POV: Lianne Dievin   “No...” A choked cry burst out from my lips as I covered my mouth with my hands. I looked at my mysterious man, Ruen, with thorough concern enough to create beads of sweat on my temples. My breathing doubled. I was hyperventilating, as if no oxygen was filling my alveoli. I could feel my pulse bounding like crazy too, so tangible under my skin. I glanced at the finger inserted on the trigger and I immediately shook my head. ‘Please don’t move. Please don’t move!’ my mind chanted. I longed to see this man since I saw him in the library. There were so many questions I wanted to ask; answers I wanted to hear from his mouth. I certainly don’t want him to die so soon. However, surprisingly, this new man who called himself Cain somehow knows something too. As to how and why, that&r

POV: Lianne Dievin   The cave was definitely not what I expected. It was actually even more. It was located at the foot of a mountain bordering the resort and another small town on the other side. The facade was neatly maintained by the staff of the resort and a makeshift sturdy stair made of wood provided an entrance to the cave. The inside was beautiful and huge. We were awestruck. It had a floor-to-ceiling length of about five storeys high, and the center cave expanse could be compared to a football field. One could immediately see a wide body of water and a natural waterfall connected to it, providing the cave another striking scenery. There were stalactites and stalagmites everywhere, but unusually, it had a weird color of crystallized green. There was a small opening right above our heads that invited the afternoon sunlight in, reflecting the walls and flooring thereby giv

Darkness surrounded me first before a soft glow of green light appeared before me. “You look absolutely ethereal tonight, but you always have been and every day for that matter.” I then heard a man’s voice say. As if I was in a movie, suddenly my green surroundings shrunk into one ball of white light and everything came bursting out into view. The music of the orchestra was the first thing that caught me, then I saw a massive hall with huge pillars standing mightily on each corner. The marble floor was finely polished, the ceilings were so high with exquisite chandeliers hanging, and there were silk decorative curtains on every balcony door. I was in awe. I looked to my left and saw Cain offering his hand. He was smiling quite dashingly on me. I accepted it and I smiled back. Weird. I don’t rem

Since Mansion (Days Earlier)   “Have you found her?” Mr. Gillard Rafael asked, directing his question to Ruen who was standing against the balustrade of a VIP room of the Since Mansion. Ruen’s eyes were fixed on a scenery in front of them: a beautiful sunset, similar to what he was accustomed to way, way back in the past. A female servant of the mansion had just left the balcony after preparing two cups of tea: one for Mr. Rafael who was sitting near the coffee table and one for Ruen. The former was wearing once again his most favorite hat, a white and black checkered fedora hat, coupled with a formal suit the shade of dark blue. He sipped the contents of his cup as he waited for the latter’s response. “Yes, I found her finally, ” Ruen answered right after he heaved a sigh. God knows how many years he had been searching for her. He never gave

POV: Lianne   I diced the spring onions and sprinkled it on top of the bacon soup all the while I hummed. This tune had been inside my head since I was little. It always made me feel calm whenever I had stressful situations. Cooking however wasn’t stressing me but the tune just popped out of my head the moment I started cooking and it had stuck until I finished. There. I’m finally done. With arms akimbo, I stepped backward and surveyed my creations. A feeling of pride rushed inside me seeing the food I prepared for both of us. I always loved to cook, always had been at ease with the kitchen, but it was my first time cooking for someone other than Jen and my Aunt, and all the more for the opposite sex. I crossed my fingers, hoping that Ruen would like the soup, and maybe if he wanted, I’d be glad to share a pancake with