AUTHOR'S POV

Elite Stone Hospital,
07:38 pm

As Hunter stepped into the dimly lit ICU room, the sterile smell of antiseptic hit him like a wave. The soft beeping of machines filled the silence, a constant reminder of the fragile line between life and death.

His father lay there, pale and still, connected to a maze of tubes and wires. The sight twisted something deep inside him, but he stood frozen, his expression blank, betraying none of the turmoil swirling within.

He approached the bed, the weight of unspoken words heavy on his chest. Memories flooded his mind, lessons learned in the shadows of their world, the warmth of a father's embrace. But now, all that remained was this cold, lifeless shell.

He clenched his fists at his sides, willing himself to feel something, anything, but the numbness was suffocating.

His gaze drifted to his father's face, searching for signs of the man he once knew. There was no flicker of recognition, no sign of hope. Just the steady rhythm of the machines, a haunting lullaby that seemed to mock him. His condition is getting worse day by day; he is getting more dependent on the machines.

Hunter turned away, his heart heavy but his eyes betraying nothing -just an empty stare. He wants his father to speak, or at least look at him. He'd go to any limit to make it happen.

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID. It was Dash.

"Yeah?" Hunter answered, his voice steady but distant.

" I need you to come with me. We've got some things to sort out," Dash said, urgency lacing his tone.

Hunter gazed back at his father, the weight of the hospital room still heavy on his shoulders. But he knew he couldn't stay here, trapped in this moment.

"Alright," he replied, his voice flat. "Send me the location, I'll be there."

Getting a short response Hunter ended the call before turning away. The blankness in his eyes remained, but there was a flicker of something else- determination. He needed to step back into the world, even if it felt like a mask he was putting on.

He drives by himself, deep in his thoughts, the entire drive to the location, only to realize he is in Dream Aura again.

He slipped on his shades, the dark lenses shielding his eyes from the world. He stepped out of the car, the night air cool against his skin. Dash was already waiting for him, a silent nod exchanged between them, understanding passing without words.

They walked towards the building, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the stillness. The entrance loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the hospital room he had just left behind. He felt the weight of the night pressing down on him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Reaching the entrance, they approached the watchman's booth. "Open up," Dash said, his voice steady and commanding.

The watchman looked up, recognition flickering in his eyes before he complied, unlocking the door with a practiced ease.

As they entered the dimly lit lobby, Dash approached the watchman, his demeanor commanding. "Hand over the keys to apartment 18, B-Wing," he demanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

The watchman looked up, recognizing the authority in his voice. "J-just a moment." He rummaged through a small drawer and pulled out a set of keys, handing them over without a word.

Dash took the keys without thanks, turning back to his right hand. "Let's go."

They made their way down towards the elevator, the sound of their footsteps clicked by the tiles. "That girl, Sybil...she says she has been scammed by her roommate..." Dash began explaining everything to Hunter in the elevator.

As they approached the floor nine the elevator ding opened. Facing Sybil's apartment Hunter scanned the passage area while Dash inserted the key into the lock, turning it with a soft click. The door swung open, revealing a darkened space that felt untouched. They stepped inside, with a thought that this apartment probably hold secrets that could lead them to the answers they were searching for.

Determination was etched on their faces as they began their search, looking around the room for anything that might help them unravel the mystery ahead. Dash picked up Sybil's mobile, pocketing it for further investigation.

The sound of crashing furniture and shattered glass filled the air as they ransacked the apartment, their dark aura intensifying with each destructive act. Sybil's belongings lay scattered and broken, a stark reminder of the power these men wielding.

They went further inside; two doors were facing each other; Dash entered Sybil's room continuously. Hunter followed eyes caught a framed picture of Sybil with her parents on the nightstand.

Taking off the shades, Hunter picked it up, looking at it closely with a blank gaze before shattering the frame by slamming it against the wall,l, taking out the picture, and throwing the broken frame away.

"Looks like we've found something," Dash's voice pulled his attention towards him.

He was holding the same golden lingerie that Sybil had worn, as well as the blood-stained white dress in a corner of her cupboard.

They exchanged a silent glance before investigating further. Hunter walked towards the balcony finding a little plant dry. It reminded him of the shadow girl watering it at night time, which reminded him that she was practicing pole dancing.

She turned out to be the same girl he once found adoringly silly.

Hunter heard kicking and loud thug from inside as well as slamming sounds. He walked back to find Dash breaking Lia's room's lock. He kicked it open and reached out to turn on the lights.

Hunter entered with a mindset that if he won't find any clue about the girl Sybil was putting all the blame on, he wouldn't spare her.

Stepping around the bed they saw the entire room dusty. The furniture was covered with white clothes.

" F*cling lier." Hunter muttered removing covers from the cupboard. Opening each of the drawers to find them empty.

They looked closely at everything but didn't even find a fallen hair of any girl.

Hunter glanced at the photograph in his hand before handing it over to Dash. "Keep eyes glued to her parents. We need to know every move they make, every breath they take. No slip-ups, no mercy. They're our leverage, our way our target through this girl. Make sure they feel our presence, even in the shadows. We control the game now, and they're just pawns in our hands. Watch them like hawks, and report every detail back. This ends when we say it does, and not a moment sooner."

As the apartment lay in ruins, they, unsatisfied but relentless, prepared to leave with a final chilling glance around the devastated apartment; Hunter departed, followed by Dash, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

The entire complex had no CCTV cameras; the only thing they provide is that one sleepy, lazy guard. The maintenance is not a thing there, nor did the owner ever cared as it was illegally built.

This made it even harder to find a single clue about Lia.

They went downstairs; Dash unlocked his car using a remote while Hunter went towards his own.

"This girl knows more than she's admitting, It can't be any coincidence. She has brought a unit where Zoe lives; she was seen on the crime scene, with Alaric as well. She was everywhere she shouldn't be-"

As the car beeped, he grabbed the knob but paused, watching Zoe walking towards the entrance.

Their gaze met and for the first time
Dash was the one to break the eye contact. He settled in his car and silently left Dream Aura following Hunter's car behind.

Zoe sighed, looking at his car with sorrow-filled eyes, not knowing Dash's gaze was also on her through the wing mirror.

The cars turned towards the highway and picked up the speed to the destination while another Lamborghini entered the complex.

Alaric.

He went to Sybil's apartment and knocked but there was no response. He has been trying to contact her and even went to her coaching classes, but the owner said she's been absent from there for days as well.

Running his hand through his hair, he went downstairs only to lay his eyes on Ren, the guy who was with Sybil at Strippers Den, he was wearing a ball cap and seemed to cover his face.

"Hey, you," Alaric called out freezing his steps. He turned facing Alaric. "Where can I find Sybil?" Alaric asked.

"I don't know, we aren't in contact." He replied not holding eye contact.

"Her roommate-" Alaric paused, putting some effort into thinking deeply. " What's her name?" He muttered. " Lia, she might know."

Ren shook his head. "I've no idea about any of them. I don't work with her anymore." He said lowly.

Alaric eyed him suspiciously as he bowed slightly before rushing out to fix his cap.

"Where did this girl disappear?" He talked to himself before sitting in his car.

He made his way to Strippers Den. There he investigated but found no clue about any of the girls.

He turned his gaze towards the VIP couches that faces the pole, but there was no setting anymore.

"Excuse me." He stopped a waitress.

She faced him, having a tray full of different drinks in her hands. " What can I get for you, Sir?" The girl with ocean blue eyes asked politely.

Alaric grabbed a glass of whisky and took a sip before speaking. "Where's that stripper named Lia?" He said looking around at the people in the club knowing only Lia can help him approach Sybil.

"I don't know a Lia." She replied honestly. "Strippers here have stage names." She answered.

He pulled out his card and slid it into her shirt's pocket. He leans to her ear, his voice husky. "If you see or hear this name, call me.  He added pulling back. She looked at his smirking lips before lifting her gaze to meet his piper orbs. "It's a jackpot for you."

• In the depths of darkness, secrets breed, whispering their forbidden tales.

Chapter Published On: 18 August 2024.

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