𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄

𝐎𝐍𝐄

𝐀 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐗

I awoke groggily. My head’s pounding and my surroundings are unfamiliar.

Blinking against the harsh light streaming through the window, I realized I was lying on a bed that wasn’t mine.

Confusion flooded my mind as I glanced around, my eyes settling on the back of a stranger facing away from me.

Fear and discomfort gnawed at my core.

How did I end up here? What happened last night?

Questions raced through my mind but before I could muster the courage to investigate further, a surge of urgency propelled me into action.

I needed to leave, to escape the uneasy grip of the unknown.

Quietly slipping out of the room, I stepped into an unfamiliar hallway. The remnants of a blurry night flashed intermittently in my memory, taunting me with fragmented images, and incomplete sequences.

How did I even get to this place? The man in the bed seemed as mysterious as my own presence there.

As I made my way through the unfamiliar surroundings, the external world mirrored my inner turmoil.

The hallway seemed labyrinthine, its twists and turns mocking my desperate need for answers.

My heart pounded with each step, a mixture of anxiety and curiosity pushing me forward.

Outside, the air was sharp and cool against my skin, a welcome contrast to the stifling uncertainty inside the house.

I took a moment to breathe, to ground myself in the reality that lay beyond the confines of that unsettling room.

But even with the respite of fresh air, the mystery of the previous night continued to tug my thoughts.

Determined to unravel the enigma surrounding my unexpected encounter, I began my search for clues. I retraced my steps, piecing together hazy recollections, and snippets of conversation.

Each fragment brought me closer to understanding what had transpired, yet the full picture remained tantalizingly out of reach.

With each new revelation, I found myself wrestling with conflicting emotions. I felt anger towards myself for allowing such a situation to unfold, but also a glimmer of sympathy for the man I left behind.

Who was he? Was he just as bewildered by the night’s events as I was?

—

“Mr. Montgomery’s requesting your presence today.”

“No.”

“Sir, Mr. Montgomery said it is urgent, therefore, your presence is very much needed.”

A knock on the door interrupted him. It was Roux, his brother.

“Roux, you can go.”

“What? I just came in.”