Jon felt a wave of panic as he looked at the wide expanse of the island and realized how difficult it would be to get back to the mainland should he choose. The first hurdle would be how to get to the shoreline. The mansion was built on the edge of a precipice with its back to an almost vertical wall of the mountain. He knew that to get to the shore, he would need to use the cable car which could only be operated by one of Dante’s staff. Without the cable car, he would have to manage climbing down the steep incline and then hike through a forest, probably without any path to guide him to the beach. Then, he would have to make it to the water before anyone realized that he was missing.Upon reaching the beach, Jon would still need a boat if he were to cross the sea to the nearest inhabited island. From his vantage point, Jon could see the edge of the island where its rocky shores met the sea. He could see the dock where the Golden Cowrie was moored the day before, but the yacht was nowh

Jon was taken by surprise at what he had just witnessed. He remembered seeing Dante frail and weakened by some physical malady just the night before. Could it be possible that Dante had completely recovered within just twenty-four hours? Was he just acting the night before? What would Dante gain from feigning illness in front of Jon?Jon withdrew and took a few deep breaths outside the library. He waited a few seconds before finally raising a fist and knocked gently on the library door. Immediately, he heard Dante's voice from within telling him to come in. Jon held his breath before fully opening the library door. When he looked inside, he was surprised that Dante was already seated at his desk and busily working at his laptop. Jon tried to hide his surprise, but in his mind, he was thinking how Dante was able to cross the room and take his seat within a span of a few seconds. Jon also noticed that Dante’s cane was placed on top of the table."Come in, my friend," said Dante with a sm

The dark bottle of wine sat inside a metal bucket that was filled with ice. Jon did not know when the cart was rolled into the library, not having seen it when he came in. Pablo or another staff probably opened the door quietly and placed the cart there without disturbing them.Jon held the bottle neck and at once felt the chilled glass on his palm. He uncorked it and poured the red liquid onto a long-stemmed glass. The dark liquid sparkled in the dim light of the library and Jon wetted his lips as he filled his glass, a bit more than what he actually intended.Jon drank the wine slowly, savoring its many distinct yet unknown flavors and let himself get lost in the swirl of strange and pleasurable sensations. As he did so, he lost track of everything else around him until he realized that he had emptied his glass."No need to lick that last drop off your glass. You still have an almost full bottle in your hand," Dante smiled as he sat comfortably in his chair.Jon realized that he had

Jon woke up with a jolt and for a moment wondered where he was. His work had taken him to numerous places before and he had to stay in hotels most of the time. On several occasions, in the first few moments after waking up, he would feel disoriented, as if whisked to another time and place. He recognized the ceiling of the dim room where he was staying, lit by soft rays of the bedside lamp that he kept on the whole night. It was quiet, dead quiet, as if he were sleeping inside a mausoleum where he was the only living occupant.Everything seemed surreal and Jon blinked his eyes a couple of times. For brief moment, he had to ask himself whether he really was in an island somewhere in the Pacific, effectively imprisoned within shark-infested waters by a wealthy client who could be a monster with burning eyes. Jon looked around his room and for the first time saw how everything seemed old even though the mansion was built only in the past several years. The curtains, the furniture, and th

Dante was playing with Jon's calling card in one hand while the other remained hidden behind his back. He flicked the card and it traveled between his fingers until it emerged again between his thumb and forefinger. All the while, Dante's eyes were directed at Jon who had just entered the hall.Hiding any sign of shock, Jon spoke first. "I didn't realize you're awake. I thought you slept during the day. Or haven't you slept yet?"There was a loud thunder that reverberated in the entrance hall. Even within the windowless entrance hall, Jon knew that the rain had gained in strength. Dante stopped flicking the card and lowered his hand. He did not answer Jon’s question but looked him intently. A few seconds had elapsed before he turned his head to the side and spoke.“In Victorian England, they would see dead strays strewn across the streets after rains like these that it appeared as if the dead animals came with the rain. Hence, originating their phrase 'raining cats and dogs'.” Dante l