THE DARK CASUALTY

LAURA

I felt a wicked sense of relief when the car entered the Mansion compound, the place looked different, feels different even. I just wanted to jump out and roam around the yard. I wondered what spirit possessed me that made me leave such luxury, but that was the baby girl in me talking.

I was greeted by the smell of the fresh grasses and fragrant flowers. Even the sky here was different, it seemed more blue and aesthetic. Viktor was standing in front of the Mansion entrance with a big ass smile on his face.

"SIGNORA LAURA." Maria said, running to me, before enveloping me in a tight hug as she opened the door. I wondered where she came from but the hug was so tight I almost forgot how to breathe.

"You look so skinny, signora. Were you eating at all?"

I wanted to remind her that I was gone for just three freaking days, but by the look on everyone's face, it could have equally been a month, years, decade or even a century. She walked even closer to me, tiptoed to whisper something