Semua Bab Five: Bab 41 - Bab 50

“Come on, Estela… she’ll be fine,” Sam murmurs as he takes my hand and drags me outside, barely giving me time to react.He settles the door back into its frame and we move through the alley. My legs move, but not because I choose to. I walk on inertia, like my body is an empty shell and my mind is suspended in broken silence, in an endless pause.When I come back to myself, I’m already sitting on his sofa. Sam is beside me, elbows on his knees, head down, breathing like the air itself is punishing him.I turn to him slowly. And then reality hits me. I break down crying.“Did you sleep with her?” I ask without looking at him, my mouth tight like a knot.“No, Estela… of course not,” he answers immediately, fast, almost desperate.“I’ll show you what happened that night,” I tell him as I take a deep breath and grab his hand.I close my eyes tightly. The images of Britanis against the wall hit my mind like an uncontrollable movie.I try to focus, but the memory fractures like a broken sc

My eyes are buried in that damn journal, and so far all I’ve managed to get out of it is a splitting headache.Twisted letters, hand-drawn sketches, curses that seem to form and unravel at the end of every page.I’m completely exhausted. I sit on the edge of the bed and, with my other hand, push myself toward the kitchen, scratching my head. A strong coffee should calm my chaotic neurons, already numb from reading and rereading every page with zero success.“Damn it!” I complain as I open the coffee jar. It’s completely empty.I rinse my face under the tap and tie my hair into my usual messy bun.I drag my tired steps out to buy coffee at the café on the corner.When I take the elevator, a familiar figure vanishes between the stairs and the next floor. I even stand on my tiptoes trying to see it, but there’s no one there.While I insist, the woman who got on with me keeps staring at me, judging me with her sharp, acidic gaze.I shoot her a bitter look and she finally goes back to the

I ignore his position, but I need to see myself in a mirror, breathe, and get back to my center.As I walk down the hallway, the lights flicker for just a second, but it’s enough to make my skin prickle.When I push open the bathroom door, the air is freezing, as if a window had been left open. There’s no one inside.I step toward the mirror, trying to fix my hair. The dress, thankfully, doesn’t look as ruined anymore… but something catches my attention.On the edge of the sink, perfectly still and carefully placed, there’s a yellow flower.Identical to the ones in the bouquet carried by the man who stained me.It feels like my soul is trying to crawl out of my mouth.I pick it up carefully. Its texture is fresh, like it was just cut. There’s no way someone could’ve left it here without me noticing.“What the hell…?” I murmur.Then a faint thud echoes on the bathroom door. Three knocks. Slow. And one more, quick.My heart stops. I swallow hard.“Who’s there?” I ask, but my voice comes

I feel calm when I’m finally settled at my desk, working without anyone bothering me. My head is a tangled mess, yes, but at least I’m peaceful.“Natalie won’t come today. She’s unwell, apparently,” Sam explains, putting his phone away.“Oh… well, I was actually surprised to see her chair empty,” I reply, trying not to show how happy I am about that witch’s absence.A few sharp knocks echo through the door.“Come in!” Sam shouts without moving.“Excuse me… but I need Estela,” Miranda whispers from the half-open door, barely showing her intense eyes and those sharp hands that always seem to be studying everything.“What for?” Sam asks, confused, looking at me and then at the insistent Miranda.“I need help with the Audi sales.”Sam rolls his eyes again. We exchange a nervous glance, and in the end, I give in.I stand up with all the politeness in the world to help her.“Thank you, Estela… but I also need to ask you a favor,” she whispers, looking around as she walks firmly beside me, h

I roll my eyes at the guests and curse to myself. I force the best smile my facial muscles can manage and walk forward with clenched fists toward Miranda.“Estela, darling, can you help me prepare these salted meat rolls?” she asks in an overly polite, raspy voice while wrapping flour and ground meat onto an aluminum tray.I nod politely and start helping her.“This city is full of legends,” Miranda comments, tossing the meat and kneading a roll. “I once heard there have been sightings of supernatural creatures wandering through the forest…”“What sightings?” I ask, feeling my blood freeze at her insinuations.“They say they’re half-wolves, with human legs… werewolves, you know?” She nudges me and winks.“I don’t know anything,” I cut her off, pressing the flour tightly between my hands.“When what we can’t see breaks free, to hell with those damn things!” she suddenly mutters in a hardened tone.“What did you say?” I ask, placing my hands on the counter.“Haha! Nothing… I just like f