Entangled Strings Of Fate

Chapter 14: Two Curious Souls

"Actually, I'm sorry too," Claire apologized, her tone sincere.

"I reacted too quickly in surprise, and because of that, you ended up with that scratch. Other than that, I even blamed you for coming in the room like that, where you certainly were not at fault." Guilt washed over Claire as she spoke.

"It's alright," Jane said quietly. "And maybe you were right, I was bound to get hurt like that someday. But... still, I don't get, why you react that way suddenly?" She asked, to understand her reaction.

"Ah... that was because of what my parent's had told me, and I believe you know about it too?" Claire responded.

"I know, but I want to hear what they told you," Jane insisted, her voice raised from low tone to urgent as she stepped closer to Claire.

"It's just, they told me to stay with Granny, which clearly emphasized to me that, they didn't want me to stay alone," Claire started, her brow furrowing.

"And?" Jane prompted, leaning in as if hoping to catch every word.

"Dad wanted me to keep an eye on my surroundings," Claire continued, her voice low, "And he told me to that Eric is... missing."

"He's been abducted, not missing..." Jane corrected her. While her face showed heavy expression with sorrow.

"I know..." Claire replied softly. Noticing the tears welling up in Jane's eyes on the mention of Eric's abduction, Claire inquired, "Are you alright?"

"Hey, don't worry," Claire said. "I'm sure he'll come back soon," she added, trying to reassure her, though the fear gnawed at her own heart thinking of Eric.

In a voice trembling with emotion, Jane replied, "I hope he's okay and I'm trying to assure myself with that but what I heard from your parents is really worrying me."

"What did you hear, and when?" Claire pressed, her brow furrowing with concern.

"Earlier, while I was heading to my room to get ready for the evening, I passed by the dining area and overheard your parents' conversation. They mentioned that someone they knew had abducted Eric," Jane explained, glancing at Claire as she spoke.

"Mrs. Jones had almost fainted when she heard the news," Jane continued, her voice cracking.

"She asked your father about when he found out, and then she just started crying hearing the answer. She sounded so fearful, like if they didn't find him soon, something terrible might happen... She even said this man is an enemy of your father, someone with dangerous connections in the underworld."

"Underworld? Why on earth would my dad be mixed up with someone like that, let alone have an enemy capable of something so terrible? I don't know much about my dad's past here, but I haven't heard them ever mention anything like that before. But wait the person you just mentioned, what's his name? Do you know it?" Claire asked, bewildered and desperate for clarity.

"I don't know his name. I might have found out if mom hadn't appeared out of nowhere, and to avoid being caught, I had to flee to my room," Jane replied, her voice shaky with concern.

"But why would someone go to such lengths?" Claire probed further, a sense of confusion and fear swirling in her mind.

"I can't wrap my head around it either," Jane admitted, wiping away the tears that had fallen during their conversation, her voice barely a whisper. "But now that I think and connect everyone's early morning meeting, I feel it must have been about this person."