ログインArianne's POV "Help me! He wants to kill me. He...he has a dagger", The words managed to squeeze their way out of my tongue, through the irregularities of my breath as I pointed in the stranger's direction. But he was gone, disappearing into the shadows. "Calm down ma'am and talk to us. Who is trying to kill you?" A female officer, who alighted from the police car first asked, slowly coming towards me.She stared at me like I was seeing things. Her other colleagues joined in no time and their sharp touch lights violently illuminated the darkness of the street as they searched for the supposed killer in every nook and cranny. I swallowed the huge lump that formed in my throat, heart pounding more than ever as I stared at the empty street behind me. He was truly gone. How will they believe that I was being followed? That someone wants me dead....."There's no one here!", one of them reported, waving the whole search mission off. Their soft expressions dissolved, and were replaced by u
Arianne's POV I stared at my reflection again- water bags hung beneath my eyes like bruises that refused to heal. Dark circles carved shadows into my face, my cheeks hollowed from weight loss, my skin dull and tight against my bones. I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. My heart thudded so violently in my chest that it felt like someone was pumping water into it instead of blood.I haven't slept for days. Even sleep abhorred me the way one recoils from death itself. My gaze dropped to my trembling hands. They've been like this, trembling uncontrollably since the hotel incident. No matter how tightly I clenched them, the shaking wouldn't stop.'You shed blood Arianne', the accuser in my head started again. "Those men, they died because of you..... because you chose money over their lives. They had families just like yours, with wives and children. Even though yours is broken should you then be used by the devil to wreck the home of others?"The noise was too much; it beca
Dune's POV I strode into the shopping mall clutching tightly to my little girl's hand. The bell at the entrance jingled in splendour to announce the arrival of new guests and the sound alone made Aisle tighten her grip around my hand, overwhelmed by excitement. We had stopped by to pick a few presents for Aisle's birthday as promised. She's a total daddy's girl and insisted I took her on her mini birthday shopping while Mummy stayed home and took care of dinner.Aisle squeaked joyously, "Can I get that teddy bear first?", She pleaded, pulling my hands towards the third row where there were a variety of stuffed dolls. Her babyish pout was one thing I couldn't resist and I chuckled patting her hair. "That's why we are here darling.""Yay!" She giggled releasing her hands from my grip and practically running to get one for herself."Easy honey!", I cautioned from behind, alarmed. My eyes monitored her for some time, until I watched her successfully find her way without stumbling, before
Dune's POV I rolled onto my side, fumbling through the sheets for the familiar warmth of her skin. Ms flew open, meeting an empty bed. Right. Friday. Julian would already be up, getting Aisle ready for school. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as my vision slowly cleared.The room looked unchanged, like its old self, yet I felt different-like I was, wearing a new skin. A renewed version of myself shaped by yesterday's intimacy. I stifled a yawn with the back of my palm, a quiet sense of satisfaction replaying in my mindThe wall clock read 7:15AM and I hastily jumped out of bed remembering my day was fully booked. Aisle is four today. My little girl. Celebrating her all day was enough to begin and end my day with. We had planned to make arrangements to host the celebration at Aisle's school but she insisted she wanted a mini party. Just the three of us. I had to take her to school, organize a few things and go shopping with my little princess to get her presents. But first I had to ha
Dune's POV I held the phone firmly against my ears, nodding intermittently to every sense my boss made. Every word clipped and deliberate. "I need everything from the receptionist who worked the front desk the day Linda was kidnapped. Name. History. Family. Financial records. Associations. Gather every fucking detail about her."I reached for my notepad, pen gliding quickly as I scribbled every instruction in the order he dished them out with clarity, so that every instruction was delivered accordingly."You think she's involved.""I think she's the thread," he replied coldly. "And I want her pulled. Get me her file. And arrange a call. We're talking to her.""I need to know how long she's been working there, her recent engagements, contacts", He continued. "Just find everything. But hey-" He paused sharply, and my hands stilled mid-sentence, ears more attentive than ever. "Don't get the system involved in this. No one is to know you're doing this....."The system. That was the Star
Alex's POV I got into the bathroom real quick, and turned on the shower in full blast, letting the violent rush of water swallow the room. If any word escaped my lips tonight, it wouldn't make it past these tiled walls. With that in place, I retrieved the burner phone I had in my pocket all along.My mind was everywhere but in no place at all. We were here in Paris, but I needed to know what was happening back home. Needed to know what was and wasn't being said. Certainly, things I couldn't afford to ignore. I dialed Dune's contact I'd memorized, with a sharp mind. It amused me, how in many years of working closely with Dune, only a few days ago did I observe his number ended with-47.The call rang for too long straining my patience. But I had to be patient and tried three more times. It was an unknown number and probably he won't take the call, but I still wished on all my elevens that he would. This wasn't a call that could wait. This was important. I sighed, chewing absentminded







