2
Fiona led me into a room that resembled a bedroom.
But honestly, it was as big as a regular living room.
It was dark, everything coated in a greyish mist like it hadn’t been touched in a while.
I was just squinting to make out the details when the door slammed shut behind me.
I jumped, rushing to the door, only to find it locked from the outside.
I swallowed hard. The bad feeling in my gut was quickly turning into full–blown panic.
Suddenly, the silence of the room was shattered by a heavy thud, followed by a woman’s desperate cries.
“Mr. Cooper, please spare me! I was a fool to try and pretend to be Miss Lucy. I won’t do it again, I swear!”
My eyes adjusted to the dark, and I could make out two shadows.
A tall, broad–shouldered man stood over a woman who was kneeling at his feet, pleading
desperately.
But he didn’t give her time to beg. With one swift kick, he knocked her to the ground.
I flinched as something flew past me.
The woman clutched her face, but Xavier wasn’t finished. He kept kicking her, each strike landing with a thud.
“You think you can impersonate Lucy?” he spat. “She’s a thousand, no, a million times
better than any of you. And don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. I’ve warned you
all
before.”
His kicks grew harder, fiercer. The woman’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
22:34 Wed, 18 Jun
<
She stretched out her hand toward me, as if pleading for help.
Paralyzed by fear, I sank to the floor, clasping my hands over my mouth to keep myself
from screaming.
Unfortunately, it didn’t matter. Xavier had already noticed me.
He kicked the woman aside and began striding towards me.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I scrambled towards the door.
Xavier looked down at me with disdain.
“Well? Who sent you this time? You’ve got a pretty weak stomach for a spy.”
The word spy caught my attention, but I didn’t have time to think about it. Survival came
first.
My back hit the wall, my last escape route cut off.
He walked over, humming a little tune like a cat playing with its prey.
I pressed against the wall, desperately thinking of a way to save myself.
Clearly, in the years I’ve been away, Xavier had completely lost it. He’s become some kind
of sadistic lunatic.
My brain, already slow under pressure, completely shut down.
I stared blankly as he reached me, trapping me against the wall.
I felt his gaze sweep over me, cold and heavy.
He leaned in, and I instinctively shrank away, but before I could beg, his strong hands
wrapped around my throat.
His grip was tight, and within seconds I couldn’t breathe.
I tried to twist my neck free, but his hold only grew stronger.
22:35 Wed, 18 Jun
<
49880
He leaned in close, his breath icy against my ear.
“Let’s see just how much you look like her, shall we?”
I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze, but he laughed coldly. Grabbing my chin, he forced me to face him.
Our eyes met.
For a moment, everything was silent.
His long eyelashes trembled, his lips pale and quivering. There was a strange glimmer in
his dark eyes, almost as if he was about to cry.
Then, after a moment, he shook his head, muttering to himself.
“You look just like her. But…you can’t be her.”
His eyes filled with a complicated emotion as he stared at me.
He pressed his lips together, deep in thought.
The grip around my throat loosened slightly.
“I’ll give you one chance,” he said, his voice cold and detached. “Tell me who sent you, and I might just spare you. But don’t ever show your face here again.”
I had no idea what he was talking about.
Who sent me?
No one sent me. I came here on my own.
He released my throat, expecting me to speak.
I coughed a few times and then blurted out that I truly didn’t know what he was talking
about.
22:35 Wed, 18 Jun
<
83%
Xavier’s anger flared once more.
His grip tightened again, his eyes flashing with danger.
“Speak. Who sent you? My patience is running out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I cried. “No one sent me. Are you deaf?”
Tears began to roll down my face as I spoke.
Xavier’s expression faltered for a moment, but he steeled himself, tightening his hold
once again.
Everything was growing dark.
Just then, a thought flashed through my mind–his weakness. Did it still work?
Using every ounce of strength I had left, I jabbed my thumb into the space between his
second and third ribs.
I remembered that spot well. He got that scar while protecting me from a human
trafficker.
3
