Alexei
The dust and debris that coats the fingers.
The sharp edge of the chisel cut through the stone.
The sound of carving and chiseling, coming from all around the space.
The way the light hits the statue, revealing its beautiful details.
The statue is massive, filling the whole room. It dominates the space and towers over me.
I look at the stone with a sharp eye, carving away at it with a chisel. My fingers are laced around the handle of the chisel and my hands move swiftly and decisively, chiseling away at the stone with each stroke. The dust and stone particles cling to my fingers and coat the chisel in a thick layer of white powder. I stand before the massive sculpture, my focus narrowed in on its many details.
My hands have been working tirelessly on this sculpture to distract me from losing my temper and to kill some time. My thoughts are focused on the statue, and I am in a trance-like state as I work.
The stone is damp and cold to the touch. I can feel the ridges of the chisel in my hands. The smell of the stone is strong and tangy, and it clings to my clothes and skin as I work. Small pieces of broken stone litter the ground around the sculpture, creating a mess and making it difficult to walk without getting dirty.
The statue's face is half-finished and it is missing its right hand.
I look down at my work, inspecting my progress. I have carved out its body and tail, and have begun to sculpt its head. I can see the lion's facial features emerging from the stone. I see the roaring mouth, the sharp teeth, the deep eyes and the proud mane.
However, the statue's right hand is missing, representing a work-in-progress.
Despite being a work-in-progress, the statue is already impressive, and my fingers ache slightly from holding the chisel,
The space as large as a factory hall is filled with the sounds of chiseling, and the air is filled with a strong scent of stone dust. I still have a lot more work to do.
Afterward, I heard a knock at the studio door and I put down my chisel. I wipe the stone dust off my hands with a wiping cloth.
I let him enter and shut the door behind him. Before me stands one of my subordinates, looking nervous. He appears to have something important to say, as he keeps his gaze on me and waits for my response.
"What is it?" I asked in a cold and detached tone.
The subordinate bows his head slightly and takes what looks like a slip of paper from his pocket. He hands the paper to me, offering it to me with trepidation.
I took the paper from him, looking at it curiously. As I look at the images, something catches my attention. I recognize the woman in the pictures. She looks familiar, but I can't quite place it.
My expression grows serious as I look closely at the photo, a mix of confusion and curiosity on my face.
"We found her." The subordinate had a nervous tone of nervousness.
"Who is this?" I looked at the subordinate, my tone of voice becoming even harsher and more demanding.
"Hellebores Madden."
I continued to glare at the subordinate, expecting more information. The subordinate clears his throat and speaks nervously, looking down at the floor to avoid my gaze.
"We don't know a lot about her, but we did some research, and we were able to track her down," The subordinate spoke in an obvious anxious tone like he was trying his best not to mess up. "We have her location. Our men are on the way to retrieve her. We should have her here in this room within the hour."
The subordinate pauses for a moment, waiting for my response.
"Boss, should we prepare anything for her arrival?" the subordinate asked, looking carefully at me.
"No, nothing's needed. Just take her straight to the interrogation room once she's there. I want to speak to this woman myself." My voice was calm and controlled, but there was an undercurrent of anticipation.
"Yes boss, we'll prepare the interrogation room right away."
I snapped my fingers as the subordinate nodded sharply and headed towards the interrogation room, rushing off to prepare the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I sighed and wiped away the mud and dirt that had splattered onto my clothing. Perhaps I had been a little too excited about my sculpting, and it seemed that I had made quite a mess.
After finishing the sculpture session, I walked over to the office bathroom. My steps were slow and measured, and I kept my face expressionless and cold. When I arrived at the sink, I turned the faucet on and let the cold water wash away the dust and mud.
The water flows down my hand, the ripples tracing the lines of my veins. As my sleeve slips upward, the water ripples further up and cleans my bare skin. Every drop of water seems to have a life of its own, caressing my skin and removing the dirt. It's almost like watching a dance, as the water fills the spaces between my veins and flows like an invisible dancer over my skin, the flow of water and my flesh interwoven into a beautiful ballet.
The ripples flow like music, each drop of water carrying a note of pureness.
I began to undress, removing my shirt and pants. I step under the shower and let the water flow over my body. The water cascading down my back. The droplets sprinkle down my chest, caressing my skin and teasing out every last trace of dirt and grime.
My body sighs in the heat of the water, like a tired lion finally lying down to relax.
Once I had finished with my shower, I dried myself off, not wanting to waste any more time than necessary. I wore my suit and adjusted the collar to make it fit better. Every movement felt effortless and natural.
My dark suit was a stark contrast to any warmth or softness. Its sleek cut hugged my body with precision and efficiency, highlighting my physical strength and power. Although plain in appearance, the subtle mix of professionalism and authority carried with it a strong sense of control and a calm presence.
I walked out of my room after getting dressed, making my way to the observation deck. As I stepped onto the spacious platform, I glanced down at the landscape below and saw a sea of white, covered with a thick layer of snowflakes. I was struck by the eerie silence and bleak landscape below. The snow-covered ground was almost entirely void of people, creating a desolate and deserted atmosphere.
I was still staring out at the desolate winter terrain below, when I heard the sound of a car pulling over outside the building. The loud sound of the engine breaking the silence caused me to shift my attention from the landscape below to the parking lot outside.
As I watched, waiting to see what would happen next. Three of my subordinates stepped out of the car and stood by the door. My attention shifted to the last person who stepped out.
The side door of the car opened, revealing a woman. She stepped out of the car, and the subordinates immediately surrounded her and guided her towards the building.
The woman looked innocent, her clear eyes devoid of any trace of deceit or malice. She had a delicate and almost childlike appearance, giving her an innocent air. As she was led inside, her gentle and subdued demeanor contrasted sharply with the rough and cold winter atmosphere around her.
Is that her?
Her youthful and innocent appearance didn't match the image in my mind of the person I was supposed to meet. Almost too innocent for the person I was expecting.
I let out a sigh of disappointment, not knowing what to make of the situation... That is what I thought.
As I watched the scene below, I saw a flicker of a cold and calculating expression in the woman's eyes as she glanced at my subordinates while they were focusing their attention on opening doors and ushering her inside. I couldn't help but notice how quickly she was able to shift her personality, going from innocent and youthful to cold and empty in an instant. It was as if the gentle and childlike appearance was just a mask for a manipulative and calculating person underneath.
Those exact icy eyes detached of emotions, I remember them all too well.
It is her...
Hellebores Madden.