
I stared out of the window as a sigh left my mouth.
I trusted him...444Please respect copyright.PENANAFUUgSxilcX
444Please respect copyright.PENANANl8BllMKOp
I shouldn't have...
"Ready?" Leo asked pulling me out of my thoughts.
"For what?" Gina asked.
"To leave, of course, you crabhead" Leo chuckled.
"Where to?" I asked.
"You'll know. There's only one person who can help us" Leo said, his gaze fixed at road.
"This is soooo exciting!!" Gina shouted as I flinched at her high pitched voice.
I stared at her.
"Okay, maybe this isn't the right time" she mumbled.
"Let's go, girls" Leo exclaimed and pulled up the gear.
I could see the station and Aidan fading behind us. I messed up big this time.
The whole car ride was silent. 444Please respect copyright.PENANA67hG5mzwOZ
444Please respect copyright.PENANA5TTQx7N07Y
Except for Gina singing some random wrong lyrics with a terrible rhythm.
"You won't stop until my ears bleed, would you?" Leo gritted his teeth as he pushed his hair backwards exposing his forehead.
I realised how handsome he was. Perfectly decent and attractive.
I couldn't help but stare at him.
"I know my visuals are breath taking but take a break, miss" he chuckled.
I shifted my gaze away from him, my cheeks turning red due to embarrasment.
He smiled at my gesture.
I smiled back.
"WoooOoOOoo-" suddenly Gina started hooting.
I flustered and so did Leo.
He took a magazine amd smashed it on her head.
"Pst- Shut up, crabhead!"
Gina gave him an irritated look. They were so mischievious together.
Looking at them enjoying each other's company, I was reminded of my own family.
I hope they are doing good. I didn't call them often. We weren't so close.
I don't know why, I was never close with my family. Though, we had love for each other but the warmth, it lacked.
And I found the warmth in Raya.444Please respect copyright.PENANAOZJaZyG4fu
444Please respect copyright.PENANApOALlU1AuX
She treated me like I was her own sister. She understood me the best. She cared for me, made me feel comfortable in this strange city.
She meant everything to me. I won't be able to forgive myself if I failed to save her.
The thought was enough to send shivers through my spine.444Please respect copyright.PENANAGJW95phoS4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqkDaTQRVoS
I was still occupied in my thoughts when the car stopped.
"C'mon, we are here. Get out" Leo said.
I and Gina got out of the car. I was straightening my dress which had crumpled a bit.
If I am meeting someone for the first time, I shall look decent.
"Seriously, Leo? You really believe Aunt Grandilia would be able to help us?" Gina asked.
Leo nodded brightly.
He knocked the door and waited.
"Who's there?" A faint, cracked voice came from inside.
"It's me, Aunty! Your Leo!"
The door opened with a creak.444Please respect copyright.PENANAs2YfwJChP0
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsMfD1XSBKm
I short, bent figured lady with wrinkles all over her face, wearing a pale yellow night gown came out.
Even though she looked weak, her eyes had a spark in them which got even brighter when she saw Leo and Gina.
"Oh, my kids. How are you? What brings you here?" she asked as pulled them both in her embrace.
"There's a lot going on, Aunty and only you can help us" Leo explained.
Her gaze shifted to me.
I bowed immediately and introduced myself.
"Hello, ma'am. I am Carol. Carol Terrin"444Please respect copyright.PENANAfZgM4fbtMZ
444Please respect copyright.PENANACpHGqNNfzm
I spoke nervously.
She was staring at me.
"Do you know her?" She asked to Gina.
"Um- yeah. She is my friend and classmate" Gina spoke.
"Well, nice to meet you kid but I don't speak to strangers. You can wait outside or leave" she said sternly.
How rude.
"But, ma'am, I-"
I was about to say something but Leo shushed me and grabbed me by my waist.
"Aunty, she is my girlfriend. And this problem is concerning her only. Please allow her to come with us" he said brightly.
I stared at him in disbelief.
Aunt Grandilia's stern gaze turned soft.
"Is that so?"
She came near me and carassed my cheek. Her eyes contained love.
"She's got all that beauty which can make one's heart flutter. No wonder my Leo loves you" she replied slightly.
L-loves m-me?
Leo chuckled and looked at her hoping for an answer.
"Oh, come in you three! I have to know everything about my soon to be daughter-in-law" she laughed and ked us inside.
Leo turned towards me and pulled me into his chest, his lips were almost touching my exposed neck.
"What the-"
He cut me in between.
"Aunt Grandilia wouldn't have let you in if I hadn't lied. So, you better play along" he whispered.
I nodded.
"Well, she wasn't completely wrong either!" he smirked.
"Are these lovebirds coming in or not?" Gina shouted.
I freed myself from Leo's grip and fixed my hair.
He smirked and went inside. I followed him.
We settled ourselves in front of the fireplace as Aunt Gradilia gave us her utterly delicious Cinnamon Tea and Cookies.
Since I only had a bowl of oats in the morning, I was pretty hungry.444Please respect copyright.PENANATbRzO0RlZO
444Please respect copyright.PENANALnIChHoD0J
I was munching onto the cookies while Leo explained her the situation.
She was listening carefully.
After a while, she spoke up444Please respect copyright.PENANAkcloNWQopd
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkFHtAwTGkt
"You can't be sure that the sudden vanishing of this girl has nothing to do with this trecherous police officer. He could be involved"
"I agree" Gina said.
They looked at me. I realized I had to say something. I was so occupied in eating that I forgot that this case was all about me.
"Um- yeah. Ehe! Sorry!" I gulped.
They laughed.
I wiped my mouth and asked, "Ma'am-"
"Call me Aunty"
"Okay. Aunty, do you know anything about the infamous past of Winter Valley and the curse which is rumoured around here" I asked in one go.
The room fell silent. I could read Gina's eyes indicating that I shouldn't have asked what I did.
But I was desparate. Desperate to know.
"Why would you ask that?" Aunt Gradilia asked.
"Cause I believe Raya's disappearance is not just a case of kidnapping. It's more than that"
"What makes you so sure?"
"Intuition"
"Intuitions are famous for being wrong"
"And known for being right"
"These are just stories, kid. Myths which have no proof"
"Raya's case could be the first"
"You are bold"
"Circumstances made me"
This short session between us seemed forever. It was intense but I could tell by her face that she was impressed.
"You encountered something that night, didn't you?"
My smile disappeared as the flashes of my dream came across my mind.
"I did"
I recited the whole story. The dream, the message and horrible sight of Raya's dismantled figure.
"Seems like the rumours are not only rumours" she said.
I placed my hand on hers.
"Please, Aunt Gradilia. I need to know. I have to" I said with tears in my eyes.
"Fine. Follow me!"
"Sometimes, the darkest secrets can push you towards the brightest light."
444Please respect copyright.PENANAizc7y72Rrm
444Please respect copyright.PENANAwFlihVDGuI
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqZwnYxcNr9
444Please respect copyright.PENANA02qk2cNZp3
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7vdVJr6IX8
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzic1Bg7l8v
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqDyTg6MLcT
444Please respect copyright.PENANA5yqogtqePX
444Please respect copyright.PENANAaWJHPFtdjZ
444Please respect copyright.PENANAS7eUPeTU50
444Please respect copyright.PENANAGN2ABHDesO
444Please respect copyright.PENANAm1JTQIckgY
444Please respect copyright.PENANAMIIl4EWxPi
444Please respect copyright.PENANABysF7Anu4d
444Please respect copyright.PENANAli9Wlclci4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAQV3ljRamJ8
444Please respect copyright.PENANAo8qSJlK7Iw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAQlRRDfFCjH
444Please respect copyright.PENANAeUFH9X7LmK
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxazCRC08Nb
444Please respect copyright.PENANANCtoklsaes
444Please respect copyright.PENANA6jEJaWTrYT
444Please respect copyright.PENANAq6bjyIOG3a
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvvDW1eA2tY
444Please respect copyright.PENANAKUY19HVEtk
444Please respect copyright.PENANAw5lWsB0sKd
444Please respect copyright.PENANADTUcSybnlp
444Please respect copyright.PENANART9HyLBNKH
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzDngMAgG3W
444Please respect copyright.PENANAGduzuG7wVF
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZuADMWYe5
444Please respect copyright.PENANAL8eEEWGAe1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAthvTcdY3pk
444Please respect copyright.PENANAodOV7ubafv
444Please respect copyright.PENANAAltvMUlu8A
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtFuj4HZYXI
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7xJMmBZpUE
444Please respect copyright.PENANAhKeygGgY4N
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8vqJjogOWn
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtn9k2KwRnT
444Please respect copyright.PENANAbloYFCiVmW
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7f2ElL1Jan
444Please respect copyright.PENANAq5U7SwLS7j
444Please respect copyright.PENANAe0YOGBoDFd
444Please respect copyright.PENANAATRb6l7ukx
444Please respect copyright.PENANA89eoaB0pPQ
444Please respect copyright.PENANAmfYST4WaPz
444Please respect copyright.PENANAS0JclWiI58
444Please respect copyright.PENANAPxBmxB0mxe
444Please respect copyright.PENANADXN8Q1JKzz
444Please respect copyright.PENANAXTvD54m6xe
444Please respect copyright.PENANAaOye5glqqt
444Please respect copyright.PENANA6R6CJDDpCj
444Please respect copyright.PENANAPfQMuhjxy5
444Please respect copyright.PENANABePxISkKLA
444Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mr7W3CC4R
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8PYoea4L82
444Please respect copyright.PENANAgwfNQEdu8Z
444Please respect copyright.PENANAQgWNvRmmis
444Please respect copyright.PENANAL64iiw0Rcc
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdXjxDIqvzP
444Please respect copyright.PENANArQL9cDovYk
444Please respect copyright.PENANA2FVXFeCp8Z
444Please respect copyright.PENANAHjrat13N9e
444Please respect copyright.PENANAaARKAh1XLf
444Please respect copyright.PENANA6YQqwXSJH8
444Please respect copyright.PENANA008XwOrdfv
444Please respect copyright.PENANA5GYcByhznG
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjTae0XQglH
444Please respect copyright.PENANANPkIbgo0G9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUsbqNXMfeq
444Please respect copyright.PENANAc9De2aZGvr
444Please respect copyright.PENANAG6UybuPI3r
444Please respect copyright.PENANACXEGADMWNz
444Please respect copyright.PENANADxjdtmt7Js
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzBE91dj8ZB
444Please respect copyright.PENANAeGfmIZK4Lt
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdyXoUbS9hG
444Please respect copyright.PENANASgSeYpwOqE
444Please respect copyright.PENANAyNAw7baBBv
444Please respect copyright.PENANACoew7yfk3m
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOUFyJ6sZDu
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOTNTCKmfVl
444Please respect copyright.PENANARwjuBenu9b
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOYLVkf6UEC
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUGYBzTIpmK
444Please respect copyright.PENANATpBXTvPgiU
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9AptZMc0DE
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxqD69wQ02z
444Please respect copyright.PENANAR5Rm9wm1d3
444Please respect copyright.PENANAutzS1A1EdV
444Please respect copyright.PENANAr1bLaiyQj1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqk0sQT0gC9
444Please respect copyright.PENANA4VrbA1oCk4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqDpBsimomR
444Please respect copyright.PENANAr7zaYPKUpX
444Please respect copyright.PENANArCQLDWETcW
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcfCKdsaoMO
444Please respect copyright.PENANAF7SGoU1AsU
444Please respect copyright.PENANAhxUpSyRl3W
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcxAKIkBhW7
444Please respect copyright.PENANAt5EYQDTmtC
444Please respect copyright.PENANA2kEjAxse1O
444Please respect copyright.PENANAERMielStek
End of Chapter 7~444Please respect copyright.PENANAggDqkdWDBo
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUKvDvTTKzA