Chapter 1: Shards of Pain

“Why am I tied up? Why can’t I see anything?” Cleopatra's voice trembled, raw and ragged. “How do I get this blindfold off? Where… where the hell am I?”

Her hands struggled uselessly against the bindings as Darkness pressed in from every side. Gradually panic clawed its way up her throat, and her heart raced as if trying to escape her chest.

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

Footsteps scraped closer to the car. Cleopatra froze, every muscle tensing the moment the doors swung open. Two figures slid inside, one claiming the driver’s seat, the other perching beside him with a taut.

“What the hell are you talking about? Guinevere’s voice echoed sharply through the space. “This wasn’t our agreement!”

“Since when do you give orders?” Anthony said calmly, “Without me, you wouldn’t have accomplished anything.”

His gaze slowly hardened.

“Stop being ungrateful and remember your place.”

Guinevere gritted her teeth before speaking.

“Still, if I hadn’t tricked her into meeting me, you wouldn’t have this opportunity.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Now tell me, what exactly do you plan to do with her?”

In the back seat, Cleopatra remained limp, feigning unconsciousness.

‘Guinevere,’ she muttered inwardly. ‘I told you I genuinely cared for Katie.’

Without warning, Anthony twisted in his seat and shot a sharp glare toward the back.

“She’s still knocked out,” a sinister smile slowly spread across his face. “Why are you in such a hurry, Guinevere?”

“What kind of question is that?” Guinevere hissed. “You know how much of a threat she is to me.”

Anthony’s eyes narrowed, a sharp, assessing glint cutting through his gaze as it swept over Guinevere’s face, as though he were trying to peel back every mask she wore.

“Don’t tell me you’re still afraid of her. She never even made it into modeling; we made sure of that, and she never will.”

“Then what do we do with her?” Guinevere snapped. “Let’s just kill her already!”

She spread her palms.

“We’re wasting time; she could wake up any second!”

Anthony's smile vanished quickly.

“What the hell?!”

“Oh, please, you… you still have feelings for her, don’t you?”

Suddenly Guinevere burst into laughter, sharp and unrestrained.

HAHAHAHA.

“My cousin has been completely bewitched. Damn it!”

She bit down on her lips as rage and disbelief twisted her features.

“Thump!”

She slammed her palm against the dashboard, the impact echoing like a gunshot.

His gaze never wavered.

“That’s not it.”

“What do you mean, ‘not it’? She demanded, “Have you slept with her?”

He blinked repeatedly

“No,” frustration seeping from every word, “not yet.”

“Then that explains everything,” she sneered, her lips curling with bitter amusement. “No wonder you're parading around like some ridiculous knight in shining armor.”

Her hands shot out, seizing his hand with urgency as her eyes lit up.

“Why don’t you just sleep with her already?”

She continued with a smile on her lips, her voice dripping with mock generosity.

“I’ll even give you space.”

Her eyes instantly gleamed coldly as she leaned closer.

“When you’re done, call me back.”

A cruel smile stretched across her face.

“And then we’ll kill her. We’ll end this once and for all.”

Anthony’s eyes widened in shock, yanking his hand from her grip.

“Hell no!”

“For God’s sake, Anthony, we’re running out of time!”

“Shut up, Guinevere!” he roared. “I’m not killing her; I have something far better. She’s not dying; she'll be mine to control.”

Guinevere's face contorted slightly, reclining slightly in her chair.

“Then what do you plan to do?”

A satisfied smirk curling his lips.

“I’m taking her to my mansion on Dawnspire Mountain, in Eban. She will spend the rest of her life there pleasing me.”

“What if she escapes?”

“No one escapes that place. It’s completely isolated and surrounded by water miles from the nearest town.”

Cleopatra's heart thudded sharply against her chest, and cold sweats clung to her palms.

Anthony slid open the glove compartment, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and tossed one to Guinevere with a casual flick of his wrist.

“Let’s smoke outside,” Guinevere muttered, sticking the cigarette between her lips, “I’m still not okay with your plan.”

“Too bad,” he murmured, shrugging lightly. “My decision is final.”

They both stepped out of the car, and the doors slammed shut as cold silence settled in.

Cleopatra froze, her heart hammering in her chest, sensing the danger they carried.

“I need to get out now,” she muttered to herself. “Thank goodness my hands were tied in front.”

She bent forward, sinking her teeth into the duct tape until it finally gave way, then tore the blindfold from her eyes. With a swift tug, she slipped off an earring and used it to Saw through the tape binding her legs.

The tape gave way.

A surge of adrenaline shot through her as she broke free, every nerve screaming with relief and urgency. Instantly she pressed the unlock button and slipped out of the car in silence, their voices clashing in a heated argument up front, completely unaware of her presence.

She dropped onto all fours on the slick, rain-soaked asphalt. Pain shot through her knees and hands as she forced herself forward, every movement fresh agony as she crossed over to the other lane.

Anthony turned back, looking at the car.

Guinevere followed his gaze.

“What is it?”

He ignored her and walked towards the car; reaching there, his gaze landed squarely at the backseat.

His brows furrowed deeply as he blinked repeatedly.

“How did she escape with her hands and feet tied?”

He turned around, scanning opposite axes, and then his jaw clenched.

“Damn it! he bellowed, turning to Guinevere. “Get in the car, now!”

His voice reverberated through the cold street.

Cleopatra turned back; her heart pounded in her chest. Instantly she clawed faster. While Anthony and Guinevere got into the car, he pressed the ignition button, and the car roared to life.

“This is all your fault,” Guinevere barked. “I told you let's kill her instead!”

Anthony didn't spare her a glance; he stepped onto the accelerator.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Suddenly the car screeched to a halt just meters away, the roar of the engine vibrating through the road. Red taillights glared like angry eyes; he reversed back.

Cleopatra’s gaze landed on a narrow weep hole just beyond the debris. Dark and scary, she glanced back and then crawled towards it.

“This is my only chance; Anthony will drag me to hell if he catches me.”

Anthony and Guinevere hurried out of the car.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Their footsteps thundered relentlessly against the gravel road, scanning the whole area.

“CLEOPATRA!”

Anthony's roar thundered through the air.

Cleopatra froze at the weep hole entrance; her breath grew heavier.

“No, no, I can't let them catch me.”

Steeling herself, she immediately crawled into the dark.

“I know you’re still here! You’d better come out while I’m still being merciful!”

Guinevere dug her fingers into her hair, stomping her feet against the floor.

“If she escapes, it’s over!”

Anthony shot her a glare.

“Just shut up and find her! She can't be far.”

Anthony and Guinevere scanned the area as Anthony slowly approached the debris.

Meanwhile Cleopatra crept forward in silence, her eyes lit up as she reached the opening until her palm pressed against a jagged shard of glass, sharp pain shooting up her arm.

“Ah—ah!!”

Guinevere and Anthony paused

“Did you hear that?” Guinevere whispered.

“Yeah, a scream. She’s close.” Anthony’s eyes darted around. “You go that way; I’ll take this side.”

Cleopatra instantly clamped her hands over her mouth as hot tears fell. She pushed through the opening with one arm; finally out, she straightened. Instantly rain poured down from the heavens, the cold drops cascading over her battered body. She tightened her grip on the broken bottle, wrenched it free, and pressed on.

Just then, he sprinted ahead.

At the other side, Anthony searched frantically, his gaze snapping to a narrow opening in the wreckage.

“Guinevere, come this way! There’s a weep hole here!”

Guinevere closed the distance, her gaze locked onto the narrow space.

“Anthony, do we really have to crawl into this creepy hole?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Anthony snarled. “Crawl, or she’ll get away!”

Guinevere lifted her gaze to Anthony's face.

“What if there are snakes?!”

Anthony pointed, his jaw tightening.

“Just fucking crawl!”

“Never!” she screamed, her voice breaking as raw terror clawed its way out of her chest. “I—I'm not going down there; I can’t risk my life in that cramped cage!”

Her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, horror tightening her throat.

“What if the cables snap? What if it gets stuck? What if I die down there alone, buried in the dark?”

Her hands trembled as she gestured wildly, as though already trapped.

Let’s just wait until morning, please; it’ll be safer.”

Anthony's eyes darkened further.

“Then get out of here!”