With a resounding thud, Damien shut the door of his room firmly. Hastily, he moved to undo the buttons of his shirt, his finger was moving in an undefined pattern when finally he retracted from his body, revealing his hard and firm body features. He sat on the edge of the bed he ran his hands over his face and through his hair, calming himself down
Messed by an inner storm, he strode towards the window, drawn to the motionless scene outside. The sky was covered in the darkest of shades, and thunder rumbled ominously, A curse that is wandering soon will release its wrath upon the land.
His eyes were turning red with each passing second. He was turning restless just as similar as the weather. His wrath was more ferocious than the havoc of nature. He clenched his fist tightly and shut his eyes. He was controlling his emotions, so it does not take over him. He finally calmed himself down. he opened his eyes again, and a chilling grin twisted his lips, a facade masking the true depths of his restlessness. knowing that behind the facade, a simmering darkness, waiting to be unleashed.
He stretched out on his bed, in search of comfort. Memories flooded back of her serene presence, lost in her thoughts with tranquil eyes. Her beauty still holds the power to captivate him, she didn't fail to bewitch his calmness at all, leaving him feeling adrift without her. A subtle smirk played on his lips. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, holding onto the image of her face in his mind's eye. And slowly slowly his sleep sunk him down.
__________
A dimly dark-lit alley, the narrow walls seemed to eat her at any second creating her own shadow and a terrifying atmosphere with her slow and steady step she was moving towards its depth. Her steps echoed softly against the damp pavement, the only sound breaking the silence of the night.
With each cautious stride, a sense of anticipation formed within her, a hunger for knowing the unknown driving her forward. Her senses sharpened as she ventured deeper into the alley, the air heavy with the scent of mystery and possibility. There was discomfort in the atmosphere, a tingling anticipation that swayed along her skin, urging her onward.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement catches her eye, and she freezes, heart pounding in her chest. Shadows shift and twist in the darkness, teasing her with glimpses of secrets just out of reach. Enola's pulse quickens as she edges closer, drawn by an inexplicable pull.
Enola's eyes snapped open, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath, this side of life, her uncontrollable nightmare clinging to her like a suffocating shrug. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, her skin chilled despite the warmth of her blankets. The echoes of her racing heartbeat still reverberate in her ears, informing the traumatic stress she just bore a while ago.
For a moment, she lies there in the stillness of her room, the weight of the nightmare pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. But gradually, she becomes aware of her surroundings, the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through her curtains, sensing the time is between 5 to 6 am, the familiar scent of her tangerine tree towering over her window the comforting sound of the clock tickling besides her bed and the fresh air passing through her window.
Drawing a shaky breath, Enola sits up, her hands trembling slightly as she runs them through her tangled hair. The familiar scenario of her nightmare clings to her mind like spider webs, But she brushes those thoughts off, refusing to let them consume her. With a little sigh, she pushed herself out of her bed, her bare feet touching the cool surface of the floor. Along with her night robe, she releases the lingering echoes of her nightmares, letting them slip away from her, and goes straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
____
Enola was waiting for her car at the gate of her house. She hates to take a car but due to time management, she had to take the car today as she could not bear another detention for being late in the class. Frustrated by the wait, she decided to walk towards the colony gate, knowing the driver was returning after repairs.
The sound of her heels clicking against the way echoed in the morning air. Suddenly, she sensed someone approaching from behind and slowed her pace, turning to face the stranger. Enola glanced over her shoulder and got startled a bit seeing a man, in his mid-30s, wearing a slight smile on his face. A tall, good-looking man. His long, amber-colored hair, was neatly styled and adding a unique flair to his appearance but seeing Enola's anxious expression he spoke
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startling you. it was not my intention."
Enola stood there in shock about who he is? and what is he doing here, also was he following her? He does not seem to belong here. Seeing her like this the man again opened his mouth to speak.
" Ummm..excuse me, miss. I apologize for my action, but I'm new to this area and I was wondering if you could help me with some information about renting a house in this neighborhood."
Enola paused, studying the man for a moment before offering a friendly smile.
"Of course. What exactly are you looking for?
The man visibly relaxed at her response
"Well, I've just moved here for a job, and I need a place to stay. I've heard great things about this neighborhood and was hoping to find something suitable for me."
"Well it is indeed a nice place and I wish could help you out but all rich people stay here. Renting is difficult here. Have you talked with any agency by the way.?
"Umm actually no."
"You can talk to Mr. Alfred Ragis about this. Maybe he could help you."
"Alfred Ragis?"
"Yes, he owns several apartments here but.."
Enola stopped on her track when something flickered in her mind. One of his apartments burned down she does not know why. So she was in her dilemma if he could help this guy or not.
"But what?"
"Umm nothing, I hope you get your way out there."
Enola heard her driver was coming with her car.
"Well I have to go now"
She opened her car door before entering she passed her smile to that man and he also nodded at her only after asking.
"Well, where Mr. Alfred Ragis stay?"
"I go straight and then take your left, it will take you a few minutes to reach there."
with that, she locked her door departing from there. The man looked here and there for a minute then strode towards the direction that Enola suggested him.
_________
"You better stay away from this city as far as possible, yeah yeah you heard me right. They came to search for you. I somehow managed to..."
"Whom are you talking with Ragis?"
Alfred Ragis was talking with someone on his phone when her wife Merina Ragis came behind him. She looked at him suspiciously as her husband was sweating in the winter season. As his wife's gaze bore into him, Alfred struggled to come up with an explanation.
"What happened tell me.?"
"No one is related to my work."
He did what he could say that time but his words didn't buy her.
"What? I am telling the truth what's with this look? and why are you here? I told you not to come into my reading room without my permission."
"Ragis, I am your wife, in case you haven't forgotten that yet."
"No I didn't mean th ..."
"Mr. Alfred Ragis?"
A manly voice broke their trances. They looked before them and saw a man standing there with a smile on his face. Alfred looked at him awkwardly as Mrs. Ragis welcomed him with her smile.
"Who are you?" Alfred asks
"He is the one, the reason I came to your precious reading room"
Merina spoke earning a surprised look from Alfred. He looked at that young man.
"Erick Fernandez" that man replied making Alfred to look at him curiously then
"What do you want"?
" Sorry for my interruption, I had to barge in here, Actually I am in a rush also I need a rental house here. One of your neighbors suggests to me that you could be a great help to me."
"OH, so you have any documents, I mean legal?" Alfred fixes his glass and starts his queries in his old rough tone.
"Yeah, sure if only you could give me one then I am ready for the paperwork."
"Let's talk in the drawing room"
Alfred showed the direction to him by pointing his hands towards the gate and leaving the reading room.
"All done for now, After the police verifications you can take the keys and start your living here."
Alfred saw a sudden mood change in him upon hearing the police verifications. Alfred sipped in his tea eyeing that boy head to toe then asks,
"Any problem?"
"No, actually not a very big fan of the police station so."
" You don't worry, this is my part of the job I will go for this verification."
"Okay, so I am leaving now. contact me once it is done."
After he left he turned to go for his reading room when her wife stopped him.
"You didn't reply whom you were talking with?"
Alfred frowns at her wife's inquiry
"Take good care of your daughter rather than focusing on this old hag, I rent him my side house and that tough guy was handsome."