As he led her away, each thump of her heart was as heavy and resounding as an ancient gong.
She glanced at the assembly of people waving her off one last time before stepping into the car to convey her to her doom - doom because she had a feeling nothing good was waiting for her at the other side of this tunnel or wherever he was taking her.
The smiles flashed at her did nothing to put her anxious heart at ease.
"Thank you," Her voice came out almost in a whisper as he helped her into the car. She felt his gaze linger on her a little bit more than necessary; though it had been for a split second, she had felt her heart move up her throat. She couldn't bear to swing a look at him till he closed the door.
Looking through the window, she had her gaze fixed on her mother, who was standing among the group of people standing out there.
She desperately wanted to run towards her and tell her to get Elle back as soon as possible before she died, but she couldn't do so.
She could only stare at her, hoping that she understood her silent look of plea. Her last words still reverberated through her head.
'Neveah, make sure he never finds out the truth about who you truly are. Never make him suspicious of you or your identity." These words echoed through her mind like a dying wish.
How does one pretend to be someone else whose personality is a 180-degree turn from who they were?
How does she live in someone's shoes whose life wasn't as plain as hers? Though she and Elle were twins, they both led different lives, and their characters were poles apart. This was going to be complicated.
Neveah jerked and instantly snapped her head to the side when she heard the sound of the door. She watched with hanging breath as he stepped into the car.
He slowly turned towards her and locked his gaze with her, his eyes blankly staring at her with utmost curiosity.
Neveah felt her heart race at his scorchingly intense gaze; it was almost as if he was searching for something from the depth of her eyes, like he was trying to peruse her soul for some mythical secrets.
She could feel the urge to look away, but there was something about those eyes that held her in place, almost as if she had been placed on a powerful spell.
Those eyes of his were bewitching. She thought she saw them gleaming for a second, but that could only be her imagination. But why does it seem like he was genuinely searching for something?
What could that be?
"I...is something...wrong?" She stutteringly asked when it felt like his gaze was non-ending, and by the heavens, it made her uncomfortable.
Has he figured things out? Was he getting suspicious of her already?
Neveah almost felt the walls of her heart rip as those questions went through her mind.
She anxiously waited for him to give his answer. Her hands unconsciously clenched the side of her gown while she maintained her gaze on him with painstaking anxiety.
But the more she waited, the more he kept silent, and her fears grew stronger. But despite the ear-screaming silence, his eyes were still glued to her like he was yet to find whatever he was looking for.
These waiting moments felt like an eternity to Neveah, and she felt her brain would run out of energy soon – as she had her breath held – if this silence lingered for one more second.
....
Dale could tell she was nervous from how stiff she sat and how tight her grip on her gown was. She was desperately waiting for his answer, but something in him held his lips sealed. His brows slightly furrowed as he thought about what was amidst.
But after what seemed like another round of eternity, he finally replied, "You confuse me, Elle. I don't know why."
.....
Away from there and high in the broken blue clouds stood fairly divine beings watching the scene playing out below them, with humans totally oblivious of their presence.
"It seems they outdid themselves this time around." One of the creatures said. His eyes were as blue as the sky, and the smile on his face showed he was excited about the event happening beneath them.
"We all expected this. He's relentless." Another one of the creatures thoughtfully replied.
"But you know what this means, right?" The first asked with an excited gleam in his eyes as he stared at the stoic creature by his left side, who had been silent and had been watching with a blank look, as always.
"That he'll be coming soon."
"Exactly." The blue-eyed one chirped.
"Don't be excited, Elyon. Nothing good will come out of his return."