"M-Mrs. Warner told me everything about what happened and the true intentions of Elizabeth," Alice's voice quivered as she spoke, the words falling from her lips like fragile glass.
My eyes widened as the realization hit me, so Mrs. Warner was the one who spilled the beans to Alice.
As Alice met my gaze, her vulnerability laid bare, a wave of guilt washed over me. Her tears threatened to spill over, each drop a testament to the hurt she felt.
"It's just... I feel jealous and untrustworthy," she admitted, her voice trembling with emotion. "Don't you trust me at least a bit?"
Her vulnerability pierced through me, tugging at the threads of my own guilt and remorse. I took a step closer, closing the distance between us as I swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words to ease her pain.
Tears streamed down Alice's cheeks as she spoke, her voice choked with emotion. "Sometimes I really hate you," she confessed, her words heavy with hurt and frustration.
"Why do you try to do everything by yourself? You have me by your side. Why can't you trust me?"
"Alice," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't tell you because... because I didn't want you to worry. I didn't want you to think that I was in danger all the time."
The admission hung between us, heavy and laden with unspoken truths. I watched as tears welled in Alice's eyes, her anguish mirroring my own. She wiped at her cheeks with trembling hands, her vulnerability a stark reminder of the depth of her feelings.
Her response was a sharp intake of breath, the sting of betrayal evident in her tear-streaked face.
"But that's what hurt me the most," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.
Alice's voice trembled as she spoke, her words echoing with uncertainty and pain. "I feel like... do you even love me, or is it just a lie?" she questioned, her eyes searching mine for answers.
My heart clenched at her words, the weight of her doubt heavy upon me. "Alice, I do love you from the bottom of my heart, it's just... you're so close to me, and I want to protect you. I don't want to lose you."
In that moment, as our eyes met in silent understanding, I prayed that my words would be enough to bridge the gap between us, to mend the fractures in our fragile bond.
Without hesitation, I closed the remaining distance between us, enveloping her in a tender embrace. My arms encircled her fragile form, offering solace in the midst of turmoil. I could feel the tension leave her body as she melted into my embrace, seeking refuge in the warmth of my touch.
"Alice, I'm sorry," I murmured against her hair, my voice thick with emotion. "I promise I'll never lie to you again. I'll never hide anything from you, I swear."
As I pulled away, I reached out to gently wipe away her tears, the fabric of my sleeve absorbing the remnants of her pain.
"If you want to punish me," I offered, my voice laced with sincerity, "I'll gladly accept it. But please, give me another chance."
Suddenly she swung her fist at my chest, the impact landing with a dull thud, but I didn't even flinch. It was as if her blow was nothing more than a gentle breeze against my skin.
"Um, if you want to hit me, you should hit with something hard, because..." I began, but before I could finish my sentence, she punched me again, harder this time.
I looked into her eyes, now red and swollen from crying, the anger and frustration etched across her face.
With a gentle smile playing on my lips, my hand reached out to her cheek, stroking it softly with tenderness. The touch was light, a delicate caress meant to soothe the ache in her heart.
"Give me one more chance," I pleaded, my voice soft and sincere, "and I will never betray you again."
In that moment, as our eyes met in silent understanding, as my hands reached to her chin and lifted it gently, my fingers tracing the curve of her jawline, I felt her gaze lock onto mine with a mixture of vulnerability and anticipation. Her eyes, shimmering with unspoken desires, flickered briefly to my lips as I closed my eyes, leaned in to kiss her, the air thick with anticipation.
But before our lips could meet in a tender embrace, a sudden interruption shattered the fragile bubble of intimacy. My heart lurched in my chest as a voice, sharp with disbelief and anger, cut through the silence like a knife.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
Startled, I opened my eyes, turned to my right, only to find K and Sho standing there, fury blazing in their eyes.
K's finger jabbed accusingly at me and Alice, "It's past 10 PM! We've been waiting for you since 8:30 in front of the restaurant. We called you a million times, but your phone was playing hide and seek. So, we thought, 'Let's take a leisurely stroll in the park.' And what do we find? You two, cozying up like penguins in Antarctica!"
Blushing furiously, I stumbled over my words in a rush to explain. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize... it was too late."
As K and Sho's eyes flickered between us, I took a step back. With a sheepish smile, I introduced Alice to them, relief flooding through me as they shook hands in polite greeting.
Turning back to Alice, I squeezed her hand gently, the warmth of her touch grounding me amidst the chaos. "Alice, I want you to come with me," I murmured, my voice laced with urgency. "Trust me, okay?"
Her nod was all the confirmation I needed, her grip tightening in mine as we followed K and Sho into the grand entrance of the hotel, 'Barclay Prime'. As we approached, the dim lights of the closing establishment cast long shadows across the marble floors.
Instructing the others to wait, I ventured inside the restaurant, my eyes scanning the room for the manager.
After all everything was meticulously planned by them they wanted me to find them, I suppose it would be acceptable for me to confront them directly.
A young woman met my gaze, her expression guarded as she addressed me. "I'm sorry, but the restaurant is closing now," she informed me curtly.
Ignoring her dismissal, I pressed forward, determination fueling my resolve. "I have no interest in the hotel," I insisted, my voice steady. "I would like to see Claire... Collins."
Her eyes widened in surprise, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Claire, huh? May I ask who you are?" she inquired, her tone tinged with curiosity.
"I'm Alvin Walker," I replied, meeting her gaze head-on. "I know about Vortex Vanguard Detectives, and I know who you guys are and what your deal is. I know that you're after me too, I am here cause I want to make a deal with you."
Her amusement faded, replaced by a steely resolve as she snapped her fingers, signaling for assistance. Two waiters approached, their expressions wary as they flanked me on either side.
"Quite fearless, aren't you?" she remarked, her tone tinged with a hint of admiration. "But you shouldn't have come alone."
I held her gaze unwaveringly, my resolve unshaken. "I'll be straight with you," I declared, my voice firm. "I'm not in the mood for a fight. I'll give you every piece of information I have about Elizabeth because she's my enemy too."
With an evil smirk, I added, "But if you want to choose violence, I'll gladly take you on."
Before anyone could react, a sudden touch on my shoulder sent a bolt of adrenaline coursing through me. Instinct took over, and I spun around, ready to strike, only to find myself face to face with another woman, clad in pristine white attire.
"Nice reflexes, kid," she remarked, amusement twinkling in her eyes.
Relaxing my stance, I withdrew my clenched fist as the woman spoke again. "Come with me."
But the manager hesitated, voicing her concern. "But Ma'am..."
With a reassuring smile, the woman in white silenced the manager. "It's alright, you don't have to worry."
Locking eyes with me, she continued, "Bring your friends inside."
Nodding in agreement, I ushered Alice, K and Sho into the restaurant. We followed the woman in white as she led us to a waiting elevator. Stepping inside, she pushed the buttons, and the lift descended into the depths below.
As the doors opened, revealing a hidden world beneath the surface, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief wash over me. It was like stepping into a secret hideout, a sanctuary hidden from the chaos of the world above.
The floor was immaculately clean, and people dressed in black moved with purpose, their attire hinting at their profession. It felt more like an office than anything else, yet there was an undercurrent of intensity that hung in the air.
Following the woman in white, we were directed to a room where K, Sho, and Alice were instructed to wait outside. I followed the woman inside, taking a seat across from her at a desk as she settled in front of me.
"You must be the DCS (Detective Chief Superintendent), I guess," I ventured, breaking the silence that hung between us.
"You are correct, my friend," she confirmed with a nod. "So, tell me, what deal did you want to make with us? I'm surprised that you found out about us and came all the way here."
I leaned back in my chair, studying her carefully before speaking. "I'll tell you everything about Elizabeth, and in return I want you to check up on Alice," I stated plainly.
Her eyebrow arched in curiosity. "I understand why you want to share information about Elizabeth, but what makes you trust us?" she inquired, her tone probing.
With a smirk, I leaned forward, my gaze unwavering. "I could ask you the same question," I countered. "What made you... trust me the most?"
Confusion flickered across her features before she composed herself, her expression turning guarded. "I don't understand what you mean," she admitted.
Chuckling softly, I shook my head. "After all, aren't you the one behind this? You wanted me here, right?"
A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, and she let out a soft giggle. "So, you've figured it out, huh?" she replied, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Meeting her gaze head-on, I spoke with conviction. "I'm not the kind of person who falls for this kind of deception, so, let's keep this simple and straight. You could've sent professional detectives after me, but you didn't. You sent Claire after me because she's goofy, irresponsible, and unprofessional. You knew that I would find this place on my own using her somehow. I still don't know who planned all of this, but I guess it's you. You wanted me here, and now I'm here. I am just glad that we are on the same page here."
"Good job," the DCS acknowledged, her tone tinged with a hint of admiration. "Looks like I underestimated you. Well, anyway, what would you like in return?"
I glanced down, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders at her acknowledgment. "I would like you to check up on Alice. You must have doctors here, right? Anyone with some medical knowledge," I replied softly.
The DCS nodded in understanding. "Is that all! Yeah, we have one. I'll call the doctor to take her for a check-up," she assured me.
"Thank you so much," I murmured gratefully.
As the DCS made the call, I started pouring out every detail about Elizabeth and my situation. We discussed our plans for a few minutes, strategizing and formulating a plan to confront Elizabeth the following day. A sense of urgency hung in the air as we exchanged crucial information, each word spoken with a weighty significance.
Finally, as our discussion drew to a close, I thanked her sincerely for her help. Rising from my seat, I made my way out of her office, my thoughts swirling with the gravity of our impending confrontation.
Outside, K and Sho were engrossed in their own world, goofing around like carefree children. I joined them, taking a seat beside them and waiting anxiously for Alice to return with the doctor.
After what felt like an eternity, Alice finally emerged, accompanied by the doctor. Rising to my feet, I stood before them, my heart pounding in anticipation.
"Well, I checked her," the doctor began, his expression serious. "And I'll be honest with you... the thing is."