Shocker

CHIARA

It was heavy. My eyelids were too heavy to open.

I groaned as I attempted to open them. They flattered for a second and slowly gave me back my vision. I squeezed them shut before opening them again.

The first thing I did was look down at my body. I was fully clothed in my clothes. This wasn't how I remembered things were like. I couldn't feel any sort of discomfort in my privates either

.

"You're up?" My hazy gaze searched for the voice in the room before it settled on the tall figure with a warm smile. "Leo," I uttered, relief soaking my whole body. "Oh, thank you, heaven." Then they landed on Viva next, who quickly came over and leaned down to hug me on the bed.

"You just don't know how scared I was." She sniffled. I breathed out. I was safe again. "Shouldn't you be happy for me to die since I won't be able to rob your man?" I teased. She giggled, "Girl, I don't care. You can have him." She replied, pulling away and sitting down beside me.

"Ouch!" Leo uttered, offended by her words. "Leo, we both know she doesn't mean that. Stop being dramatic." I uttered, groaning as I sat up. He just shook his head. "Careful," Viva helped me by placing a pillow behind me before I pressed my back on, feeling a slight relief.

"What happened to me? I can't seem to remember a thing apart from the drowning accident," And Alex... I stared at a space as recollection of what happened surged into my mind. Where the fuck was that son of a dick?

"It was a horror movie. The way you just fell from a Jet Ski and how Melo, who was just a few minutes away from winning, ditched the game and came back for you." She said, I looked at her in disbelief.

I remembered, but I still couldn't believe it. Especially when it was narrated to me. Carmelo came back to save me? And not just that, but he even held me as I embarrassed myself in his arms.

You fool! I could bet both of my kidneys that he was going to use it against me sooner or later.

But first, I have some unfinished business with Alex. Where the hell was he? Why do none of them talk about him?

A knock came at the door, and all of our eyes were on him as he slowly walked in with a tray of food. His eyes held mine as he walked to my bed and placed the tray on the nightstand. And then went to join Viva and Leo by the couch, all three were now facing me.

"And here is our hero. Imagine how much the paparazzi would kill to get the news on their tabloids." Leo uttered, pulling Viva onto his lap, and his hands played with her long curls.

"Behold! The most eligible bachelor, prominent double-time CEO, Carmelo Conti, saves his family rival's daughter from drowning. The fierce and grumpy as fuck, but hot, Chiara Marino. Dear readers, I am thinking of the same thing you are right now. Could this be the beginning of forbidden love?" Viva said, using her body language and weird facial expressions.

"I think that was a little bit too exaggerated," Carmelo said, crossing his long leg over the other and taking out his handphone, tapping away. "I agree." I supported, glaring at her.

She snickered, "My beloved, what is Viva without exaggeration?" She said and chuckled. "Look, honey, now they are even agreeing with each other. Aren't they sweet?" she added.

Leo was just there in his world. Getting all physical with her without a care for the people around the room. They were always like this, foolish lovers, like some stupid teenagers. I envied them.

"What the hell?" Carmelo uttered, his eyes enlarged slightly as his leg dropped down. "What is it?" Viva asked, standing up and taking the phone from him. And now it was her turn to have super wide eyes as she stared at the phone.

"Isn't this... that guy?" she uttered. I frowned deeply. "What is it, hon?" Leo took the words out of my mouth. "Alex? Yeah, I think that's his name. The guy who was on the same team as Chichi, just yesterday." She said frantically.

I clenched my hands tightly. "What happened to him?" I asked.

"His body was found floating in the lake with about 20 stab wounds on it. Oh God!" She said, We all stared at her. I sprang up, almost falling with the sheets tangled around my feet. I took the phone from her and looked... his face came into view, pretty damaged. My heart slammed so hard, and my eyes must've reached the floor by now. How is this possible?

"That's so terrible. Who could've possibly killed him?" Said Leo. "Obviously someone within the cruise," said Carmelo, getting on his feet and taking the phone from my grip.

"Why did it have to happen at my party? That was such a horrible death. We can't be sure of anybody's safety anymore. I think my party was cursed. First Chichi and now that guy. This party is so over. We have to get everyone to safety," said Viva, pacing the room.

"Honey, calm down." He held her from moving, and I was grateful because my head started to ache all over again.

"I have some urgent business, see you guys in Milan," Carmelo said and left the room.

"I need to freshen up," I murmured thoughtlessly.

"Right. Okay, honey, come on. Let's go." Leo took his pale-looking woman out of the room.

I let out a deep breath and ran to my suitcase. I threw out everything and found my throwing knives right where I'd placed them, untouched. So, how? How did I kill Alex? Was I even the one who did it? And if not, who the hell killed him like that?

I cast a second glance at the knives, and that's when reality hit me. The number I counted was wrong. One of my throwing knives was missing. My pulse picked up a rate.

I sat down on a pile of clothes, recalling how the event took place. But everything wasn't how the news of his death was described.

He was about to...I sucked in a breath, and I passed out before I even witnessed what he did to me. What happened after I passed out? Something didn't add up. I got up, peeled my clothes off, and went to the toilet.

I stood under the shower head as water rained down on me.

If I couldn't recall doing it, who the hell did it? The whole thing clouded my mind and thoughts. I could be the killer. I was losing my mind from not recalling anything.

I got out a few seconds later, picked up my handphone, and did the last thing I'd ever done. Especially when my brain was not functioning correctly.

Me: I need a drink.

I hit the send button and went to find something to wear, hastily.