25

" Anything?" Stephan beamed without wasting time.

I suddenly regretted going out without a jacket. I saw his silhouette near the gates of our apartment. I get in his car and strapped in the seatbelt. We took a short drive away from the city and near the past.

I closed my eyes, my hands fidget, my breaths came shallow do we really need to be there?

"I haven't got no clue yet." I hid my hands at the gap between my lap.

"Haven't got no-- the girls' lives are in danger! Hundreds are at stake." He stopped the car.

" Look it's not easy to be in my position." 

" What more are the girls held captive Zoe?! Do you think they're enjoying the time of their lives?"

"Well, someone's being bossy while I was the only one on the field."  10 minutes I should go back now. 

 "Any evidence yet? "

" I'm sure I'm going to get something." 

" That something is 5 months overdue. " He massaged his temples and let out a heavy puff of air. He pulled his pack of cigarettes.

"Stop nagging me Stephan. You are not even my brother." 

"I'm only doing this for you."

"If you did, you wouldn't have been too keen in giving me this stupid work. All my life I only wanted to be free from the abusive and manipulative environment  I grew up with. Pills were my food of comfort to forget everything Stephan. What did you do? You made me go back to the road I promised myself to never set foot ever again." I had a hard time taming the tears that threatened to spill any moment now.

"We had this conversation a million times."

" Because you are a son of--" Tears came.

" I know deep down you wanted the closure you never got 7 years ago Zoe. The bitter past will keep haunting you if you will allow it to. Justice is obscured in this lowlife world Zoe. If I wasn't there at dawn when you laid cold and passed out in the middle of the forest, you are long gone. Justice is forgotten-- what I did is what you are going to do with the other girls you need to save. You know what it's like to be there the --"

"Stop. I'm not having bouts of  breakdown hours before my wedding."

I wished Andrey never saved me that moment when I was dancing with death. 

It was the same day Stephan gave me the details of what I have to do. Remembering the terrors of the past is scary as is, what more when you'll be reliving them. 

Because the real work haven't started yet. The wedding is still the beginning.

I snatched his cigarette and took a long drag. 

"I want to stop this Stephan. Let us just leave it to the police. They know better. " 

" You are stressed." He looked at me like I was something broken which is why I hated the most.

"Who wouldn't be stressed if you're marrying the person that you're only going to kill."

...

Hi lovelies! Thank you for staying with Zoe. I hope you are all doing well, if not. Breathe. Just. Breathe.