Audrey's eyes opened slowly. She looked around her and figured that she was lying on a bench. She slowly got up and sat up on the bench.
She took her hands into her wet hair and wondered how she had left the middle of the alley to sleeping on the bench. She knew someone must have helped her but she was not so grateful for that person's help.Now that she was alive and awake, what was she supposed to do next?She looked to her side and found her phone and her bag. It was a complete surprise that it had not been stolen by some of the boys living around the alley yet.She picked up her phone and turned it on. She raked her hair backwards, realizing that her phone was having some issues from having stayed in the rain for so long.She groaned and after a couple attempts. She was able to unlock the phone and she had a message, it was from Desmond.Her heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly opened the message. Her phone malfunctioned for about a minute before she was finally able to successfully view the message."I guess you should understand already that this is the end of it for us. That is if there had ever been an 'us'. I have left the country already. You saving up so much money for your grandma is a waste of money for an old woman who will die sooner or later anyways. You should be happy I am putting money to good use. Bye Audrey. Thank you for the cash"More tears gathered in the eyes of Audrey as she read the message from the one that she had loved with all of her heart. She felt her heart stinging badly as much as her eyes stung with more tears every second."I hate you Desmond!" She cried out as tears rushed out in a free flow."I wish I could kill you! I hate you so much!" She screamed out her hearts in pain.After crying her hearts out enough on the bench, Audrey got up from the bench and that was when she noticed that her bag had also been placed on the floor beside the bench and there was an umbrella too there which was not hers.She picked up both and wondered who the kind person could be."At least, there is one person who is kind to me" she mumbled and wiped her tears off with the back of her palms.It was still drizzling so she put out the umbrella and noticed that it had small letters engraved around the handle.'L. A'"L.A?" She wondered what it could mean for a second before shrugging it off.That was definitely the least of her concerns. She walked back home, dragging her feet and cold body, and hoping that something good would happen very soon but there was nothing good, at least not at her home.Audrey stood a few meters away from the door of her apartment and her face turned into that of horror. The umbrella and bag in her hands dropped as she stared at the broken lock of her door.Her home had been broken into!"No!" She shook her head, not wanting to believe that she could have so much bad luck in one day."This.... This can't be happening" she shook her head again before racing into the house.She screamed out her lungs as she looked at her empty living room. The old sofa had been taken away, the television had been taken away too and the living room was just empty.Audrey crumbled to her knees as tears gushed out of her eyes, making her wonder for a second how much tears a human could shed in one day but she concluded that there was no limits because if there was, then she would have reached the limits already.Audrey was sure at that point that she had nothing but bad luck all around her and no matter what she did or tried to do, her bad luck would always be around her.She let her body slip onto the floor of the living room as more tears rolled down her eyes. To Audrey, nothing could be worse than this, not even death was worse than this.She heard her phone ringing and when the ringing seemed not to stop, Audrey got up from the floor and walked out to pick her bag.She picked the phone and seeing the caller ID only brought more tears to her eyes. It was the hospital where her grandma had been admitted to.They were definitely wanting her to make the payment as soon as possible since she had promised to pay the money that very day but now, everything was gone, not just the money, but also the one she called a lover and the house furnitures, everything was gone!"Aaargh!!" She screamed and threw the phone against the old wall, making the phone shatter into pieces.She went down on her knees and got into another row of crying. All of this was the fault of the bastard, Desmond.He was the cause of it all.Two hours laterAudrey walked almost lifelessly towards the bridge closest to where she lived. The water flowing beneary the bridge was usually not very much but given the rain that had fallen heavily, Audrey was sure that the water would be enough to drown her and take her life away.She had no use for her life anymore. There was no way she was going to gather money for her grandma even in five months with her job as a waitress, it was impossible.She moved closer to the bridge and stood at the edge of it. It was late in the middle of the night and there was no one around the place to stop her which she was very glad for.She climbed onto the edge of the bridge and gave the world a wide bright smile which would be the last of her. Shutting her eyes tight, she let go of herself and free fall.Finally, Death, my comfort.Audrey's life flashed in her face, old memories playing in her head as the waters began to quickly flood her nose."Granny!!!" Audrey called out as she ran into her grandmother's arm.Jumping into her grandmother's arm everyday she came back from work had been nice therapy for Audrey."My beautiful sunshine" replied Henrietta, her granny. Henrietta would never get enough of her grand daughter. Henrietta and Audrey would get locked in a tight hug."Did you miss me granny?" Audrey would ask, giving a her a childlike look.Henrietta would never be able to hold back, seeing that look, she would always burst into laughter."I missed you so much, child" she would admit while painting Audrey's face with kisses.A tear slid out of Audrey's eyes into the waters as her heart squeezed in pains.Audrey felt the natural instincts to struggle but she did not as another memory came replaying in her head."I love you so much Audrey" it was a memory of Desmond, the one who had caused all of these pain
Lord Adonis stared at the umbrella he had earlier taken from the bridge and he remembered the girl he has saved two consecutive times in just one day. She desperately was seeking to end her own life while he was consistently saving her against his wish. What an irony!Lord Adonis took the umbrella and hid it in his safe.***The sun was rising and the sounds of birds chirping could be heard from a distance.Audrey tried to open her eyes but had to shut it immediately as she felt her head banging. 'Where am I? Am I dead? Is it over now?' She asked herself multiple questions at a time.Audrey tried to open her eyes again but this time very slowly. She was welcomed by the sight and noise of water. The events of the previous day came replaying slowly in her mind.Who was the man that had come to her rescue?His eyes were crimson red and his body was so cold.Again, she saw someone else or was it a mermaid? Or was it just her imagination?She was jolted out of her blurry memory by an awake
Audrey stood over the grave of her grandmother all by herself wondering what went wrong. She was more than devastated that the blazing hope she was clinging to had bursted right on her face.Audrey was hurting deeply but had ran out of tears to express how she was feeling. She wondered what she was going to do with her life henceforth. No family, no lover, no friend. Her world was indeed lonely and dark.A man stood few meters away from Audrey. It is time for her to fulfill her part of the bargain. He knew how tenacious Lord Adonis was and Audrey might never make it back alive once she started working for him so he allowed her a moment to grieve her family. After a while that seemed like forever Audrey slowly turned around to go back to empty house when she noticed the presence of someone."Maybe he is here to pay respect to his loved one too" she thought within herself. She could relate to his pain but she wasn't in any position to sympathize with anyone so she walked past him.
The girls were ushered into a big hall with bed bunks. They had filed up on a straight line. A bowl with different tags was placed in front of them and they were made to choose a tag that will become their identity and help them to their bed space as well.Audrey picked the tag with number eight boldly written on it. She would share her bunk with the person with tag number seven.After the girls had finished picking their bed tags, they returned to their initial formation. "Number eight, you will be in charge of the other girls. Henceforth the girls are your responsibility, you'll be held accountable for their wellbeing and mistakes." Azrail said without looking at her direction.Audrey was beginning to find Azrail infuriating but she knew better than to talk so she just nodded her head."Is that a yes or no number eight?" Azrail asked"Yes Azrail" Audrey responded"Don't you dare call me by my name here. I'm the second in command to Lord Adonis. Is that understood?" Roared Azrail"Ye
Adonis knew the girls at his disposal were just alternatives to his one true option, he had to find himself the one person whose blood would liberate him from his weakness. A weakness no one should find out or he would be at risk to lose everything his existence stood for. He clenched his fists. At any cost, he will do everything and anything to find her. Audrey and the other girls continued to live their lives in great torment mixed with fear and a faint glimpse of hope. They woke up each day with uncertainty filled in their hearts. The next moment wasn't promised for them so they worked very hard yet with great caution.Audrey was determined to leave the Palace of Ice and soul but didn't know how. She was also aware that a single mistake could cost her life.Audrey thought about her escape a thousand times in a day. If Azrail could find her the first time, he would always find her again but the only difference was that she had nothing to lose, probably she still have her miserab
Azrail ran as though his existence depended on it. He ran past the girls in the main hall and the girls felt a sudden cold breeze and were terrified. None of the girl could comprehend what was going on and gave each other quick glances.Lord Adonis walked towards Audrey and with each stride, fear filled Audrey's heart. Just as Lord Adonis was about to touch Audrey when Azrail called out."My Lord, the end of all things" Azrail said as he lowered himself while breathing heavily Azrail was more than thankful that he made it right on time but what next? He came running without no plan."It was my mistake, I instructed Audrey to inspect the other girls as I had other things to attend to, she must have lost her way while doing that. I know my fault master, please punish me." Azrail found himself saying.Lord Adonis looked at Azrail to be sure he heard him correctly."Audrey?" Lord Adonis asked inquisitively Azrail got Lord Adonis message and instantly corrected himself."My lord, I mea
Azrail walked away from Audrey with plenty of thoughts in his head. He walked into a room. It was his chamber. Azrail needed to be alone. A girl with the tag number eleven was seen cleaning up this space. The moment Azrail entered, the girl felt a old aura and froze dropping the hand towel in her hands to the ground."I hail you, second master" The girl said frightened while trying to pick up the towel. While the girl was trying to pick the towel, she accidentally kicked the bucket of water beside her and the water splashed on Azrail."Oh my!!! What have I done? Second master, I'm sorry." The girl with the tag number eleven lowered herself in the pool of water she had just created shivering."There are no rooms for mistakes, you know that already. How could you be so clumsy?and how do you intend to clean up this mess?" Azrail questioned while walking towards her.Azrail looked at the girl and immediately felt a sense of deja vu and stopped dead in his tracks. He sure was in the same po
Lord Adonis remained at the garden. The mansion bell jingled; a signal for the girls to turn to their various bed. Lord Adonis realized though he had spent his entire day at the garden, it seems like a short while. His mind was filled with numerous thoughts. He then decided it was time for him to retire back to his room. It's been a long and eventful day. He walked through the main hall and observe his environment. It was quiet, neat and calm just as he loved it."The girls ain't totally useless, I guess." Lord Adonis said to himself. He walked majestically through the corridors to his room. He looked around his room and was very satisfied with what he saw."No doubt, she does a great job taking care of my space, if only she could do the same for herself." Lord Adonis found himself soliloquizing as he moved round his room.The event that has earlier taken place continued to play in his head as he took off his clothes. As Lord Adonis unveiled his body, his body displayed an artistic