"You did a good job. He'd be impressed."
"I'm not trying to impress anyone. I just want to get out of this mess."
Ivan's smile widened as he casually placed his hand on my shoulder and I flinched. "You'll be out soon. Just follow the plan, and you'll be free."
Shrugging his arm off my shoulder I looked around. "How can you be so sure? " My voice was barely above a whisper, drowned by the murmurs of distant conversations and the clatter of dishes in the cafeteria.
Ivan leaned in closer, his voice almost lost amidst the noise. "My brother is a man of his words."
I stared at him.
After Kyle slept last night, sneaked back into Judas's office and clicked the pictures of those photos and some documents. After sending them to Ivan, I deleted them. Though I ponder how that'd help Lucius, but I didn't care.
I just wanted to clean my hands of this whole affair.
"Whatever, I just-"
Before I could complete Ivan took a step forward and invaded my vicinity. My breath hitched as he wrapped his arm freely around my waist. "You won't suffer in his hands anymore. I promise you that, Sera."
His words lingered in the air, wrapping me in a cloak of uneasy reassurance.
I nodded trying to get him off me. "I'd look for anything else if I could find. But there's not much in his office, except some… papers and…"
"Papers will be all."
Ivan's eyes gleamed with a certain determination that was infectious. He released me, and I took a step back, inhaling deeply. I glanced at the bustling cafeteria, suddenly feeling the weight of the secrets I harbored.
"I just need time," I murmured, trying to convince myself as much as him.
Ivan nodded, understanding the silent struggle twisting inside me. "Lucius wants to see you on Thursday. Keep him satisfied if you want to escape Romanovski sooner."
I swallowed. Fear and anticipation mingled in the pit of my stomach. "I'd try."
Before Ivan could say anything, I side stepped him and walked out of the cafe to my next class. I did not trusted Ivan. And neither Lucius. But that didn't mean I trusted Judas.
They could ruin each other for all I care what I needed was my freedom. And I was ready to pay whatever cost it took.
Judas was a criminal, and Lucius would be one for all I care. I just needed to play my part carefully, walk the path I found myself stumbling upon.
Before Judas would come back, I needed to gather as much evidence against him as I could. Time was slipping through my fingers, and Thursday would come sooner.
After attending two more classes and taking extra time in the washroom so that I wouldn't stumble upon Ivan or Alina, I exited the college.
Like a routine, Kyle was already there. I sighed walking past him and settling into the car. He started the car and drove into the foggy streets.
None of us said anything. And I was glad. I had no clue what to say.
So I stayed quiet. His words from last night were still echoing in my head.
Monsters were not born but made.
I wondered if that was true, thinking of Judas. I knew what he was. And I knew he freaking enjoyed it. But maybe, just maybe, there was a part of him that wasn't completely lost. Perhaps that was foolish hope, yet it lingered in the back of my mind, urging me to find even the faintest glimmer of humanity within.
But I knew better.
Men like him were not redeemable.
Heaving a deep sigh I wrapped my arms around myself and rested my head on the window watching the snow flakes covering the streets and the trees. Somehow I felt my life was like this cold weather.
When would this winter end?
When would I'd get my freedom back?
I didn't even know whatever I was doing was right or not. It all hung on the thin thread of hope. Something I could afford. There was no harm in doing Lucius a favour.
I'd get my freedom back that way.
My lachrymosious life would come on track.
This pain, this misery would go away.
Soon.
My eye lids felt heavy as I snuggled into the seat all while thinking about how I'd sneak into Judas's office today.
Hope I'd find something useful.
******
The usual routine of eating dinner and Kyle threatening me ended earlier than expected. He didn't forced any conversation today and neither did I. I was too exhausted to even bother to look at him.
Kyle didn't eat with me. He was outside the entire time I was eating. And when he came back with his phone pressed to his ear, and whispering some Godamned Russian words, I was down doing dishes.
After that I locked myself into my room all while waiting for Kyle to sleep. The man slept later than usual.
I somehow sneaked into Judas's office again today. And tonight I didn't felt as scared as last night. The office was as quiet as I left it.
I didn't bother to look in the drawers I opened yesterday inseatd the cabinet around the corner intrigued me. They opened easily without any need of key.
My eyes narrowed when I found a bow-shaped hair clip amidst the blank papers. Curious I grabbed the familiar pin and assessed it and my eyes widened.
This was my pin.
I remembered losing it the night Judas humiliated me in front of those men. The night he stalked me till the park.
A chill ran down my spine recalling that night. I was so terrified.
Why did he even had this? I was about to put the pin in my pocket when a realisation hit me.
What if he open this drawer and found the pin missing? He'd definitely suspect. So I left the where it was. To my surprise, I also found my lip gloss I didn't remember losing in the same drawer.
A wave of disgust hit me.
What was he? A stalker?
Definitely.
Putting the things back as they were and making a mental note on taking them back, I opened the next drawer. It was filled with some blue files and a small transparent box.
What was it?
Grabbing the box I opened it to find two pen drives. One was red coloured and other was black-red. They could come handy.
Putting the drives in my pocket, I decided to stop it for today.
I'd have Ivan copy the files of these drives tomorrow and would put them back in here after that. Since I had no access to laptop or any other device.
I was about to close the drawer when my eyes fell upon some words written on the file.
Medical reports.
Curiosity piqued, I couldn't resist pulling the file out to take a closer look. Flipping through its pages, I saw names that were eerily familiar.
Judas Romanovski.
Male.
26 years.
And strangely beneath his name there were words crossed out. Flipping through the file I realised it was from an Optometrist.
Dr. Ruby Hudson. An Ophthalmologist.
His reports said he was partially blind. The realization left me reeling. I thought… he was faking his blindness.
Or did I misunderstood something?
Brows narrowed and hands tightened, I flipped to the second page. A date from two years ago was there. Did that mean he lost his vision two years ago? Or was he blind two years ago and recently got his vision back?
I just couldn't understand this.
Why would he had to lie about his blindness? As far as I remember he was still faking it in front of the world. Was there something more sinister beneath the surface? A shiver ran down my spine as I considered the possibilities.
My mind raced with questions as I continued to examine the pages. They were all the reposts, diagnosis, and some surgical records. He did underwent surgery. He was blind.
Oh lord….
My hands trembled as a sudden sharp ache rippled through my head. I sat back, trying to calm my thoughts and make sense of this information. Should I trade this information with Lucius?
I didn't know why Judas had kept this hidden from the world, and if he was keeping it hidden, it must be for a reason. And what if me telling Lucius about this would put someone in danger? What if exposing his secret had consequences I couldn't foresee?
Oh good lord.
What do I do now? I couldn't confront Judas directly. This was the decision I had to make by myself.