Sophia
The sun had not yet risen, but the darkness that filled the mansion seemed thicker, more oppressive than before. The events of the night lingered in the air, like the faint scent of blood that clung to the walls. Sleep had evaded me completely, leaving my mind tangled in a web of anxiety and fear.
I sat on the edge of my bed, clutching the phone Liliana gave me, my fingers trembling as I scrolled through the contact list. It had only one contact—Liliana. The very sight of it sent a chill down my spine, a reminder of the pact that had ensnared me in its vice grip. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of what I was about to do pressing down on me like a leaden shroud.
My thumb hovered over the call button, hesitation gnawing at my resolve. With a deep breath, I pressed the button, each ring that followed amplifying the dread that coiled around my heart. When Liliana's voice finally came through, cold and sharp, it felt like a blade slicing through the darkness.
"Sophia," she said, her tone carrying that familiar mix of command and indifference. "I trust you have something to report?"
The words caught in my throat, a lump forming as I tried to steady myself. I couldn't let her sense my fear, my doubt. If she did, she would pounce on it, use it against me.
"I do," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "There was… an incident tonight."
"Go on," Liliana urged, her impatience thinly veiled.
I recounted everything I had witnessed—the screeching tires, the injured men, the way Vince had barked orders with a ferocity I had never seen in him before. I described the scene in painstaking detail, every word feeling like a betrayal that cut deeper than the last.
"And Vince?" Liliana asked, her voice taking on a more interested tone. "How did he handle it?"
"He was… different," I admitted, the memory of his haunted eyes flashing in my mind. "There was a desperation in him. He was hurt too—a deep gash on his cheek. But he didn't want to tend to it immediately."
Liliana was silent for a moment, as if contemplating the significance of what I had told her. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until she finally spoke.
"Good," she said, a note of satisfaction creeping into her voice. "That was very good Sophia. Within a few weeks, we'll have achieved everything."
My heart sank at her words, the reality of what I was doing hitting me like a freight train. I was aiding Liliana in her twisted game, a pawn in her plan to bring Vince to his knees. The very thought of it made me sick to my stomach, but I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my voice steady.
"What do you want me to do next?" I asked, my voice hollow.
"Continue observing him," Liliana instructed. "His movements, his decisions, his actions. I want to know everything. And remember, Sophia, this isn't just about Vince. It's about the answers you seek—about your parents. But only if you play your part."
The mention of my parents sent a jolt of pain through me, a reminder of the reason I had agreed to this devil's bargain in the first place. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that the truth I so desperately sought was tangled in a web of deceit and betrayal.
"I understand," I murmured, my voice barely audible.
"Good," Liliana said, her tone as cold as ever. "I'll be in touch."
And just like that, the line went dead, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of my room. I stared at the phone in my hand, the weight of what I had done settling over me like a dark cloud. The guilt gnawed at me, a relentless ache that I couldn't ignore.
But what choice did I have? The answers I needed were within reach, and Liliana was the only one who could give them to me. But the cost… the cost was more than I had ever imagined.
The first light of dawn began to creep through the curtains, casting a pale glow over the room. It felt like a mockery, a cruel reminder that the world outside continued to turn, oblivious to the turmoil raging within me.
I forced myself to stand, my legs trembling beneath me. The mansion was still eerily quiet, the echoes of the night's violence lingering in the air. I needed to move, to do something—anything—to keep the secrets at bay.
As I made my way down the grand staircase, the sounds of hushed whispers reached my ears. The staff was already up and about, the maids and guards exchanging nervous glances as they passed each other in the hallways. It was clear that the events of the night had shaken them, their usual composed demeanor replaced with something more akin to fear.
I caught snippets of conversation as I passed—a mention of the injured men, the bloodstains that had yet to be fully cleaned from the pavement outside, the tension that had settled over the mansion like a heavy fog.
"…never seen anything like it," one of the maids whispered to another, her voice trembling. "… he was furious. I thought he was going to tear someone apart."
"Did you see the way he looked?" another voice chimed in. "Like a man possessed. I don't know what happened out there, but it's bad. Real bad."
Their words sent a shiver down my spine, the reality of the situation sinking in even further. Whatever Vince had been involved in, it had clearly shaken him to his core. The man I had seen last night—the desperation in his eyes, the raw edge to his voice—was a far cry from the controlled, composed Vince I had come to know.
As I entered the kitchen, the murmur of voices quieted, the staff turning their attention to me with a mix of curiosity and concern. I forced a smile, though it felt like a fragile mask barely holding together.
"Morning," I greeted them, my voice a little too bright, too forced.
"Morning, Miss Sophia," one of the maids replied, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for answers. "Are you alright? You look… pale."
"I'm fine," I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "Just didn't get much sleep last night."
The maid nodded, though the concern in her eyes remained. I could feel the weight of their stares, the unspoken questions that hung in the air. They wanted to know what I knew, what had happened, but I had nothing to offer them—nothing that wouldn't make the pit in my stomach deepen.
I poured myself a cup of coffee, the warmth of the mug a small comfort in the midst of the cold, oppressive atmosphere. The rumors continued to swirl around me, the staff unable to keep their fear and curiosity at bay.
"…heard he might be pulling out of the deal," one of the guards whispered to his companion, their voices low but urgent. "Whatever happened last night… it's got him rethinking everything."
"Can you blame him?" the other guard replied. "The boss is tough, but even he's got his limits. And if he's losing his edge… we're all in trouble."
Their words sent another wave of anxiety crashing over me. Vince was rethinking the deal? What deal? And what could have happened last night to make him question everything?
The questions swirled in my mind, but there were no answers—only a deepening sense of unease that settled in my chest like a stone. I took a sip of my coffee, the bitter taste doing little to soothe my nerves.
Just as I was about to retreat to the relative safety of my office, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see Vince standing in the doorway, his presence commanding the room despite the exhaustion that clung to him like a shadow.
"Sophia," he said, his voice rough, yet there was an undercurrent of something else—something that made my pulse quicken. "I need to speak with you. In my office."
The way he looked at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, sent a chill down my spine. I nodded, setting my coffee down with hands that trembled ever so slightly.
"Of course," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me.
I followed him through the maze of hallways, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words. Every step felt like it carried the weight of a thousand doubts, each one pressing down on me until it was hard to breathe.
When we finally reached his office, Vince opened the door and gestured for me to enter first. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn to keep out the morning light. It felt more like a sanctuary than a place of business, a retreat from the chaos outside.
He closed the door behind us, the click of the lock echoing in the stillness. My heart raced, the sense of dread building with each passing second.
Vince moved to his desk, leaning against it as he folded his arms across his chest. He watched me with an intensity that made my skin prickle, the air between us charged with a tension that was almost palpable.
Vince's silence lingered, heavy and oppressive, as if he were carefully choosing his words. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair, the weariness evident in his every movement.
"Sophia," he began, his voice low and measured, "last night… you shouldn't have seen any of that."
I swallowed hard, the memory of the previous night flashing before my eyes—the blood, the chaos. "I couldn't just stay inside," I replied softly, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "I heard the commotion, and… I had to see what was happening."
His expression softened for a moment, a flicker of something close to regret crossing his features. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the hard resolve that I had come to recognize in him.
"Sophia, listen to me." He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto mine with a seriousness that made my pulse quicken. "… it's dangerous. What happened last night, that's just a glimpse of what being involved in this world really means."
I could feel the walls closing in on me, the weight of his words pressing down like a vice. "So you expect me to just… look away?"
He shook his head, a mix of frustration and something else—something deeper, more protective—clouding his expression. "That's exactly what I'm telling you to do. Stay out of it."
His words cut through me like a blade, the urgency in his tone making it clear that this wasn't just a request—it was a warning. But I couldn't ignore the truth that had been gnawing at me since the moment I set foot in this mansion.
"You're asking me to turn a blind eye to everything," I said, my voice steadier now, even as my heart raced. "To pretend that I don't see what's happening around me. But I can't do that, Vince. Not when I—"
But before I could find the right words, Vince took a step back, his expression hardening. "Sophia, this is not a game. This life… it consumes everything. Everyone. And I won't let it consume you too."
The conviction in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, the protective edge to his tone making my chest tighten. He wasn't just warning me—he was pleading with me, in his own way, to stay safe. To stay away from the darkness that had already claimed so much.
"I care about you, Sophia," Vince said quietly, the intensity in his gaze making it impossible to look away. "But if you start getting into situations you shouldn't, if you keep getting involved in the business… it will only end in one way."
The finality of his words hung in the air like a death sentence, and I knew he was right. The deeper I went, the more I risked losing—myself, the truth, and perhaps even the fragile bond that had formed between us.
But even as I nodded, agreeing to his plea to stay out of the business, a cold resolve settled in my heart. I couldn't walk away, not completely.