"It's more like a masquerade ball!"Amanda announced to Araoluwa at the long table while reading an email she received from a certain business organization that will host an event at the nightclub that would be similar to a masquerade ball."Really? We're invited to that?" Goro blinked. "Seems a little extra bro.""Nothing is extra, Goro," Hasen laughed. "My acquaintance owns that luxurious club in Tokyo. They're also hosting a little masquerade ball for their business event, and he decided to invite us, bringing us a special invitation letter.""Especially because Jin is the one who brought it!" Hasen laughed as he slung his arms around a certain man's shoulder who was sitting with them at the meeting table."U-uh, it's not really that necessary. I just issued the invitation. I can go home now!" Jin said as he scratched the back of his neck. He'd just returned after months away and is Araoluwa's most trusted friend. I had never interacted with him before, but I had seen him once just
Even though it was too late, I dashed upstairs to the VIP room, swearing in my head at what a bizarre coincidence it had been."Allura? What happened to you?" Amanda asked as they were sitting on the couch relaxingly while gambling and drinking.But my brows furrowed in analyzation, quickly noticing that half of the Araoluwa executives were drunk, inebriated, and barely sober or conscious. I know what kind of people Araoluwa are, and when they hear that one certain word, they'll be easily agitated. They're aggressive, and they lose control of themselves, especially from alcohol.And I never want to see Araoluwa and Regio together... fighting. It'll cause more chaos and it'll be a bloody scene. All of those horrid scenes flashed in my head, and my heart pounded in fear. "Nothing, it was just a hallucination." I said as I went back to their couch."Oh— are you sure? You look like you just saw a ghost." Amanda commented."Hey, Allura, calm down with the alcohol." Hasen said while gambli
Six men entered the hallway where the venue is located, and they all wore their masquerade masks to cover their faces.As they walked in, a large wooden double door was presented to the venue, but there was a worker guarding it."A pleasant night to meet you, sirs. Here for Mr. Mel's event?" The worker greeted them as he checked the invitation list.Toshiro scoffed under his mask. "What do you think? Maybe he needs a little company.""Pardon? If you're not invited, I'm sorry, only invited people are allowed inside the venue, sirs." The worker said. "Mr. Mel even gave us photos and names of the people invited."Some of the guys clenched their jaws in irritation, while others rolled their eyes under their masks from this giddily feigning professionalism, stoic façade worker or whatever, and their patience was slowly losing."Well then sirs, may you all please take your masks off so that I can verify—""We're invited." Zacharias walked up to him."I don't see your names on the invitation
"Okay," I grunted while pulling my Kumpur. "I'll agree to fight with you.""Oh really?" He smirked as he stretched his knuckles, which emitted a loud cracking sound, and he also grabbed his pocket knife, similar to mine."Really." I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes as I took out my pocket knife from my dress and twirled it around my fingers then unfolded the knife.And there, we both started running toward each other at such speed with enraged, searing eyes while aiming the knife at him."I'm not a saboteur, Allura." He grinned while running towards me. "I'll break every part of you.""Leo, you fucker!" I shouted.SlashThey slashed each other in the face with each other's knives as they ran up to each other, cutting a wound in Leo's and Allura's cheeks.Leo used the advantage of grabbing my knife as I stumbled back on the floor from the deep wound on my cheek.I groaned but quickly composed my vigor and ran up to him as I wrapped my arms around his waist and used that as leverage
And there, the doors closed with a loud thud.My head was hung low as I kept my gaze fixed on the ground, refusing to move even though the room was silent and I felt burning gazes on me which I didn't want to look at.Suddenly, I felt a tug on my wrist which made my body face him, but I didn't move my head at all."Allura," Zacharias called as he was holding my wrist.I didn't answer, as I kept my eyes on the floor."Quit being stubborn, yeah?" Dominic yawned as he puts his hands inside his pockets, straightening his posture while walking around me."It'll get worse, I tell you." He whispered from behind."Shut the fuck up." I whispered in the most inaudible tone I can get."Did you say something?"And there, I felt Lorenzo lift me off the floor and then carry me on his shoulder, so I was taken aback."Put me down." I gritted my teeth."I said put me down you fucking cunt." I muttered as I hit his back frantically and kicked my legs."Put me do—!" I was about to protest until I felt h
It was a chilly breeze with the howling of owls, and crickets chirping, with just the moon beaming above and candles providing the only source of light in the tranquil cemetery.The cold crept like ice into my skin, but I shook it off by rubbing my arms repeatedly. It's the middle of the night, and despite the fact that hours have passed, I'm still sitting alone in front of a gravestone.Even though it had been at least a day since I returned to Regio's mansion, I insisted on paying someone a visit. Luckily, here I am.I took one of the candles and lit it, but it was soon blown off by the wind. Before dropping my words and chatting with the gravestone, I gave a bitter smile."I hope you're still listening to my stories, Azazel."I spoke while looking at the tombstone, his tombstone."I'll be the one telling you stories now since you didn't get to continue telling your stories to me."It's been hours... hours of talking to the gravestone as if he's there."It's been a year now?" I murm
After a few hours, I'm still sleeping on the bed with Zacharias, and the heavy rain and thunders have stopped. As I woke up, I drowsily opened my eyes and lifted my head to see that the weather had calmed down, but it was still dark outside, and Zacharias was still embracing me in deep slumber. Suddenly, I remembered the walkie-talkie that I took beside Azazel's grave. Slowly and carefully, I removed Zacharias' arms around me and tiptoed out of the bed to get the walkie-talkie on the cabinet. I carefully opened the cabinet door as I grabbed the walkie-talkie, then sit at the corner of the room on the cold floor while trying to figure out how to work the device. A recording chip is peeking from it, and I slowly press it. My eyes widened as I heard Azazel's voice from the recording. Oh, how I dearly missed it... I almost forgot what he looked like and what his voice sounds like. For once again, I remembered him.And as the recording starts... hearing Azazel's voice once again, I
I felt my breath leave my lungs as I heard the recording.I'm now lying down on my bed after staring at the thin air while sitting in the corner of the room for almost an hour, leaving the walkie-talkie locked inside the cabinet as it brings me chills, either from the cold weather or from the recording itself.The loud thunder didn't even daunt me. I tried to sleep, turning around on my bed, and wrapping a pillow around my head while stuffing myself beneath the blankets. The recording left me in guilt that makes my chest heavy. I feel a lump in my throat forming as tears form in my eyes from the fear and torment that is starting to wrap around my head. I turned my back to Zacharias to cover my mouth, attempting to hide my uncontrollable cries, hiccups, and weeps, fearing Zacharias would hear me and wake up.But Zacharias is fully awake and heard everything, even the recording.Again, guilt.--The morning quickly came, and last night's thunder made me heavily asleep until the morning