LOGINDjena On Monday morning, I woke up slowly, as if reality had gently caught up with me, but with a certain insistence. The weekend I had spent with Romain had offered me a respite of tranquility, far from the worries and tensions of my daily life. But now, it was time to return to reality. The weekend had passed too quickly, and I hadn't really had the opportunity to reflect on everything that awaited me upon my return. Jack's missed calls, the unanswered messages, all of it awaited me like the sword of Damocles. And every minute of silence weighed on me a little more.I get up and take a shower.I was slowly getting ready, my heart heavy, when Romain entered the room:- Good morning, my love, did you sleep well?- Yes, good morning to you, I slept very well.- Are you ready to leave?- Yes,- Okay, don't forget to eat before you go down, you must be hungry!- That's true, I'm very hungry.I quickly finished dressing, ate quickly, and grabbed my bag and left the house. The cool mornin
Jack On Monday morning, I woke up with a sense of unease I couldn’t explain. A single weekend without hearing from her had been enough for anxiety to creep in. I knew it didn't make sense. She was independent; she had her own life. But this feeling of emptiness, of silence, was overwhelming me in an unbearable way. I had tried to reach her all weekend, between calls and messages. But each time, her phone was off, with no response. With every attempt, a little frustration had built up, gradually turning into growing anxiety. And this morning, I had woken up with that weight, that heavy emptiness in my chest.I wasn’t the type to be overly dependent or worry without reason. But there was something about this situation that was unsettling me. I picked up my phone, hoping for a notification, a message. But no, nothing. No messages, no calls. There was only silence. I put my phone down, a little frustrated, and got up. I walked to the window, trying to distract my mind. The morning light
Lyra's FatherHe hesitates, searching for his words, then gives in to the tone I’m not used to using.— Very well. I’ll get on it right away. But keep in mind that justice follows rules.— Justice follows rules, I repeat, but my daughter's life is worth more than your rules. Understood? I’ll hang up if you can’t act quickly.I hang up before he has time to respond. The clock on the desk ticks. I lean my head against the chair and close my eyes for a moment, just enough to build up cold anger. Then I dial another number, the same one I've been using for years, that of the detective who does the dirty work that the law rarely tolerates.— Hello? a hoarse voice answers.— Listen to me carefully, I say without preamble. Cassandre is out. She’s been released. You are going to immediately redirect your search. Check her last known addresses, her contacts, both old and recent, her cellmates, anyone who might have received a letter, a package, or a message. Dig into her accounts, track her me
Lyra's MotherTime had stopped since my daughter's abduction. Each hour sounded like a suspended condemnation, each silence resonated like a betrayal. I lived in this house turned mausoleum, where every room reminded me of her absence: a scarf forgotten on a chair, a cup left in the kitchen, her scent still clinging to the sheets.When Lieutenant Moreau asked to see us, I knew it was not to bring us deliverance. His face already said too much as he crossed the threshold: taut pallor, clenched jaw, gaze fixed straight ahead, like a doctor announcing a verdict.He sat down in the living room. My husband, with a calm facade, crossed his arms to contain his trembling. I remained standing, unable to sit, as if sitting would mean giving in.— Tell us, lieutenant, I said. But tell us everything.His voice was measured at first. Too measured.— I reopened the Cassandre file. You knew she had been incarcerated.I nodded. How could I forget? Cassandre, the constant threat, the sickly shadow aro
Lieutenant MoreauThe Cassandre file lies on my desk like a poorly healed wound. Each page reeks of obsession: love letters to Alexandre, barely veiled threats against Lyra, public altercations. It's all there. Everything, except the logic of her confinement.I leave the police station with this weight in my briefcase. Heading to the prison. The low, gray sky crushes the city under a concrete shroud. The air is saturated, like before a storm.In the hallway, the smell of disinfectant and worn metal clings to the skin. The director receives me in his office, but his face already betrays what he tries to hide. When I mention Cassandre's name, he sighs.— She's no longer here, lieutenant.I freeze.— What do you mean, no longer here?He clears his throat, avoiding my gaze.— Her… let's say… psychological state… had deteriorated. She was transferred to a psychiatric hospital a few months ago under medical order. Everything is in order.I clench my fists.— Show me the documents. All of th
AlexandreThe acrid smell of disinfectants clings to my throat. Each breath reminds me of the burn of my bandaged ribs, the bursts of pain in my leg. The pale light of the hospital room knows neither day nor night. Everything blurs into a feverish wakefulness, a waking nightmare where Lyra disappears with every heartbeat.When the door opens, I first think it's a nurse. But the silhouette that steps over the threshold is anything but reassuring: dark suit, coat folded over the arm, piercing gaze. Lieutenant Moreau.He advances not as a visitor, but as a judge. His eyes scan the room, then fixate on me.— Mr. Delcourt, he says in a low but firm voice. We need to talk.He pulls out a chair and sits near my bed. His black notebook appears immediately, like a silent weapon. Every gesture is precise, methodical.— You were present during the abduction. You were injured. Your timeline is clear. But I am not here for that. I want to understand who would have an interest in striking like this







