Chapter 11
Lucas was walking down the hallway, his mind still replaying the image of the cute guy he had just seen. He couldn't help but smile, his heart fluttering with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. He had never seen anyone quite like him before.
As he continued down the hallway, he noticed a door in the dimly lit corridor. It was slightly ajar, a sliver of light escaping from the gap. But before he could turn to investigate, the door was abruptly shut, causing him to pause in his tracks.
A shadow appeared at the other end of the hallway, causing Lucas to squint in the dim light. Was it him? The cute guy he had just seen? His heart pounded in his chest as he waited, his breath hitching in anticipation.
But the figure remained still, its features obscured by the shadows. Lucas could only stare, his curiosity piqued. Who was this mysterious figure? And why did he feel such a strong pull towards him?
As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder what just happened.
Lucas, gathering his courage, stepped forward to stand in front of the door. His heart pounded in his chest as he reached out to push it open. But before he could even touch the handle, the door slammed shut with a loud bang, causing him to jump back in surprise.
Rubbing his nose, he looked around in confusion. That's when he saw him - the cute guy he had seen earlier. He was running down the hallway, a handbag swinging from his grasp. Lucas could only stare, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what just happened.
Who was this guy? And why was he running? Lucas couldn't help but feel that there was more to this than meets the eye. He made up his mind then and there - he was going to find out.
*****
Charlotte, finally steady on her feet after a day's rest from her drunken stupor, was met with the harsh words of her friends. Elizabeth's scream echoed in the room, her frustration evident.
"Charlotte," she yelled, her voice filled with concern and anger. "If you hate yourself this much, take hard drugs again!"
The room fell silent, the harshness of Elizabeth's words hanging heavy in the air. Charlotte could only stare, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew Amelia didn't mean it, knew that her friend was just scared and frustrated. But the words still stung, a painful reminder of her past mistakes.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. Lucas, his heart still pounding, decided to follow the mysterious figure. He sprinted down the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the silence. As he turned the corner, he skidded to a halt. The hallway was empty. The mysterious figure had vanished.
Confused and slightly out of breath, Lucas walked back to the door. He reached out to touch the handle, half-expecting it to be locked. But to his surprise, the door swung open at his touch. He stepped inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.
The room was empty, save for a single chair in the middle. On the chair was the handbag the mysterious figure had been carrying. Lucas approached it slowly, a sense of unease creeping up his spine. He opened the bag, his breath hitching as he saw its contents.
Back in her room, Charlotte was trying to process Elizabeth's words. She knew her friend was just worried about her, but the harshness of her words still stung. She sat down on her bed, her mind a whirl of thoughts.
She looked around her room, her eyes landing on a picture of her and Amelia. They were smiling, their arms wrapped around each other. It was a reminder of happier times, before her addiction had taken over her life.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she picked up the picture. Shewas feeling so emotional over something that wasn't.
Charlotte was lost in her own world. The picture in her hands was more than just a piece of paper. It was a window to her past, a reminder of the person she used to be. The tears that rolled down her cheeks were not just for the picture, but for the memories it evoked.
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Amelia, who had been quietly observing Charlotte, finally broke the silence. "Why are you crying, Charlotte?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "It's just a picture. It's been in the house for years."
But Charlotte knew it was more than just a picture. It was a piece of her past, a piece of her that she had lost. And now, she was determined to find it again. She wiped her tears, a determined look in her eyes. "You're right, Luna," she said, her voice steady. "It's just a picture. But it's also a reminder of who I used to be. And I'm going to find that person again."
Elizabeth and Amelia exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. They watched as Charlotte clung to the picture, her tears falling freely. It was a sight that tugged at their hearts, but they couldn't bring themselves to comfort her. Not this time.
They rose from their seats, their movements synchronized. Without a word, they walked away, leaving Charlotte alone with her thoughts and her tears. They couldn't understand why she was acting like a wounded pup, crying over a picture that had been in the house for years.
As they left the room, they couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. But they knew they had to be strong. For Charlotte. For themselves. They couldn't afford to shed tears. Not now. Not when there was so much at stake.
Meanwhile, Lucas was still in the mysterious room, his mind racing. The contents of the handbag had left him stunned. He knew he had stumbled upon something big, something that could change everything. But what was it? And how was he going to deal with it?
As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He was on the brink of a great adventure, and he couldn't wait to see where it would lead him.