Cracks in the Mask
623 Words
The hospital corridor was quiet when Maya walked out of Sophie's room. The fluorescent lights above cast long pale reflections across the polished floor, but Maya barely noticed them. Her mind was spinning with anger, disbelief, and something even worse-unease.
Lucas followed behind her. "Maya, wait."
She stopped abruptly and turned to him. "You accepted her terms."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut like glass.
Lucas rubbed the bridge of his nose, exhausted. "You heard what she said. She would have destroyed you."
"And you think she won't know?" Maya snapped.
Lucas stepped closer. "At least now she doesn't have a reason to."
Maya laughed bitterly. "You don't understand Sophie at all."
Her eyes burned with certainty. "She doesn't want peace. She wants control."
Lucas didn't respond. Because deep down, he knew Maya was right.
Inside the hospital room, Sophie sat alone, The door had barely closed when her entire expression changed. The weak, grieving woman vanished. Her lips slowly curled into a triumphant smile. "They fell for it."
She whispered the words to herself. Her fingers traced the hospital blanket as if she were savouring the moment.
Everything had gone exactly how she planned Lucas was trapped. Maya was cornered And Layrus-her greatest weapon-was still the centre of everything.
But the smile didn't last long. A strange restlessness began creeping into her chest Her eyes darted around the room. She grabbed the pillow beside her and threw it across the room It hit the wall and fell to the floor.
"Stupid!" she muttered.
Her breathing grew heavier.
She swung her legs off the bed and stood up, ignoring the nurse's earlier instructions to rest. Her reflection stared back at her from the dark hospital window. For a moment, she didn't recognise herself, Her hair was messy, her eyes were swollen.
Her lips trembled. "They think they've won."
Her voice shook with anger.
"Maya Bennett thinks she can walk into my life and take everything from me." Her nails dug into the window frame.
"She took Lucas." Her breath quickened.
"She took the Thoreau family's affection."
Her voice cracked. "And now she has the heir."
The word made something inside her snap. Suddenly Sophie grabbed the water jug from the bedside table and hurled it across the room. It shattered loudly, Water splashed across the floor.
A nurse outside the room jumped at the noise. Inside, Sophie started pacing like a caged animal.
"No."
She shook her head violently.
"No, no, no."
Her breathing became frantic.
She grabbed the metal tray on the table and flung it to the ground. The loud crash echoed through the room.
"I will not lose to her!" Her voice rose into a scream.
A nurse rushed in. "Mrs Thoreau, please calm down-"
"Get out!" Sophie screamed so loudly that the nurse froze.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she pointed at the door.
"Everyone keeps telling me to calm down!"
Her laugh was hysterical. "I just lost my baby!"
The nurse looked terrified. "But Mrs Thoreau-"
Sophie suddenly grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it against the wall.
The sound echoed violently. "I SAID GET OUT!"
The nurse ran out immediately. The moment the door slammed shut, Sophie's body collapsed back onto the bed.
Her breathing was ragged.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
But slowly... A smile crept back onto her face, because despite the chaos... She was still winning. Lucas was bound to her now And Maya? Soon the whole world would see her exactly the way Sophie wanted them to.
Sophie picked up her phone from the bed.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Then she began typing. Another move in the game, because Sophie Thompson wasn't finished yet, not even close.
- Writer
