The Dark Society

61

Jim and Caroline eagerly awaited Luis's return, but they noticed his apprehension as he entered the room. He'd kept them wondering about Sabrina for weeks, so his faint smirk seemed peculiar.

"You saw her?" his mother demanded.

Luis nodded. "I did."

He hadn't shown much emotion lately, but after seeing Sabrina again, his feelings were unmistakable. Yet despite this renewed longing, the prospects of an intimate relationship seemed uncertain.

Caroline beamed as she reviewed photos on his phone. "She's stunning," she declared.

Luis nodded. "Just like I remembered."

Though he typically radiated happiness, Sabrina had surprised him, and due to this, his parents noticed the changes in his demeanor.

"Something wrong?" Jim asked.

Luis recalled the distinct shifts in Sabrina's personality--characteristics Karen had also exhibited during her decline. Sabrina's reaction had been more disturbing because she'd seemed withdrawn and hesitant. Still, his parents' concerns were obvious.

"Everything's fine," he claimed.

His parents remained upbeat despite Sabrina's unexpected changes--complications they hadn't anticipated or wanted.

"What are you thinking?" Luis asked.

"I always imagined you and Karen together," Caroline admitted.

Luis instinctively sulked but knew his mother was right. Caroline had believed for years that he and Karen would work things out, but times had changed, and his feelings for Sabrina were undeniable.

"That was before today, of course."

Luis smiled as Jim spoke up. "When will you see her again?"

"She's attending a church service, so sometime after that," he explained.

"Sabrina's religious?" his father asked.

"Yeah... Wiccan."

Caroline's eyes lit up. "I like her already."

Later that evening, his parents prepared for dinner, and though they'd invited Luis, he stayed behind. Unknown to them, when Sabrina left England, many lives had changed--some for the worse, others for the better.

Most importantly, she'd captured his heart again despite her unusual behavior. On another note, his life was pulling in different directions, and no matter how hard he tried to understand, he couldn't make sense of it all.

However, with Karen's illness, the ongoing police investigation, and Sabrina's secrecy, everything was reaching a breaking point, and he felt like he was suffocating. Notwithstanding that, Karen's recent actions had revealed disturbing insights into her condition, but Luis felt optimistic because he believed Sabrina was different.

He'd downplayed the seriousness of Karen's affliction, though he still felt obligated to protect her. Sadly, the illness was beyond her control and required additional treatment, yet Luis planned to follow his instincts and pursue Sabrina.