alkalimsoo

Celine never imagined that an ordinary life could become a distant dream. Fleeing from a shadowy past that left scars on her soul, she finds herself tangled in a web of deceit, sacrifice, and a desperate quest for freedom. 

When Cleo, her fiercely loyal and quick-witted best friend, staged an elaborate deception at the hospital—feigning paralysis to mislead their pursuers—Celine realized how far they would have to go to protect her twin daughters, Katherine and Catherine. The escape was swift and perilous, culminating in their arrival at Glenavare, a secluded town surrounded by dense woods. But safety came at a cost. 

Cleo’s calculated risk created the illusion that they had been left behind, allowing them to vanish into a quiet life. While Cleo healed from her staged injuries, she played the role of the vigilant protector, her mind always working to secure their fragile peace. Celine, once a disciplined army trainee, adapted to a simple life, pouring all her love into her daughters. Together, they tried to build a semblance of normalcy.

Years later, the twins thrive in Glenavare, their laughter filling the cobblestone streets and their innocence untouched by the secrets their family hides. But the weight of the past presses heavily on both Celine and Cleo. Whispers of unresolved threats and lingering danger haunt their quiet moments, reminding them that their sanctuary is not guaranteed forever.

Cleo and Celine’s bond is tested as they navigate the delicate balance between normalcy and vigilance. Cleo wrestles with her lingering guilt over her harsh methods, knowing every calculated move was for their survival. Celine, on the other hand, struggles to reconcile her instincts to shield her daughters with the harsh reality that they might always live in fear. 

As secrets begin to unravel and old enemies stir, Celine and Cleo realize that their carefully built refuge might not be as impenetrable as they thought. They are forced to confront their own pasts.

Beneath The Warmth of Deceit

The world felt quieter in the dead of night, but it was a deceptive kind of silence. A stillness that hummed with the possibility of unseen eyes and unheard whispers. 


Celine adjusted her grip on the wheel, her fingers aching from the tension of the last few hours. The truck hummed beneath her, steady despite the worn road stretching ahead. Cleo was beside her in the truck the power bike careful tucked at the back of the truck now, silent, her gaze fixed on the dark expanse outside the windshield. They had left the chaos of the farmer’s market behind, but the echoes of it still clung to them—the adrenaline, the sharp tang of blood, the phantom sensation of eyes tracking their every move. 


A soft vibration from Celine’s pocket pulled her back into the moment. She fished out her phone, the screen casting a dim glow across her face. A single message from Catherine. 


Celine exhaled, pressing her lips together before typing back. 


Chapter 26: Echoes Of Survival II