Shadows of power and secrets

Mela's pov

"Uhm.... you're welcome. Anyway, bye." I said reeling from the shock of this peculiar guy thanking me. As I continue on my way suddenly struck me that Mira had asked me to get his name.

"Hey, wait up!" I called out, turning back toward him. "What's your name? I never got to ask."

"My name is Erald." He replied , his deep, cold voice resonating with an unsettling chill that seemed to penetrate me, much like every other time I'd encountered him.

"There we go again." My inner voice sighed.

"Alright then, bye, Erald." I said quickly, hastening my steps. It was already past 4 PM, and Mira would be waiting. And as if thinking of her summoned her, there she stood before me, staring at me with an angry face.

"Oh no." I groaned internally.

"Oh yes." Mira retorted with a scowl.

"Mela, what time did you agree to pick me up? It's already 4:40 PM now!"

"I'm sorry, Mira. I bumped into Mr. Weirdo and–"

"Wait, what? You saw him?" She interrupted, her face lighting up with unmistakable excitement.

"Yes, I did. And the worst part? I either bumped into him, or he bumped into me." I said, my irritation apparent.

"Come on Mela! Why are you acting like that? That guy is literally the most hottest and handsome man I've ever seen. And here you are, trying to paint him in a bad light. Anyway, did you get his name, or did you forget as usual?" She teased, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I did get it." I say rolling my eyes.

"Well, spill it!" She demanded impatiently.

"His name is Erald... I think." I replied hesitantly.

"Well I did." I said rolling my eyes.

"Then c'mon, spit it out." She said sounding impatient.

"His name is Erald, I think." I said not so sure about the name.

"Hells, you're such a dummy, just few minutes ago. Are you serious ? How could you forget his name within minutes?" My inner voice, commented.

"You're insane." I snapped, annoyed at it's mockery. it's not like his important to me or anything. Why would I etch his name into my memory?"

"Wait. Erald what? Do you know his last name?" She asked, her tone suddenly serious, her expression incredulous.

"I don't know. Why does it matter? What's with the look?" I asked puzzled.

"Mela, don't tell me the name Erald doesn't ring any bells for you in your peanut brain."

"I don't have a peanut brain." I retorted defensively. "And no, it doesn't ring any bells. Care to explain?"

"The name Erald Valentino Balecentra, is practically legendary in campus," Mira began excitedly. "People say Erald is the son of Valentino Balecentra, the billionaire behind Balecentra's Group of Companies. His empire spans the globe, but there are rumors, big ones. The say Valentino is a Mafia king with operations stretching far beyond the United States. His son Erald is allegedly the heir to both the empire and the underworld legacy. Some students and people claim he's a cold blooded killer. Of course, it's all speculation, but it's thrilling to think about."

"Well, I hope he isn't that Erald." Mira added with a grin. "But even if he is, it's fine, people can't harm those they love right?"

Her words lingered in my mind, triggering an unsettling thought.

'People can't harm those they love.'

Does that mean Arnold Fernandez never loved me? Is that why he did what he did?

"Of course , he didn't." My inner voice chimed in with certainity. "If he had, he wouldn't have betrayed you."

Tears threatened to escape the dark place I'd lock them away, but u quickly composed myself to avoid Mira's probing questions.

"Let's go. We can talk about this another time. I need to pack my stuffs." I said, forcing a calm tone despite the heaviness in my chest.

"Do you think Ira might be right?" My inner voice pressed.

"Right about what?"

"About Erald. Maybe that's why you always feel that electrifying chill around him." The voice sounded concern.

"I don't know." I admitted. And isn't it possible that there are other people named Erald?" I asked the voice.

"True." The voice conceded.

"Exactly." I replied, brushing the thought aside.

Few minutes later

I arrived at the mansion with Ira. "Ira stay in the car, I'll get my things quickly. No need for you to come in okay? I'll be out before you know it." I said to her and she nodded. I can't afford having Ira go inside, and then start having a long conversation with mom and grandma making her stay for long. Which means I'll come in contact with him.

No, no, no!

"Hey." I called one of the guards.

"Yes ma'am." He answered.

"Is your boss back from his trip?"

"No ma'am, he isn't."

"Okay then." I replied.

Walking inside, I sighted mom and grandma in the living room.

"Mela, where have you been?" Mom asked concerned.

"I was in school mom. I told you I was going to school when we met in the hospital."

"Yeah, right. Why did you switch off your phone?"

"I didn't switch it off. I guess the battery's flat. Uhh.... mom I'm going to Ira's place to stay for a couple of days there, in case you don't see me get back home on time." I informed to mom.

"Wait, why do you want to go there all of a sudden?" Grandma asked with a questioning look.

"Are you okay?" Mom added sounding concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just need some space that's all." I said coldly.

"Okay, make sure you take care of yourself." Mom said, with a sad tone.

"Yes, I will. How's Riddi by the way? is she fine now?" I asked earthly concerned.

"She's much better now, she's asleep."

"Okay that's really great, let me go pack my things because Mira's waiting for me outside and i need to be quick or else she might scold me for staying too long." I said as I made my move to go upstairs.

I ran upstairs to my room to get my things. I parked everything I needed in my bag, and headed back to go downstairs. But when I got to the stairs I felt as if I am being watched by some one, I turned to check but never saw anyone. By the way who would want to come into the mansion to spy on me, if not them wishing for their death.

"That's funny, with all the guards outside, no one would be able to break in." My inner voice said.

"Oh yeah." I said rechecking and after being sure everything is good I continued walking and then got to where mom and grandma are sitting.

"Okay mom, I'll be going now bye, mom."

"Okay baby, take care of yourself and give my regards to Salvador, okay?"

"Yes mom, I will. Bye grandma."

"Bye, my baby." Grandma said smiling.

I walked out of the mansion and then saw Mira standing outside the car, she was resting her back on the door frame of the car.

"C'mon let's leave." I said to her in a haste because I don't want to see that man's face again. It's already enough that am seeing his face in my endless nightmares.

"Okay, why did you stay for so long?"

"Sorry, I had to get my necessary belongings." I replied.

"It's okay, by the way you guys got some new guards huh? They're handsome and hot but not as hot as Erald." She said with a mischievous grin.

"You're crazy Ira." I said laughing.

"You're just saying nonsense" I added.

"Whatever." She replied laughing also.

As we got into the car, I felt yet again as if I am being watched by someone, I guess this just in my head

"Yeah it is." My inner voice said.

I just sighed and ignored the feeling, then I drove off.

Caryl's pov

"Good day boss." I greeted nervously, standing before the imposing figure clad in a sleek black suit. His blonde, slightly curled hair framed his steely gray eyes, which brimmed with fury, though his expression remained eerily calm.

"Caryl Valentino Balencentra, welcome." He said with a sinister grin that sent chills down my spin.

"I.... I'm sorry, boss. I couldn't retrieve the documents." I stammered as my body trembled.

Before I could process what was happening, a sharp pain exploded in my head. Darkness consumed me as the whole world fell silent.

"Take him to the torture room." His voice commanded, icy and resolute.

Pain seized me, and I couldn't move. My body betrayed me, paralyzed, and my lips refused to utter a single word of protest.

*****

I felt a freezing cold water splashed on me. I opened my eyes, blurry but I saw boss standing right in front of me, with Albrian one of boss hit men.

I noticed my wrist are aching, almost numb. My hands are also up, i decided to check why my hand's are up and I saw my hand's tied to the ceiling. I felt my mouth is being closed, I couldn't talk, it's being stuffed with a cloth, I guess and it's supported by a tape to avoid the cloth from falling off my mouth.

I couldn't even make an audible noise.

"You need to torture him, in a way that everyone would be scared of not completing a task, I assigned to them." Boss said with a cold smile but, I could see how dark his heart is, not just his heart even his soul. It reflected through his eyes. His grey eyes grew darker than they usually are.

I wanted to beg for my life but there is no way I could. Because my entire whole being betrayed our existence.

I saw an unknown man walking towards us, he kept his black bags on a table and he brought out some wires. He came close to me and he raised his hands up and put those wires on both side of my fore head. Panic raised in my guts, what are they trying to do to me?

It was then I realized that they are going to give me an electric shock torture. They are going to electrocute me.

No, no, no!! He can't do this to me after everything I did for him, he can't treat me this way. How could he do this to me when I gave up everything for him? How did I even get myself involved with this man, just how?

This unknown man, who is now being called Lian by boss.

He said something to Lian which I couldn't grab but that isn't really my concern right now. How do I get out of this place, how do I get out of this mess I have put myself in to just how?

Lian took two black handles from a black bag and placed them on each side of my head before I could process everything he switched on the switch and I felt my body being subjected to chronic pain. I couldn't even shout, the pain's tingling all over my body. Making it difficult to move any limb of mine. He switched off the switch. I thought it's all over, I opened my eyes and saw boss smiling. Then I felt same feelings again, I became numb and everything became dark.

*****

I woke up feeling weak and numb, why do I feel so weak?

Memories came rushing back to me. I turned in search of everyone but saw no one there, everywhere is dark, I'm feeling suffocated. I then realized I had already been untied from the ceiling because my hands are now by my side, but my body feels so sore that I can't raise.

I have to do something to leave this place as soon as possible.

I can't even move a muscle, but I have to try so I could leave this place as fast as possible. I got up from where they laid me or I guess threw me because if he could electrocute a healthy human just because he couldn't accomplished a task then he could do anything.

Why the hell am I even surprised, his a fucking mafia boss with no heart attached to him, with no emotions shown to anyone, except for selfish reasons. I guess, am just surprised because he did what he did to me, after everything I'd risked for him, which he never considered.

C'mon Caryl, you need to stop thinking about this fucking shit that happened, you need to leave here now.

I stood up placing my hands on the wall and I began to use the wall as my support, so I wouldn't fall to the ground.

I got to a metal door and it was so cold that I got hurt when I touched it. What the hell did they do to this door?

No matter what I need to leave here, but the door is locked from the outside. I tried to unlock it, but I just couldn't then I heard foot steps, I had to quickly go back to where I was kept.

The guards came in and they were just two because I heard just two different voice, since they are just two I could easily take them down.

I left my eyelids half opened and half closed so they guards would think am still unconscious and I would be able to see them.

One of the guards came close to me to check if I am still unconscious. He is holding a torch even though I'm still feeling a bit weak but I had to do this or else I would end up dying in this place.

I stretched my hands to the guards face and I held his face and got up from where i was kept. He tried shouting to inform the other guard standing at the door. But I can't let him announce to the others, I turned to his back with my hands still on his face and then I turned his head hearing the satisfying crack of his neck, which assured me that his neck has just been broken.

I quickly undress the guard and wore his dress then took his torch and headed to the second guard. I went behind him and he is standing at the door I made him believe that it's his partner coming he wanted turning to say something, I took the opportunity to twist his head just like the first one.

I wore the mask of one of the guards and I left there locking the door to that room. I tried to avoid any guard at the building because I had no more strength to fight. I followed the secret path that was made for escaping in case something had gone wrong and luckily i knew about, that secret path leads to the woods.

I hurriedly left immediately I reached the secret path, I am going to go straight to Miranda's apartment. And then I would decide what I'm going to do to boss, no, not boss Arnoldo Fernandez. He is surely going to pay for what he had done to me and I would make sure of that. Since he never cared about what I did for him in the past then why should I. Am surely going to pay you back Arnoldo Fernandez.