In the quiet hours of the night, Haruka sat in her room, her mind fixated on how to contact her family. As the moon cast a pale glow through the window, she thought of the risks. But the longing to hear their voices and ease their worries was overwhelming. She knew she had to find a way.
Haruka carefully crept out of her room, her steps light and quiet. She tip-toed through the hallway, avoiding any loose floorboards that might creak under her weight. The villa was asleep, and the only sound that echoed through the halls was her own, soft breathing. The She moved through the dimly lit corridors, avoiding the guards stationed at strategic points and making her way towards the part of the villa where she suspected she might find a way to make a secret communication with her family.
As she navigated the labyrinth of passageways, Haruka finally reached a part of the villa that she had never been before. She stopped in front of a dusty door, hesitating for a moment. The risk to get caught, was high. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the doorknob, hoping to find the means to contact her family inside.
Haruka slowly pushed the door open, its hinges creaking just slightly. The room she found herself in was small and dimly lit. The air was thick with the smell of dust and mold. She tip-toed into the room, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The faint light that crept through the window revealed old furniture and stacks of dusty books. The only source of light was a flickering oil lamp on a table in the corner.
With no time to waste, Haruka began to rummage through the room, searching for any item that could help her with her mission. She examined the books on the shelves, one by one, looking for any hidden message or anything that could help her. As she looked around, she stumbled upon an old desk tucked in the corner. Her pulse quickened as she opened its drawers, hoping to find something useful.
In the drawers of the old desk, Haruka found a collection of old stationary and envelopes. Her heart raced in anticipation as she picked up a piece of paper and a quill. Maybe there was still a chance that she could write a quick message to her family. She sat down on a dusty chair and took a deep breath. The paper in front of her seemed to have seen better days, but it would have to do. She dipped the quill in ink and began to write, trying her best to disguise her handwriting.
As Haruka continues to write her secret message to her family, she suddenly freezes as the sound of approaching footsteps reaches her ears. Her heart skips a beat as she looks up from the paper, listening intently to the sounds outside the room. The footsteps grow louder and more distinct, and her mind races with fear of being discovered.
As the footsteps get closer, Haruka holds her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she thinks the worst, the doorknob turns slowly, and the door creaks open. Standing in the doorway is none other than Akira, her expression stoic but with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
As the door creaked open, revealing a stern-faced Akira, Haruka jumped to her feet, her hand instinctively covering the piece of paper on the desk. "Akira!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her fear and surprise. Akira's eyes scanned the room and landed on Haruka, her expression remaining neutral. She took a step into the room, closing the door behind her, and crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you doing in here?"
"I-I was just...looking around..." Haruka stuttered, trying to come up with a believable explanation. Akira arched an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to the piece of paper on the desk beneath Haruka's hand. "Really?" she drawled, her tone skeptical. "And what's that in your hand then?"
Haruka followed Akira's gaze to the piece of paper in her hand and swallowed hard. She knew that she had been caught in a lie. "It-it's just a... drawing..." she muttered, trying to hide the shakiness in her voice. Akira's expression darkened as she took a step closer, her eyes fixed on the paper. "A drawing, huh?" she said, her tone skeptical. "Let me see it."
Haruka hesitated for a moment, her hand still clutched around the paper. Reluctantly, she slowly extended her arm, revealing the piece of paper to Akira. As Akira took the paper from her, their fingers brushed for a brief moment, sending a shiver down Haruka's spine. Akira looked down at the paper, her eyes scanning the contents of the letter that Haruka had been writing to her family.
Akira's expression grew more intense as she read the contents of the letter. Every line written on the paper made her features grow more stern. After a few moments, Akira looked up from the letter and back at Haruka, her eyes cold. "So this was your plan," she said, her voice flat. "To contact your family...behind my back."
Haruka's heart sank as she saw the disappointment in Akira's eyes. Her plan had been discovered, and she had nowhere to hide. "I...I just wanted to let them know that I'm okay..." she muttered feebly. Akira's gaze hardened further. "By lying to me and risking everything you've gained here?" she snapped. "Do you not realize the potential danger you've put yourself in by doing this?" Akira asked, her voice rising.
"Communication outside of the villa is strictly forbidden. You've risked not only your own safety but also the secrecy of our plans." Despite her stern words, Akira's eyes softened slightly as she looked at Haruka. She could understand Haruka's longing to contact her family and reassure them of her well-being. However, the safety of the both of them was the most important for Akira.
"We won't discuss this further, you anyway doesn't understand." Akira said gruffly, her tone commanding. "But for now, you're going straight back to your room." With a quick maneuver, Akira reached out and snatched the paper from Haruka's hand. She then took Haruka gently but firmly by the elbow and started guiding her towards her room.
Haruka silently followed as Akira led her out of the room and down the dimly lit hallway. The only sound was the creaking of the old planks under their feet. Reaching Haruka's room, Akira opened the door and gently pushed her inside.
"You'll stay in here until tomorrow morning," she said firmly. "And if you even think about trying something like this again, the consequences will be dire."
With those words, Akira closed the door, leaving Haruka alone in her room. She turned and walked down the hall towards her own room. Once she was alone in her room, Akira leaned against the closed door and closed her eyes, her mind replaying the scene with Haruka. She knew the girl was homesick and wanted to contact her family, but the risks were too great. The plans that were in motion couldn't risk being compromised.
She crossed the room, her mind still reeling from the encounter with Haruka. As she reached her desk, she carefully placed the paper on its surface and sat down in her chair. As she looked at the paper, a strange sense of guilt mixed with determination washed over her. She knew that Haruka needed to be able to contact her family, but the risks were too great to just allow it openly. So Akira came up with a plan.
Sitting at her desk, Akira looked at the paper for a moment, a small glint in her eyes. She knew what she had to do. With a firm grip, she picked up the paper and held it over a candle, the flame illuminating her serious expression. As the paper caught fire, she watched it burn, a mix of determination and guilt in her gaze. She knew that what she was about to do was risky, but it was the only way to allow Haruka to contact her family while keeping things under control.
YOU ARE READING
☦︎︎ ℋ𝒶𝓊𝓃𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒰𝓃𝓈𝓅ℴ𝓀ℯ𝓃 ℒℴ𝓃𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ☦︎︎
Mystery / ThrillerAkira and Haruka have been friends online for years, in the beginning it was quite peaceful, both supported and stood by each other. Akira partly educated Haruka and showed her through her experiences that some things are better not to try. But from...
