Silent Eyes

30, Beyond the Facade

She desperately wanted to believe him, to take his words at face value and find happiness. However, as each day passed, Monica found it increasingly difficult to trust Andreas. He had reverted to his old habits, and her curiosity gnawed at her from within. The turning point came when she was doing their laundry and stumbled upon Andreas' second phone. Remembering the password she had used before, Monica attempted to log in using her birthday, only to be met with rejection, leaving her staring at a dark screen. Sensing Andreas approaching the room, she hastily dropped the phone, feigning ignorance. She watched as Andreas noticed it, swiftly swiping it away and concealing it in his pocket.

He was keeping a secret from her.

As was customary, Monica crawled into bed, and Andreas joined her, extinguishing the lights. He pecked her cheek, and silence enveloped the room. However, after an hour or two, Monica detected the careful movements of the man as he gingerly slipped out of bed. Fully alert, she patiently waited for him to dress, put on his shoes, and stealthily exit through the door. Only then did Monica sit up, her gaze fixated on the spot where he had stood moments ago. She was determined to uncover the truth.

While Andreas departed, sliding into his car, Monica observed through the window. Eventually, his vehicle drove off, prompting her to hastily descend the stairs, clutching her own car keys. She raced outside, swiftly entering her car, and commenced tailing Andreas from a safe distance. Her heart pounded within her chest, and her mind raced in every direction.

Andreas drove for some time before eventually halting outside a grand hotel. Monica parked inconspicuously, her eyes intently following his movements as he exited the car and entered the hotel. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turned white. A man who sneaks off to a hotel late at night must be seeing another woman. Monica clenched her teeth, alighting from her car in a fit of anger. Disregarding the incoming vehicle, which screeched to a halt, she fixated her gaze on Andreas, who was making his way towards an elevator.

Breathing heavily, Monica approached the receptionist, her voice demanding, "Do you happen to know which room that man will be staying in?" The woman blinked, taken aback and visibly uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm not authorized to disclose that information." Monica pounded her fists against the counter, moving closer and glaring at the receptionist. "He's my husband, and I need to know if he's cheating on me!" She expected the woman to empathize and offer assistance, but instead, she sighed helplessly. "I'm sorry, but my job prohibits me from-" Before she could finish, Monica pushed past her.

Determined, she now made her way towards the elevator, her chest burning with anger. "Fine, I'll find out for myself." The receptionist hurriedly tried to intervene, but it was too late. The elevator doors had already opened, and Monica stepped inside, pressing a button forcefully. Uncertain of the exact floor Andreas occupied, her intuition guided her towards the fourth floor.

The atmosphere inside the elevator was tense, and the silence was broken only by the laughter of a couple who joined her. However, the sight of Monica's enraged expression and palpable hostility swiftly silenced them, creating an uncomfortable silence. As the elevator came to a halt, Monica stormed out, taking a sharp turn. Her eyes darted from one room to another, desperately searching for any clue as to which room Andreas might be in. In her haste, Monica collided with a person unexpectedly.

It was an elderly janitor who stood in Monica's path, his observant eyes catching sight of her red face. Concerned, he gently inquired, "Ma'am, are you okay?" Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Monica calmly responded, "I apologize for that collision. By the way, I'm looking for my husband. He's a tall man with dark hair and bright blue eyes. Have you happened to see him?" The janitor paused, holding onto his mop as he pondered, while impatience coursed through Monica's veins. Finally, his face brightened, and he beamed, "Oh, yes! You're on the wrong floor, ma'am. He went to the sixth floor. I believe he headed down the left hallway, but I don't know which room."

Sighing with relief and expressing her gratitude, Monica spun around and swiftly disappeared down the hallway. She returned to the elevator, traveled two floors up, and maneuvered past a group of people. As she walked along the hallway, her anger intensified, and she muttered under her breath about the consequences she would impose if Andreas was truly cheating. Then, as she glanced over, she spotted Andreas engaged in conversation with two men.

Monica quickly retreated behind a corner to observe him closely, her brows furrowing as she strained to catch snippets of their mysterious discussion. The men chuckled, slapping each other on the back, and eventually, Andreas slipped into a room. Doubts flooded Monica's mind. Could they really be congratulating him on his infidelity? Her eyes began to well up with tears, and without thinking, she broke away from her hiding spot, approaching the men. However, before she could utter a word, a deafening gunshot echoed through the air!

Instantly, Monica dropped to a crouch as people screamed in panic. Alarms blared, and onlookers peered out of their rooms to ascertain the cause of the commotion. As one of the men near the door turned, Monica seized the opportunity to slip away, her back pressed against the wall. She swallowed hard, attempting to comprehend the unfolding chaos, but her thoughts remained jumbled. Peeking cautiously, she sought to witness further events.

A wounded man emerged, clutching his chest as he staggered towards the floor. Gradually, Andreas followed, holding a gun with an unwavering gaze. Without hesitation, he shot the man, causing blood to spatter across the scene. Shocked bystanders gasped in disbelief.

But the horrors did not end there. Next, a group of armed men burst out of the room, brandishing their weapons and aiming at innocent civilians. They yanked hair, forcibly threw people to the ground, and more gunshots reverberated through the air. Fear gripped Monica, forcing her to hunker down. Finally mustering her strength, she scrambled away. No longer consumed by anger, her wide eyes mirrored sheer terror!

She burst back into the elevator, descending to the first floor. As the doors opened, she collided with the receptionist, who attempted to engage her in conversation. Trembling uncontrollably, Monica pushed the woman away, racing outside to her car. She slipped inside and slammed the door shut, her hands shaking as she struggled to insert the keys into the ignition. Without glancing back at the hotel, which had become a battleground resonating with the sound of gunfire, Monica drove away, consumed by fear and unable to comprehend the unfolding chaos.

As Monica drove away, a haunting question plagued her mind: Who was the man she had married? The person she had once known, with his infectious smile, playful demeanor, and piercing blue eyes, seemed to have vanished completely. Instead, what Monica had witnessed was a monstrous entity, devoid of emotions, silently committing heinous acts. A shiver raced down her spine, and her blood turned icy cold. She couldn't deny the truth any longer-she was carrying the child of a murderer.

Overwhelmed by agony, Monica crumpled against the steering wheel, her body convulsing with uncontrollable sobs. Her anguished wails shattered the air, a testament to the torment raging within her. The idea of returning home, retreating to the false comfort of her bed, pretending she hadn't witnessed Andreas commit murder before her eyes, was unbearable. The knowledge that a killer roamed freely in her midst left her paralyzed with helplessness. In Greece, a place she had hoped would bring happiness, Monica felt utterly lost for the first time. Seeking solace, she parked outside a park and succumbed to her tears, drowning in sorrow and suffocating in despair.

What now?