222: OPENED EYES, IN THE DARK LUKE’S POV Feeling someone’s fingers on my shoulder, I turned around. I didn’t even get to see whose face it was because I was immediately slammed in the face, and only God knows what. Everywhere turned black. The world’s best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller. ARIEL’S POV “You were lucky my men didn’t kill you. Those guys were fools to not get the job done,” Mason vocalized. “You bastard. Do you think you can get rid of me? Just wait till I make you bleed, till I torture you. Talk, I will make you pay for everything you did.” Mason chuckled. “I can’t wait. This is going to be like a Netflix movie, right?” “You think I’m joking with you?” “Nah, I just don’t consider what you’re saying to be serious. One thing I had to find out about you is that you’re simply a person of words, not actions. I remember you saying you’d get Luke to sign those divorce papers. What happened? You did nothing.” I chuckled. “Have you ever wondered what happened to your friend?” “Who is that? Which friend are you talking about?” “Harriet,” I replied. “Harriet? What have you done to her?” “Let’s just say I put her in her place. You’ll join soon.” “I wish. I mean, come on, you can kill Harriet if you want; that’s none of my business. Just don’t come doing shit, alright?” Glaring at Mason, I pushed him back before waking up. I stood close to the servers. “Good evening, miss. How may I be of help to you?” One of the servers greeted me with a grin. “Just give me a drink, please.” “Any drink, you say, right?” I nodded, and he snapped his fingers before waking up. It took some minutes before he returned with a glass of water and handed it to me. “Thank you,” was what I told him. “You’re welcome. By the way, my name is George. 222: OPENED EYES, IN THE DARK 2/3 “Oh, I didn’t ask, but… okay.” I took a sip of my drink and let out a sigh. “Yeah, miss. So, do you want anything else?” He asked, his palms fixed together. I shook my head and told him to ensure my glass remained full. “I’ll make sure of it, beautiful,” George said with a wink. I rolled my eyes. The last thing I needed was someone flirting with me. Like, did this guy think this was a movie or something? “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be mingling with the guests?” I asked George, trying to get him away from me. “I can take a break for a little while,” he replied, leaning against the wall beside me. I raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that against your job description?” He chuckled. “I’ll make an exception for a beautiful woman like you.” I couldn’t help but smile at his persistence. He was cute, I had to admit, but hell no, I was not going to go through with this sh*t. “Listen, George. I appreciate the attention, but I’m not here to socialize.” “Or you don’t want to chat with me because I’m not in your status?” “Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you’re thinking?” He nodded. “Nevermind, nevermind, I get it. Well, if you need anything, I’ll be around.” I thanked him and watched as he walked away. I took a deep breath and continued to scan the room. I saw Mason across the room, laughing and chatting with some guests. I had no idea the scumbag could relate to people like that. I continued to watch him, glaring. His eyes would meet mine, and he would notice the look I was giving him. But he would smirk and turn his face away, back to the people he was talking to. I took my eyes off him, looking around at the magnificent hall, everyone looking absolutely stunning in different designs. I was trying to see if I could spot Laura anywhere, but I didn’t catch sight of her. “Looking for someone?” A familiar voice echoed behind me. I turned around at that very moment. It was André. It had actually been quite a while since I saw his face. Now, here we were, standing, looking at each other. “I’m glad you’re back, Ariel,” he said softly, his hands fixed in his pockets. “So tell me, where have you been all this time?” “Far from here.” “I realized that. But why did you leave like that? Or is there some explanation for this? Did someone try to kill you?” LUKE’S POV 222: OPENED EYES, IN THE DARK 3/3 My eyes fluttered open, met by an overwhelming darkness enveloping me. Panic surged through my body as I realized I couldn’t move my hands. A tight restraint cut into my wrists, binding me to the ground. The air was stale, and the room felt suffocatingly small. I strained my eyes to make out any semblance of my surroundings, but the darkness seemed impenetrable, offering no clues as to where I was or who had brought me here. A faint sound echoed in the distance, barely audible over the deafening silence of the room. My breath caught in my throat as I strained to hear more, my senses on high alert. Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate, sending shivers down my spine. The sound grew louder and closer until, finally, a dim light flickered to life, casting eerie shadows across the room. In the dim glow, I could make out the outline of a figure standing before me. The stranger’s face was obscured, hidden in the shadows, but I could feel their gaze fixed on me. Fear clenched my chest as I struggled against my bonds, the rough rope chafing my skin. “Why am I here?” My voice wavered in the oppressive silence, the words barely more than a whisper. The figure before me remained silent, their intentions shrouded in mystery. My heart pounded in my the seconds stretching into eternity as I waited for a response. ears, Finally, the figure spoke, their voice low and menacing. “Because you can’t stick to your own business. 11 Before I could respond, a sharp pain lanced through my head–a blinding headache that left me gasping for breath. The figure loomed closer, their presence oppressive in the confined space. “You brought this upon yourself.” she is My heart sank as I realized the gravity of my situation. Trapped in this dark, suffocating room, at the mercy of a shadowy figure with unknown motives. Desperation clawed at me, but I refused to let fear overtake me. With a steely resolve, I met the figure’s gaze, defiance burning in my eyes. “Who are you, and where is the little girl?” I asked underneath my breath. “This is why you’re going to die. If you had just minded your business, you wouldn’t be in this place right now.” “Do you think I’m scared of you?” I spat. “I’ve seen worse. I’ve been in situations more complicated than this.” “That is none of my business. You have to know you’re not leaving this place alive.” “You’re going to kill me? Is that what you’re trying to say?” “Yes, and you’ll die along with the little girl. Bring her in.” The door opened right away, and the lights were turned on. I had my eyes fixed on the entrance as they brought her in.
