| C H A P T E R - 25 |

ANASTASIA:

I was running desperately again, my breaths ragged and erratic, through a seemingly endless corridor that twisted and turned with a malevolent purpose.

The only sound that echoed through the eerie space was the relentless pounding of my footsteps. It was a stark reminder of my solitude and the suffocating darkness that enveloped me. The corridor appeared to stretch endlessly as if mocking my futile attempts to escape.

I am in a nightmare again.

The dark, devilish figure relentlessly chased me. It embodied my deepest fears, a being connected to the dark corners of my mind. His presence was pure evil, and I sensed his wicked breath on the back of my neck.

Desperation gripped me, and fear's icy hold tightened around my heart. My pulse raced, the beat echoing in my ears like a frantic drum. The corridor's walls closed in, suffocating the air from my lungs.

This was a dream, I told myself.

With each step, the corridor cruelly stretched, rendering my escape impossible. It was a nightmarish game with no winners, and I was ensnared in the devil's playground. The malevolent aura of my pursuer pressed heavily on me, turning every step into a herculean effort.

Finally, the shadowy presence caught up. His spectral fingers brushed my shoulder, sending a shiver of dread down my spine. In the next harrowing moment, I found myself on a grotesque bed of blood and flesh. The scene defied all laws of nature and reason, a macabre tableau that sent chills down my spine.

This is just a dream. Wake up!

The devil man whispered hauntingly, his voice a disconcerting murmur in my ears. "You can never escape me," he intoned in a sinister whisper, his words laden with doom and despair. "I am so close."

Close. He was close. So close.

Wake up! Wake Up! Wake up!

I screamed once again. 

Until I woke up with a jolt, disoriented and struggling to catch my breath. My heart pounded, and the remnants of a terrifying dream stuck to my thoughts. It seemed as if the devil's sinister presence still hovered, casting an eerie shadow in my room. The sense of impending doom from my recurring nightmares clung to me, haunting my thoughts.

Looking around, I finally sighed with relief as I realized I was back in my familiar surroundings. It was my room, bathed in the soft morning light, a stark contrast to the horrors of my dream. I tried to push away the lingering dread, reminding myself it was just a dream, even if it was a recurring one.

Though slightly dishevelled from my late-night research, the room looked exactly as it should. The files were still open on my desk, a few books scattered across the table. But something was unsettling, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

And then it hit me like a lightning bolt.

A sudden gust of wind caught my attention, and I realized the window was wide open. Panic surged through me as I rushed to close it. The devil from my nightmares seemed to be encroaching on my waking moments, and the open window felt like an intrusion. 

He was here again.

The nagging feeling of being watched persisted, and my thoughts raced. Security cameras were no longer a deterrent for him, as I'd come to realize. No matter how many safeguards I put in place, he'd always find a way in.

I meticulously scanned my surroundings, in a concerted effort to unearth any additional evidence that could substantiate his presence the previous night. The daunting realization was settling in – it might be time to open up to my father or should I really ask David to come up with securities? Or Should I tell Lorenzo first? Would his involvement deter the Devil?

But I had come to realize that the Devil was not easily deterred by security measures. His enigmatic methods defied conventional understanding.

He was a genius cloaked in the mask of Death.

As I struggled with the stubborn window latch, the door to my room creaked open, making me yelp in surprise. I spun around, my heart pounding, to find Robert, my ever-smiling butler, standing in the doorway.

"Good morning, Miss Brown," he greeted me with his usual warm smile.

"Uh, good morning, Robert," I stammered, my awkward smile betraying my lingering anxiety.

He leaned in closer and announced, "Your father is here!" 

****

I raced down the stairs still in my pyjamas, bubbling with excitement at the thought of reuniting with my father after countless days of separation. This could be a turning point, an opportunity to finally seek his assistance in solving the cases that had haunted my life. And maybe, just maybe, his presence might deter the Devil from continuing to torment me.

However, that last notion was debatable.

"Dad!" I squealed with uncontainable joy as I reached the bottom of the stairs and sprinted toward him for a tight embrace.

My exuberance somewhat took him aback but quickly adjusted his pace to match mine and wrapped his arms around me. "Oh, my darling, how have you been?"

"I've been well, Dad," I replied, my voice tinged with genuine longing. "But I missed you so much." I nestled into his hug, finding comfort in the familiar scent of his cologne.

"I know, I know, my dear," he murmured, cradling me gently. "That's precisely why I'm here finally. I've missed you too, and I decided it's time to put an end to our misery."

I lifted my head, eyebrows knitted with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

A broad grin spread across his face. "We're moving back to LarksVille."

"What?" I blurted out, a mix of surprise and excitement flooding my words. "Really?"

He nodded, beaming. "Yes, my little dove," he affirmed.

I embraced him again, overwhelmed by joy. "I love you, Dad!"

"I love you too, my princess," he whispered, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead.

As I revelled in the happiness of my father's return, a sense of hope welled up within me. With my father by my side, I believed we could take on Russo, Oliver, and his gang.

"Dad, I have something to..."

Before I could finish my sentence, his phone interrupted us. He received the call, his expression growing increasingly grim with each passing moment. After concluding the call, he looked at me and said, "I have to leave. Ava is sick and in the hospital."

"What happened to her?"

"I don't know. I'll find out when I get there," he replied as he headed toward the door, leaving me wondering what had befallen Ava.

----X----

LARA:

Ana and I occupied our usual corner at the bustling cafeteria. My face wore an expression that seemed to merge regret, embarrassment, and a whole mix of other emotions. My once-ever-present smile had abandoned ship today.

"I'm such an idiot," I muttered, covering my face with my palms, trying to escape the world's judgment.

Ana, her eyes glued to my phone, repeatedly reading the messages, seemed unsure if she was dreaming or if this was reality. I could see her struggling to contain the laughter that threatened to burst forth.

"Um... I'm sure we can figure something out," she said, attempting to console me. But honestly, it was about as effective as using a tissue to hold back a tidal wave.

I looked up, frustration etching every line of my face. "How? I just dug myself a crater, Ana," I groaned, burying my head back in my hands.

18/02/2023

"Thank you for saving me. If you want... to go for a coffee or something... it's on me."

Delivered: 23:15

20/02/2023

"I think I'll Pass."

Read: 06:15

17/03/2023

"I saw how perfectly you move in that boxing ring. But I'm even better when it comes to making the first move with a kiss. 😉"

Delivered: 23:35

Seen.

25/06/2023

"You seriously gonna avoid me? Fine! I'll avoid you too, brown eye Monster."

"I thought you were different."

Delivered: 1:19

"Your fault. You trust so quickly."

Read: 1:25

13/07/2023

"You know what, your attitude is giving me a whiplash! I wish I could give you some."

Delivered: 2:17

Seen.

22/09/2023

"Do you know how much I hate you?"

"A million."

"No wait."

"A trillion."

"That's right I hate you a trillion."

"You even dared to read my book of confession. That's an utterly rude, brown-eyed monster😡👽."

Delivered: 2:29

Seen.

"You break my heart every fucking day."

"I wish I could do the same."

"Wish I could give you the best kiss you deserve and then leave you the next moment."

"Like poof.🌟"

Delivered: 2:31

"So you want me to be your last kiss before you vanish into thin air?"

Read: 2:35

"Wow, you think of yourself as a god, huh?"

"Tell me one thing, are you gay?"

"Does our last encounter look like one?"

"If yes, I might need another chance to prove it otherwise."

"You know what?"

"I would kiss any random person in the bar rather than you. At least they would fucking taste better than a green eye monster."

"No matter how much I am obsessed with your abs."

"Miss Garcia, where are you?"

"Somewhere safe."

"And happy."

"Miss Garcia, is anyone with you?"

"Yes."

"A bunch of handsome men."

"There's one who does have sexy abs too."

"Listen to me, stay right where you are, and don't invite trouble."

"Call a cab and get back HOME."

"Oh, don't baby me."

"I will go home when I want."

"And right now, I am gonna find that handsome man and I am going home with it so that I can obsess over his delicious abs and get the fuck over yours."

"You are not going to do such things, Miss Garcia!"

"Oh, no no. That's where you are wrong, Brown-eyed monster."

"I am going to do exactly so,"

"No lube, no protection, all night, all day, from the kitchen floor to the toilet seat, from the dining table to church, front the front porch to the balcony, vertically, horizontally, quadric, exponential, logarithmic, while I gasp for air and screams lord's prayer, he can top me."

Delivered: 2:43

"You seem to read a lot of romance books huh?"

Read: 2:45

"Maybe. And today I might try out a few."

"Trust me, Miss Garcia, you are not going to do that! You will chicken out."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Consider it as."

Read: 2:45

Ana couldn't suppress her laughter any longer; it erupted from her like a volcano. I was still so shocked that I couldn't decide if she found it amusing or if my text was so mortifying that I needed to escape town for a few days. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.

"Will you please stop laughing!" I implored, still utterly embarrassed.

But she was still chuckling. "Sorry, Lara, but... This is really funny, and I can't help it."

"Ugh..." I groaned. "I feel despicable."

"No, you are not," Ana consoled me. "You just had a tiny, embarrassing moment. That's going to pass."

I sighed, my embarrassment slowly turning into frustration. "This is all your fault!" I pointed out, laying the blame on Ana. "I should never have listened to you."

There was a time when I had a huge crush on this guy. The guy who had saved me from my despair. But everything had changed after that. He changed. He never looked at me or talked to me. He always pretended as if I didn't exist.

Yet there was a certain pull towards him that I couldn't deny. Even if he didn't feel it, I did.

And that hurt like hell.

"I think you should go talk to him," Ana suggested.

Once again, mortification swept over me. "Absolutely not!" I retorted. "That would be way too embarrassing, Ana."

"Why?" she asked, taking a bite of her noodles.

"Because I've already lost, I couldn't get anyone that I could show off from last night," I pointed. "And I know that bastard is going to laugh at me because I failed the challenge." I groaned, hitting my head on the table. "He's going to laugh at me!"

"Oh, come on, he's not going to do that. Besides, how is he ever going to know? You can always pretend that you had a magical night with that bartender whose abs you seem to obsess over more than his."

"Ana..." I snapped at her, and she burst into laughter.

"Okay, sorry! My bad."

I sighed dramatically at my fate. How am I going to face him after losing the challenge? Last night, I was too drunk and before I could turn it into a magical night with a guy, I vomited on him.

I was sure now he would be shouting from the rooftops, declaring me the loser. "There's no way out now! I'm dead. He's going to know that," I said with frustration. "Plus, I don't even remember what happened last night."

"Chillax," Ana said, returning her attention to her food.

"How can I? He's not like Lorenzo!" I exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Ana inquired, looking puzzled.

"I mean, Lorenzo might be the unavoidable heartthrob, but Mark is different. He's a monster," I whispered to Ana. "Have you seen how cold and rude ass he looks?" I pointed. "He is formidable. An absolute terror that everyone wants to avoid."

"Come on, he's not that scary!"

"This is coming from the person who herself loses track of words in front of the other Jonas brothers," I teased.

"Th-that's because he's..." Ana's voice trailed off as she searched for the right words. "He's..."

"Complicated?"

She shrugged and we both laughed at our comment.

Before she could delve any further, we both noticed Mark entering the cafeteria. A swarm of students followed him, his fan girls eagerly trailing behind. Lorenzo has been missing for his suspension.

Fuck. What is he doing here?

Mark looked like an impeccably god-like figure as he took seats opposite us. My stomach churned for some reason. Maybe the food was poisoned.

Within mere seconds, our eyes locked. And as his dark brunette eyes locked onto mine, they held a mesmerizing power even from that distance. Something electric. And then, slowly, I saw—Mark was smiling?

At me?

I froze. Completely immobilized at that moment. Maybe I was dreaming, or maybe this food was drugged because there was no way Mark, the Ring Monster, would smile at me. One, because he hates me and second, he never smiles.

Fuck.

"Are you okay?" Ana asked when she saw how flustered I looked.

"I, um..." I couldn't find the ability to string together words. I need to move. Now.

TING!

A notification abruptly distracted me. When I looked at the screen, my eyes almost bulged out.

"Lara...?"

"Uh– sorry, Ana, I need to be somewhere!" I interrupt suddenly, running away.

----X----

A/N: Here is a little bit more of Lara and Mark. Grumpy X Flirty. So, has anyone come up with a couple names for both of these cuties?