The Night That Changed Everything
The night was supposed to be a celebration, but as I stepped further into the hall, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The crowd, the glittering lights, the laughter-everything felt so... perfect. Too perfect.
I glanced at the sparkling chandelier above and took a deep breath. I was supposed to enjoy this, wasn't I? This was the Montclair family's night to shine, a night where we needed to be seen, to assert our power. But deep down, I felt a tightening in my chest that I couldn't explain.
"Persephone!" My mother's voice cut through my thoughts, and I quickly turned to find her near the entrance, a bright smile on her face as usual. She was speaking with a man in a sharp suit, his face partially hidden behind a dark mask.
I forced a smile and made my way over, hoping to shake off the unease that was slowly creeping over me. My mother was a master at handling these events, always poised, always in control. But tonight, she too seemed... distracted. Her eyes flicked nervously toward the entrance, as though she was expecting something, or someone.
"Come here, Perse," she said, ushering me over to the man. "This is Mr. Rafael Mendoza, an influential businessman. He's looking to partner with the family."
I shook his hand, smiling, though I couldn't ignore the cold shiver down my spine as his eyes lingered a little too long. Something about him seemed off. His smile was too practiced, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I felt... wary.
"It's a pleasure, Miss Montclair," he said smoothly, his voice low and dangerous. I returned the pleasantries, but my mind was already wandering, distracted by the creeping feeling that something terrible was about to unfold.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash from the other side of the room. The sound of breaking glass shattered the calm atmosphere, and a hushed murmur spread throughout the crowd. The music faltered for a moment, then resumed, but it was no longer the same. The tension was palpable.
My parents exchanged a quick glance, their smiles faltering as they locked eyes. Something was happening, something they weren't telling me. My heart started racing. I could feel it. This wasn't just a simple mishap. It was something far more dangerous.
Then, without warning, a deafening sound tore through the air. Gunshots.
I froze. The sharp crack of gunfire echoed in the hall, followed by screams. Chaos erupted as people scrambled in every direction, pushing, shoving, desperate to escape. I felt hands grab me, pulling me back as I stumbled in confusion.
"Persephone!" Julian's voice broke through the chaos. His face was grim, his eyes full of urgency. "Stay down. Don't move."
I could barely register his words before everything turned into a blur of chaos. More gunshots rang out, each one louder than the last. People were running, falling to the ground, the terror in their eyes reflecting the same horror I felt.
"Dad! Mom!" I screamed, but my voice was drowned by the sounds of the massacre unfolding before me.
I pushed my way through the crowd, my legs moving on instinct, but my heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear anything else. As I pushed forward, I saw my parents standing at the back of the room, trying to shield the crowd from the attackers. They were doing their best to protect us, but the gunmen were too fast. Too organized.
My mother caught my gaze, and for a split second, I saw the fear in her eyes before her expression hardened again. She turned to my father, shouting something, but the noise from the gunfire drowned out her words.
Bang.
The sound of a bullet hitting flesh. My mother stumbled back, clutching her side. My heart dropped. No, no, no...
"Mom!" I screamed again, my voice breaking.
My father pushed me behind him, his face full of desperation as he tried to shield us. "Stay down, Persephone!" he yelled, his voice hoarse. But before I could react, I heard the terrifying sound of more gunshots.
And then, everything went silent.
I don't remember how long I was on the ground. The world around me was spinning, the taste of panic sharp in my mouth. All I could hear was the distant sound of gunfire, echoing through the halls, mingling with the frantic cries of the injured.
I finally looked up to see Julian, kneeling beside me. His face was pale, his lips pressed into a tight line. "We need to move," he said urgently, his voice shaking. "Get up, Persephone."
I couldn't move. My mind was racing, unable to comprehend what had just happened. My parents... gone.
I felt the weight of Julian's hand on my shoulder, urging me to get up. I forced myself to stand, my legs weak beneath me. It was all happening too fast. I could barely think, my head spinning with confusion, with fear.
And then I saw it.
The man. Rafael Mendoza.
He was standing across the room, watching the chaos unfold with a detached expression on his face, as if he were observing something far less personal than the nightmare in front of him.
My heart sank. My thoughts were racing-was he involved in this? Was he the one behind all of this?
Before I could react, a voice I didn't recognize echoed across the room, his words cutting through the panic.
"It's done. The Montclairs are finished."
My blood ran cold. I didn't need to see his face to know what this meant. Someone had betrayed us. Someone who had been trusted.
And I had no idea who