The abyss

"Let crashed at my home," Camellia suggested after spending some time thinking. Right now, she was thinking of going back home as soon as she can.

"What say you?" she looked sideways at Lenny who clearly hadn't moved on from the fantasy she was having.

"Lenny Fu!" she yelled, startling the woman whose fingers were tapping on the steering.

"What??" Lenny patted her chest as she tried to soothe the shock she was experiencing. Then, a grin emerged on her face as soon as her eyes caught sight of Camellia's beautiful face.

"What's wrong with you?" Camellia was curious. She had seen her submerged into a wonderland before but not as weird and distracted as this moment.

"Try to read my mind," Lenny proposed and crossed her arms.

"No, not when you're acting weird," Camellia decline as soon as she can. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Lenny who seemed to be sulking at the rejection.

"Well, I'm thinking that everything that had happened between you and Charlie was kind of hinting towards something. Maybe, he is the one?" Lenny once again grinned, flashing her white teeth.

"Sigh. You better drive me home," Camellia leaned against the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. Then, she closed her eyes totally ignoring the excitement in Lenny's face.

"Camellia, I know that you have an important mission in your life but falling in love isn't wrong. Or are you waiting for Zen to return? You haven't heard from him for 13 years. He probably can't remember who you're anymore," Lenny could only complain as she started driving the car out of the basement to the main road.

Camellia slowly opened her eyes when she heard Lenny mentioned Zen.

"It isn't his mistake that we lost contact," she said in a low voice.

Lenny could taste the regret and longing in her voice. She knew how important that person was to Camellia. Even though their moments together were short, the impact it had on Camellia was deep. He might be the main reason why the woman so stuck up to enjoy the fun of falling in love.

In fact, she had never seen her living like any normal woman. She was reserved and rarely showed her face outside except for work.

"Camey, you're powerful now. Isn't it time to give back what was done to you in the past?" Lenny swallowed her saliva, knowing that she had started a conversation that capable of switching on Camellia's cold and ruthless side.

"Not yet. The pieces of evidence are insufficient to ruin them," she heard her explained. Unexpectedly, she was calm, a contrast to what she predicted earlier.

"Hmm, it seemed that we've reached my place. Are you coming over?" Camellia asked while looking lazily at Lenny.

"The lazy tone of yours isn't that convincing," Lenny pouted as she parked her car outside Camellia's house. In a glimpse, she managed to catch her sticking out her tongue, obviously, she was jeering at her. Somehow, it looked hilarious that it force a laughter out of her.

That was when the phone she kept on the small pocket of her seat rang. The upbeat romantic song made Lenny's eyes brightened as she reached for the phone. That ringtone was one that she specifically set up for someone special to her.

"He calls me? That's super rare!" Lenny exclaimed.

"Aren't you going to pick that up? What if he hangs up?" Camellia said nonchalantly, ignoring Lenny's excitement.

Without saying anything, Lenny picked up the call and her overjoyed voice greeted the man who was calling. From what Camellia could make sense of their conversation, Ian definitely was calling because of work. She was convinced after seeing the sour look on Lenny's face after the phone call.

"So not romantic!" She snorted. Then, she stared at Camellia with a guilty look.

"Camey, I'm sorry. I can't accompany you to meet Charlie. Ian is rushing me home for WORK!" she highlighted the last word using her high pitch. Her happy face earlier had turned a shade darker if not paler for she felt that she had been wrong.

"You know you should make your intention clear. Teach him how to be romantic and so on," Camellia chuckled at her own advice but immediately became serious at the time Lenny stared at her.

"Actually he is romantic but, I don't know, I just wish he is one all the time," Lenny let out a long sigh before she spoke again. "Alright, I think it's time for me to go and teach him some moves. Sorry for missing out tonight," she freed herself from the seatbelt and went to hug Camellia who obviously was shocked by her action.

"Okey, okay, you octopus! Let me go," Camellia struggled to free herself. Lenny laughed as she noticed her body stiffen from a simple hug and a faint blush could be seen on her cheek.

'Ugh, I can't wait to see him being hug by a man!' she thought excitedly as she released her from the embrace.

Camellia immediately slipped out from the car once she was released from Lenny's embrace. "See you around!" she didn't delay on the goodbye and walked towards the front door. She could hear Lenny's car honk and a trail of laughter behind.

"Let me know the details! See you soon!" the voice echoed from afar.

Camellia turned around to see Lenny's blue car drove away, leaving her yard. There was a tiny smile on her face followed by a light laugh.

Once Lenny's car was completely out of sight, she took some time observing the place she was living in. The yard was too big in comparison to the house that was situated in the middle. However, the landscape was enough to captivate someone's eyes for the intricate details valued a lot more than an expensive apartment one could buy in the city.

This was her sanctuary! A place she had slowly developed from the moment she earned her first money.

Satisfied with what she saw, Camellia finally walked inside and straight away went to her bedroom. She stripped off all her clothes and walked naked to the bathroom.

After taking a bath, Camellia stood at the balcony and sniffed on the fresh air. A moment later, she was seen walking towards her study room. On the way, she managed a quick glance at the wall clock hanging in the living room and realized that she still had an hour and a half before the meeting with Charlie.

Knowing that she had enough time, Camellia entered the room before she went to stand in one of the octagon corners.

Using her left feet, she tapped on the floor with a specific rhythm. That was when part of the floor next to where she was standing made a sudden opening, revealing a staircase that led underground. She calmly walked to it and descended.

The moment she stepped on the fifteen steps, the gap above her made a sudden close and darkness engulfed the whole place. Camellia remained steadfast and only moved when a yellowish-light illuminated her way down.

After five minutes, Camellia finally reached a door equipped with a complicated security system. She proceeded to enter the required password and retina scanning before gaining access to the room beyond the door.

This was the other side of her. A world where she had kept hidden from Lenny. This was her underground office- where she could communicate with the people that had devoted her life to her over the past ten years.

Camellia walked towards a coffee maker and brew some coffee. While waiting, she spoke in a steady voice pronouncing letters and words with clear enunciation, "A-W-0-0-1-H-Q"

"Welcome to the Abyss, Miss Ava,"