Chapter 10 Ten
Mira sat there for a moment longer.
Then she pushed herself up.
No more thinking. It was time to move.
Quietly, she walked to the door and opened it just enough to peek outside.
Silence.
The hallway stretched empty in both directions, dim lights casting long shadows across the polished floor.
Perfect.
She stepped out, gently closing the door behind her.
Barefoot.
Her steps made no sound.
Cold marble met her skin, sending a slight chill up her legs.. but she ignored it.
Her eyes focused, scanning everything.
“Don’t rush. Observe,” she muttered to herself
She started walking down the hall slowly. Trying not to draw attention.
At the end of the first hallway.. A guard stood … Facing forward. Earpiece in.
Mira slowed her back slightly, turned towards him, pretending to just be one of the maids moving through the house.
Her eyes lifted slightly toward the ceiling checking for cameras..
There she found them
Small. Black. Fixed into the corners.
One is facing down the corridor.
Another angled toward a side door.
She kept walking like she hadn’t noticed. Faking a yawn it was obvious she was being watched.
Either they weren’t actively watching… or they were very good at pretending they weren’t.
Mira kept moving. Mapping every place she had checked out in her head.
Another turn to her right..the hall was .. Less guarded.
But not empty.
A camera near the ceiling—slightly tilted.
Its angle didn’t fully cover the left side of the hallway.
A gap. A blind spot.
Mira’s eyes flicked there for half a second.
Then she quickly looked away trying not to draw attention to herself.
“Good to know.” She muttered
She kept going. Further in. A door at the far end caught her attention.
No guards.
But.. Two cameras. Both angled directly at it.
It can’t be random.
Mira slowed her steps slightly.
There was definitely something hidden there.
She didn’t go near it.
Just walked past like it's not to grab attention still.
Because that’s how you stayed invisible.
By not looking interested.
She took another turn toward a staircase in the east wing of the mansion
One guard stood at the base.
Another halfway up.
There were five guards.
Mira leaned slightly on the railing as she passed, acting casual.
But her mind was locked in every detail.
Every position of the guards is remembered.
This mansion was more guarded than the White House could ever be.
A perfect house for a psychotic killer..
She didn’t want to push her luck.
She had plenty of time.
Mira turned back, retracing her steps through the quiet halls.
Doing too much now would raise questions.
And being too curious?
That would get her noticed.. even if she was so insanely curious she had to tone it down.
Cause being noticed… was the last thing she needed.
The mansion was dead silent as she walked.
She was just about to turn into her hallway when something caught her eye.
A Movement outside the glass door in front of her.
Mira froze.
Someone was standing there.
Hitting something..
Her heart started to pound. She tried to make out the face, but it was too dark. No lights. Just a shape in the shadows.
“Who is there?” she called, her voice not as steady as she wanted.
No answer.
Then suddenly, the door creaked open.
Her chest tightened..
And suddenly— Something came flying in.
Mira gasped and jumped back as a bloody axe crashed onto the floor with a loud clang.
Her heart nearly stopped.
For a second, she couldn’t even breathe.
Then… Footsteps.
The figure stepped inside… Out of the darkness.
And Mira’s stomach dropped… her eyes shocked and scared.
Cause there he was..
Salvatore.
Standing in front of her.. shirtless and covered in blood.