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I open my eyes and see that I'm in a room decorated with glitters, hues of pink and gold, and expensive furniture.

I sit up, see the bandage on my arm, and get out of the bed I'm in, a little too fast. I clutch my head, wishing I didn't have such a bad headache. My arm feels sore too.

"Serene?"

The door opens and a woman in her late forties walks in. Her hair is in a crown braid and she wears a fitting gold dress. The glitters nearly make me blind.

"Hello, dear. I'm glad you're awake."

Her voice reminds me of someone.

"Greg brought you here and I'm glad he did. You're about to play a very important part in this game." She says, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

I look at her questioningly. "What's my role?"

She laughs an eery laugh.

"Well, you're the first piece to have been moved. And now you'll be the last. Well, the last before the final breakdown."

She stands at the window with bright pink curtains.

I look around and see a rocking chair in one corner of the room.

A knock comes at the door and a maid rushes in.

"Madam, Mr. Belle wants to you."

The woman nods and looks at me before leaving.

"I hope you can at least remember one thing." She pauses. "I wasted nine months on you. You must've gotten better at something over the years."

The door closes and my heart races.

Greg was right. He said he'd take me back.

I'm home.

***
~Valerie~

A loud beeping sound wakes us all up. Gabby fumbles with her phone, careful not to drop it on her face.

"Gabe?"

She looks at us with a wide eyed expression. She puts Gabe on speaker phone.

"She's in Lucid. Belle neighborhood. Greg Lou dropped her off today. They must've had a private jet to get there so fast." Gabe reports.

"Wait. What time is it?" I ask. I look around and Odeo shows me his phone.

2:00pm

The three of us share a look. We missed half a day of looking for her by sleeping in.

"Gabe. How long will it take if Cal takes us by jet?" Gabby asks frantically.

Odeo and I hurry up to pack everything.

"Five hours. If Carlos can get everything ready."

"It's Carlos. He'll be able to do it. Please tell him."

"You got it sis. Also, Serene still has her earpiece in. Get in range, and you can talk to her."

Gabby nods, though he can't see her, and we share a knowing look.

"We need to make a plan." I say.

Gabby nods.

"Gabe. Get in touch with Carlos. Both of you better call us within five minutes."

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