Behind Every Facade

Behind Every Facade.

Continuation

His voice trailed off, avoiding her intense gaze

Priscilla's hand reached out, gently brushing against the sweat on his forehead:

Priscilla:You're shaking. What happened in the dream?"

Paul swallowed hard, his eyes locking onto hers – fear and guilt flickering behind them ,he didn't answer..

Priscilla's embrace was tight, her voice soothing:

Priscilla:It's okay, Paul. It was just a dream.

Paul's body relaxed into her hug, but his mind recoiled in horror.

He buried his face in her hair, voice barely audible:

Paul:Do you still feel safe with me?

Priscilla's lips brushed against his cheek, her voice calm:

Priscilla:"I do, Paul."

But her eyes, barely visible in the dim light, betrayed her words -

fear and doubt flickered like a dying flame.

Paul didn't seem to notice, relief washing over him instead...

He held her tighter, whispering:

Paul:Thank God...

Paul's grip on her loosened as his breathing slowed, and he drifted off to sleep, oblivious to the fear still lingering in Priscilla's eyes.

She lay there, frozen, her mind racing with thoughts:

"What really happened in that dream...

And what is he capable of?"

Hours passed, Paul sleeping peacefully beside her...

Priscilla finally slid out of bed, her heart still pounding with unease.

A temporary calm descends on the dark scene...

Priscilla slid back into bed, her eyes adjusting to the darkness again.

She lay beside Paul, listening to his gentle snores,

her mind still racing but exhaustion winning over fear.

The night wore on, silence filling their bedroom...

Insert 05

Morning light slowly crept through the curtains. Paul was nowhere near Priscilla. Guilt couldn't let him see his wife in the morning.

Priscilla's eyes scanned the empty bedroom, her heart sinking with a familiar dread...

She threw off the covers and padded softly to the bathroom –

A note on the counter caught her eye:

"My meeting ran early. -P"

Priscilla's gaze fell upon the words, her mind racing with the lie she knew he told.

She crumpled the note in her fist.

Priscilla's eyes locked onto her reflection, and her breath caught.

The faint bruises on her neck seemed to glare back at her, a grim reminder of Paul's hands wrapped tight around her skin last night.

Her fingers tracing the discolored marks, Priscilla felt a shiver run down her spine.

The makeup he had instructed her to wear earlier was gone, washed away by morning tears she hadn't even known she cried.Priscilla poured herself a cup of coffee, her eyes drifting towards the chatter in the corner.

The two cleaners, Maria and Sophia, paused in their dusting, voices low but audible:

Maria:"I swear, Ms Davis looks worse every week,"

Sophia nodded vigorously.

Sophia:"That husband of hers... must be poisoning her soul. Still, I'd suffer silently for his money!

Maria giggled.

Maria: "Wouldn't we all? Their mansion, cars, vacations... my heart only aches for her bank account."

She cleared the air and set her coffee cup down, her eyes locking onto the cleaners with an unnerving calm.

Maria and Sophia exchanged nervous glances as Priscilla approached them.

Priscilla:You've made one thing clear," Priscilla said, her voice low and even.

Priscilla:You think my life is miserable because you see the bruises, not the chains."

The room fell silent. Maria and Sophia froze, dusting cloths suspended in mid-air.

Priscilla:"Do you want to know what's worse than the hands that mark me?"

Sophia barely whispered,

Sophia:"W-what?"

Priscilla:you being fired.

Maria and Sophia's faces turned ghostly white as they processed the two chilling words.

They exchanged terrified glances before Maria stuttered,

Maria:"S-Señora Davis, we didn't mean..."

Priscilla's expression remained icy.

Priscilla: How will pack your bags and leave my premises sound?

Their faces were pale, filled with guilt

Priscilla:just as I thought,I hope this is the last time I'm going to have this conversation with you.

They nodded vigorously in unison and quickly left.

I went to my room to refreshen up,as soon as the water flow so were my tears my mind flooding with questions,on how did we arrive here? it's not a lie,what the helpers said, was nothing but the truth..

I have tons of money but with no one to spend it with or on ,I keep losing my babies Am I not woman enough to hold a foetus? everything is just a mess but how will I go from here? Paul knows everyone in the city, even if I ran it wouldn't take him a minute to catch me...so I'm stuck.

I quickly got out of the shower,lotioned my body and wore my Nike royal blue tracksuit,tried putting my make up on and concealing my eyebrows but I wish I was able to conceal my heart.I miss my parents and the life I had before Paul now he has cut off my communication with my family so that I wouldn't have no-one besides him, Every since he became rich,he became sour and vile.He's evil, inconsiderate and always puts his business before me...I miss the sweet old Paul,but he's way to gone....

Hours passed with no Paul in sight I just told the chef to bring the food in my room but something was wrong in my spirit I could feel it. So I went out of the room to put down the plate of the food I just ate,down the passage I passed to my behold I saw James, Paul's personal body guard He always brings Samuel when something is about to happen justlike the last time were I almost got kidn*pped and killed by two men and they kept saying "if we can't get your husband,we will kill you maybe he will have remorse and empathy",thank goodness Samuel arrived on time to rescue me and when I asked Paul about this he changed the topic and apologized. I wanted to scream and yell but I couldn't, I was wondering what would happen if Samuel wasn't there what would have taken place,maybe I'd be lying on a ditch dead in a shallow place,so I greeted him and He gave a curt nod, barely acknowledging me. I passed him slowly, but my mind was racing,I thought Maybe Samuel was going tell me about Paul's whereabouts but nothing,I slowly walked the stairs hoping to hear something but it was silent you could hear a needle dropping.

Whatever was coming—I could feel it—it wasn’t just a storm. It was a hurricane

Something told me to check Paul's study maybe I will find something even heads up...as I was in my thoughts

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Unknown Number.

I froze. For a moment, I debated letting it ring out, but curiosity—or fear—got the better of me. I answered.

“Hello?”

There was heavy breathing on the other end. Then silence. Then a voice I didn’t recognize.

> “You should leave. He’s not who you think he is.

I froze.

“Who is this?”

Click.

The line went dead.

I stared at the screen in disbelief, then quickly called Paul. Straight to voicemail.

Again.

Straight to voicemail.

Who's that?what did this person mean about Paul not being the person I thought he is? I couldn't shake that feeling off.. something is not right..

Insert 06

[At the Warehouse – Midnight Approaching]

The dim light from a single overhead bulb cast long, eerie shadows across the cold concrete floor. The warehouse reeked of oil, rust, and something fouler—fear.

Paul paced the floor, his expensive shoes echoing sharply with each step. His designer suit felt too tight against his skin, or maybe it was the pressure mounting in his chest. He checked his watch.

11:47 p.m.

Paul: (snaps) “We need to get this over and done with before midnight.”

He went to the corner where the girls huddled, trembling, their wrists tied. His eyes scanned them, pausing on the youngest. Her wide, tear-filled eyes reminded him of Emily.

Emily-the girl he murdered,The one he buried in a corner of his conscience the day he chose power over peace.

A flicker of guilt surged, but he shook it off violently.

Paul: (barking to his men) “Take them. Load them into the van. Tell José the shipment is ready. These are the ‘sacrifices’ he said he wanted.”

The men nodded, stone-faced, their morals long discarded. One of them grabbed the first girl. She whimpered, stumbling forward. The others followed, eyes hollow, expressions blank with despair

Paul turned his back to them, jaw clenched.

He hated this part. But hate didn’t matter. This business — the rituals, the trafficking, the silence it bought from enemies — was what kept him untouchable.

Or so he believed.

From the shadows, a small voice whispered behind him.

Girl: “You’re going to hell.”

He turned, startled. The girl who said it was barely fifteen. Dirty, bruised, but her voice held steel.

Paul stared at her. For a moment, something cracked in his armor. A chill crawled up his spine.

Then he scoffed.

Paul: “Hell's already here, sweetheart. I just run it.”

Or so he thought...

Insert 07

Priscilla's pov

I was tossing and turning all night as I couldn't sleep my mind was worked up on what was Paul up-to as the person in a call said I'm not safe?So I went downstairs to drink some water and when I passed his office. I had an urge to enter his office and check what he was up-to myself,maybe I will get clues. So I went in his office and I stood frozen,as I'm surrounded by familiar family photos on the walls,My heart raced as I rummaged through Paul's desk drawers.

Files labeled "Erebus Island" caught my eye...

Suddenly, the door creaked open behind me,my heart skipped a bit..

"Mrs. Davis?,what are you doing here? please go back to your room. You know you're not supposed to be in here,When Mr Davis isn't here right."

I side smiled

Priscilla: I'm sorry,I needed fo look for my charger here, you know how Paul misplaces my stuff ,you're right I should be on my way now, Goodnight.(He nodded not pleased at all)

I exhaled and left,went back to my room and eventually slept..