203: TAUNT, RECALL LUKE’S POV As I stood there, my mind racing to make sense of this man’s words, I couldn’t help but feel completely lost. My thoughts were a jumble of confusion, trying to piece together the meaning behind his words. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t seem to grasp what he was trying to convey. It was as if my brain had hit a roadblock, unable to process any more information. I desperately tried to recall any previous context that could help me understand, but my efforts were futile. I was still standing, trying to make sense of it all, but my mind was the perfect definition of confusion at that moment. I tried to gather my thoughts and make sense of what Mason was saying while he continued to stare at me with a smug smirk on his face. It was as if he was enjoying my state of confusion and was eagerly waiting for my response. His intense gaze made me feel uneasy, and I couldn’t help but fidget under his scrutiny. I wanted to say something witty or clever to counter his teasing, but my mind was blank. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, completely at his mercy. Mason’s persistent stare only added to my growing frustration, and I couldn’t wait for this awkward moment to be over. “Aren’t you going to give me an answer?” Mason’s smirk lingered on his face. “What do you want me to say?” I gave him a serious face. “I believe you didn’t forget what I told you before all of the silence.” I gave him a serious face, my expression unfriendly and unwelcoming. At the moment, this man was just saying nonsensical things, and I was in no mood to entertain him. I had no patience for idle chatter or meaningless banter. I needed to focus my energy on more important matters, like finding Ariel, and this nonsense would only serve as a distraction. So, I made it clear with my stern expression that I was not interested in engaging in any pointless conversation. Sometimes, a serious face is all it takes to convey a message without having to say a word. And in this case, my serious face spoke volumes. Mason indeed noticed the seriousness etched on my face, yet he stubbornly refused to wipe away his annoying smirk. It was not something I particularly enjoyed seeing, especially at this moment. As much as I wanted to confront him and demand an explanation for this abnormal behavior, I knew it would only lead to a pointless argument. Instead, I tried my best to keep my composure and ignore his smug expression, hoping he would eventually realize the gravity of the situation and stop his childish antics. “Look, I have better things to do right now. Can you just get straight to the point?” I vocalized. He chuckled. “So, you’re trying to tell me that you haven’t met with any lady named Sofie?” “I don’t know, man. I’ve met millions of people; I can’t actually tell.” 203: TAUNT, RECALL 2/3 “Well, she’s dead, and would you be surprised if I told you that you were the one who killed her?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. His words were shocking, to say the least. The question he had just asked me was completely messed up. I couldn’t wrap my head around why he would even think to ask me something so absurd. I was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond. It was as if he had no filter and just blurted out whatever was on his mind. I couldn’t help but feel disgusted and confused by his question. How could someone think it was okay to ask something like that? Like, man, what the fuck? “What did you just say?” I asked Mason, giving him a hard look. His sudden burst of laughter, like that of a goddamn clown, only added to my confusion. He had me completely perplexed with his words. I couldn’t comprehend what he was trying to tell me, and his laughter made it even more baffling. I waited for him to compose himself and explain, but I could only stare at him, wondering what was so funny or confusing about what I had asked or what he had just said. “Oh, it’s nothing, Luke,” he replied, tapping my shoulder, his laughter gradually coming to an end.” How is your wife anyway?” “You do know my wife’s missing, right?” “Oh, right. I totally forgot,” he dramatically said. Did he just come to me to make fun of me? “So sorry about that, man. But don’t worry, you’ll find her.” “I hope so,” I told him, but he wasn’t still happy with this nonsense he had just carried out. “You want to know something, Luke?” “What’s that?” “Hold on,” he replied, moving closer to me, and in my ear, he whispered, Vengeance is something that can’t be stopped. It’s going to come uncontrollable like a fire and burn your vein, leaving a trail and destruction of pain.” He shifted away from me and smirked as he told me to take care. When he walked away, I was just staring at him, and my mouth opened to a certain degree. What the hell was he even saying? And why was he talking about Vengeance? This was really messed up. ***** The river that once sparkled under the sun’s warm embrace now flowed ominously, its waters dark and turbulent. The sky above was shrouded in heavy clouds, casting a somber hue over the landscape. The wind howled through the trees, bending them to its will as if nature itself held its breath in anticipation of something unknown. Laura stood at the riverbank’s edge, her long chestnut hair whipping around her face in the fierce wind. She watched the water rush by; the current was strong and unforgiving. Her brother, Mike, was right next to her. The both of them were enjoying the view, but Laura’s heart quickened as she noticed a figure bobbing in the distance, carried by the tumultuous river. “Over there!” She pointed at the figure. “What’s that?” Mike asked, following the direction of her finger. “Right there. I can see someone in the river!” And without hesitation, Laura sprang into action. She descended the steep bank, her feet slipping on the wet grass as she made her way to the water’s edge. The cold spray of the river stung her face, but she pushed forward, her eyes fixed on the figure struggling in the water. Mike just stood and watched her. The moment Laura drew closer, her heart clenched in fear. It was a woman, her body limp and lifeless, caught in the unforgiving grip of the river’s embrace. Without a second thought, Laura waded into the icy water, the current tugging at her legs as she fought her way towards the woman. She reached the woman’s side and grasped hold of her, pulling her towards the safety of the riverbank. The woman’s body was cold and clammy, and her skin paled against the dark waters. Laura’s hands shook as she searched for a pulse, relief flooding through her when she felt a faint throb beneath her fingertips. Laura’s eyes caught the wound on the woman’s belly, but she could feel the heartbeat, so all hope wasn’t lost. And this unconscious woman was none other than Ariel.
