Erion pulled his hand away from hers, and in that instant, it was as if all the resistance she'd mustered to keep her thoughts in check was suddenly ripped away. A wave of unease surged through her, and she froze, her mind spiraling.
What if he will kill me as well?
The thought crashed through her, icy and cold.
What if he's the one who orchestrated all of this? What if he's the kidnapper?
Her pulse quickened, her body rigid with fear, until something caught her attention. She glanced around the unfamiliar space.
A sudden realization hit her like a punch to the gut.
"Erion, where am I?" Her voice trembled, almost barely audible.
He was standing in front of the refrigerator, filling a glass with water from the pitcher, seemingly unaffected by the weight of her question.
He looked up, his expression unreadable. "Water?"
She stared at him for a moment, trying to piece things together, trying to make sense of it all. Her gaze fell on the entrance, the words Lux Villa etched into her mind.
Lux Villa... she had seen the name outside. It didn't feel right. Nothing did.
"I mean, whose pad is this?" she asked, still rooted in the doorway, her feet unwilling to move.
He sighed softly, a hint of something... was it regret? "Unfortunately, mine."
The words hung in the air, heavy with an underlying tension. And there, in that quiet moment, she realized just how little she knew about him. How much she still didn't understand.
Erion stood there, his expression tight with uncertainty. So now what? he thought. I don't really bring people here. I don't know how to host anyone.
He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. Why did I bring her here? I should have just taken her back to the office. But no, that would only add to the trauma, dealing with the whole due process thing today.
He glanced at her, guilt flickering in his eyes.
"You can sit there, make yourself comfortable," he said, the words coming out almost mechanically as he gently nudged her toward the sofa with a hand on her shoulder.
The smile he gave her felt out of place. How messed up are you? Evah thought, her mind in a haze. He had just smiled after everything they'd been through. After the violence, after the bloodshed. How could he smile so easily?
She sank onto the couch, her hands trembling slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, staring into the space ahead.
"What will happen to my apartment?" she asked, her voice hoarse, barely more than a whisper. The reality of what had happened was finally beginning to sink in—the bodies, the deaths, the terror.
Her thoughts spiraled. The corpse… three dead people. It's all starting to feel real now.
The cold weight of what she'd survived, and the near-death experiences, hit her like a freight train. At the warehouse, I almost got killed. And this… this is the second time.
It felt like a nightmare.
A vivid, terrifying nightmare. Her heart raced, the world around her hazy. Facing death... it feels delusional. How is this my life now?
She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the images, but they wouldn't leave. The bodies, the violence. Her stomach churned with the memories, a cold sweat creeping over her skin. She had never known fear like this. Never thought she'd be caught in a situation where death felt so close.
Erion stood before her, his expression soft but firm. "They'll clean up for you, don't worry. But it's not safe for you to go back there yet. Don't even try. Okay?" His eyes were sincere, and for a moment, Evah found herself nodding, trusting him without fully understanding why.
She was still in shock, her mind struggling to catch up with everything that had happened.
I'm not even sure if trusting you is a good thing, she thought, her doubts creeping in. What if this is one of your tricks? How should I know?
Her voice felt distant, hollow. "When can I go back?" she asked, her words barely rising above a whisper.
Erion exhaled, his tone calm but insistent. "I'll have people grab your things from there. The Order will get you another place. You don't need to worry about it."
Evah barely registered his words, her mind far from focused on anything else. You can't stay there anyway, she thought to herself. You'll probably end up hallucinating because of the bodies.
Her eyes glazed over, staring at nothing in particular, as the weight of everything settled deeper into her chest. I want to quit this job. I don't want to be involved in any of this anymore.
She longed to speak those words aloud, to tell him she couldn't handle it any longer. But no sound came from her mouth. I need to stay for the antidote. For Yuka.
Erion sat down on the opposite side of the room, his gaze fixed on something distant, his focus unwavering as always. "I'll leave you here for a while," he said, his voice steady but detached.
"What? No! What if they come here?" Evah's voice cracked, a note of panic rising in her chest as she turned to face him.
Erion looked at her then, his expression calm and certain. "This place is safe. I guarantee it. I need to focus on your case, figure out who those people are." There wasn't a flicker of fear in his eyes.
"But I don't want to stay here alone!" Her hands trembled, and the fear she felt bubbled up again, overwhelming her.
Erion rose from the couch, his movements purposeful. "I'll call in some people to guard your door. If that makes you feel better," he added, his voice softer as he felt the tension in her.
But just before he turned to leave, he felt a tug at the hem of his jacket. He paused and looked back at her.
"Please," she said, her voice softer this time, fragile.
She was shaking again, and it hurt to see her like this.
I didn't sign up to be a bodyguard, he thought, but the weight of her plea was impossible to ignore. He sighed, giving in. "It's almost morning. You can use my room. Go there and sleep. I'll stay out here and guard the place."
He had considered putting her in one of the Order's safe houses, but he knew that being escorted by armed people might only make her feel more terrified. This was the only way. He could work from here, make some calls, handle things from within.
He pulled off his soaked jacket, revealing his drenched dark shirt. The cold air of the room hit him, but it was nothing compared to the weight of everything that had happened.
Evah nodded, her eyes still distant but grateful for his words. She stood slowly, the exhaustion from the chaos finally catching up with her.
"There's a closet in there. Change clothes," Erion said, his tone still firm but not unkind. "Don't mess anything." He added the last part with a half-smirk, though the usual sharpness of his demeanor was muted by the weight of the situation.
Why did I even… He wondered to himself as he watched her walk toward the bedroom. He didn't have the answer, but for now, it was the only thing he could do.
Erion sat down at the desk, pulling out a laptop from the drawer. His fingers moved swiftly over the keys as he booted up the Order's database.
The Order's database contains all information related to crimes, investigations, and closed cases within the nation. It holds evidence that's been kept from the public eye—solved and unsolved cases alike—securely encrypted with an unbreakable code system. It's virtually impossible to hack.
The screen flickered as the system booted. Once it was ready, Erion typed "Son of Goddess" into the search bar.
Search Results:
1. Son of the Goddess founded in 178X by Enriko Filsbergh, all members are male, and it was led by a Female Leader whose identity was never publicly known.
2. Son of the Goddess officially has 10,003 members (Open - Enter passcode)
3. Son of the Goddess member was smuggling illegal drugs. (Open - Enter passcode)
4. Four victims found by the lake, the killer was believed to be a member of the Son of the Goddess. (Open - Enter passcode)
5. The victims were blood drained, believed to be sacrifices to the Altar of the Goddess. (Open - Enter passcode)
6. Not enough evidence to convict the cult; the man behind the killings was sentenced to death. (Open - Enter passcode)
7.Due to public controversy, the Son of the Goddess was dissolved publicly. (Open - Enter passcode)
8.Son of the Goddess seen in public after dissolution in 18XX, masked males with red paint over their eyes. (Open - Enter passcode)
What's the deal with kidnapping a low-profile originator?
Erion's brows furrowed as he scanned through the results. The information was both disturbing and curious. The Son of the Goddess—a cult with a chilling history, connected to human sacrifices and powerful, untouchable figures. This wasn't just some small-time operation. The members were connected to smuggling, murder, and much more, their past hidden beneath layers of secrecy.
But what was it about Evah that would make them target her, someone so seemingly insignificant in their grand scheme?
He leaned back, his thoughts racing as he processed the implications. This isn't just about kidnapping. There's something bigger here—something that doesn't add up.
A low-profile originator? What was she really involved in, and why were they willing to risk everything for her?
Next chapter:
Evah navigates the complexities of her new role, balancing her admiration for Dr. Riko and the awkwardness surrounding her unexpected connection to Erion. After a lighthearted team gathering, Evah's relationship with Erion becomes a subject of gossip, leaving her embarrassed and confused about the true nature of their dynamic. As she adjusts to her new environment, she finds herself growing attached to the people around her, especially Dr. Riko, who brings a much-needed sense of humor and warmth to the workplace. But when Erion mysteriously disappears for two weeks, leaving behind only a cryptic note, Evah is left wondering about their strange bond—and what might be waiting for her next.