Three Days
Three Days
Sophie slipped into her room, her face flushed red. She jumped onto the little bed, curling herself beneath the duvet, kicking her legs like a restless child trying to shake off emotions too big to handle.
Minutes passed before she finally reached for her phone, almost out of habit. The screen lit up, washing her face in pale light. She scrolled absentmindedly, not expecting much.
Then her eyes froze. Her breath caught like she had seen a ghost smiling at her in the phone.
And before she could stop it, a scream ripped from her throat.
“Nooooooo!”
The phone slipped from her trembling hand, clattering onto the floor.
The sound shook through the house.
Talia jolted from her own room, heart pounding. Without thinking, she slammed Sophie’s door open.
“What happened?!” she said as she rushed in and met Sophie sitting on the bed, trembling, the phone in her shaking hand, her face pale as paper.
Wordlessly, Sophie shoved the phone toward her.
Talia’s eyes scanned the headline. Her jaw clenched so hard the muscle in it twitched as she read it out loud:
“Heiress Sophie Langford’s body discovered after three weeks missing and three weeks since her suicide note surfaced online. It has been confirmed that the young lady of 27 years old died on August 17, 2025, by committing suicide at Gillfred Cliff. Her body was found yesterday after three weeks of searching by the police and confirmed she died from the fall of the cliff. Burial scheduled in three days. Langford Group to announce successor immediately after the burial while mourning goes on silently.”
“Those bastards…” she muttered under her breath, fury darkening her face. “They are trying to keep you trapped wherever you are. If they succeed in doing this, whether you are alive or not, you will remain dead to the world. Even if you return after the succession, everything will be already taken by them.”
Sophie’s lips trembled. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she broke, her voice cracking.
“They… they want to bury me before I even died… They want to erase me with no traces,” she said, sobbing so hard.
Talia sat close to her, laid her hand on her shoulder, and patted it gently. She said, “Mira… I know this could be a shock or a disappointment, whatever you think of it, you have to put it aside now and focus on how to return. Not only return I mean return and let the world know you are back before the succession.”
“Then how do I?” Sophie said tearily, facing Talia. “The last time I tried to, I didn’t even get to leave this place before I got caught and almost got killed for the second time. Then tell me, how do I leave?” she said, her tears blurring the phone screen as she stared at the headline again.
For a moment silence took over the room.
Sophie finally broke it as she swallowed hard and wiped her face with the back of her palm. She grabbed Talia’s collar, held onto her, and looked into her eyes.
“Then save me, please,” she said, Talia already looking down. “Please help me to return… I need you to protect me so I can return. I have no one to trust or rely on now except you. Help me, please… Didn’t you say my parents’ death is fishy to be true? Help me return so I can uncover the truth behind all, pleaseeee,” she said, her eyes full of tears.
Talia gently pulled her hand away from her cloth and placed it on her legs.
“Mira, it’s not like I didn’t want to help you return, but think about it how do I help you return to where I ran from?”
Sophie’s shoulders trembled, but her voice stayed steady.
“Didn’t you say my parents’ deaths didn’t add up? You told me to go get my life back and investigate all. But what I need is for you to help me make this happen…” She paused and stared into Talia’s eyes, already knowing the answer. “Talia, help me return. At least get me out of here safe and sound, please.” Her voice cracked, teary.
Talia’s mouth opened, then closed. A dozen arguments crowded her mind reasons why she wouldn’t go but she swallowed them. Her eyes said it all no amount of begging or explanation would change her mind.
Without saying anything, Talia stood up and headed for the door. Sophie’s wet eyes followed her. Talia’s hand found the knob she turned once and glanced back.
“Mira…” she said quietly, “if you need me for anything here, call me. Apart from going out there, I’ll do anything I can. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but nothing will make me return to the outside world.”
She clicked the door open without waiting for Sophie’s reply and walked away without looking back .