382

382
THIRD PERSON POV

The next morning arrived with a strange heaviness hanging over the house. Even though the sun was out, the atmosphere felt tense, as if something was wrong but no one could clearly point it out yet.

Roland arrived at the house with Damien not long after breakfast. Both men looked tired, like they hadn’t slept well. The events of the past days had taken their toll on everyone. 

As they stepped into the living room, Karen and Ashley were already there, seated calmly and talking in low tone.

A few minutes later, Jacqueline came downstairs, her phone in her hand. Her brows were knitted together, and worry was clearly written on her face.

“Karen,” she called softly, walking closer. “Have you seen Miss Rose this morning?”

Karen looked up, surprised. “Miss Rose? No, I haven’t. Why?”

Jacqueline let out a breath. 

“She was supposed to be back last night. We needed to talk about a few things, but she didn’t come back. I’ve been calling her phone since morning, and it’s not going through.”

Karen paused, thinking. 

“Maybe whatever she went out to do took longer than usual,” she suggested gently. “She might still be asleep somewhere.”

Jacqueline shook her head slowly. 

“That’s not like her. Miss Rose always gives updates, no matter how small. Even if she is delayed, she will send a message.”

Ashley sighed deeply from where he sat. 

“Let’s not panic yet,” he said calmly. “Maybe her phone battery died, or she’s somewhere with a poor network. Let’s give her a little more time.”

Jacqueline hesitated, then nodded. “Okay… maybe you’re right.”

Roland, who had been quiet, finally spoke. 

“So what’s the plan for today?” he asked, looking at Ashley. “We can’t just keep sitting around.”

Ashley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t have a solid plan yet,” he admitted. “But we can all rub minds and see what we come up with. That person is still watching us, and we need to stay one step ahead.”

Damien nodded. “Yeah. Whoever this is, he’s clearly enjoying the fear he’s causing.”

Karen adjusted herself uncomfortably, her mind drifting back to Miss Rose. A strange feeling stirred in her chest, but she brushed it off, trying not to let fear take over.

~

Far away from the calm-looking house, Miss Rose laid in darkness.

Her eyes fluttered open suddenly, and sharp pain shot through her head. She groaned softly, trying to move, but her body wouldn’t obey her. Panic rushed through her veins as she became fully aware of her surroundings.

She was in a basement.

The room was cold and damp, with concrete walls and a faint smell of rust and moisture. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a dull yellow light that barely lit the space. 

Miss Rose realized her hands were tied tightly behind her back to a wooden chair, and her legs were also bound. Her mouth was covered with thick tape.

Her eyes widened in horror.

“Mmm! Mmm!” she cried, struggling against the ropes, but they only dug painfully into her skin.

Tears streamed down her face as memories from the previous night came rushing back. The dark alley and the strange man watching her. She remembered trying to walk faster, then someone grabbing her from behind. After that, everything went blank.

She shook her head weakly.

“This can’t be happening,” she thought, her chest heaving. “Adrian… Why were you late?”

She had hoped he would show up before anything bad happened. That hope now felt cruel and distant.

Miss Rose tried to calm herself, breathing slowly through her nose. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She scanned the room desperately, hoping to see a door open or any sign of help.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere above.

Her body stiffened.

The footsteps grew closer, slow and deliberate, until a door creaked open. Light spilled into the basement as someone descended the stairs.

A man dressed in black clothes walked in. His face was partially hidden by the shadow of a cap pulled low over his eyes. Miss Rose’s breath hitched in her throat.

“Mmm! Mmm!” she cried again, shaking her head wildly.

The man stopped in front of her and looked at her calmly, almost amused. He folded his arms and tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was nothing more than an object.

Tears poured down her cheeks as she struggled harder, the chair scraping against the floor.

“Please,” she tried to say, though the tape muffled her voice. 

Her eyes begged him to understand and the man let out a low chuckle.

“Relax,” he said in a cool tone. “You’ll hurt yourself if you keep doing that.”

She shook her head again, fear filling every part of her. She tried to gesture with her eyes, silently pleading.

“Let me go,” she attempted to say through the tape.

He stepped closer, his shoes echoing loudly in the quiet room. Then he crouched in front of her, his eyes finally meeting hers. They were cold and empty, with no trace of pity.

She whimpered.

“Please let me go,” she sobbed weakly.

The man smirked slowly, his lips curling upward in a way that made her blood run cold.

“I’m not in a position to do that,” he said calmly.

The man then leaned closer to Miss Rose, his face still half hidden by the shadow of his cap. Slowly, he reached out and peeled the tape from her mouth. The sharp pull made her flinch, but she didn’t care. The moment her mouth was free, she gasped for air like she had been drowning.

“That’s the only thing I can do for you,” the man said quietly, stepping back.

Miss Rose broke down immediately. Tears streamed down her face as her lips trembled. 

“Please,” she cried, her voice shaky. “Please, let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I swear.”

The man shook his head slowly. “It’s not in my hands,” he replied. “My immediate boss will be here soon.”

Her heart dropped at his words. “Your boss?” she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

Before he could answer, footsteps echoed from the stairs above. Miss Rose froze, her breathing becoming uneven. Each step felt heavier than the last, pounding loudly in her ears. Her eyes stayed fixed on the doorway, dread filling her chest.

The footsteps stopped.

A figure appeared at the top of the stairs, then slowly walked down into the basement. As the light touched his face, Miss Rose’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Her breath hitched in her throat.

“Adrian?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tears rolled faster down her cheeks as shock took over her entire body. She stared at him, unable to move, unable to speak properly, wondering if what she was seeing was even real.