Noel Cassius

"Your new boss, Noel Cassius, I'll call you when you're needed." The strange young man stood up and fixed his suit properly; he flashed her a quick smile and added, "You might need to go out the back door; a lot of friends have occupied the front." He then walked away, leaving just her in the club.

Elizabeth sat alone in the dimly lit club, her heart racing and her thoughts in turmoil. The words of the strange young man, Noel Cassius, echoed in her mind, leaving her both intrigued and apprehensive. She clutched the little bracelet in her hand, a tangible connection to this enigmatic figure who had entered her life.

As she tied the long black string around the bracelet and wrapped it around her neck, a mix of curiosity and caution washed over her. What did this bracelet signify? And what role had she unknowingly stepped into?

The moment she stood up and prepared to leave, Elizabeth's eyes lingered on the spot where Noel had been seated. She couldn't shake the feeling that her life had taken an unexpected turn, and she was now part of something far more complex than she could have imagined.

Exiting the club through the back door, Elizabeth felt a sense of relief as she avoided the commotion at the front; she was glad that she listened to his words. The flashing red and blue lights, the wailing sirens, and the gathering crowd all added to her growing unease.

In the cold night air, she pulled her hoodie over her head and kept her head down, hands in her pockets, as she made her way home. Her apartment provided a brief respite from the chaos outside.

But as she turned on the lights, she was met with an unexpected presence. A voice greeted her, and Elizabeth's heart raced once more. Layla, her friend and partner, was there, and Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and relief.

Her guard remained up, even with Layla, as the events of the night had left her cautious.

"Hello," Layla greeted and pressed her lips into a thin line.

"Are you okay? I've been trying to reach out to you for ages." She dragged the ends of her words and slumped lazily on the couch.

"How did you get in?" Elizabeth asked; her guard was up even against this 'friend and partner' of hers.

"Is that the only thing you ask about?" Layla stood up and furrowed her brows, then continued, "You didn't even come to meet me yesterday; I only heard that you left."

"I'm sorry, a lot of things came up." Elizabeth refrained from meeting eyes with Layla; she sat and relaxed on the couch opposite Layla.

"Hey…I heard about it. You don't have to feel sad; I even had to resign; my job there is done anyway." Layla chuckled sadly and sat back down.

"What job was that again?" Elizabeth scrunched her forehead in question.

"Oh common, Elizabeth, how'd you forget something like that? You know fully well that I became an officer to get to the bottom of my dad's case." Layla said and pouted her lips.

"Yes, but for a second…I thought you came as the 'Lord's' messenger." Elizabeth muttered the last part underneath her breath and lowered her eyes.

"Huh? Could you repeat what you just said? I did not hear you at first." Layla widened her large eyes and blinked innocently.

"The police, did they ask you any questions?" Elizabeth ignored her and asked another question instead.

"Nope, they said they couldn't trust the words of the likes of me, hehehe." Layla clutched her stomach and burst out into laughter.

"Because of the substances found in your blood…you took drugs and a lot of that." Elizabeth said in a calm voice. The revelation about drugs in Layla's system added another layer of complexity to their already intricate situation. She was disappointed in the fact that Layla took drugs but she was not surprised.

"Oh that, I couldn't think properly. It was the only thing that helped me relax." Layla said the truth with a small shrug.

Layla, in turn, expressed concern for Elizabeth's well-being. Elizabeth's emotions were a whirlwind, torn between trust and suspicion.

But Elizabeth's hidden fear surfaced as she thought about the "Lord's messenger." The weight of the unknown and the potential dangers ahead weighed heavily on her. The 'Lord's messenger' would surely be connected to the 'Lord,' and that was Noel, Noel Cassius.

Throughout this tense exchange, emotions ran high, from Elizabeth's initial shock and confusion to Layla's laughter, tinged with both humor and bitterness. Their partnership was at a crossroads, and the emotions in the room mirrored the uncertainty of their shared journey ahead.

"So, where to next? Do you have a job?" Layla asked.

Elizabeth pondered for a while before answering with a small, shaky voice, "I…I have a job."

"That's great. How did you even get a job in such little time and how much is the pay?" Layla was intrigued.

"It's a security job and the pay is…good." Elizabeth answered, devoid of any positive emotion.

"Just good?"

"Yes, for now."

"Then I'll look for a better job for you while searching for a job for myself." Layla smiled and brought up another topic, but Elizabeth was quick to wade it off.

"It's late, Layla; you should leave."

"Oh…okay." Layla paused and continued, "I'll come see you another time."

"Hmn, goodbye." Elizabeth stood up and gestured at the door with her hand.

Layla quickly stood up too and left, not without saying goodbye with a small smile on her face.

Elizabeth locked the door immediately Layla left and walked to her room, slumping on the bed with a sigh.

Optional death could be said to be the easiest way to escape from a situation like this; she had nothing to lose after all; these unwanted thoughts filled her head. But Elizabeth had a sister she did not want to give up on yet, a cousin who showed concern, and…a bracelet which could very much belong to her younger brother even though the chances were slim. She just couldn't give up on life… at least not now.