54

Argon pressed his head against the seat, his mind in turmoil. A file lay open in front of him, displaying Leo's CV. His hand hovered in the air as he read through the document, his brows furrowing deeper with each passing moment.

'This guy—he appeared in my life out of nowhere. And the second he came, he flipped it all over. In such a short time, he has done so much—first, he appeared at a place like that, right in time to save me from an unknown attacker whose whereabouts are still a mystery. Then he turned out to be someone dear to the woman I like. And to make matters worse, he managed to cause me so much pain. Yet I haven't been able to do anything. There is something deeply uneasy about this guy. I have to find out what it is so I can crush him,' Argon thought to himself. Leo had taken over his mind from the second their paths had crossed.

"Leo—Leo—Leo!" Argon chanted, his gaze narrowing as he threw the file into his lap and turned his chair around. "Who are you? And what was your purpose in coming into my life like this? Are you an enemy or a friend? Only time will tell," he muttered, picking up his phone. The person on the other end seemed to be waiting for his call, answering after a single ring.

"Yes, boss?" came the prompt response.

"I'm sending you the profile of a guy. Find me everything you can on him. And quick," Argon ordered, his tone sharp and urgent.

"Yes!" the voice on the other end replied briskly.

Argon ended the call, his mind still racing. He stared out the window, the cityscape blurring into a haze as his thoughts spiralled. Leo's sudden appearance and the subsequent chaos had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. 

He replayed the events in his mind: the timely rescue from the mysterious attacker, the revelation of Leo's connection to the woman he desired, and the inexplicable sense of unease that accompanied Leo's presence. Each memory fed into his growing obsession, fueling his determination to uncover the truth.

Argon leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. 'I will find out who you are, Leo,' he vowed silently. "And when I do, I will make sure I get to know your plan and then i will make you regret ever appearing before me."

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock...

Magnus's ears were on the verge of bursting from the incessant ticking of the clock in the room. Ever since he had returned from his nightly activities, the sound of nearly everything around him grated on his nerves. His room was in shambles: the table lay in splinters, the pillow ripped apart with feathers strewn between shards of a broken mirror. The curtain pole hung precariously, and the curtains dangled halfway off. His breathing was labored, the relentless ticking infuriating him.

"Just shut up already!" he growled at the lifeless clock, its steady rhythm mocking his unrest. He had been lying on the plush mattress for hours, the sun having both risen and set without granting him any sleep. His chest was tight, and the silk sheets felt like needles against his skin. Empty wine bottles littered the floor, a testament to the dark thoughts consuming him.

'Where were you on the night of November 8th?' His own voice echoed in his mind, replaying the interrogation he had conducted on the golf course. The question reverberated through his skull.

"Where were you on November 8th?" he muttered under his breath, as if interrogating himself. Suddenly, a chilling breeze blew through the broken window, making the tattered curtains flutter.

"How could you forget, Young Master? How did you forget where you were?" a voice hummed in his ears, causing him to freeze. His gaze darted to the window from which the voice seemed to emanate.

"Who's there? Come out!" he demanded, standing from the bed for the first time in hours. He crouched down, picking up a wine bottle with his long fingers, wielding it as a makeshift weapon. "Show yourself!"

He growled, but only the voice answered. "You were at the port... at the dock. You were with me, Young Master." The voice echoed in the room, the temperature dropping noticeably. He was surrounded by darkness, the window at his back. 

A slender hand stroked his shoulder from behind, ice-cold. "Hah!" A sharp breath escaped Magnus's throat, and he froze. The hand traced up his neck and coiled around it like a serpent, slowly tightening. A slim figure in a white nightgown appeared before him, her frame weak and face bruised, but her dark eyes watched him intently without a hint of anger. The hand around his neck choked him.

"Tell me, Young Master, why did you come to the port that night? What were you looking for?" Liora's voice was soft, like a lullaby. "Did you miss me when I was not around?"

"No! Get away from me!" he shouted, struggling against her grip despite her frail appearance. "Why? Do you not love me? You said you loved me, didn't you? I believed you—But you lied to me, You used me" Liora's voice cracked, a tear rolling down her cheek as her grip tightened. Magnus fought against her strength, his breath growing short. Just when he felt his consciousness slipping, Liora's hand released him, and he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. "I never lied to you, Young Master. I truly and completely loved you."

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Magnus struggled to breathe, coughing harshly. Liora's hand touched his back gently, patting him. "It's alright! Just take slow and steady breaths. It's alright,I will not kill you. How could I? After all I love you." she hummed, touching his cheek with her soft hands and lifting his face. Her other hand stroked his hair between her slender fingers. 

"It's fine if you didn't miss me, Young Master. I know that you lied to me all this time, saying you loved me," she said, leaning over him. Magnus looked up at her, the girl he swore he had no feelings for, the girl he had killed with his own hands. She smiled gently, moving closer. "It's fine if you didn't love me, young Master." She leaned in, her cold breath washing over him, sending chills through his body. Her lips pressed against his softly, her hand tugging at the back of his hair as she kissed him dearly as if her lips had touched something so sacred. 

Magnus's stiff body reacted instinctively, kissing her back, him now standing on his knees, his eyes closing as he pulled her closer. HIs hand tugging onto her neck holding her as close to himself as possible. His breath was deep and warm and he felt this chest opening up. But suddenly, Liora pulled away, leaving an emptiness on his lips, her eyes now playful and cunning. "Young Master—you said you didn't love me." She giggled, causing Magnus's heart to leap in fright.

His eyes flashed open, and he found himself on his bed, breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling. Sweat covered his forehead. He turned to look at the curtains and the room, now eerily still.

"Come out! I know you're there!" he shouted like a madman, getting to his feet and pulling the curtains away. But there was no sign of the dream he just had, and the lingering sensation on his lips sent chills through his bones.