself to her!" He stated and I didn't say anything. On our way to Avery, I just let him to accompany me.

As soon as we got closer to Avery, we could see that she was already feeling a little tipsy and that she had a large number of empty glasses in front of her. There were both male and female voices heard conversing alongside her.

"What took you so long?" Avery inquired in a jovial manner, and then she spotted Julius standing next to me. As she spoke, I saw that her eyes were becoming wider.

I gazed at her, warning her not to make any fun comments or so, but to no avail.

"Oh my! Charlie, you really shouldn't have come back sooner. Now the two of you can have a good time together, in secret, if you'd like..."

It was obvious that Avery was being playful. She was aware of the fact that I had a significant crush on Julius while we were in high school together.

And perhaps, up until now as obviously, I am blushing.

CHARLIE

The stars in the night sky had already begun to appear. The penthouse seemed so near up in the sky that it gave the impression that you could reach out and touch them if you jumped off of anything.

As midnight drew closer, the volume of the music that was playing inside increased. Because the penthouse is outfitted with enormous transparent mirror walls, it is possible to see the occupants from the outside.

I stood back and observed the other guests as they danced with one another. Some of them were gathered in the bar, while the others were perched on the edge of the rooftop looking down at the city lights.

There were some other people who seemed to be having a good time with others who I had believed they had just met at the party, and then I noticed Mason taking a drink from each of his closest pals one after the other.

There were guests waiting at the doorway who seemed like they were about to leave the party, but some of them had remained and were becoming rowdier. Just like me and Avery.

We didn't actually get off the sofa, and in fact, Julius didn't really walk away as well. He had simply been standing there next to me drinking.

But a few seconds later, he only said his goodbyes to Avery after exchanging a few brief pleasantries with her before leaving.

"Avery, what was that, huh? Why do you have to make things even more awkward?" I gave Avery a little squeeze on the arm before rising from my seat to take in the sights of the city after dark.

"Oh come on, don't act like you're so bothered by it! I was only kidding around with you!" We had a guffaw together.

Avery handed me another glass of liquor. And while I watched the city lights shine like chunks of the Milky Way, I took a drink from my cup.

"By the way, you two make a really cute couple! It was, undeniable!" She persisted in making fun of me. I just shook my head and then returned to my seat next to her.

And before I could even drink more on my glass, I realized that Julius was on his way back to our seat. And with that, I took another gulp from my beverage. He was coming back with more beverages for us.

"Would it be okay if I came over to hang out with you tonight? There isn't anybody else in this place that I know quite as well as the two of you.” He explained.

After placing a large number of beverages on the table, he proceeded to come over and sit down next to me. Avery chuckled and then just nodded in response to him.

Julius surprised me by moving closer to where I was seated and I felt my heat racing faster than usual.

I was conscious of the fact that Avery was aware of how uncomfortable this situation was for me. I had a feeling that she would come up with something, but I wasn't sure whether it would be humiliating or not.

Even so, I was certain that she would think of something. While I waited, sipped, and savored the flavorful tequila, I gazed at the opulently beautiful pool that was in front of us.

"So, tell us, how have you been all these years, Mr. Ferguson?" Avery's question finally broke the tense stillness that had been there.

"Well, I've been good. The business is doing great. Things have been...” Julius was still talking but Avery cut him off.

"Oh, I see. But what I mean is…” Avery stated and then stared at me. After a few seconds of pause, the next words she uttered were unexpected.

"I just need to know… Have you already tied the knot with someone else or are you dating or something?" Avery’s smirk after her litany was something else.

I gave her a lethal look before pinching her arm to get her attention and then I gave her a lethal look.

The word "What?" escaped her lips, embarrassing me greatly. I couldn't entirely blame her; she was clearly intoxicated. I was also curious about Julius's response, but apprehensive about what he might say.

“Ah, no. Not really. Right now, I am single.” Julius answered with a smile.

The words 'I'm single' lodged a knot in my throat as I heard him utter them for the first time. I sat upright, glancing briefly in his direction.

"Single… can you elaborate, please?" The lips of Avery never really understood when to be quiet.

"Single. And no rings yet. So, I can basically say, I am ready to mingle,” Julius lightly chuckled after he responded.

"How about you guys? Are you married? Or still single?" Julius’ smile didn’t escape from his face as he asked us this question.

“Yes! We are, of course! Charlie is single, she’s also free to mingle!" A straightforward response from Avery, which was somewhat embarrassing. My pupils drew more widely.

"Yeah, right! What she said was true," I reasoned that it would be less humiliating to go along with it, letting out an uncomfortable giggle, rather than confronting the question headon.

Avery persisted with her inquiries to Julius, undeterred by my feeble attempt to silence her with a gentle cheek squeeze.

During that time, I mostly kept to myself, while Avery and Julius engaged in conversation. They reminisced about our high school experiences, both the good and the bad.

My participation amounted to the occasional comment or nod, merely to show agreement or respond to unrelated questions.

As time passed, I noticed the guests inside gradually dispersing. I ventured indoors to find Mason to bid our goodbye.

Inside, the lights were still flashing rapidly, but the volume of the music was lower than it had been previously.

Inside was a massive dark blue sofa, the kind that appears on the cover of wellknown furniture magazines, and that's where I discovered him chatting with Fiona.

I felt it was important to let him know that we would be leaving since Avery is unable to drink any more. I only wanted to also say thank you and wish him again a happy birthday, but I chose not to annoy them while they were engaged in their passionate makeout session.

Both of them seemed to be having a good time but were visibly under the influence of alcohol, exactly like Avery, who was passed out on the sofa in the backyard.

"Gosh, forget it then!" I pondered the situation and then stumbled out of the room.

Even though I was aware that I was intoxicated myself, Avery was the only thing on my mind right now. Similarly, I was not capable of allowing her to drive a vehicle in such condition, nor would I ever do so.

"Hey, Miss Guavez! Let’s go!" I called out to Avery, finding her slumbering on the sofa.

"She had already had too much alcohol. I can drive you home,” Julius stated who I noticed was standing by the side of the pool.

He dropped a cigarette on the ground and carried our pouches on his arm at the same time.

Because I was feeling dizzy, it was difficult for me to focus on him and determine whether or not he was intoxicated.

CHARLIE

“No need, Julius! We can handle it,” I refused with some reluctance. "Give me her pouch so that I can look for her keys and then drive her home," I added and the instant that I finished saying that, I found myself lying on the ground, right next to the swimming pool.

‘Oh, God! Did I just slip or something? What?’ My whole body had the feeling of being numbed.

‘No, I was not inebriated, and there was no way I could have been.’

These ideas rushed into my head as quickly as I felt Julius' hand, and I immediately realized that I needed to take Avery back to my house.

Because I was so lightheaded, I thought for a moment that I was having a hallucination. The first thing that happened was that I found myself on the floor, and the next thing I knew, I was on Julius' arm.

It took me a little time to figure out that he had lifted me up, and that it was indeed true that I had fallen close to the water.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked myself. How did it get to the point that every part of my body felt numb?

But then I was aware of how quickly my heart was thumping. It was so loud that I felt as if I may be jolted out of my body at any moment.

"This won’t do, Charlie. It’s unsafe,” Julius added in a solemn voice, "I'll drive both of you home, and that would be the last time I'll say that."

Julius was serious. He was like a rigorous instructor who gave me directions that were difficult to follow, but I wasn't afraid of him.

His words had such a seductive tone that I couldn't help but feel that it had caused me to flush.

Everything seemed to be out of focus. I felt like I had a snooze. I have no idea where I was or how I got there.

Just now, I saw brief glimpses of Julius' chest, the elevator, the parking lot, and his vehicle.

Later on, I had the impression that we had pulled over to the side of the road. I used a lot of effort to lift my head and turn it toward the window, but I was unsuccessful.

"Are we now in Avery’s place?" I managed to mumble the words. Julius, who was standing next to me, seemed to have heard me and responded.

“Yes. It's a good thing I have an excellent memory because I was able to recall how to drive all the way here.” He explained.

"Really? Why have you... I mean, when did you come…" I was about to ask him but he cut me off.

"I bet you really forgot about the big party that Avery threw in their house during our high school days. You seem to have a poor memory, Charlie,” He chuckled after uttering these words.

So that's how he was able to find out where Avery lived. However, he does have a point. Though it was really hazy, I was able to save the memory of the crazy party that he was referring about.

"Just relax. You need not be concerned about anything. We just dropped her off, she's home safely…” Those were the last things I heard before passing out and losing consciousness.

…..

The following morning, I awoke in one of the most infuriating ways possible: the light was shining through the window directly into my eyes, which caused my eyelids to fly open.

Because my head is hurting so much, I have no recollection of anything that happened after I fell asleep.

"What the bloody hell? Seriously?” I mumbled to myself as I inched my way slowly toward the bed and pushed myself to sit down.

At that point, my eyes were still closed, and the moment I opened them, the realization that I wasn't in my bed caused me to instantly regret doing so. There is no way that this was ever my room.

"No way!" I said due to disbelief. I began stroking my own body irrationally, as if I were a mad person, and then I hurriedly glanced beneath the heavy black blanket.

When I saw that someone had changed my clothes from last night, I let out a gasp. I found myself wearing an oversized white shirt and boxer shorts, definitely not my own clothes.

Someone had taken off the black dress I wore last night. And my mind started to have a race with thoughts like, ‘Who brought me here?’, ‘Is Avery safe?’, ‘What did I do?’ and most importantly, I uttered the last thought in my mind, "Who the hell had the guts to change my clothes?"

“Charlie! What have you done?” I carefully got out of bed and glanced about before deciding to find out what happened.

The room was rather spacious and seemed quite elegant. The bed that I stayed on was so large that it could have easily accommodated six people.

A flatscreen television with a broad screen was mounted on the wall, and there was also a large matte wardrobe and fashionable furnishings. I saw a door and reasoned that it must go to the restroom; so, I made a beeline for it.

However, just as I was about to open the door, I recognized a familiar voice coming from outside the room.

I couldn't wait to find out who it was, but I had to admit that I was already making some educated guesses. I simply was conscious of the fact that I was in denial.

“Damn it, Charlie!” I mumbled as I closed my eyes in disbelief.

CHARLIE

That morning, I thought I was going to lose my jaw when it almost dropped when Julius entered the room.

As he examined me from head to toe and asked, "Are you okay?" I had the sensation that my face was turning red. It was so embarrassing.

"Now you're awake, good morning. Are you feeling alright, Charlotte?" I struggled to even look at him during the party, and today would be no different.

‘It was so embarrassing, Charlotte Caivano!’ I scolded myself silently.

It was too humiliating to find myself wasted in his room. Unbelievable! This whole thing was a dream. Me? What would Julius feel and think about me? Was he disappointed or what?

‘Absolutely unbelievable! Yes, it was just a dream. A dream, Charlie!’

"You could look at him because you were just dreaming, Charlie! Come one!" I silently muttered to myself before he could say anything else.

I even hushed to myself as I inhaled deeply and looked him square in the eyes as I took a deep breath. I was anxious, but it didn't really matter because this was just a dream.

This whole thing was just a fantasy. I'm not sure what prompted me to approach him and place my hand on his chest, but I did so slowly after making my way toward him.

“Yes, self! This was nothing more than a dream, albeit a very pleasant one. What a nice…” I was about to caress him in his chest but he suddenly grabbed my hands.

He leaned closer to my face, and said, "Charlie? Are you sleepwalking? You are not dreaming. This is not a dream, Charlotte."

The instant that I caught a whiff of his freshly brushed teeth and felt his hand on mine, it became my turning point.

My pupils dilated, and I beseeched each and every god and goddess in the universe to tear a hole in the earth and simply take me away. ‘What s mess you are, Charlie!’

"Charlotte, I am real. I'm sorry, I know that the fact that I took you to my place has left you in a state of disbelief. But I didn't mean to hurt you in any way…" I was unable to hear the other words he had said, nor utter a word or move.

"I drove to your house last night, but..." He hesitated, uncertain whether to continue. As he released his grip on my hand, a strange sensation lingered.

"There was a 'For Sale' sign on your front yard. So I thought you had moved and I don’t know where to send you back," he said, and I continued to stare blankly at him. Still, I am speechless.

"I tried to wake you up last night, but you were too drunk. So, I thought it would be safer to bring you here," he explained.

"Don't worry, we took Avery home safely. I considered taking you to her place, but she was more intoxicated than you. I thought she had fallen asleep and you both wouldn't be able to take care of each other." I nodded in response and sat on the bed.

"Thank you, but what happened after that? Did we–" I was at a loss for the appropriate expression to use.

Just the thought that something might have taken place between Julius and I brought on a flush of feverish feeling throughout my body.

"II mean… Ah, was there something that took place… bbetween us like–"

"No, we didn't. I mean –" The awkwardness that he felt was evident in his voice. After a moment of pause, he continued with a smile.

"There's absolutely nothing for you to be concerned about, Charlie. I went to another room to sleep. Although my home is large, I offered you the use of the bed in mine because I believe it to be the most comfortable of all the beds in this house.”

"OOkay… BBut... how come my clothes… how did I change them?" I made an effort to look at him, but he seemed more interested in looking away than I was.

"I asked a housemaid to change your clothes, Charlie," He paused for a moment before drawing nearer to the enormous matte wardrobe.

"I didn't see anything. Don't think about it too much. You don’t have to feel embarrassed."

As he uttered those words, I felt an even deeper sense of shame.

Why did I imagine that Julius would do anything unkind? Was I trembling with fear or shyness? Perhaps I was lost in a delusion that I could captivate him. That we slept together and made passionate love. My imagination ran wild, and I blushed, feeling as if Julius could hear my thoughts.

Julius was standing in front of his enormous closet when he reached inside and took a fancy paper bag out.

"Here," he said, handing the bag to me. Before continuing, he paused for a moment so that we could look each other in the eye for a split second before demanding that I inspect the bag. “Open it!”

"Brand new clothes? Why? I mean what for?” I asked, puzzled.

"I bought them because you threw up on your dress last night so I asked the housemaid to wash it and it was still wet," he replied, flashing a reassuring smile.

"You didn't have to, but thank you," I said, returning his smile. "I really need to take a shower now."

"Sure, please feel free to use my bathroom to take a relaxing shower. I'll just wait for you in the basement for now.” Again, there was that very alluring quality to his tone of voice.

When Julius left the room, it gave me the biggest grin I could muster. I eagerly emptied the paper bag containing the new clothes onto his bed, where I then selected the item that I thought would look the best on me.

I chose a simple dress with a beautiful iridescent color, and after that I went to his bathroom, which smelled strongly of mint.

My body was gently massaged by the warm water from the shower as a plethora of random thoughts raced through my head at the same time. I found myself asking a lot of "what if" questions.

My voice could be heard reverberating throughout the roomy bathroom as I wished to myself that I could recall everything that had taken place.

What would happen if I turned down Avery's invitation to attend the party? What if I hadn't met Julius? What if we had made love last night? Would it be the best experience of my life?

“What if…”

Right after I got out of the shower, I fixed myself and have a bit of makeover. I couldn't wait to get downstairs.

Due to the fact that Julius’ home was so sizable, it took me a few minutes before I finally located him preparing food in the wellorganized and spacious kitchen.

I stood in the threshold of the kitchen and observed him as he flipped some eggs and bacon in the pan.

“Wow!” I silently muttered.

Lost in a daydream, I tilted my head, admiring him. I envisioned him as my husband, experiencing these romantic moments every day.

CHARLIE

"Charlie, you’re done. Are you feeling all right now? Are you hungry?” The sound of Julius's voice brought me back to reality.

He was holding a plate in one hand and a pan in the other as he made his way towards the counter.

"Don't worry, I am almost done in cooking the breakfast,” He stated and I simply nodded.

It's not that I didn't want to talk to him; I just couldn't find the time. I was so embarrassed that I just knew without a doubt that I would stutter.

Because of this, I just took a deep breath and followed him into the dining room after clearing my throat.

After a while, Julius decided to ask me about my work while we were eating together, so in order to avoid any awkwardness, I simply answered every question he asked.

"Did you like the clothes that I bought?"

"Yes, and once more, thank you," I replied with sincerity. When I said that to him, he flashed a warm smile.

"You don’t have to mind about it, it’s nothing big. By the way, I was just wondering if you miss your work today," he said, and relief washed over me.

"No, it's my day off," I said. Thank God, or I'd be in trouble.

"You work at Aventagio Network, right?"

"Yes, as a journalist."

"A journalist. It sounds exciting while also challenging at the same time." When he said those words, he did not have a smile on his face, and I could sense the sincerity in his voice.

Throughout breakfast, we continued to discuss a variety of unrelated topics.

"Let me help you with that,” I insisted on assisting him with the dishes.

I didn't know if he was used to doing these things, and even though I knew he had a lot of maids, I didn't see even a single one of them around.

When I queried him earlier about the reason why I can’t see one, he simply responded by saying, "I just asked them to have a day off, so that I could have you all to myself. I mean… I wished to serve you on my own.” Those words alone made it abundantly clear.

“Okay, but let me clean the dishes as you already cooked for us earlier,” I stated and offered him a smile.

He muttered, "If you insist," as a response.

There was that adorable smile once more, and it caused my vivid imagination to leap into action. My imagination ran wild again.

Julius and I… as a happy family, a happy couple doing chores, living together, married with kids waiting in the playroom.

After I was done cleaning up the dishes, Julius offered to give me a ride home, I accepted his offer and immediately thought to myself that my imaginations will never be real.

I brought myself out of this daydreaming state and I focused on giving him directions to my apartment.

“Charlie, if I may, can I ask why you moved out of the house you used to own in Avery's neighborhood? I was about to drop you off there the other night…” out of nowhere, Julius asked.

I couldn't think of the right words to answer his inquiry. Because my mother had never really explained the reason why we moved out from our old house, the truthful response was, I also don't know.

"Would it be appropriate for me to respond to you by saying, I don't know?" The only thing he did was cast a fleeting glance in my direction before deftly navigating a turn at an intersection.

"But it’s fine, as it turned out all right!" I tried to sound optimistic. “Living on my own has not only been a lot of fun for me, but it has also been quite educational for me.”

"I see, but what about your mom?" He asked.

"She was staying in the 'Koala Hugs'. An orphanage in a distant area, where she works as well," I explained and after that I told him a bit more about myself, which was honestly unusual for me because I hardly ever felt comfortable around other people besides Avery.

Finally, we arrived at my apartment. I looked into Julius' eyes and thanked him sincerely. "Thank you for everything, Julius." I wanted him to understand my gratitude.

"Just stay safe," he said as I was about to leave, and I thanked him.

"Charlie!" He called my name again.

"Yes?" My stomach churned with anticipation.

"Can I have your number? Just to stay in touch and make sure you're safe always," he asked, and I blushed.

Was this his way of getting my number after dropping me off? Or was I mistaken?

I gave him my number, trying to hide my racing heart. Just as I thought he was done speaking, he said something that sent my heart soaring.

"Rest assured, this won’t be the last time, Charlie. When we both have some free time, let's meet again. Shall we?" His smile was captivating. It was probably the most handsome smile he wore since last night.

“Yes, sure!” I agreed, and as he drove away, I rushed into my apartment.

It was the first time I went home with such a big smile on my face and felt my heart beating faster than usual.

….

Someone’s Point of View

I was just standing here calmly waiting for her to arrive. A couple of hours later, while hiding in the bushes, I noticed her exit a luxurious automobile The car was surrounded by a large entourage.

The vehicle stopped directly in front of her apartment. She communicated with whoever was driving the car in a manner that could not be heard by the passersby.

I couldn't help but notice the unsettling smile plastered across her face, but I shrugged it off and made a phone call to the boss as soon as the car pulled away.

"Tell me some good news," he asked as soon as he picked up the phone.

"Yes, boss. She finally had arrived back to her flat. I suppose that she slept somewhere last night,” I explained.

“It's possible that she slept with the guy who send her home just now.”

“Alright, then. Keep watching and give me update," The boss ended the call as soon as I completed the task, he had given me.

After which, I gazed again at the house where the woman I was asked to watch out had entered.

GIDEON

On the opposite side of Woodsford, in the vast military administrative headquarters, there was an eerie silence that pervaded the entire building.

Even though a mission had just been completed, there were still traces of fear and the taste of dismay that could be felt all around, and it was as unpleasant as the smell of rotten fruit.

The expressions of fear and disillusionment that were present on the faces of my men, as well as in their eyes, showed that a combination of the two emotions had taken hold.

The atmosphere had the appearance and sensation of being so dense that it could be touched directly. The air had become extremely thick.

To take a breath felt like pulling weights; to put it another way, it was as if you could literally feel the tension on it.

Already fifteen minutes had passed since I issued the order and called my men over to the field to line up in formation.

I was at a loss for the appropriate language to express my frustration over the fact that despite our best efforts, we were unable to complete the mission.

Everyone was aware that we had been unable to complete the mission, but it was a challenge to be the one to take charge and admit defeat in front of the group.

Before I spoke, I took a few deep breaths and looked around the playing field to compose myself. And when I finally felt like I was ready, I swallowed hard and started to talk.

I stood tall in front of them as I shouted, "My men, my great men," and then I began to march in a circle around them.

"Everyone is aware that we did everything in our power to make our mission a success, but alas, it still failed. Indeed! We are very close to being able to apprehend these nefarious members of the mafia and ensure that they are held accountable for any wrongdoing they have committed in our society –"

I was in deep anger, like I was about to begin to lose myself. I was beginning to become engulfed in such a great sense of frustration, overthinking, and dismay about the manner in which the mission had failed.

"The mafia groups… They are responsible for so many awful things that have happened in our society that had affected most of our lives! So heinous that only a wicked person could conceive of and carry it out!” I stated once more.

“But I wanted everyone to know that despite everything, it was still an honor to work with such a great, bravehearted army and strong forces like you!”

"Those who are suffering right now in their beds and for those who are standing here, you are all great! You chose to continue on despite the fact that you could have been killed, shot, or injured. Therefore, I continue to feel a great deal of pride for everyone!” I continued.

“Prepare to brace yourself! As we would attempt once more very soon! The servants of justice shouldn't ever give up so easily! Never!"

“Never! Never!”

My heart was pounding so hard, and I had the distinct impression that I was going to pass out any second now. I had been doing everything in my power to maintain a level of professionalism throughout the situation.

I made a concerted effort to be attentive of keeping superfluous emotions at away, and to do it in a professional and courteous manner... This mission is still under my command, and I am the captain in charge.

As soon as I got back to my office, I started babbling my rants and frustrations.

"Bloody hell! Damn these mafias!" I didn't think twice before kicking my office chair and aggressively throwing everything that was on my desk, from pens to papers to my laptop. I didn't even stop to consider the consequences of my actions.

“Seriously?! This is not possible!" I exclaimed with a hiss. I was aware that my teeth and knuckles had already begun to clench, and I could feel my knuckles tightening.

Taking some long, slow breaths was no longer helpful. It wasn't just a wave of anger or disappointment about the mission; rather, it felt more like I was mourning for something else.

I could feel the fire in my heart. It yearned for fairness and justice in all aspects of life.

“Fuck!” I had the urge to scream, punch the wall, bang my head against something, or fire the gun at myself or at anybody else, just like someone who had lost their mind would do.

But like said… I couldn't, I couldn't do that here, and I couldn't just forget that I am still their captain.

More than that, I was a brother holding grudges, but I was still and should be a strong leader and role model to the army of men that I lead. I can't, I couldn't do that here. I couldn't just forget that I am still their captain.

Simply put, I was feeling extremely frustrated because this mission was not like any other mission; rather, it was a significant one, and we were so close to completing it.

I was so close to catching him, “That man!”

I was unable to put out of my mind the instance in which I came so close to physically possessing him. However, they claimed that nearly would never truly be enough, therefore it was still a failed one.

A failed one and a genuinely big punch of dismay, not just to my pride, but also to the justice that I've been pursuing for my sister, Gwyneth.

GIDEON

“Sorry, Gwen… Sorry…”

Gwyneth was my beautiful sister and a wonderful person. Since we were little children, we were so close enough.

“My poor sister…” She was the kind of person who was always genuinely caring and sweet, and I was the type of person who was the one to protect her.

"Damn it!" I pushed my office chair back, took a seat, and angrily dragged the bottom drawer across my bulky gray desk.

I reached into my bag and pulled out a miniature frame that contained a picture of Gwyneth.

I made an effort to shrug off the tension and looked at her with a fiery intensity, as if it were the first time, I had seen this picture of her and admired her beautiful, broad smile for the first time.

This was my favorite photograph that she had taken; it showed her standing in front of a colorful and charming carousel while holding a large pink cotton candy.

I still have a clear recollection of the fact that she was only seven years old when she went to this amusement park...

"I apologized, Gwen. I am really sorry…” I did my best to hold back the tears.

"I promised you justice, and I have spent my whole life working toward that goal! Specially for you!” I was unable to weep, and I was unable to grieve. I have to muster up some courage!

"But justice had been handled in such a smooth manner. It never fails to evade my grasp, no matter how hard I try! I'm so stupid! I should’ve done more!"

It was pointless to cry about it now because everything was in the past. It wouldn't have any effect on the outcome.

My only option now is to ensure that my deceased sister, Gwyneth, receives the justice she deserves.

A justice for Gwyneth… I'd admit that it was the sole reason I enlisted in the military.

I had a lofty goal of apprehending those nefarious mafia members. To put an end to their sleazy and unlawful hooks, and to lock them up and throw them behind bars, where they actually belong, next to hell.

I got up from my chair and walked outdoors to get some oxygen in the open air. Since there was still an eerie silence in the headquarters, my assumption was that everyone was taking some time to relax and think.

As I thought back on what had transpired, the failed mission thrust a dagger through both my heart and my soul.

I had no doubt, I had some insightful hypotheses and clues based on the data that was gathered and all of the other relevant information that was found for this case.

To unwind, I shut my eyes, leaned back, and sat back on the bench where I'd been sitting.

I concentrated my massage on the bridge of my nose. I wanted to stop thinking so badly, but I couldn't help but keep replaying what had taken place during the assignment.

…..

“Charged!” I yelled at them to get into their positions and then motioned for them to encircle the abandoned building that was located on the outskirts of the town.

My soldiers immediately complied with my orders and set themselves up to fire. At the front entrance of the building, there was already a smokescreen that gave off a strong odor of burning.

We had been working on following the traces and hints of Dugo De Versace, which is the second largest and most notorious fearsome mafia group here in the city, and it had brought us all the way here to this building.

But before we got here, we had been working on following the traces and hints of Dugo De Versace. We arrived prepared because it had come to our attention that the military was preparing to engage in a significant unlawful transaction quite close to this location.

I led my men inside the building while they were still outside surrounding the area, but when we got inside there were already groups of men lined up in a row.

They had surged together and positioned themselves with massive weaponry before engaging the enemy.

They were all dressed in black pants and black shirts, but only some of them were wearing black masks. The others were not.

I quickly looked everywhere for the ringleader of the gang, but I couldn't find him anywhere. My soldiers were ambushed in the middle of an open fire.

"Get behind some cover!" I issued the command and then yelled out as loudly I can.

"Fire!"

…..

MAXIMO

It was supposed to be a wonderful day today because I would seal a deal with another mafia group, but they didn't show up.

When they learned that the government might be planning a sting operation, it caused them to reconsider their position.

At first, I didn't believe them, but later on, when the military showed there, at the meeting place, I realized that I had no choice but to start shooting in order to get away.

It's a good thing that I already called my son for assistance in case something like this ever took place.

"This is so incredibly stupid!" I was very angry, and I ordered my men to throw smoke bombs all over the area.

The thick cloud of smoke that had settled over the area would make my escape more manageable.

After the soldiers had broken through the door, I had no trouble recognizing their Captain. Gideon Sartorre, the great captain of the largest military group.

Gideon had been such a significant obstacle in the way of my operations, but at the same time, he was the one person I was unable to harm.

“That fucking nonsense!” In exchange for his assistance, service, and loyalty, I had made a promise to my son that I deeply regret keeping. I thought about this as I recalled the promise.

I ought to have put an end to Gideon’s life a long time ago, but for my son, I was able to avoid doing so.

My son had claimed that he had once been deeply in love with Gideon's sister, who happened to die because of one of our transactions, and that I was fully aware of his reasons as well. “So stupid!”

"The helicopter has touched down, sir!" One of my bodyguards called.

My son was there waiting for me when I made it to the rooftop, which was made possible thanks to the assistance of one of my other men.

I was able to get out of that building in record time, “It wasn’t your lucky day, Mr. Sartorre! Not a chance I will let you catch me!”