CHAPTER 51

~Silence is the best treatment for a toxic mouth~

~Mina

SERAPHINA'S POV

I closed my eyes, ready for impact, but felt nothing. I reopened them, and just like that, the bigfoot was nowhere to be seen.

"Phina! Phina! where are you?!" Asher's voice reverberated off the walls.

They rushed into my room and Severina staggered back upon seeing my state.

"Where's he?" Asher roared, hastily searching the room.

I weakly pointed towards the opened window. The guy must've escaped when he heard their footsteps.

"Damn it!" Nathan cursed.

"Sera, oh my God! I'm so sorry." Maya sobbed.

Asher rushed to my side and carried me in his arms. We descended the stairs to the living room where I was made to lay on the couch.

"Maya, bring the first aid kit."

"On it."

Except for voices, I couldn't make out anything else. My head was the current location of fogs and clouds.

"I think we should take her to the hospital. The cut is pretty deep and she's losing a lot of blood." Aisha's concerned voice filled in.

"No! no one is going to any hospital ever again." Asher flat-out rejected.

"She needs urgent medical attention Ash, otherwise she might die."

Lalia reasoned.

"That won't be necessary, move please." Ace stepped forward. I was struggling to see what he's doing but my fuzzy mind had other plans.

"Give me the antiseptic, Leila. The gash has to be cleaned and stitched."

What?! He has something else coming if he thinks a needle will so much as grace my skin, let alone pierce it.

"Christ! I said antiseptic, Leila, not bandage." Ace exasperated. Series of chuckles followed his remark.

I felt a cold substance on my right forearm before a burning sensation took over, making me wince.

"Careful, Ace."

"No pain, no gain, Ballerina."

"Stop calling me that." Severina snapped.

"Sorry, Ballerina." He provoked, not sounding the least bit sincere.

I felt a slight pinch, and yelped, turning around to see what it was as my vision slowly adjusted, but Maya forced me on my side.

"Don't look." She mumbled. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. Was she crying?

"There, all done." I faced Ace, who had on gloves and a curved surgical needle in hand. My eyes widened and I immediately perked up.

"You're not touching me with that." I croaked.

"I already did."

"What..what do you mean?" He gestured towards my forearm with his eyes.

I looked down and sucked in a sharp breath, cringing at the now stitched gash in disgust.

"Hey, you okay?" Maya breathed out, feeling my forehead.

"Yeah." I gave her a small unconvincing smile beacause I was still in pain.

"I'm so sorry, Dora. Shouldn't have left you alone." Severina sniffed, pulling me into a hug. I groaned at the stupid nickname, but still returned her hug anyway. It's not like they'll ever forget the name.

"Dora?" Kabia raised a questioning brow. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm officially fucked. If Kabia knows this, life's over for me.

"Asher, the damage." God knows I don't give a flying fuck about the wrecked mansion. I was only trying to escape Kabia's prying eyes.

"I'm gonna pretend like that's not you trying to change the topic."  Except Kabia's faster than I gave him credit for. If it were Leila, I would've been like Phew!

"Let's forget that. I wanna know what transpired here." Asher sighed, sitting on the coffee table.

"I came from counselling, took a shower and while I was dressing up, heard the doorbell going off. As I neared, the ringing escalated and I thought maybe it was you and Severina trying to piss me off. I opened the door and was met with emptiness, there I was convinced it was you guys because we used t...

"To play hide and seek back in the beach house at Miami." Severina completed.

"Exactly. Right then, I heard another noise in the kitchen the instant I locked the door. Nothing could be spotted in the kitchen as well except when I started for the stairs. That's when I encountered with this gigantic human or beast, whatever. From there, it was running around the house until I succeeded in escaping to my room, albeit, after he slashed me with a knife."

I could feel every second of the horrific encounter. It gets ten times more traumatic being narrated. If I don't get diagnosed with PTSD, then it's miraculous.

Asher sighed and frustratingly ran a hand through his hair. The living room was cocooned in sabbatical calm after my narrative.

"I called Enrique, but Mark said he was with coach at some Quarterback international conference shit. " Maya informed, breaking the deep stillness.

"Yeah, it's for the upcoming national football tournament. " Nathan nodded.

I don't know if they were trying to make me feel better, but in case it's the latter, I hope they don't bother. I'll appreciate it if Enrique doesn't know about this. Otherwise, believe me, it would be a death sentence for the perpetrator.

Everyone knows Italians and revenge. I rest my case.

"We need to do something. This is getting out of control. We almost lost one of us again." Lalia voiced out in both fear and concern.

"And that's why I need Maya and Seraphina to tell us everything they know." Asher demanded, piercing my soul with those scrutinizing orbs.

I inhaled and cleared my throat, looking at Maya, who slightly nodded with a tight-lipped smile.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything. "

UNKNOWN POV

"I can't believe you fucking missed. You of all agents, Q!"

"Look, they got alerted earlier than expected and had I proceeded with the killing, I wouldn't have had enough time to clean my tracks. That's damnation for all of us."

"You could've used the fucking quick sulphuric acid cleansing method!"

"And you think I fucking know that!"

"Where was your fucking damned mind!"

"Enough J! it's not like you haven't failed missions too!"

"Don't you fucking dare turn the tables on me, or so help me God I'll slit you in fucking half"!

"What are you waiting for then!"

No, he didn't just challenge my skills.

"Guys, enough. I know you're both my leaders, and  I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to chill out."

"He threw away a clear shot! possibly the only chance we'll ever get!"

"It's okay, we'll have a lot m...

"But nothing like that one. It was a direct shot R. Like a hen giving you a knife to freely cut her throat. Damn it!"

I was so infuriated, and I'm afraid either Q or R won't see daylight tomorrow. I just need an anger outlet right now.

My chest heaved up and down as I pondered on my next moves. Not having the time for a mental debate, I reached for my comfort zone ticket, tucked in my waistband.

"Q?"

"What!" He snapped. Wrong move.

"Rest in fucking peace."

SERAPHINA'S POV

We've been sitting in eerie silence for over twenty minutes after Maya and I finished recounting our horror story. I was beginning to get disturbed, as my patience was hanging on a knife's edge, unlike Maya, who appeared rather calmed and composed.

"Guys, say something please." I pleaded.

"Dead cats, bloodied notes and travelling flower fingers? that's a first." Malu hyperventilated, dramatically fanning herself.

"Cat got my tongue." Aisha murmured.

"You didn't bother informing anyone after all these happened?" Asher accused in a dangerously low tone, sending chills down my spine.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Maya was quick to jump in defence.

"Of course, we wanted to inform the authorities but decided against it after measuring the pros and cons."

"I definitely don't agree with the authority thingy." Caleb shook his head, and the rest nodded in agreement. Finally some sense.

"Y'all need to know that we can't handle this situation on our own. We have to involve the FBI's."

"That's not the best idea, Lu. If we make the mistake of contacting the FBI's, the law will be involved, and don't even get me started on all the shit that will follow post that." Severina protested.

"I wonder what this psycho wants." Bia sighed, tiredly rubbing her eyes. Sleep must be calling. It's late after all.

"I don't know about you, but I don't trust Zara at all. The girl is capable of doing anything." Nathan sneered.

At the mention of her Friend's name, Aisha visibly tensed. We understand your feelings, Aisha, but I only hope you know the kind of person you're dealing with.

"We can't conclude anything about her, because there's no solid evidence." Severina reasoned. All hate aside, I do agree with my twin because no matter how much of a snake Zara might be, she doesn't deserve to be judged and accused of a crime we're yet to fetch evidence from.

"Nobody's blaming her, Severina. I personally think her behaviour's kinda off-track the last few weeks before the party." Maya uttered.

"And the way her face changed when Seraphina was hooked off the cheating scandal. Something about her doesn't sit well with me." Bia chimed in.

"So, now that we've got a suspect. What's the next step?" Ace asked.

"Stalk her, what else?" Aisha filled in, surprising everyone.

"Are you sure about this?" I doubted.

She shrugged and nodded, although a bit hesitantly.

"I don't play with justice."

"It's so wrong to invade somebody's privacy, but since it's a dead-end here, I'm in." Severina sighed.

My phone suddenly vibrated, interrupting the conversation.

"Hello,"

"Seraphina! I want you to leave that house, now!"

"Dad?"

"Yes. I know what happened and I don't think it's safe there, anymore." How the hell did he know that?

"How did y...

" Stop with the unnecessary questions and pack your stuff. David will meet you at the airport's underground parking lot."

"But we h...

I couldn't complete my sentence for the line went dead. How dare he hang up on me?

"Dad said we should leave. " I informed, tossing my phone to the side.

"To where?" Asher exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Dunno. He said to hurry, and David that will be waiting at the airport's underground parking lot. We better hit the road then."

"No Sera, wait. Are you sure that's uncle Grayson?"

I rolled my eyes at Maya and frowned.

"Are you implying that I don't know my own father?" What an insult.

"No, but you do know that uncle Grayson never hangs up on anyone right?" Now that makes sense.

"Check the caller's number and location. Your phone is an auto location detector right?"

I didn't need to be told twice.

"Yeah." I opened my phone to the call log and tapped on the caller's details.

"It's a land phone number, and the current location is in Minnesota."

"Okay. Now, call your dad with his personal number and ask him where they are." What's she trying to prove?

I pushed all doubts to the side and dialed dad's number.

"Hello." His gruff voice came after the first ring.

"Hey dad, is Sera. I wanted to know where you guys are, and how mom's doing." I put on my best neutral voice.

"She's progressing so far, and we're in Florida." He tiredly responded. It must be late out there.

"Okay, then. You take care. We love you both, bye."

"Love you too, honey." He yawned.

"So?" Everyone let out in unison, expectantly starting at me.

"They are in Florida."