Games Of Hearts

30. When love ends, new love begins

As we savored the Chinese takeout, I had hoped to find solace from the turmoil brewing between Mark and me. But the tension lingered, and I couldn't bring myself to confide in Eva about it. Joshua's attempt to explain things only ended in frustration, his anger directed at me. The evening was already strained when we heard the unsettling noises outside.

I froze, my chopsticks suspended mid-air, and nudged Jamie to halt as well. "What's that noise?" I whispered urgently, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of disturbance.

Jamie's brow furrowed, her voice barely audible. "I don't know... maybe a thief?"

Without hesitation, I rose from my seat and strode towards the cupboard, my heart racing with anticipation. "If it's a thief or a mouse, I'll hit him," I declared, grasping the broom handle firmly.

Jamie followed closely, her eyes locked on mine, and snatched the metal rod from the corner, brandishing it like a makeshift sword. "I've got your back," she whispered, her stance poised for action.

Together, we crept towards the source of the noise, our senses heightened, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The creaking and scraping grew louder, and I steeled myself for a confrontation.

The dimly lit room was shrouded in an air of secrecy, the only sound the soft hum of the fluorescent light outside. Eva was oblivious to the plan unfolding outside the washroom door, locked in and unaware of the mischief brewing. Jamie's voice was barely above a whisper, her words laced with a sense of solidarity. "We protect our princess."

I nodded in agreement, my voice a gentle echo of Jamie's. "True." The word hung in the air, a promise of loyalty and safeguarding. Together, we stood guard, the metal rod and broom at the ready, prepared to defend our friend from the unknown threat lurking outside. The washroom door, once a mundane barrier, had transformed into a fortress, shielding Eva from harm. I was being too over dramatic today!

Eva's muffled voice grew more urgent, her fists pounding against the washroom door in a desperate bid for freedom. "Jamie, Rue, let me out!" The words were laced with a hint of panic, but Jamie and I remained resolute, our grip on the makeshift weapons tightening.

"We aren't idiot princesses," Jamie whispered back, her voice firm and reassuring. "We've got this, Eva."

Just as Eva's protests began to subside, a sudden movement caught our attention. A dark figure emerged from the shadows, slipping through the open window like a ghost. The moonlight cast an eerie glow, illuminating the silhouette as it landed gracefully on the floor.

The figure froze, its presence seemed to fill the room. Jamie and I exchanged a tense glance, our hearts racing in unison. The metal rod and broom felt woefully inadequate against this new, unknown threat.

His face was not visible to us but his body was giant, As we charged towards the figure, our makeshift weapons at the ready, he seemed to anticipate our move. With a swift and effortless motion, he twisted our wrists, spinning us around to face away from him. His grip was like a vice, leaving us no room to escape.

Jamie and I winced in unison as he wiggled our wrists, forcing us to release our hold on the broom and metal rod. The weapons clattered to the floor, rendering us defenseless.

With a single stride, the figure reached the light switch and flicked it from dim to full, bathing the room in a harsh, unforgiving glow. The sudden brightness made us squint, momentarily disoriented.

As our eyes adjusted, we found ourselves face to face with the figure, his features now illuminated in stark detail. His towering frame loomed over us, his eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity. Joshua's rugged features came into focus, his jaw clenched in a fierce determination.