Chapter 16
1128 Words
Chapter 16
The crowd was thickening, and a shiver of unease ran down my spine. It was that same feeling I'd had the other day - like someone was watching over me, their gaze a cold weight on my back. "Oh, for goodness sake, Elise, stop scaring yourself!" I muttered under my breath, trying to shake off the feeling. Allen, a whirlwind of giggles and boundless energy, was a welcome antidote to the creeping dread.His laughter rings out, joining the joyous chorus of children as they race around the towering Christmas tree.
"Look who it is!" My cousin Eliot's voice boomed, his grin wide as he bounced Jude on his hip. Marie stood beside him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Mommy, carry!" Jude squealed, his chubby arms reaching for me.
"Here comes the little man," I cooed, scooping him up and nuzzling his cheek. "Such a handsome, spiky hairstyle!"
"My hair!" he chirped, puffing out his chest.
Laughter bubbled up inside me, momentarily eclipsing the unease. But a knot tightened in my stomach as I scanned the crowd. Allen was gone. Panic flared, hot and sharp.
"Where's Allen?" Marie's voice was tight with worry.
My blood ran cold. "He was just here," I stammered, my heart pounding against my ribs. We searched frantically, each passing second a hammer blow against my rising terror.
"He's just running around the giant Christmas tree with some other kids," I said, my eyes scanning the crowd. I carried Jude towards the little girl who had been playing with Allen. "Hey, sweetie, did you see where that little boy went?" I asked, pointing towards the spot where Allen had been just moments before.
“Haan ko ammo manang,”. she answered. (“I don’t know, ate,”)
“Did you see Allen?” he asked the other child, her heart racing with worry.
“No,” the child responded, shaking his head vigorously.
Another child said, "I saw him with the balloon vendor," and my heart sank at those words.
At that moment, a cold sweat broke out on my skin, panic flooding my senses. I immediately began to scan the area, my eyes darting around in desperate search of anyone selling balloons. What if something happened? Where could he be? The thought gripped me with fear, urging me to act quickly.
"I'm so sorry, sorry I wasn't careful enough," I choked out, tears welling in my eyes.
"Don't blame yourself, Elise," Eliot said calmly, though I could sense his worry beneath his composed facade. "Let me take Jude."
Suddenly, a young voice cut through the tension. "GUYS LOOK WHAT I'VE GOT!!! Daddy mayor bought it for me!!!"
We all turned towards the source of the voice.Allen, beaming, clutched a trio of balloons, Mayor Agapito looming behind him. Relief washed over me, so potent it almost buckled my knees. But the mayor’s gaze, burning into me, ignited a different kind of heat. It was intense, unsettling, and strangely exhilarating.
"Can I borrow Elise for a moment?" he asked Eliot, his voice smooth as silk.
Borrow? The word grated on my nerves. I shot Eliot a pleading look, but he simply nodded. The mayor’s hand brushed mine, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. Before I could protest, his arm was around my waist, pulling me close. My feet left the ground as he lifted me, his strength undeniable.
He carried me through the municipal building, the world a blur of hallways and staircases. We stopped before a door marked "Mayor's Office." He set me down, his touch lingering for a fraction of a second too long.
"Wait here," he commanded, disappearing through another door.
I scanned the room, taking in the four corners of his office. "What a typical man's office," I muttered. The office was a study in contrasts, a blend of power and impersonality. The dominant color scheme was a stark monochrome, black and white, creating a sense of both authority and coldness. The glass walls offered a panoramic view of the town, but heavy tinting obscured the details, creating a sense of detachment from the bustling life below. The heart of the room was a massive L-shaped desk of polished black wood, its surface gleaming under recessed lighting. Behind it, a high-backed executive chair, also in black leather, exuded an aura of command. A locked, four-drawer metal filing cabinet stood sentinel beside the desk, hinting at secrets held within. Atop the desk, a sleek, modern computer monitor sat next to a meticulously organized vertical file organizer, its contents neatly labeled and arranged. In contrast to the stark functionality of the work area, a plush leather sofa and armchairs occupied a corner of the room, creating a designated space for visitors. A tall bookshelf, filled with leather-bound volumes, lined one wall, projecting an image of intellectualism, though the titles remained unread, their spines uncracked. Large, ornate portraits of former mayors adorned the remaining wall, their names and years of service etched in gold plaques beneath, a silent testament to the office's history. My grandfather's portrait hung amongst them, followed by Lolo Agustin and his son, Tito Armando. But my forehead furrowed when I realized a portrait was missing. His portrait was nowhere to be seen. I then looked at his desk, and to my surprise, there was no desk nameplate. My confusion deepened.
"Who are you really?" I thought to myself. I decided that I wouldn't let this night pass without uncovering his true identity.
Suddenly, I felt an urgent need to use the restroom. I systematically checked each door in the office, starting with the large door, but it was locked. I then moved to the opposite wall, where there were two doors. I turned the handle of the door next door he had entered, and luckily, it opened, revealing a spacious and clean men's restroom.
When I stepped out of the restroom, still he was nowhere to be found. Even though I hesitated to knock on the door he'd entered, I decided to knock , but there was no answer. With a deep breath,
I pushed it open, and a wave of light washed over me. It led to a private terrace overlooking the plaza, a table set for two bathed in the flickering glow of a dying candle. But it wasn't him sitting there. It was Joanne.
"Hi, Miss Elise," she said, rising gracefully. "I'm glad you're here. Please have a seat."
I froze, my mind reeling. Where is he? Why I couldn't find even his shadow? What was Joanne doing here? A sense of foreboding settled over me, heavy and suffocating. This night was rapidly spiraling into something far more complicated than I could have ever imagined.
HAPPY READING ♥️
_ tagaIloCosNak
- Writer
