MARCUSThe SOS message on Nina’s phone read, “HELP ME”, My heart raced as I read the message and a lump formed in my throat. I didn't need to ask who it was from, the words screamed Nicole's name.Without a second thought, I frantically tried to call the number. My fingers trembled as I hit the call button, but the line went straight to voicemail. I tried again, and again, but each time there was no answer.Nina's eyes widened in concern and she turned to me. "This is serious," she said. "We have to find out where this is coming from."Together, we dialed the number repeatedly, but it was as if the phone had been switched off. Frustration and fear gripped me as I realized that time was running out. "What the hell is going on?" I yelled, my voice trembling with panic. "Nicole didn't just disappear. She was taken, and we have to find her."“We have to track this number”, I said.As soon as the words left my mouth, I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Nina follow
NICOLE I blinked, and the world slowly came into focus. The harsh, bright light flooded the room, seeping into my eyes like acid. I instinctively threw my arm up, shielding my face from the intrusive brightness.This was not where I had fallen asleep. The walls were not the grey hue of Anthony's bedroom, but instead stark white, making the room feel sterile and unwelcoming. My eyes trailed down to my hand, which was connected to a small tube that snaked up to a bag of clear liquid hanging above me.The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I was in a hospital ward. Panic seized me as I tried to sit up, but a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my head, making me groan out loud.The stench of the hospital hit me like a wall as I took a deep breath. The scent of antiseptic mixed with the sickly-sweet aroma of decay made my nose wrinkle in disgust.I couldn't remember how I had ended up here, but a deep sense of unease settled in my gut. My eyes darted around the room, searching f
NICOLE“Oh my God, no! Piper, how could this happen?" I cried, tears streaming down my face like a torrential rainstorm.Marcus was jolted out of his sleep by my outburst. His eyes widened with concern as he saw me in such a state."Nicole, what's wrong? Why are you screaming like that?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.I couldn't even form a coherent sentence, so I pointed to the TV, my hand shaking uncontrollably."Piper... dead... they found her body," I managed to stutter out, the words feeling like shards of glass in my throat.I clutched my head as a wave of pain shot through my brain. The image of Piper's face flashed before my eyes, and I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Marcus put his arm around me, and I buried my face in his shoulder.The door to my hospital room burst open, and a team of nurses rushed in, their footsteps echoing in the sterile space. They tried to calm me down, but their soothing words were lost on me. I was inconsolable, my bod
NICOLEI stood in front of the canvas, my brush moving back and forth, creating beautiful strokes of color. I was lost in my work, completely absorbed in the process of creating art. "Hey," Marcus said, walking into the room. "How's it going?"I turned to face him, my eyes bright with excitement. "It's going great," I said. "I can't believe I'm getting a spot in the exhibition. This is incredible."I was still amazed that Marcus had managed to secure me a spot in the exhibition.“Well, I promised you I would, didn't I?" Marcus said, taking my hand in his.I leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, "Yes, you did. And you always keep your promises.""I'm so proud of you," Marcus said, walking over to me and wrapping his arms around my waist. "You deserve this more than anyone."I leaned back into his embrace, feeling his warmth and love surrounding me. "I couldn't have done it without you," I said. "You've been my biggest supporter through all of this.""I'll always be your biggest supporte
NICOLEI slowly opened my eyes and found myself in my room. I turned my head and saw Marcus sitting quietly beside me, his fingers intertwined with mine“What happened?" I rasped, my throat feeling raw and scratchy.Marcus's gentle grip on my hand tightened slightly as he answered, "You fainted. You had a panic attack."My heart rate began to quicken and my breathing became shallow. The memory of the blood-stained card from Anthony flooded my mind, and my anxiety threatened to overwhelm me once again."Did you see it? The card from Anthony?"I felt my fingers trembling as I nervously bit down on them, trying to distract myself from the overwhelming anxiety that was creeping up my chest. Marcus noticed my anxious tic and furrowed his brow in concern."What card?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was ready to show him the ominous message that had been haunting me.With a shaky hand, I slowly retrieved the blood-stained card from my pocket and
ANTHONY I looked at my phone and sighed in bliss, my plan had worked perfectly. I had abducted Nicole and had managed to fool everyone, including Marcus, into thinking that I was dead.Beside me, Mariella lay naked, her fingers curled around a cigarette as she exhaled a stream of smoke into the air.With a sly smile, I held out my phone to her, my eyes glinting with triumph."Take a look at this," I said, my voice laced with satisfaction. "I pulled it off. They all fell for it, hook, line, and sinker."Mariella's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned towards me, her lips curved into a mischievous grin."Can you believe it?" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Our plan worked perfectly. But this is just the beginning."It had been Mariella's idea, to begin with, and I had executed it flawlessly. When she had suggested abducting Nicole and staging my death, I had been hesitant at first. But now, seeing how well everything had gone, I knew it was the right decision.I
NICOLEI entered the therapist's office waiting room, my eyes darted around the space, taking in the familiar surroundings. The soothing scent of lavender candles mingled with the sterile smell of disinfectant, creating an odd but calming aroma. I tried to steady my breathing, but my fingers betrayed my nervousness as they danced over each other in a frenzied rhythm.Beside me, Marcus radiated a warmth that helped me feel grounded, even though my insides were twisted in knots. His hand was a solid anchor that kept me from spiraling into a panic attack. His presence gave me strength.With a gentle squeeze, Marcus spoke in a hushed voice, cutting through the tension like a knife."You're doing the right thing, Nicole. I'm proud of you." His eyes sparkled with an unwavering love that gave me the courage to face my demons head-on.I tilted my head to meet his gaze, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability. "I just want to feel like myself again," I whispered, my voice shaky. "I hate f
NICOLE “What happened to me?" I asked, my eyes darting from my father to my mother, searching for answers. Their forced smiles did little to ease the tension in the room.I fidgeted in my seat, desperate for any explanation. "Can you please tell me what happened to me? Why can't I remember most things, especially the major part of my childhood?" I implored.Silence hung heavy in the air as my parents exchanged a meaningful look. Their furrowed brows spoke volumes, but they remained tight-lipped. My heart thudded in my chest as I waited for a response.Finally, my mother let out a deep sigh, and her shoulders slumped. Her voice was soft and hesitant as she spoke. "Nicole, you got into an accident when you were nine years old," she said, her eyes locked onto mine.My heart sank as my mother continued. "You hit your head pretty hard, and the doctors said you suffered some memory loss. They weren't sure if you would recover, but you did, for the most part. But there are still some memor