Shattered Trust. Chapter 7

Ariel's POV

Alan runs a hand through his hair, his face twisted with anxiety. Mostly to himself, he says, "This cannot be happening." "How on earth did he survive? I took care to make sure—" He pauses to see he said too much.

"What did you check Alan for?" I step in closer and ask. "What are you not telling me?"

With guilty eyes, he glances at me. "Ariel, you do not know some things. Actions I took to guard us... to guard you.

I get chills down my spine. "What was your activity?"

Alan turns away, not looking back at me. "Adam was meant to be no trouble at all now. I thought... I felt I had looked after it. But obviously, I was mistaken.

As the bits begin to fit, my heart falls. "You know he was alive right through? You knew, yet you did not tell me!

"I wasn't sure exactly," he continues, his voice begging. I considered it to be finished. We were safe, in my opinion.

" Safe? " I echo, my voice growing in rage. You refer to this as safe? Tonight, Alan, he might have murdered me. You ought to have been honest with me!

He snaps, turning back to me with desperate eyes, "I was trying to protect you." "Ariel, I wanted you not to live in terror. I wanted you to be free from daily questioning whether he was out there from staring over your shoulder.

Now I am, I say, my voice quivering with feeling. "And you misled me, which is worse. How can I count on you going forward?

He reaches for me, but I back off shaking my head. His voice breaking, "Ariel, please," he pleads. "I followed what I believed to be wise. I never intended this to come about.

I fix him, my head whirling with hurt and uncertainty. Alan has always been my rock—the one I could count on—but today I'm not sure what to believe.

Quietly stepping away from him, I remark, "I need some time to think."

"Ariel, wait."

But my heart is heavy with treachery, so I am leaving the study immediately. I have to get clear-headed to decide what to do going forward. Still, more than anything I have to keep secure. Since none of us are secure should Adam be indeed returning.

I can't get rid of the sensation of being watched as I stroll along the dark mansion hallways. Every shadow moves, every sound enhanced by my beating heart. Though I attempt to ignore the anxiety, it follows me like a stifling blanket.

My head whirling with all that has happened, I shut the door behind me and slump onto the bed when I reach my room. I felt I was at last starting to control my life and that perhaps I might find some kind of serenity. But just now everything is disintegrating.

I don't know how long I sit there peering into the darkness, but finally weariness takes over and I lie down dragging the blankets up to my chin. Close my eyes, yet sleep eludes me. All I can think of is Adam—his face, his voice, the icy clarity in his gaze. How did he make it? Really, what is he looking for?

And then Alan comes around. He has been hiding from me, hence right now I'm not sure I could trust him. But what option do I have? I have no idea the rules and I am in the thick of a deadly game.

Just as I'm about to fade off, the door knocks. Fear seizes me, my heart leaps into my throat and I sit up. By this hour, who could it be?

From the other side of the door, a whisper says, "Ariel, it's me." Alan is it?

I hesitate for a second then get up and open the door just a little bit. "What is it?" My voice is still wobbly, so inquire.

He peers at me with his intense, contradictory eyes. We ought to talk.

My guard still on, I say, "I thought we already did."

"Not everything," he says, looking over his shoulder tensely. "There is also something else." something I omitted mentioning to you.

Uncertain whether to let him in, I narrow my eyes. But I stop at his desperation in voice. I back off at last and allow him to enter the room.

Alan turns to face me then shuts the door behind him. " Ariel, I have been considering... More than just Adam returning is involved here. There are aspects of my family that I didn't want you to know.

"What do you mean"? My heart is hammering once more, I beg.

He sighs, massaging the back of his neck as though he were searching for the correct phrase. "My family has always harbored dark secrets. Things we never discuss. Adam related to those secrets, not just some arbitrary individual living in my life. And I saw it was over when he vanished. But given those secrets, I believe he is back now.

I have a cold knot developing in my gut. " What are you saying, Alan?"

"I'm saying Adam is knowledgeable about my family and stuff that could wipe out all of us. And he will employ those tools to acquire whatever it is—revenge, power, whatever.

"So, what do we do then?" I inquire, dread tumbling into my voice.

Alan approaches, his gaze focused with will. "We have to learn what he knows and stop him before he may turn it against us. But alone, Ariel, I cannot do it. I need your assistance.

I stare at him, my head whirling with options. This could be our opportunity to at last bring this dream to an end. Alternatively is it only another deception, another trap?

There's an unexpected downstairs crash before I can decide. Alan bolts to the door and opens it while we both leap. He orders, "Stay here," but I'm immediately following him, my anxiety giving way to adrenaline.

Our feet resound in the silent mansion as we dash down the stairs. We stop exactly as we get at the foyer. The front door is wide open, and a frigid breeze is sweeping trash and papers all over the floor.

But my blood runs cold for another reason. Marie is laying still on the marble floor, blood gathering around her head.

"Marie!." I run to her side and yell.

Alan kneels down to check her pulse, directly behind me. His face pallid, he glances up at me. "She's alive, but barely.

My hands shaking as I press them against the head wound, trying to stop the bleeding, I remark, "We need to get her to a hospital."

Alan nods and gets out his phone to call for assistance. But I see something caught in Marie's palm as he dials—a message crumpled. My heart thumping, I gently remove it and read the red pen words.

"You're next, Ariel."

I gasp and drop the note as though it burns me. My head whirl. Adam is doing this, definitely. He is moving and won't stop till he has what he needs