The Hidden Knife

CHAPTER 14 - BREATHTAKING

I'm becoming ready. Ready to meet her. She said she had something too important for me to tell. I don't know what. But I'm excited for it. I don't know where she wanted me to meet her. It's one hour before the scheduled time. I'm wearing a black suit with black boots. I'm wearing a gold watch. I had a cold shower before in order to keep my mind calm and neat. As always. I put on a strong cologne so that the odor can vibrate the surroundings. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It's a cue to my meeting. I pick it up and check it out.

The location. The location Rhea had sent. But there's something strange. She wants to meet me at the warehouse. Alright. Maybe she had found something pertaining to it. I don't know. Or maybe she just wants to spend some time with me. Wait. She's typing something. I can see those regular three dots blinking. My fingers are shaking a bit. I wonder if everything's okay. If she is alright or not. Yes. The message pops up. It reads, 'Wait for me alone,' it reads. Maybe she wants to discuss something private.

I sink back into my chair and wait for the arms of the clock to pass by and by. As the minutes tick by, my mind races with all the possibilities of what she could want to discuss. Is she going to tell me some shocking news? Is she going to confess her feelings for me? I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Finally, I hear the sound of some footsteps approaching. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for whatever conversation is about to unfold. Someone is outside the door. I can see it on the camera. Oh! It's Vivek, the manager. What the heck is he doing right now? Just spoils my mood.

I press the button on my left to signal him to come in. I can see him entering the room. He was looking somewhat aimlessly at the room. I asked him what's the matter. He tries to come up with an answer. I'm feeling a bit disgusted. What is he doing right now? I have definitely told him earlier about my absence at night, but still he has the audacity to invade my sanctuary without telling me the cause.

'Sir, your assistant Ethan has gone missing,' he says.

'What!!".

'Yes, sir, I'm afraid it is true'.

'Just go and find him without wasting my time!!' I shout. He lefts.

I clench my fist and drop it with a thud on my desk. I can't believe Ethan would just disappear like this. He was supposed to be my most trusted assistant. I can feel anger boiling inside me at his irresponsibility. I need to find out where he went and what happened to him. This is not how things are supposed to be. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down before making a plan to track down Ethan and figure out what happened to him.

I close my eyes and think of him. His whereabouts. I had called lieutenant to inform him to look after Ethan. If he's trying to escape and betray me, I won't spare him. He would be begging in front of my knees for his life. But time isn't stopping. I look at the time. I need to go to the warehouse. Quick. I'm running out of time. I take my gun in my pocket in case I need it. Just the instinct of something. Maybe killing Ethan.

I'm on my path to the warehouse. This area is usually darker than the rest. This time there are no soldiers here. All of them had gone to the other side looking for Ethan. Lieutenant called me a few minutes back. He told me that Ethan had disappeared, leaving no trace. According to the reports, Ethan was last seen on the countryside. The destruction area.

The air is cold here. My torch is making my way towards my destination. There is literally no one here. I wonder why Rhea wanted me to come here. This place is nothing special. Not gonna lie. I can hear only my footsteps against the floor. It makes a nice rhythm though. I can't help but feel a sense of unease as I walk through the deserted countryside, following the path that Ethan supposedly took. The destruction around me is eerie—the remnants of a battle long gone. I can't shake the feeling that something is watching me, lurking in the shadows. But I push on, determined to find Ethan and uncover the mystery of his disappearance. As I continue forward, the cold air sends shivers down my spine and I quicken my pace, eager to reach my destination and hopefully find some answers.

I'm standing right in front of the warehouse. I'm wearing my normal boots. The area is fine today. Not moist. I had gotten reports from my men earlier. My influences. I rotate my head as much as I can and see those forested areas and those tall buildings in the distance. Rhea has definitely chosen a special location. I wonder why. I'm excited too. My heart is throbbing with the thought of it. On the other hand, my fingers are shivering from the cold.

Suddenly, I see footsteps. No. It's a shadow approaching from the distance. I blink my eyes. Oh, that cannot be Rhea. No. That's not her. As soon as I give my eyes a blink, the shadow is gone.

'Vikram?' I can hear a voice say. I turn around.

That's Rhea. Goodness. She's looking so fine. I like her black dress, which perfectly matches me.

I hand her the bouquet of flowers I'm holding. I give it to her. Her lips burst into an emotion of smile and happiness.

'Thankss'.

'You are looking great, Rhea'.

'Ah!!' she blushes.

'I think I'm falling in love with you'.

She stays quiet. She doesn't say anything.

She takes her lips close to my ears.

And whispers.