They finally arrived at the boarding school, Rose's heart raced as they rushed into the reception area. She could feel the weight of every decision she had made up until this point pressing down on her. The thought of not being there for Michael when he needed her was like a heavy anchor dragging her down.
As they reached the reception desk, a middle-aged woman looked up at them with a smile. "Hello, how can I help you?"
Max spoke quickly, his voice firm yet respectful. "We're here to see Michael lugard, Is he currently at the school?"
The receptionist checked her computer. "Yes, Michael lugardis a student here. However, visiting hours are usually—"
Rose's voice trembled as she interrupted. "Please, it's really important. Can we see him? It's urgent."
The receptionist's gaze softened as she recognized the urgency in Rose's voice. "Alright, let me make a quick call to the dormitory to see if he's avail
Max's suggestion was a slim hope, an attempt to gather any useful information from Sebastian, but as Rose dialed the number again and waited for him to answer, there was a sinking feeling that he was always a step ahead."Sebastian," Rose's voice held a hint of desperation, "tell me where my brother is. I need to know he's safe."Sebastian's chuckle on the other end was infuriating. "Oh, Rose, always trying to assert control. How quaint.""Just tell me!" Rose's voice trembled with a mix of anger and anxiety.Sebastian's tone shifted, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. "I know you're with the cop, Rose. And I'm well aware of the audacious plan you're concocting. But remember this, you have limited time."Rose's grip on the phone tightened as she exchanged a tense glance with Max. "Where is my brother?"Sebastian's voice was like ice. "Meet me at the old warehouse by the docks. You remember it, don
The tension in the warehouse reached its breaking point, Sebastian moved with deliberate slowness towards the elevated platform where Michael was tied. His demeanor remained cold and calculating, a dangerous calm emanating from him. He retrieved a gun from his pocket, the metallic click as he removed the safety echoing in the hushed air."Rose, drop the gun," Sebastian's voice was ice-cold, the threat underlying every word.Rose's hand trembled as she clung to the gun, her wide eyes locked onto Sebastian's every movement. The gun was her last desperate card, her only means to keep Michael safe, and she clung to it with a fervent desperation.Max, his eyes flickering between Rose and Sebastian, sensed the imminent danger. He moved swiftly, lunging towards Rose in a desperate attempt to disarm her. His hands closed around the gun, and in the struggle, a gunshot rang out, the deafening sound ricocheting through the warehouse.
Four months later.The car moved steadily along the road, the gentle hum of the engine creating a comforting backdrop to the silence that enveloped the interior. Rose's hand rested on her slightly protruding belly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing invisible patterns on the fabric of her dress. Michael, who sat in the back seat, was gazing out of the window, lost in his own thoughts.Max's fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, his gaze alternating between the road ahead and Rose's profile. He could sense the mixture of emotions in the air—grief for Rose's mother, the weight of their recent experiences, and the glimmer of hope for the future.As they approached the cemetery, Rose's grip on her belly tightened slightly. She took a deep breath and turned to Max, her voice soft but determined. "Thank you for being here with me, Max. I know it's not easy."Max offered her a reassuring smile
The mic echoed again as everyone was now alert and attentive to the professor who was speaking. Professor John stared into the crowd with his large glasses. "Good, now that I have all your attention, I can go on with whatever I have to say," he said with a smile on his face. Rose smiled too. She was so excited as she looked at her friend, Emily. Emily smiled too while she gently squeezed Rose's hands. Everyone was in a celebrating mood as the students of Chester College were gathered in that hall today,about to graduate. It had been Rose's lifelong dream. "I can't believe it. We made it.!!!" Rose leaned into her friend and gave her a mini scream. "I know right, all our hard work and tirelessly reading finally paid off" Emily said to Rose. Rose nodded, she couldn't believe it herself. She remembered the first time she walked into the college. It must have been when she was about eighteen or so. Back then, it looked impossible at first but she also remembered her father holding her h
Tears rolled off Rose's eyes as she and her mother entered the hospital with her little brother's body in her arms. The truck had hit him, making him fly in the other direction. The poor boy's leg was affected and it looked like his skull too. Rose and her mother could tell because of the blood that was rushing from the side of his head."Save my son, please!!! Save him!!! I beg of you!!" Rose's mother kept begging. The nurses tried to calm her down as they slowly pushed her off the stretcher and rolled him off. They had tried to push Rose off of it too but she was adamant. She refused. She kept on saying she would stay with him to the end."Madam. I'm sorry but if you don't let go of the stretcher, we might have to call the security here. We do not let people who aren't authorized by the hospital go in there. Please understand. We know your brother is in need of treatment but you need to let him go" they said to her when they had finally reached the entrance of the emergency ward. Ro
Punk?What did he just call her? Did he just call Rose a punk? She blinked hard, multiple times at that as she walked back to him."Excuse me sir, did you just call me a punk or am I deaf?" She said with boldness. The man on suit looked at her with a smile. He nodded, "Yes, I just called you a punk. What are you going to do about it? Beat me up?" He asked her. It seemed he was used to picking fights that way because he looked so excited while he talked to her. Rose closed her eyes for a few seconds as she tried to calm herself. She wasn't in the right frame of mind for that. She would have fought there and then, she was sure he would win and not just that, she was sure he would beat the living daylights out of her. Her graduation had already been ruined, her brother hospitalized and her mother worried, adding a fight to that would mess the whole day up."No. Steady yourself, Rose. This pipsqueak isn't worth it" she told herself as she tried to calm down.Without another word, she tur
Rose marched back to him as she walked to his side, she held her hand. She asked him who he was and why the doctors were kneeling in front of him but he didn't answer. He instead turned to her and told her she could mention a wish and he would grant it. Rose immediately fell on her feet as she mentioned her brother. She said he was in need of Surgery and all what was to be done on him but she didn't have the money to do any of those."Please help me sir. I am sorry for my behavior, please. Help me save my baby brother, please, " she pleaded. The stranger told her to stand. He walked away from the doctors with her as he took her to the side."I can make all your problems go away. Not just your brother but every other problem you have go away. My name is Sebastian, everyone knows me and I believe you will get to know me too." He said. Rose nodded. She listened intently as he spoke. "I can make every dream you have come through as money is not a problem for me but in exchange for that,
Rose began to regain consciousness after a few moments. She opened her eyes to see a hazy person looming over her. The figure gradually came into focus, and she realized it was Sebastian."Thank God you're okay," Sebastian replied, his voice filled with relief.Rose sat up and stroked her neck, attempting to comprehend what had just occurred. "What...what happened?" she wondered, her voice trembling.Sebastian paused for a moment before responding. "I apologize, Rose. I never intended for you to see what was in my drawer. I swear they're not human heads. They're specially made-artifacts. I'm a lover of art, and those are special one's made by my friend for me, they are made to look exactly like the real thing, that's basically what it is my dear".Rose took a long breath, attempting to calm herself. "All right, all right. I trust you. But why did you grasp me in that manner?""I panicked," Sebastian said. "I didn't know how to explain it to you, and I didn't want you to see something