The Mystery of a traveller.

Chapter 11

Joshua's POV:

Have you ever felt empty? Not sad, not depressed, no pain, not anything. Just empty. As if you weren't even a living being. As if there was no emotion left in you. As if you felt nothing. That's how I felt after Steph left or maybe I should say after I intentionally pierced a bullet through her chest. I simply stare at the carpet with her blood stain and my heart aches to remember the incident of that night.

Only if I hadn't asked her the question about my disappearance, only if she hadn't told me the truth then maybe, I could go back to the modern era and think of it as unrequited love or something. The saddest thing about betrayal is, it never come from your enemies. I don't miss Stephanie, I miss the thought of what we were. I miss the memories of us but I still hate her. I don't sleep at night anymore and not because of the nightmares but because it hurts to know that if I wake up at midnight, my cherry won't be there to hold me in her arms and humming me back to sleep or that the first thing I see after I open my eyes in the morning won't be her angelic face with a raspy morning wish. How can I begin again? How can I try to love someone new, someone who isn't you?

I've always been curious about what would happen in the present timeline because no one here knows who Stephanie is. According to the people here, she never existed. It was me all along. I am the ruthless, cruel, and fearless person, not Steph. I want to know how she is living there because I am here undergoing the suffering of my doing. Karma it is. I now understand Stephanie and why she was the way she was. It wasn't her fault. After all, circumstances had shaped her that way.

It's kinda worse when you had them in the first place and loved them with all of you, but they were never truly yours.

Present day: - (Authors POV)

17th October
Greece
2024

It's easy to mistake true hatred for true love. They both leave you in agony; trading your last breath to someone undeserving of your attention.

Everyone was stunned after hearing the events that the lady had just shared with them. "Jeez, you are such a bitch. How can you treat Joshua like that?" Noah said while shaking his head in disappointment. "It was unintended" Steph blurted out, "Ohh please, it sounded like a master plan." Noah spat bitterly. "It wasnt my fault he believed me and he also violated the rules. Why are you blaming everything on me, Moron?" she said, raising her voice a little.

"Can you two fucking shut up, and Miss Stephanie go treat your wound, we need to bring Josh back" Ryan said standing up and passing the first aid to Steph. "He isn't coming back anymore, Josh and Steph's essence and life have been exchanged, which means Joshua is stuck there and so is she, and no one remembers them as we do," one of the administrators explained. With that declared, everyone's eyes got teary, and they all realized that what's done is done. They need to get themselves together and carry on with their lives.

Four months later:-

Steph was currently living in Joshua's house. She was missing him and regretting what she had done. She was sitting across the window, holding a coffee mug. A light chuckle escaped from her mouth as she stared at the beautiful rainfall, while the good memories crossed her head. She kept her palm on her chest and listened to her racing heart. Whenever I think of you my heart starts beating at an inhumane speed, the very same heart you fired a bullet through.

I just want to tell you how much I miss you and how foolish I was to not tell you that I love you before, only if my choice of words were right that night, the outcome could be different. Only if I havent lied to you, we would be dancing again in the rain today, together. But thats what karma is, I guess. She thought while closing her eyes and her lips turned into a sad smile.

Steph and Ryan are really good friends now and they hang out a lot. Steph also shared the feelings she discerned for Josh which she couldn't apprise him and Ryan just listened to her every word and her every feeling, which showed nothing but only her unconditional and regretful love for Josh.

They used to cry together on each other's shoulders when they missed Joshua. Ryan used to share a lot with Steph too about his family, his likes and dislikes in various things like food, books, and movies, and even shared his and Joshuas childhood stories, etc. Steph often used to visit the association as she became friendly with others too, but Noah and she are like frenemies, always teasing each other.

Steph, right now, was watching some drama in the living room on the large screen television with popcorn in her hand while sitting on the couch. She was wearing a purple ribbed tank top with black shorts, and her hair was dyed in a shade of burgundy red, which looked glossy, long, and subtle.

Since she came here in the modern era, her fashion has changed drastically. She wears whatever she likes, with no restrictions from her father or anyone else, and she sleeps with only her lacy lingerie. She looks even more beautiful than she already is thanks to her beautiful painted nails, little makeup, and body-con outfits that perfectly highlight her contours. Ryan offered her to get ready and go out to some fancy restaurants or clubs, but she didn't. Whenever she exits the house, she always appears to be wearing an oversized pullover and sweatpants. She just gets dressed, approaches the mirror, and imagines what Joshua would say or do to her if he was here.

Yes, that is how much she loves Joshua. She would never consider loving another guy, touching her, or calling her in the same manner that Joshua did. No one compares him. He stands alone.

The front door suddenly blasted open, disrupting Steph's drama. Ryan stormed inside into Joshs ex-house, which is now Stephs. He looked extremely furious and was followed by Noah and Lucas as well. As the three tall, attractive men approached Steph on the couch. Noah gave her a hostile expression that vividly said, 'Imma rip your head off'. Steph struggled to breathe as Ryan suddenly clamped his fingers around her throat while staring intently into her soul. She tried to jerk his hands away, but it was futile. He tightened his hold on her the more she tried to escape.

Then, Lucas finally spoke, "You were given the fucking opportunity to start over again and live a normal life once more. But you just proved that nobody can ever rely on you. Joshua was justifiable to kill you."

"What...are.....you talking.....about?" Steph said in between her gasps. "Don't you dare attempt to play innocent. We obviously understand it's you who revealed all our information to the authorities concerning time travel." Ryan yelled in her face while slamming her on the couch harshly.

"Ahhhhh, about that. Well, I slaughtered and bilked a wealthy family, but I was unaware of the local rules. The sheriff claimed that I would be crucified. So, I informed them of your little secret, and guess what? They not only dismissed my punishment but also offered me a sizable sum of money in exchange for just showing them pictures of your capsule room. As a result, my insatiable ass acceded, but don't worry I remained silent about my identity and the location of this organization, so you guys are still secured." She responded, grinning serenely at each of the three males.

The boys nodded and glanced at each other. "Well, thanks for not saying the entire truth, and indeed sorry." Steph frowned and gave a confused look to Ryan "Sorry about wha-" and history repeats itself, and once again with an unfinished sentence, tears dropped from Ryans eyes when he sliced Stephs throat with his sharp edgy dagger, and her body drops to the floor with a fountain of warm blood oozing out from her neck.

"We couldnt let you live anymore, with your death not only your body will be buried but also your existence, meaning all the local people you ever conversed to won't remember a word you spoke to them, we are just protecting our organization because we love it just like you loved your factory. Therefore....no one will ever know about the mystery of Stephanie Wellington aka the traveler from the past."

They were the forbidden apple for each other....someone they were never supposed to have....and yet saying we are not allowed to have something only makes us want it more right!!?

_______THE END_______