After having signed that contract there was no going back even if she regretted it. The contract breach fee was fifty per cent of what she would make after the contract time lapsed.
Was she nervous about marrying a stranger deemed to be as ferocious and ruthless as a soulless beast? Yes, but not as nervous as she was when the offer got brought up. After signing it she realised that Leif was no vicious beast but a wolf pup that was so much fun to tease.
Was she the only one in the world who would think of him this way? Probably. Even Leif's mother was afraid of her son that she didn't dare to be too excessive.
This means Quinn's mental state was relatively good for the most part. When she got home there was a letter of apology and a waiver of next month's rent.
Quinn couldn't help but wonder how they convinced the landlord to do that. Well, it involved building condemnation and hanging upside down on top of a building. Her neighbour Nick was surely responsible for that. If his boss was unhappy then everybody would be very unhappy so he made sure to be thorough.
Whether or not Mrs Bach came back to collect her money was absolutely none of their business. Quinn had no idea about this.
She just took her time on her night routine relaxing her mind before falling asleep. Her dreams though weren't as peaceful. It had been a long time since she had had a nightmare.
In her dream, she seemed to have returned to the dark cold room but this time there was a hanging lamp left on on purpose. As it creaked back and forth it made an eerie sound. That sound though wasn't as sinister as the soft whimpers of a child coming from the darkness.
Quinn's nerves tensed up and she subconsciously wanted to run but her body wouldn't obey. She took a step forward as a chill spread all over her limbs.
"He hello," she heard herself stutter as her steps slowed. "Do you need help?" she continued and the cries turned into sniffles.
"Quinn," called out a soft and pitiful voice that sounded so familiar.
Her heart clenched as she took a step calling out, "Li-Liam... is that you?" She had never said his name afterwards because each time she said it her heart would hurt. He wasn't of his blood but he was the closest person to her. She also lost her grandfather but she didn't grieve for him as much as she grieved for that young man.
Her eyes turned sour as she took another step forward. Suddenly a dark figure leapt towards her and her muscles tensed. She wanted to dodge but her limps turned soft and the person pressed her down.
Person, no. It was a ghost of a mangled corpse run over by a car. "Quinn, you left me. You left me there to die. Why? Hadn't you made me suffer enough? What did I ever do to you," said the corpse with a broken jaw.
Within the chaos, she suddenly heard a soft whisper in her ear saying, "Wake up."
That voice brought her back to herself. She sat up on the bed her entire body covered in sweat. It wasn't only her body but the sheets too. Panting heavily she grabbed Mumu and hugged the little sheep while tears flowed down her eyes uncontrollably.
She saw that scene again. She saw it again but couldn't get out of the car. Her grandfather locked the car doors and she couldn't get out. She could only cry while staring at the back window while trying to break free.
That night he hit her. He beat her so much and her mother wasn't there to save her. She was struck in her back with that belt while pressurised freezing water was sprayed on her.
"You aren't going to tell," he said beating her again and again.
"Who were you with?! Who was it?!" the old man yelled strike after strike. Quinn huddled her blanket and cried. Her eyes were open but her mind was trapped in that endless darkness.
'I am sorry Liam. It's all my fault,' she said to herself as the tears flowed like a river.
***
Dong Dong Dong!!
Sounds of the door being knocked heavily filled the passageway. It was like the ruthless knock of a police officer banging on a suspect's home.
"QQ, it's mum. Open up," she said followed by another round of rude knocking.
Nick who went out last night with Lars was hungover badly but he managed to open his door and take a look.
Just when she was about to knock again a handsome shirtless guy opened his door and peered out.
"Hie... you must be... Am Ame," said Nick trying to recall her name.
"Amalie," she said her feet gravitating towards him. Who didn't like good looking things?
"I am sorry I am bad with names. You are looking for Quinn. She was in an okay mood yesterday. Maybe she is still sleeping," he said and by the time he was done talking Amalie was already half a foot in his apartment.
"You must be Nick. It's a pleasure t-," she said only for Quinn to open her door and yell.
"Mum, what are you doing? Get over here," she said feeling so embarrassed. Yes her mother was gorgeous but that didn't mean she should be trying to lure a young man into rolling between the sheets.
"But I was getting to meet Nick. Can he come over for breakfast? I am making an omelette," she said while holding up her bags.
"No, get in here. Sorry Nick," she said her voice much more friendly when talking to her.
"Geez fine. Nice to meet you, Nick," she said and Nick responded halfway before the door was shut with a bang. Nick couldn't help but chuckle lightly while entering his apartment.
"Mum, what are you doing here? If I didn't come out were you really going to get into his apartment?!" yelled Quinn. It was true when adults get older they start acting like children themselves.