Chapter 2 Crimson Orbs

Aurelia's eyes locked onto the piercing red orbs, and her body froze as if paralyzed by fear. Her lungs forgot how to breathe, and her heart raced like a jackhammer in her chest.

The red eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, filling her with an unspeakable terror. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even blink.

All she could do was stare into the depths of those malevolent eyes, feeling like a tiny insect trapped in a spider's gaze.

The eyes seemed to grow larger, more intense as if they were feeding off her fear.

"What kind of monster has eyes like that?!" Aurelia's thoughts screamed. "What does it want from me? Is it going to kill me? Oh God, please don't let it hurt me..."

"Why is it enjoying this so much? Can it see my fear? Is it feeding off it? Oh no, oh no, oh no..."

Aurelia's thoughts were a jumbled mix of terror, panic, and desperation. She was trapped in her mind, unable to move or speak, as the red eyes seemed to sear themselves into her brain.

"Aurelia, can we go now?" Ann's voice was laced with concern, her eyes fixed on her sister's frozen form like a beacon of sanity in a chaotic world.

Aurelia's gaze remained fixed on the spot where the red eyes had vanished, her mind still reeling from the terror that had gripped her like a vice.

But at the sound of her sister's voice, something inside her seemed to shift, like the tectonic plates of her soul realigning themselves.

She blinked, and her eyes refocused on Ann's worried face, the features etched with a deep-seated fear for her sister's well-being.

"Ann...?" Aurelia's voice was barely a whisper, her throat still tight with fear, the sound barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

"Hey, sis, you okay?" Ann took a step closer, her hand reaching out to grasp Aurelia's arm like a lifeline, her touch warm and reassuring.

Aurelia's eyes snapped back into focus, and she shook her head as if clearing the cobwebs from her mind. "Y-yeah, I...I think I saw something," Aurelia stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Eyes. Red eyes. Staring at me."

Ann's expression turned from concern to alarm. "What? Where?" She scanned the surrounding area, her eyes darting back and forth like a searchlight.

Aurelia's gaze drifted back to the spot where she had seen the eyes. "Right there. But...but there's nothing now."

Ann's grip on her arm tightened. "Come on, let's get out of here. Now." She tugged Aurelia away from the spot, away from the darkness that seemed to linger like a specter.

As they walked, Aurelia couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was nothing there. Just the usual street noise and passersby. Yet, the sensation persisted, like a nagging whisper in her ear.

"Ann?" Aurelia's voice was laced with uncertainty. "Do you think...do you think I'm going crazy?"

Ann's expression softened. "No, sis. You're not going crazy. You're just shaken up. We'll get you home, and you can forget about this whole thing."

But Aurelia knew she wouldn't forget. Those red eyes had seared themselves into her memory, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were still watching her, waiting for their next move.

********

As they walked into their cozy living room, Ann gestured for Aurelia to sit on the couch. "Here, sit down. “We can finally relax, what a hectic day it has been”.

Aurelia collapsed onto the soft cushions, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. "I know, right? I'm still trying to process what happened."

Ann sat beside her, concern etched on her face. "You mean with the red eyes? Aurelia, what did you see?"

Aurelia shuddered at the memory. "I don't know, Ann. It was like...eyes. Just staring at me. And then they vanished."

Ann's expression turned thoughtful. "That's so weird. I didn't see anything, but I did feel a strange vibe when we were leaving. Like someone was watching us."

Aurelia's gaze snapped to Ann's face. "You felt it too?"

Ann nodded. "Yeah, but I thought it was just my imagination. Now I'm not so sure."

The sisters sat in silence for a moment, the only sound being the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Aurelia broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think...do you think it's connected to the strange things that have been happening around town?"

Ann's eyes widened. "Do you think it has something to do with the disappearances?

Aurelia, I don't know, but we need to be careful. Something feels off."

As they sat there, the darkness outside seemed to press in on them, and Aurelia couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched, even in the safety of their own home.

"Aurelia, where's Dad?" Ann asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm here, honey," their father replied, entering the room with a warm smile. But his expression quickly turned worried as he took in Aurelia's pale face. "Why do you look so pale? like you've seen a ghost."

Aurelia forced a weak smile, trying to brush off her fear. "I'm fine, Dad. Just a little tired."

Her father's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the issue. "Did you get a job?" Aurelia asked, trying to divert attention from his worries.

Her father's face fell, and he sighed heavily. "I got a driving job, honey. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing." He couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.

Aurelia knew that his reputation had preceded him, and no one wanted to hire him for a decent job. The whispers of "a gambling addict " and "unreliable" had followed him from his previous jobs since his company’s bankruptcy, making it hard for him to find steady work.

As they sat down to celebrate with hot chocolate, Aurelia's gaze kept drifting to the window, where the darkness seemed to be watching them, waiting for its moment to strike. And she knew she couldn't keep her fears hidden for much longer.

The weight of her father's struggles and her eerie encounter hung heavy in the air like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury.

*****The Bianchi Estate *****

"Did he agree to the offer?" his deep voice echoed through the lavish study, sending a shiver down the spine of his messenger, Giovanni.

Giovanni swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. "N-no, sir. He refused."

The mafia Baron’s gaze narrowed, his eyes piercing like daggers. "Refused?" He repeated the word, his voice dripping with venom.

Giovanni took a step back, his hands trembling. "H-he said he wouldn't sell, no matter the price."

Baron’s expression turned glacial. He raised his hand, and Giovanni flinched, expecting a blow. Instead, the baron snapped his fingers, summoning his enforcer, Marco.

"Take care of it," he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Marco nodded, his massive frame looming over Giovanni like a specter of death. "Consider it done, boss."

As Giovanni was dragged away, his terrified screams echoed through the mansion's halls, leaving no doubt about the fate that awaited those who defied the Mafia, Baron Lupo Bianchi.

Baron’s aura was palpable, radiating an aura of fear and power that made even his most loyal associates tremble.

His presence was a reminder that in his world, refusal was not an option, and disobedience would be met with swift and merciless punishment.

Marco returned, his face splattered with blood, his eyes gleaming with a sinister intensity. "Work done, my lord," he announced, his voice devoid of emotion.

Baron’s gaze never wavered, his eyes fixed on Marco with an unblinking stare.

"Did you get the information about the lamb?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

Marco nodded, his movements stiff and mechanical. yes, my lord…She's called Aurelia Montez."

The baron's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as if the mere mention of her name was a personal affront. "Aurelia," he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Tell me more."

Marco hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. "Her mother died mysteriously when she was 13, my lord. Her dad's company went bankrupt, and now he's a gambling addict... and her younger sister is in high school."

The baron's gaze turned glacial, his face a mask of cold calculation. "And what about her father's job prospects?"

Marco's voice was barely above a whisper. "He's looking for a job to keep him away from gambling, my lord. We've offered him a driving job... under our... 'guidance'."

Baron’s laughter sent chills down Marco's spine. "Ah, how generous of me. And Aurelia, the restaurant owner... how convenient. A perfect leverage point."

Marco's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. He knew Baron’s tactics all too well.

Aurelia's life was about to take a dark and dangerous turn, and Marco was the unwilling messenger of her fate.

The air in the room seemed to thicken, heavy with tension and foreboding. Aurelia's name seemed to hang in the air like a death sentence, and Marco's very presence seemed to be a harbinger of doom.

Baron’s gaze turned glacial, his face a mask of cold calculation. "Bring her father to me when he reports to work. I have a... special task in mind for him. And

Marco?"

"Yes, my lord?"

“We’ll visit her tonight”.

To be continued……