Snowbell

After several hours of searching, the police got no results. They give up the search operation and look for Dr Sebastian in the hospital.

Dr Sebastian is waiting outside Mario's ward together with Ashley, Dovan, and Morgan's parents.

Ashely is sitting silently on the 4-seater chair, besides Morgan's parents who have been supporting each other. Ashley is anxious but tries her best to stay calm. She looks sophisticated in her casual wedding dress, but now, for whom is that dress for? Morgan can't see it.

Dovan is lazily leaning against the wall. He is neither worried nor happy. He stands on the other side of Ashley, like a tall pillar.

Dr Sebastian is pacing back and forth as he keeps on pressing his temples with one hand and braces his other hand on his hip. He is acting as if he is Morgan's real father. He fidgets worse than Morgan's parents. He can't stay still. He can't calm down. His face had turned scarlet. He is becoming more and more different from his calm demeanour as a respectable doctor.

Nobody speaks among them. Footsteps of people who pass through are only something that stomps in their ears. That kind of silence is in fact suffocating.

"Dr Sebastian." The group instantly turned in the direction of the voice, and three uniformed police officers marched towards them.

Dr Sebastian rushes to them and asks about Morgan right away. "How is it? Where is Morgan?"

Lieutenant Patricio breathes out heavily. His face displays fatigue and confusion. "This is weird. We found no traces of them leaving. Even the CCTV footage shows us that they haven't come out in the sports car at all."

"And what are you referring to by that? Huh?" Hostility flashes in Dr Sebastian's eyes as he glares at the officers. He unknowingly manifests the aura of a wild animal that is about to pounce on its prey. "Don't tell me they just disappear as if they don't exist?"

"If only I have a plausible explanation for your question, Dr Sebastian. But sadly, it's beyond our perception."

"Piece of crap!" Dr Sebastian seemed about to strangle Lieutenant Patricio. "What is the use of all of you if you can't even solve this mystery?"

Lieutenant Patricio frowned, dissatisfied with Dr Sebastian's behavior. "Dr Sebastian, we did our best. And as for Morgan, we can't really file a report about his disappearance unless it is already 24 hours since he has gone missing. Who knows? He and that woman are just playing hide and seek with us?"

"Are you indicating that he is hiding from us on purpose?" Ashley asks. She finally raises her head and meets the officer's gaze with tears. "Am I inferior to that woman that he has to choose her over me? Is that what you are trying to slap on my face, officer?"

"No. My son is not like that. That woman who introduced herself as Samantha threatens my son!" Mr Heirden strictly interjects. "You can't tarnish my son's image just like that. You don't know him."

Mrs Heirden holds her husband tightly and sobs.

"Then where is he? How can you explain this? How did he vanish just like that?" Dr Sebastian questions Mr Heirden angrily. "If your son doesn't show up before dawn, forget about your son's operation!"

"No! You can't do this to my son!", weeps Mrs Heirden. "It has nothing to do with him."

Dr Sebastian gnashes his teeth. "You will see. Unless you have the money."

"No. Please. Don't do this to us." Mrs Heirden tries to reach out for him but he slaps her hand away.

"Fuck off! Your family disgrace me!" Dr Sebastian grabs Ashley by the wrist and drags her away from that room. Dovan follows them closely as Ashley has a hard time catching up with her father.

The old couple falls dispirited. They bear hug each other as the old woman bawls on her husband's shoulder, while the husband tries to draw back his tears.

Lieutenant Patricio shakes his head, he harbours pity for the old couple. "I apologise for this, Mr and Mrs Heirden. Rest assured, we will still deploy police officers to check every possible escape route and monitor the area. If there's progress, we will inform you immediately."

Mr Heirden nods and the three police officers take their leave.

=====

Morgan observes the three-story mansion that stands alone on an expansive lawn before him with a frown. He is expecting a gruesome haunted house, not a princess-like castle. The mansion has three floors. It is wide, exquisite, with meticulous exterior structures. In short, the mansion screams wealth.

There are neighbours nearby, but one must walk for about one hour before reaching the gate of this luxurious building.

"What are we doing here?" Morgan asked coldly.

"What do you think this house is for?" Samantha answers with a question. "Why don't you try to eat it? Maybe you will get the answer." 

"Don't be cynical. There's nothing to be proud of something you just stole from one of your prey."

"What a wild imagination, boy." Samantha pokes his nose, which he responds with a growl.

Morgan smirks mockingly when Samantha stretches out for the electronic lock and inputs passwords. "Why bother opening the gate if you can just jump or teleport inside?"

"Oh no, you're turning indolent. In such broad daylight, we must act like normal humans."

"At Least you're aware that you're NOT NORMAL HUMANS." Morgan emphasises his last three words in a sarcastic tone.

"Enough blabbing." Samantha suddenly hauls him inside and the gate automatically closes.

Morgan neither looks around nor shows he is amazed by the place. He simply walks stiffly under Samantha's lead, dragging his feet.

As they reach the main door of the mansion, Samantha releases him and faces sternly, "Hey, boy, I don't care whether you hate me or want to kill me. If I were you, I'd remove that hostility in your face."

Morgan ignores her.

"Whatever." Samantha flings her hand in the air with a squint of her eyes and opens the black double-door. By the time the door flips open, Morgan is welcomed by a ghastly figure.

A white tiger, with thick white furs, as white as snow, stands dominantly ahead, as if it has been there all along guarding the door.

As soon as Morgan lays his eyes on the tiger's ferocious gold eyes, the tiger zooms off towards him, leaps in the air, and tackles Morgan on the ground.

Morgan screams in horror as he violently swings his arms to chase the tiger away.

"Snowbell, enough for the greetings." Samantha admonishes, referring to the tiger.

Snowbell halts and gets off Morgan. 

Holding his breath, Morgan opens his eyes and is greeted with Snowbell's fierce growls. Snowbell looks eager to bite him.

"That's okay, Snowbell. I can handle him.". Samantha reassures.

Snowbell snorts at Morgan and turns to leave. But before he completely exits from their sight, Snowbell turns back and cast Morgan with a warning look. He acts like that strict protective father who is warning his son-in-law not to hurt his daughter.

Morgan puffed a groan seeing that.

"Come, get up." Samantha offers a hand to Morgan, but he slaps her hand away.

"I'd be grateful if you just killed me," Morgan mumbles as he helps himself to stand. "Living with you is worse than death. There are two monsters here."

Samantha chortles loudly, her voice echoes in the lobby. "I told you, don't mask yourself with enmity. Snowbell can feel it and he thinks it's an enemy. You didn't listen."

"Should I thank you for that?" Morgan asks sarcastically.

"Not necessary."

"I shouldn't be. I'll never be grateful to someone who put me in this situation in the first place." Morgan leers, brows knitting together. "I really don't understand. Why me? Why does it have to be me? I have nothing. There's plenty of men out there. Why me?"

Samantha leans on him and whispers, "Don't belittle yourself, boy. You have that rare charm that others don't have. Just like me. That's why we're a perfect match."

She winks.

"Gross!" 

"Oh come on, stop provoking me." Samantha grins. "It's no use. But now, it's time to proceed to our bedroom." She flutters her eyes coquettishly at him again. "To complete the ritual."