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| 20 | Game of Secrets
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2025-07-28 01:00:00I perch on the window seat of our assigned bedroom, eyes fixed on the door as I wait for Efrem's return. He left me here with Alek standing guard outside, his usual command to stay put still ringing in my ears. This time though, I have no intention of testing the waters. I will obey.
Things are different here.
One thing is clear: we're not the only guests invited. I overheard Deonta'e telling a guard that the other Ringleaders will arrive tomorrow. At first, I was too preoccupied with the prospect of seeing Haden again to consider why we're here an entire day early.
Why?
The sectors aren't as close to each other as they seem. It's only about six hours between the Mustafin and Diallo borders. The rest? Much farther, with Talos and Wen being closest to Diallo, bordering it on opposite sides. We drove through the center of the Wen sector to get here.
For the past half hour, I've been mulling over the same questions
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I Am Mustafin | 29 | A Fine Line
My eyes flutter open as I inhale deeply, the comfort and warmth of the bed still embracing me. I shift to my back, turning to find the other side of the bed empty.He's gone?I sit up, briefly scanning the room before averting my gaze to the bottom of the closed bathroom door. The light is off. I'm almost disappointed, though I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting.Maybe a 'good morning' would've been nice.Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, I lift myself from it, hearing my joints crack as I stretch. A soft sigh passes my lips as I reach for the bedsheets, taking a moment to make the bed neatly the way I found it when Efrem brought me here last night.With this, I take one last look over the bedroom and take my leave, shutting the door quietly behind me. While I wasn't sure what to expect when I woke up, I'm certain I was anticipating someone waiting for me in the hallway. However, to my surprise, there's no one here.Odd...As I walk down the hall, in the direction of my
I Am Mustafin | 28 | The Edge of Submission
I like to think I handle things fairly well. When you've lived a life like mine, you'd imagine few things could truly faze you. And while it's true that I've come to appreciate my ability to respond adequately under hostility, I don't think anything could've prepared me for what I learned tonight.With one arm bent under the pillow, I lay on my side over the bedsheets, watching the bathroom door as I wait for Efrem to emerge from the shower. The lingering effects of the drug keep my mind hazy, time seeming to pass in a blur.But I don’t want it to stop. I don't want to sleep. I don't want a clear head. I want to ride out the haze for as long as I can, because I'm afraid that when I finally do sober up, I won't have a choice but to confront the reality: I am here out of charity.The click of the doorknob jolts me from my thoughts. Efrem steps out, clad in a white tank top, and gray sweats. He glances at me briefly, moving nonchalantly to the dresser.“Can't sleep?” he asks, his voice l
I Am Mustafin | 27 | Shattering Truth
“How are you feeling?” Isaak asks softly as he walks beside me up the stairs.I glance at him briefly, studying him for a moment before shrugging. “I'm fine,” I respond dryly.I've spent so much time worrying about questions involving him that I never stopped to consider how I'd actually speak to him. For years, he was my best friend, and the day I lost him was the day I lost a part of myself. I spent the better part of two years believing he was dead, only to discover he's been perfectly fine this whole time... it's made me resentful, despite how hard I've tried to simply be grateful he's alive at all.Forgiveness is an incredibly difficult thing to achieve.I suppose that's the thing about resentment: you convince yourself you're over it until it doesn't bother you as much.As we approach my bedroom door, he stops abruptly and says, “I'm sorry.”I cease my movements, furrowing my brows as I turn to look
I Am Mustafin | 26 | A Quiet Sunday
As I sit here, sipping orange juice from my glass, I find myself grateful for small mercies—namely, the absence of a hangover. It's 2 PM, and I've only managed to drag myself out of bed and down to the dining table about 30 minutes ago.It's Sunday, and I know better than to expect Efrem's company. He always seems too consumed by work in his office or time at the gym to do much else. I assume he eats in his office out of convenience.Who would want to live like that?Although any other day I'd have been perfectly content without his presence, I find myself almost... missing him. Or maybe I'm trying to convince myself that I miss him because there are so many questions I'd like to ask. But then, there's that other matter.Little Bea.I'm not sure what I desire from him, but I know that the thought of having him stirs something inside me—something I'm not sure I want to feel. I'm not sure how I want him, but the most frustrating part is that I like the way his touch feels—a feeling I've
I Am Mustafin | 25 | Sunrise
“You take care, hon!” Amara exclaims, pressing a can of sparkling water and a sealed straw into my hands. She leans in, whispering conspiratorially, “These are for later,” as she discreetly slips a small plastic bag into my sweater pocket.“Baby, they've gotta get going,” Deonta'e intervenes, his arm snaking around Amara's waist as he gently pulls her away from the car before shutting the door.Through the window, I offer them a weak smile as they watch us depart, Alek at the wheel. As we pull away, the reality of my situation crashes over me. I'm acutely aware of how much trouble I'm probably in, the tension in the car growing with each passing moment. Unfortunately, there's no quick escape—it's at least a six-hour drive back home.What if he kills me when we get home?I'm left to wonder how long it'll be before Efrem finally speaks, declaring this my third strike. At the same time, I question whether it's fair to consider this the end of my last chance. After all, I didn't explicitl
I Am Mustafin | 24 | A Silent Conspiracy
As night falls, Efrem remains conspicuously absent. Not that I'm particularly worried—none of the Ringleaders have been seen since morning. And with no one to rein us in, Amara, Christana, Nana, Sophia, and I linger poolside, steadily depleting the minibar's stock.Well, they do. Somewhere between lunch and dinner, I sensed an impending blackout and scaled back my intake. Not that it helps much—I'm still decidedly buzzed. These women, however, can drink like it's their job.Around noon, Amara had summoned a guard to bring us lunch, repeating the process a couple of hours ago for dinner. It's surprising how utterly normal they seem—for the most part. I'd always imagined them as stuck-up or downright bitchy. But I have to admit, they're not so bad.Amara is especially welcoming. She even offered Alek a drink, which he refused, of course. I'm not sure if he's just taking his job very seriously or if any guard in his position would have declined.Guess I'll have to find out eventually...
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