Ada Max parks the car outside his family home. I stare out the window, remembering the last time I was here vividly. I have to admit that my skin is covered in goosebumps because of it. It’s such an awful memory. But it’s time to move on from such things. We’ve now established an agreement of some kind and words were taken back. I don’t want to hold onto that memory. Moving forward, I just want to forget. “Here we are,” he says, breaking the silence. I look upon his face and see that he’s smiling shyly. Does he feel as awkward as I do?I nudge him with my elbow and ask, “What’s wrong?”“Well, I suppose that this place harbors bad memories for you,” he claims. “No, it’s fine,” I assure him. We were just at the restaurant where he’d take me most of the time and things were fine. I didn’t experience anything negative. The way he looked at me suggested that he figured something was wrong, only he didn’t voice his suspicions. If he had, I’d have told him the same thing. We can move p
AdaI lie next to him, spent. My body is vibrating pleasantly and we're both breathing hard, the sound filling the room. A few seconds pass before Max places his hand on my hip. We don't say a word to each other. I guess there are moments that transcend words. Why would we need to speak after the beautiful moment we shared? It's still there. The chemistry. The love. It's all exactly where we left it. I inch closer to him, resting my head against his arm. In turn, he pulls me closer to his body. I'm glued to him almost right away because of how slick with sweat our bodies are. Finally, Max breaks the silence. “To think I was going to live without this is…crazy.”A smile forms on my lips, and I kiss his stubbled jaw. He turns his head to look at me. Words can’t describe just how I feel whenever he looks at me this way. The thing about Max is that he has the most expressive eyes I’ve ever encountered in all my life. They say so much even though his mouth remains shut. They communic
AdaThe sight of my mother seated on the couch when I push the door open makes my heart sink a little, and the feeling worsens when I realize that she doesn’t even look up. It’s past midnight. “Hi, Mom,” I greet. “Ada,” is all she says back. I’m being secretive and I know it but at the same time, I’m an adult and don’t understand why she’s acting this way. I mean, why can’t she just trust that I’m fine and can take care of myself? It’s genuinely upsetting to feel like I’m being controlled like a child. Things were much easier when I had my own apartment. She didn’t know my comings and goings, and I didn’t feel this pressured into doing and saying things. I walk past her, heading into the kitchen for a glass of water. Max just drops me off. I thought that maybe I could bring him inside and introduce him to my mother but decided against it when I realized I didn’t know how she’d react. I think it’s best if I get things out of the way now. So, I carry my glass of water to the liv
Ada I didn’t think that things between us could get better than they were before. But they have. Being with Max is like living in a dream world with no end. He’s romantic, charming, and so passionate. Every time we come together, it’s with a passion that burns right through me. Our eyes will lock and he’ll be staring into my soul as he enters me, our bodies rocking together, I’ll feel his love. I’ll see it staring back at me. I’ve never had a connection this powerful with anyone before and it’s unlikely that I ever will. It’s funny that Max should be that person for me, all things considered. But we’re bound by more than just a physical connection. It’s deeper. Beautiful. Pure. We both feel it. We’re lying in bed now—it feels like we’re always in bed, to be honest—and he runs his fingers through my hair and says, “There’s something I want to say to you but I don’t know if you’ll be upset or not.”A furrow forms between my brows and I look up at his face. He’s staring at the cei
Ada For the next week, I’m going back and forth between my mother’s house and Max’s, and it’s the happiest time of my life. My mother is still not showing support for our relationship. In fact, she never even asks me about him. I don’t mind it—it’s a choice I’ve made and she has every right to be upset about it. I don’t have a problem with that unless she tries to tell me what to do. Like leave him or something. But she says no such thing. She doesn’t speak at all, actually, and I’ve been so distracted by my own happiness that I’ve barely had time to catch up with her. The one thing that I noticed that is pretty strange, though, is Harry and Damson’s absence. I had the argument with Damson which explains why he’s not coming around but his father? That makes no sense at all. I think it’s been nearly two weeks since he’s shown his face around here and though I want to ask my mother why he hadn’t been around, I leave it at that. It’s better if I don’t ask too many questions. Max
AdaIt doesn’t matter how hard I fight him or how loud I scream. Damson still shoves me in the back of his trunk and drives me away to an unknown location while I kick and scream inside the dark, confined space. God, I think he’s lost his mind. What the hell is he doing? Where does he plan on taking me?Does he really think he’ll get away with whatever this is?The seed of fear that has been planted in my heart is sprouting and fast, waters by my tears. He’s supposed to be my best friend, yet he hit me and now, the future feels so uncertain. I’m afraid of Damson. I never thought that I’d think this but it’s the truth. I mean, yes, I’ve known him since we were kids and he’s never hurt me before, but I can’t exactly say that he wouldn’t hurt a fly, can I? He hurt Wes—killed him—right before my eyes. It never crossed my mind to report the crime because he did it in my name. He saved me when he slammed that vase over his head. But things could’ve been resolved if I hadn’t helped him h
Ada A sound of disgust leaves my lips as I run straight into him. He’s as hard as a slab of rock and makes my knees feel a little unstable. I don’t stop, though, not even when he gives me a push that sends me reeling back. A dark chuckle leaves his lips. I send him a punch that lands dully on his chin. “Ada, don’t bother trying to fight me. We both know you’re not getting out of here. In fact, I’m getting really fucking mad right now.”“I’m just supposed to let you do this to me!?” I demand angrily, yelling at the top of my lungs. “What the hell even is this place? What the hell do you think you’re doing, Damson!?”“I’m doing what I should’ve done a long time ago!” he claims as he points a shaky finger at me. “I’m helping you! You lost your mind, working for that man! I don’t know how he managed to hypnotize you and make you love him but that’s not you, Ada. We both know that!”My eyes widen and I can barely hear what he’s saying to me. My mind is spinning so damn fast. “What? Dams
Maximilian “Plans for today, Max?” Rebecca asks me as soon as she comes down for breakfast. “Yeah, with Ada. We’ll spend a couple of hours together before I leave for the airport.”My sister flashes me a look. My nephew comes to my side and kisses my cheek in greeting. I hold him close to me, inhaling his sugary childish scent. Rebecca says to me, “You’re both going steady, I see.““Yeah,” I say. He asks me, “Uncle, when are we going to go swimming again?”“Soon,” I promise him, feeling bad because I suspended his lessons a long time ago and he was doing so well. “I promise, okay? How about tonight?”“No way. It’s getting too cold.”“It’ll be fine.”“No!” Rebecca exclaims. “I don’t want my son catching a cold. You’re not the one who’s with him when his nose is drippy and he’s coughing his lungs out. No. What until tomorrow.”My nephew pouts but I wink at him. It’ll be fine. I’ll manage to find a way around this rule of hers. Besides, she usually leaves him with the babysitter anywa
Ada Seven Years Later The sound of the water in the bathroom running makes me open my eyes suddenly.My vision is blurry at first but I blink a few times and sure enough, see Max standing in the bathroom, getting ready for work. It’s still dark out—he always leaves for work way too early. And because it’s Saturday, this makes even less sense. Normally, I don’t wake up, but for some reason, I did today. Rising from bed, I approach him carefully, making sure to announce my presence so he doesn’t get scared. He’s shaving his face and looks surprised when he sees me. “Morning, babe. What’s wrong? Did I wake you?”“No,” I mumble before taking the razor from him. I like doing his beard whenever I can. “I just figured I’d get up since I woke up.”“Hm,” is all he says. I finish shaving him, and then we both get washed for breakfast. Usually, he makes it, but this time, I decide to prepare it. We head downstairs together, and I ask him what he wants to eat. “Eggs? Bacon? Whatever you wan
MaximilianTheo managed to get out of trouble due to his close association to the government of Argentina. I don’t know what it is he does—I have a feeling it’s an important job but something off the record. He somehow managed to get the blame off his shoulders completely and got away unscathed even with police involvement. I won’t ask too many questions because that directly benefited us. Now, we can live happily, and it’s fucking sad that Theo isn’t experiencing this relief that we are right now. Though he knew about Grayson’s illness, he wasn’t expecting him to die so soon. Neither of us were. It’s honestly a terrible end to this fucked up story, and in all truth, it’s so unfair to me to celebrate when someone so close to us died. He wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread in Argentina. Theo honored this wish. I didn’t see him shed a tear once but the massive change in him is clear for everyone to see. They’ve been together for years—many years—and Grayson was his lifelong c
AdaStaring at his face makes me freeze a little bit—not enough to make me not know how to react because deep down, I expected this and even counted on it—but it’s still a shock. I haven’t seen him in years, too. The last time was at the hospital when he bumped into me. I know now that was on purpose. I didn’t recognize him then but we’d still been close. “Come with me and you won’t have to get hurt,” he claims in that unnatural voice of his. I realize that his hand is right over what I’m assuming is a gun in his pocket. “Why are you doing this?” I ask, stalling for time. We’re away from the entrance of the police station. I could scream but he’d either shoot me and get away, or get away. Either way, the police wouldn’t be able to catch him on time. I have to be smart about all this. “Aren’t you satisfied?” I continue. “You always took her from me for so long. She won’t even look at my face and refuses to call me her mother. Why don’t you just let me be happy?”“If you even think
Ada I can hardly believe that I’m walking into the prison and that in a few minutes, I’m going to be face to face with my mother. I haven’t seen her in seven years—we haven’t exchanged a single word since then. Now, we’ll have a chance to talk. Half an hour, I think. Am I ready? I’m not sure. Max stays outside. This is also part of the plan. The point is that he needs to seem distracted or on the phone so that when I step out, Damson will think that he’ll have the perfect opportunity to approach me, or maybe even capture me. And that’s where Theo and Grayson come in. But for now, I’m safe inside the station, and I’m going to be talking to my mother now. I wouldn’t be here unless it was completely necessary. I’m not looking forward to talking to her at all. An officer waves me over, gives me all the rules and instructions along with warnings, and then I’m put in a room with her. We’ll be sitting right across from each other. The door is opened for me and I step inside the gra
Ada In the morning, I can hardly believe that I’m leaving this cabin. It’s all happening so quickly and honestly, it’s so surreal. I don’t have time to say goodbye to Abby because she’s asleep but I do say bye to Rebecca and Samantha. Then, when we’re alone, I tell Rebecca what happened last night and she seems so happy that she’s practically bursting at the seams. “That’s so amazing, Ada!” she exclaims. “Oh my God. I wish I was there to see it.”Words can’t describe how it felt to hold her. I imagine mothers of newborns feel the same way when they finally hold them in their arms. That new feeling—this certainty that you would do anything for that child. That’s what I felt yesterday. Seven years after her birth. “There’ll be a lot more to come,” Rebecca assures me. “Soon there will be a time when we’ll forget all about this difficult beginning, you’ll see.”I exhale and clasp my hands together. “I hope so.”But it’s time for me to go. I sit in the backseat of the car and just h
Ada “No,” Max says. “That’s a crazy plan, Ada. Are you kidding me? Do you really think that I’m going to let you put yourself in danger like this?”I sigh, exasperated. “You told me yourself that he’s toying with you and I agree. He’s watching you and isn’t an idiot—as soon as he has the chance, he’ll kill you, and then what will we have accomplished? No, Max. This is what we’re going to do.”“But Ada—”“No buts,” I claim. “This is decided.”It’s easy for me to tell why Max doesn’t like my plan—in fact, it makes all the sense in the world, to be honest. I’ll be making myself a target so that we can better follow Damson’s moves. Everything else didn’t work. Waiting for him at both apartments was a pointless plan for so many days and in the end, he managed to plant a bomb in their car. I can’t stand by and let that happen—we have to do something to stop him while we’re all still alive. What if one of them died? How would we keep fighting, then?“I don’t want you to get ahead of yours
MaximilianI run a hand down my face in frustration. Gone again. The detective stares back at us, his expression of exhaustion mirroring ours for a second before he changes it and looks optimistic again. "Our guys are working on finding him and I'm sure we will very soon. You have nothing to worry about."Theo frowns and inches forward. "I don't think that's true, detective. You said that before and my niece was never found. I don't understand why there aren't more people after this guy. He's crazy and a danger to society. A lot of people could've been hurt today!" "I assure you that we're doing all we can," he claims, but even that is something he says to everyone, I'm sure. I've heard him a million times. I look over at Theo and he stares at me at the same time. The look written all over our faces is the same—we're wasting time here and if we don't get out of here soon, we'll waste even more time. Theo extends his hand to the detective. "Thank you for your time."We head out,
Maximilian When I woke up earlier today, I thought that it would be the same day as all the others. I was wrong. Because Damson chose to make an appearance in the most unexpected of ways and because our guard was down—courtesy of spending fruitless days looking for him—he managed to succeed. A stroke of luck saved us, because we should’ve all been dead by now. But I should start at the beginning. Grayson and Theo are taking turns watching Ada’s apartment. They slip in and out, which would make it difficult for him to watch them and know when they’re in and when they’re not. He can’t be watching us 24/7, or so we thought. It seems Damson is more sneaky than I have him credit for initially. I usually buy us breakfast. It’s hard to shop all the time and anyway, nobody has the patience to cook anything. So, I get fresh bread, butter sometimes, and cheese along with all other sorts of pastry that we can eat. I’ve learned that Grayson decided not to do chemo, which means that his da
Ada Abby has surprised us once more, and we’re beyond happy. Especially Rebecca and me, who are here all the time, waiting for every moment when we’ll be a perfect family and we’ll embrace each other as we should. But deep down, I’m no longer able to celebrate as much as I want to because I’m so afraid of what Damson has in store for us. I’m sure it’s all paranoia because he hasn’t given any sign of life—for all we know, he’s hanging by the neck in a motel room somewhere now that he knows he’s lost and that we’re after him along with the police. But I doubt that. The new Damson has proven to be someone very evil with plans and backup plans and the whole lot of it. He doesn’t have any empathy, and he’s just cruel and mean. I know that our happiness is bothering him. Just the thought of him makes him want to reveal himself so he can take one of us out. Lately, I’ve been trying to feel what he feels. As twins, one would expect us to have that kind of connection. But no. I’m just