Entangled Strings Of Fate

Chapter 11: Game Begins

Eric looked at Bryce with a hint of skepticism. "You think it's this simple?"

Bryce replied, softly, "Yes, it is. Girls like it. Have you forgotten? With all that, you just need to show genuine interest, and everything else will work out itself."

Taking a moment, Eric replied, "Okay, I'll do it," feeling a touch of newfound confidence, he gulped down the last of his drink.

Right then, Eric's phone lit up with a new message. Which he saw while placing the empty glass back on the counter. He picked his phone up and felt shocked, he murmured, "Why is she texting me?"

After some hesitation, he opened the chat, which simply read, "Hey."

"What do you need Amelia?" he inquired.

Seconds later, she replied, "Your help. Can you come over?"

Aware of her persistent nature, he replied, "Don't think, I can, but if you really need help, just tell me over the phone."

After a brief pause, another message appeared, "Actually, I really need some urgent money to pay off my debts. My house is at risk of being auctioned, and there's another matter I can't explain over text. That's why I'm asking you to come. Can you?" she implored, giving him a brief overview of the situation.

Initially reluctant, he thought, "There's no harm in hearing her out. If her story seems genuine, I can simply help her."

"Who are you messaging?" Bryce inquired, finishing his drink.

"It's Amelia," Eric responded.

"What! are you serious? What does she want now? But wait, has she been in touch with you after all that?" Feeling surprised, Bryce questioned.

"No, she's not. This is the first time she reached out since our breakup last year. She just wants to meet and talk," Eric explained.

"What does she have to talk about. Look mate I think you should probably steer clear of her. She was quite intense and fixated on you," Bryce advised.

"Don't worry about her. I know what I'm doing," Eric said and stood up from his seat.

"It's time I should head out, or else Jane and Claire are going to kill me if I'm slightly late," Eric said, walking toward the door.

"Okay, I'll catch up at the party then," Bryce said, while Eric passed a smile to him and headed out.

While waiting for the valet to bring his car around, Eric took out his phone and quickly messaged Amelia, "I'll come, but I'm short on time, so please be brief."

Soon the valet arrived with his car. After thanking the valet with a generous tip, Eric opened the car door, settled into the driver's seat, and closed the door behind him, when she messaged back, "Okay."

Glancing at the notification, he quickly ignited the engine, and stepped on the accelerator, driving off smoothly towards Amelia's place.

Under the brilliant afternoon sun, which hung high in the blue sky, Eric navigated the streets and arrived at Amelia's residence in less than an hour.

The harsh, golden beams of afternoon sunlight forced him to squint as he parked his sleek convertible along the gravel drive.

Stepping out, he breathed in the fragrant scent of blooming flowers. Taking a moment, he carefully swept his fingers through his slightly windswept hair before heading ahead.

With determined strides, he made his way up the neatly paved walkway, taking deep breaths. Closing before the sturdy door, he gives himself an approving nod to ring the bell but before he could, he noticed the unlocked door, which surprised him.

"Did she keep it open knowingly," he wondered.

Casually calling out Amelia's name, he stepped inside and was met with chaos—furniture upturned, and items scattered across the wooden floor.

The sight stuck him with shock and anxiousness. Getting concerned for her, he searched every room, but every room was in complete disarray.

His anxiety grew even more, upon not finding her anywhere, but he still continued his search, he eventually heard a faint voice coming from the most distant room beyond from where he stood.

He hurried towards it only to find Amelia in a devastating state. Her hands and feet were bound, her mouth was covered with tape, and she was surrounded by two men. Tears streamed down her face.

As Eric took in the sight before him, his heart raced. His instincts urged him to step back and avoid doing anything heroic at that moment. He hesitated and took a few steps back, but as he did, they noticed someone's presence and turned to face Eric, whose face went completely pale.

Stumbling backward, he spotted a candle stand lying near the cabinet. Grabbing it firmly, he looked at the men and then at Amelia, swallowing hard.

Amelia saw Eric and attempted to confront him directly about something he couldn't comprehend.

In the process, Eric was suddenly struck on the back of his head by a hard object, causing him to fall to his knees. The candlestick he had been holding also slipped from his grasp and landed a few steps away as he collapsed.

A tall, muscular man walked behind him, holding the gun he had used to strike Eric.

Two other men immediately held him down. One was thin but fit, while the other was even more muscular than the one who had hit Eric.

With one hand clutching his spinning head, Eric tried to free himself from their grip, but they held him firmly, which didn't let him twitch an inch.

The man who had hit him injected him with a substance that made him dizzy. As the drug took effect, he stopped struggling to escape and instead fought to keep his consciousness from slipping away. However, when he saw one of the thugs untie Amelia, he was utterly astonished.

There she was, finally in her fit. Her expression changed, and her face lit up with a smirk.

Taking steps closer to Eric, she leaned down, scoffing, and said, "This serves you right, moron." Her word echoed in his mind as darkness consumed him.