As the first rays of dawn filtered through the blinds of the hospital waiting room, casting long, pale shadows, the weight of the night’s events pressed down on Queen and Dante. The initial shock had begun to give way to a gnawing anxiety, a desperate yearning for any news about Megan. Wendy sat quietly beside Dante, her presence a silent question mark in the tense atmosphere. The police officer returned with a weary look on his face. “We’ve reviewed the CCTV footage from the campus gate,” he began, his voice low and serious. “It’s… not very clear. The area was dimly lit, and the crucial moment was obscured by the branches of the acacia tree.” Queen’s heart sank. That one piece of evidence, the potential key to unlocking the mystery, was shrouded in darkness. “However,” the police officer continued, his gaze meeting Queen’s, “we did see a figure running away from the scene shortly after the estimated time of the attack. We will continue working on it". A chill ran down Queen’s s
The scene that unfolded before Queen in the periphery of the campus lights sent a jolt of pure terror through her as she saw a shadowy figure crouched over a motionless form lying on the tarmac. Her breath hitched in her throat. It couldn't be...“Megan!” The name tore from her throat as she dropped to her knees beside her friend. Megan lay sprawled on the cold tarmac, her limbs at an unnatural angle. A dark stain was blooming on the back of her head, and her usually vibrant face was ashen and still. Queen’s fingers trembled as she reached out, gently touching Megan’s cheek. It was cold.Tears welled up in Queen’s eyes, blurring her vision. “Megan, wake up! Please, wake up!” Her voice was choked with sobs. "Do you know this lady?" The man asked as he moved aside for Queen."She called for a cab but didn't get in. When I alighted to see what was going on, I found her sprawled on the ground."Queen lifted her face to look at the cab driver, tears welling in her eyes. She fumbled for
The world dissolved into a starless void. One moment, the harsh glow of the campus lights illuminated her frantic face as she reached for the taxi door; the next, an all-encompassing darkness swallowed her whole. The last sensation was a dull, sickening thud against the back of her skull, followed by an abrupt silence that was more terrifying than any noise. Megan’s phone slipped from her numb fingers and clattered onto the tarmac, its screen displaying Dante’s contact. The cab driver, oblivious to the silent violence unfolding behind him, waited patiently, the meter ticking. A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, his face obscured by the low-hanging branches of a nearby acacia tree. He swiftly retrieved Megan’s phone, his movements precise and deliberate. With a final, lingering glance at Megan’s unconscious form sprawled on the ground, he melted back into the night, leaving no trace of his presence. Inside the grand hotel, the party continued its raucous crescendo. Laught
The air in the grand hotel hall that was hosting the campus party crackled with an almost palpable energy.Lizbeth moved through the throng with the practised ease of a hostess. Her smile was bright, her greetings effusive, but behind the polished facade, her mind was a whirlwind of calculations and simmering resentments. Tonight was about more than just a simple college party; it was about subtly manoeuvring pieces on her own personal chessboard.Her gaze, sharp and assessing, swept across the room, finally settling on a figure standing somewhat apart near the ornate bar. Wendy, Dante’s ex-girlfriend, exuded a quiet intensity, a hint of lingering pain, hidden in her eyes.Wendy had arrived with a singular purpose: to see Dante, to gauge the possibility of rekindling a flame she believed had never truly died. Seeing him across the room, laughing with a group of men, a familiar ache resonated within her.Lizbeth, ever the opportunist, had invited Wendy, not as a potential ally but a
The grand ballroom buzzed with vibrant energy, the air thick with the murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses. The party was in full swing, a celebratory affair following the successful signing of a crucial international investment contract. Yet, amidst the revelry, Rich, the company's usually charismatic CEO, stood apart. He was a solitary figure in a dimly lit corner, a glass of amber liquid clutched in his hand, its contents barely touched. The truth was, he hadn't wanted to be here. The weight of the day's intense negotiations still pressed heavily on him, and all he truly desired was the quiet solitude of his home. However, his position demanded his presence, a symbol of gratitude and success for the visiting investors. Across the room, Liana was a whirlwind of practised charm, embodying the role of the perfect hostess. She glided from table to table, her laughter echoing, ensuring her presence was felt by every guest. A carefully cultivated percept
Queen sighed, running a hand through her hair. She had noticed the dreamy look on Megan's and the soft hum on her lips, indicating that something might have transpired that day. She had also missed classes, which had never occurred before."It must be Dante" she guessed."Queen, we cleared things up." She said as she smiled at her friend and explained what happened earlier.Megan's blissful ignorance was starting to grate on her nerves. "Megan," she began again, trying to keep her tone gentle, "I'm just saying, isn't it a little convenient that Dante suddenly has all the answers and Lizbeth is just… a liar?"Megan's smile faltered slightly. "But Queen, he explained everything! He said Lizbeth was just someone his family knew a long time ago, and she's always been a bit… dramatic. He said he told her to stop spreading rumours."Queen raised an eyebrow. "And you believe that wholeheartedly?""Yes!" Megan insisted, her smile returning with a touch of defiance. "Dante wouldn't lie to me.