Chapter 17 - News of the Queen

I was one of those who always drifted away – the ones who zoned out into another reality. But my imaginary one, was more horrible and hideous than reality. My mind was more or less, like Tristan's, but it was more crowded and polluted.

I heard no steps,saw no creatures;

imagining the worst was my nature.

Only silence dwelled around me –

the silence of the ocean before a storm.

The hell couldn't be worse than it.

No pure thoughts could fit;

With silence I can't sit.

Cause My mind will consume me, bit by bit.

Different thoughts related to the previous conversation, dwelled in my mind.

What if he was the murderer?

What if he just wanted to know if I knew?

What if he was the elevator boy?

What if he sent that boy? What if he was sent by Edgar?

What if... And before I could think of something else, the sound of horns brought me back to reality. I was in the middle of the road, and a car was coming towards me. Before I knew it, it was almost too late.

I closed my eyes foolishly, as if that would somehow shut down the entire world. Stop time from stretching out forever and moving so rapidly.

Maybe it was the end.

I felt a hand just below my neck and one on my waist. The wind swept past me, and I felt someone's warm breath on the back of my neck.

The person removed their hands. "Open your eyes" a familiar voice said. I opened my eyes. His face was close to mine. He took a step back and smirked. "Thank—" I began to say before I realised who he was. I took a deep breath and spoke quickly, "Thank you, from one puppet to the other. Give the queen my greetings." The words came out quick and harsh.

He only laughed. "The Queen, has a little time left" he said as he drifted off. "Wait!" I called him from behind. He ignored it.

Which queen? I wanted to ask. The wanna-be queen or the warrior one?

In the previous hour, I called two men from behind. Pleading them to stop. Gosh I look desperate. I rolled my eyes and started walking towards my apartment. They both are somehow related to Tristan's murder.

After some moments and several thoughts, I was standing outside my apartment. I felt better.

I will be all right after taking the medicines. That's when I realised, I dropped them on the road. I didn't care about the medicine. I was too drained and occupied to think about anything other than his murder. "To be honest I suspect Edgar" I said out loud, tilting my head a bit.

"Suspect what? My darling" Edgar said, putting his hands on my shoulder. I didn't realise he was there.

"I promise you, you dropped these medicines and I just picked them up" he continued. "You were there?" I ask, looking up at his face.

"Yeah, I was coming for you before someone else got the chance to save you." he says protectively. "I wonder who that man is!" I say, opening the door. "It seemed as if you knew him." he says, his gaze on mine. Looking at him makes me wonder, where is the Edgar I once knew.

"What are you thinking?" he asks leaning on the chair, near the door.

Before I had a chance to answer, his phone began to ring. He picks it up "Hey" he says cheerfully.

"What!" his expression changed rapidly. "ok I'm coming" He says before cutting the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

"One of my co-worker was poisoned." He says. "Her name was... I guess Ava something" He said before grabbing his black jacket and heading to the door. Once he was gone, I whispered to myself.

"Poor warrior Queen, may you not rest in peace" then I headed to the kitchen.