~~Carson's POV~~
My mind traveled far away from the sitting room. Knox had told me he escorted Daniil to an event tonight, and hopefully, he'd get something huge on camera. I had given him a spy pen he could simply hang on his pocket without arousing suspicions. Preoccupied with that, I only put on the TV to distract myself a little bit but it wasn't working. I waited nervously for any news from him.
Then my phone buzzed.
Instinctively, my eyes found the wall clock and confirmed the time – 12:00 am. I didn't even realize how late I stayed up. I picked up the phone lying next to me on the sofa and my heart skipped a beat on seeing it was a message from Knox. The fact that he messaged me must mean something happened for sure.
I then started going through the clips he sent. There were two of them with varying durations.
The first started with the view of a steering wheel; he was clearly the one driving him to the event. I soon watched casually after seeing only hand movements against the wheel for almost two minutes. I breathed a shallow sigh and relaxed now. Maybe I was getting too excited for nothing, but it was still too early to conclude. A little more patience would do.
I heard a faint voice from the background that instructed him to stop the car, which he did only after repeating the instruction. 'Why's that?' 'Only open the door for me. I'll do the same for her' I heard again.
'Her'?
That's right, he went to the event with a lady. His girlfriend? Could psychopaths have feelings? Was I wrong about... No…no…no, I shook my head to dispel the thoughts for it was too early to conclude.
'Go on.' ... 'Ye…yes, boss!' I heard faintly, followed by a voice super close – Knox's. He then went on to get the door for his 'boss.' The way I narrowed my lids with an intent focus on the screen would make it seem like I was watching a suspenseful scene from a thriller movie. Now I really wanted to see the 'her' he was referring to.
Daniil alighted, and I could only see him briefly after that now that Knox was facing the building's entrance. I seized this opportunity to study the environment instead, going thoughtful for a while.
A hotel?
Cars parked orderly were captured on camera the first time Knox got off, and now that he faced this way, I confirmed from the lobby entrance, it was indeed a hotel. But the people who flooded the area went in pairs. Could it be why there was a 'her' with him? Did he really have a girlfriend? I heaved a sigh, getting more and more confused.
Already getting bored watching the couples match in and out of the building, one who'd been standing there for a while then caught my attention. The expression on their faces, I could not tell, though I could easily say they were staring at something or someone. And if they were excited about whatever it was, they should've walked up to it by now but they didn't. Not like any of it mattered; I itched to see the lady with Daniil more than anything. She could be the next victim. 'Tilt the camera alre…'
My inner voice paused midway when I saw Daniil walk into sight while linking arms with the lady. I was only seeing her back but somehow, it felt like I knew who that was. I strained my eyes to see, pulling it closer as if that would change anything if Knox kept trailing behind the couple. But at least he was 'trailing' behind; he followed them as they walked through the main entrance.
"Make sure to stay around me at all times," Daniil turned around to instruct the moment they got in, but the strange lady was still backing him. Like my thoughts went across the screen, just then she tilted her face to the side, revealing her side profile.
My eyes widened in shock.
"ASHLEY???!!!!!"
***
I ditched my night's rest. My head had been banging since I watched Ashley's clip. I could not stop thinking about it and reliving the painful scenes in it. The part where their bodies rocked each other when they took the dance floor replayed in my head now and then. Given the distance Knox stood from them, I had the choice to distract myself with other things but I couldn't!! Aside from watching Daniil closely, Ashley arrested my attention. My eyes hardly left her unless she was out of sight. I suffered while watching them have fun last night! My heart and bones ached badly and I could not help but feel bad for both myself and Ashley.
But what was really going on between them?!! I thought Ashley didn't like him so why all of a sudden?!
Ashley's mom had given me a call and told me to help keep an eye on her daughter while she was away. I wasn't so sure if I was in the right state to do that but I didn't refuse her; I could not. My head was in chaos, and my heart sank each time I recalled what happened. And guess what? I never stopped thinking about it! A second's breakthrough from this turmoil, I never had and now my legs were dragging me to Ashley's porch.
Halting before her door, I took deep breaths to calm myself down and not think about anything in her company. I wondered if that was going to be possible. At least, I would try to pretend but no, all that came crumbling when Ashley came out to me.
The kiss.
I felt a lump in my throat when their kiss scene suddenly flashed through my head. My heart felt heavy, and the knots in my stomach tightened.
She'd jumped into the pool when Daniil came to her rescue and performed the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation exercise on her. I knew it was to save her but still… The part of me that loved her uncontrollably felt jealous and betrayed.
Come to think of it, why did she try to end her life? What was happening to her that she perhaps tried to end her own life? Had she always been this way? No! There were no reports of her ever attempting suicide. So what was the issue? Could she perhaps be under some kind of threat? The last time at the department store she appeared to be uneasy around him so that was plausible. What if she now knew his true colors and was under threat when she agreed to go with him? Maybe that was why she decided to end it all.
Now, I feared for her. We didn't know Daniil's criteria in choosing his victims yet and that made me worry. What ill intentions could he harbor? He and Ashley could not be dating. I was a fool to think he could have feelings for anyone, let alone have a 'girlfriend.' I was going to make him pay if he messed with Ashley. He'd bite his tongue and smash his teeth by the time I was done with him!
"Is everything okay?" Ashley's voice pulled me out of trance. I felt sore in my palms and realized I'd been clenching my fists.
Shoot! How many more emotions did my face betray for her to ask me if everything was okay? This wasn't working at all. I was losing my mind!
Looking closely at her, she seemed fine. But of course, the Ashley I knew would try to hide her struggles from everyone, especially her mom. The fact her mom didn't mention it earlier also meant she also didn't know. If she did, we were close enough for her to seek my help. Daniil…that son of a bitch! He'd soon be crying blood.
With a jittery look in her eyes, "Carson, what the hell is wrong with you?!" she exclaimed frustratedly, almost yelling.
"Care for a walk?" Nothing beats fresh air in cooling off. Staying inside would only choke me harder. Through the walk, I'd try my best to speak to her and see the much I'd be able to obtain from her, all the while being discreet about it. I wouldn't want her getting suspicious of me. And I also WOULD NOT be able to forgive myself if I lost this girl.
"Are you okay?" She asked with a crinkled forehead in amazement, sounding more on edge than concerned.
"I'm fine."
"You won't come in?"
"I'll wait for you here."
"Alright. Let me get my shoes then." She closed the door. 'She didn't fight the idea. That's a relief.'
I let out a deep sigh. 'You can do this, Carson.'