>>Clio
"I need his sponsorship."
The words hung in the air, a macabre justification for the impending act of brutality. The blade gleamed ominously, a reflection of the peril that loomed. Time seemed to elongate, each heartbeat echoing like a somber drum, marking the inevitability of the impending betrayal.
With all that's happened in my life, I shouldn't be this surprised, yet I couldn't comprehend it. I still couldn't believe this was happening to me.
The backdrop of Murim's smirk intensified the surreal horror, a puppet master reveling in the orchestrated chaos. He has always hated me, but this was the first time he caused me physical harm.
The minion of his and I locked gaze, both of our pupils shaking.
"Where are the extras!? Extras!!" An unfamiliar voice caught up to us, followed by approaching footsteps.
Someone was coming our way.
The dimly lit backstage area was plunged into sudden chaos as the hurried footsteps of approaching staff echoed in the corridor. My attackers, realizing that their sinister deed was about to be exposed, swiftly turned on their heels and darted away, disappearing into the shadows with an adrenaline-fueled escape.
Both the minions were gone before Murim, who took his time standing up from his seat.
Pain was numbing my thoughts and my mind but I clearly remember how he shook his head at me pitifully before he turned to leave.
The searing pain from the unexpected stab wound radiated through me, I clutched at my side, feeling the warm stickiness of blood beneath my fingertips.
Oh Lord…
Why am I the one who always gets stuck in the worst of situations? Just why?
"Hey! Have you seen the extra actors?" Panic surged, not just from the physical injury but from the sudden realization that my cover was at risk as the distant voices came closer.
The hurried footsteps of the staff drew closer, echoing off the cold walls.
Fear knotted in my stomach,
Oh No..
I have to make a run for it too
Fueled by a surge of adrenaline, I stumbled away, every step a wince-inducing reminder of the concealed dagger in my side. Funny how they were so afraid they completely forgot about the knife they plunged into me.
The pulsating pain in my side matched the rhythm of my pounding heart, still I kept going. I had to,
If I get caught, I won't just get banned from entering shooting sites but I'm also at a risk of exposure.
Anyone who would see my wound would want to help and to help they might want to undress me.
I can't afford that. I can't risk exposing who I really am. Especially not at a place where Murim is,
I kept going, my mind going hazy, the surroundings seemed to dance, but right before unconsciousness hit me, I spotted an escape route.
There was an unguarded door ajar that seemed to lead into a storage space. I had no time to stand and think, so I slipped into the storage room that had another door leading to the back alley.
The pain in my side throbbed, and I winced, my breath catching. I stood in front of the other door and tried to open it but it didn't budge.
It was stuck.
Every creak of the door and muffled conversation outside sent shivers down my spine. The door looked like it hadn't been used for ages, that's probably why it was so hard to open it.
But I had no other options.
"Mom," I whispered as I used every ounce of strength I had to open the unused door.
***
"Thankfully, it wasn't blocked, it just hadn't been used in a while so it opened up in the end and I got away without getting discovered." I felt a chill in my bones after recalling that part of my life.
"The only thing I was grateful for was that it was a night time shooting and no one was able to spot my bleeding stomach when I ran in through the streets." I let out a shaky breath, "I got myself a cab, told him what hospital to go to but I fainted before I arrived." I let out a nervous chuckle. It was filled with so much anxiety that even the fake laugh was shaky, "But the doctor who treated me was my mom's doctor, of course she was shocked to discover my identity but mom convinced her to keep my secret safe."
I finished my story, "That's it," I slapped my thighs, "That's how I got my scar,"
"Hmm," That's all he replied with and it didn't sit well with me.
Hmm? That's all???
Matthew's short reply made me look at him again and I noticed he had an angry expression on his face.
!!!
No, it was more than angry.
He was so annoyed he had his jaw clenched. His eyes, that seemed so warm before I gave him my story, were now smoldered with an intensity that bordered on ferocity. The clenching of his jaw and the subtle flexing of his fingers betrayed the storm raging within him.
Woah…
It felt like if Murim was in front of him, he would rip him to pieces.
"Matthew," I placed my hand on his cheek which made him snap back to reality and he looked down at me, "It's fine, it happened in the past."
It wasn't fine.
It still haunted me. But I didn't want to be a burden. Not that him getting angry for me made me uneasy or anything. If anything, it made me happy.
I let his cheek go and slipped my arms around his waist to hug him. My actions caught him off guard and I literally felt his body flinch.
Hehe,
He calmed down though and that was enough but right then, something unexpected happened.
Bizy burst in the room.
"SIR!!" There was panic in his voice as he came running in and I immediately let Matthew go.
GOSH!!!!
I shot my head at the manager as an instant blush crept across my face.
No matter what I do now I know he saw us!!!
Bizy stopped by the couches, away from us. His eyes lingered on us, noticing the intimate position we were in but he chose not to ask anything about that or even change his nervous expressions.
Matthew frowned, "I'm sure I told Lily not to let anyone in."
"I know sir," He seemed to be sweating a little, "It's just," He shook his head and he looked really anxious, "You have to see it for yourself."
Just by looking at Bizy sent a shiver of dread down my spine. I had never seen him this confused. Even when Matthew was taken to jail, he handled the situation pretty calmly.
So what could cause him to react like that?
Matthew and I exchanged a glance, then looked back at Bizy.
"What is it?" The CEO demanded to know
"Chris is on TV," He gulped, "Live," He had goosebumps but listening to that made my skin stand up as well, "All the News Channels are broadcasting it."
I got up from my seat and immediately started walking towards the door. Matthew followed. But just as I crossed Bizy he held my hand, stopping me.
I paused and looked at him as Matthew stopped behind me.
"Manager?" I looked at him, "What's wrong?"
He was pale, "I don't think you should see this Clio," And that one line was all it took to get my heart to drop to the pit of my stomach.
I yanked my hand away and made a run for it.
"Clio!" Matthew and Bizy both called my name but I ran without answering them back because an ominous feeling had started to engulf me. They both came after me as I ran past the door and went to the open office where everyone had their eyes on the TV.
Nervous expressions were plastered on their faces.And when they saw me approaching they panicked, but there was nothing they could do to stop me before I made it in and my gaze went to the screen.
I froze,
My entire body just stopped when I saw what was on.
"Look," Chris had her sickle in her hands and only God knows where she got that from, "This is not my style, and I don't think I'll find any joy out of this," She slid the sickle slightly in front of the neck of her new victim, barely managing not to cut her.
My heart started drumming in my chest, so loudly, it was banging in my ears. My eyes went wide and my body trembled.
"But you see, this is that one last thing I need to do, a win I need to have because I lost the last time," There was a look of satisfaction on Chris's face while her victim was pale, looking like she'd pass out any moment.
Chris looked to the side, "The view sure is nice from the window," She felt the breeze from the open window while I shook my head in denial as she yanked the hair of her new victim, exposing her neck more clearly while she stood in the hospital room, "I wonder if the people who caught me are seeing this,"
"No," The fear in me was so immaculate the tears in my eyes came out as soon as they formed, "No, no, no,"
She had my mom,