silent Cinderella

the promise

Silent Cinderella

Chapter Seven

The Promise

Silence filled the abandoned building.

The only sounds were their uneven breaths.

Selene sat on the dusty floor, hugging her knees tightly against her chest.

Her hands were trembling.

It wasn't the bullets that frightened her anymore...

It was the truth.

Everything she had believed about her father was beginning to crumble before her eyes.

William quietly walked over and sat a short distance away.

He didn't say a word.

He simply placed a bottle of water beside her.

She looked up at him.

"Thank you."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"That's the third time you've thanked me."

Despite everything...

A small smile found its way to her lips.

"Because you saved my life."

William gently shook his head.

"And I'll do it again if I have to."

He looked at her for a brief moment before turning his eyes away.

As for Selene...

Her heart began beating in a way she had never experienced before.

Daniel stood beside the broken window, watching the empty street outside.

Without turning around, he said,

"This place won't be safe for long."

William stood up.

"Where are we going?"

Daniel answered,

"There's an old house outside the city."

"No one knows about it."

Then he looked directly at William.

"But if you stay with us, everyone will start looking for you."

William answered without hesitation,

"I'm not leaving her."

Selene turned toward him in surprise.

"William..."

"You don't have to risk your life for me."

He smiled calmly.

"Ever since I saw you at the university..."

"You've faced everything alone."

"For once..."

"Let someone stand beside you."

She couldn't answer.

She lowered her head, hiding the tears filling her eyes.

On the road...

Daniel borrowed an old car from someone he trusted.

He sat behind the wheel.

Selene took the passenger seat beside the window.

William sat quietly in the back seat behind her.

Silence surrounded them.

Selene stared into the darkness beyond the glass.

Suddenly...

She felt something gently touch her hand.

She looked down.

William had placed his hand over her trembling fingers.

He didn't hold her hand tightly.

He didn't force anything.

He simply left it there.

As if silently saying...

"You're not alone anymore."

She looked into his eyes.

He said nothing.

Yet his eyes spoke more honestly than words ever could.

A few moments later...

She didn't pull her hand away.

For the first time since her father's death...

She felt safe.

Across the city...

Victoria sat inside her luxurious bedroom.

The television displayed breaking news.

"Gunfire Reported Near Florida University."

She tapped on William's photograph.

Then on Selene's.

A cold smile crossed her face.

"If mockery couldn't keep you away from him..."

"I'll find another way."

She picked up her phone.

Then dialed a private number.

"I want everything you can find about Selene Anderson."

"And I don't care what it costs."

An hour later...

The old car stopped in front of a weathered wooden house surrounded by tall trees.

Everyone stepped out.

The electricity was out.

Daniel switched on a small flashlight.

As he unlocked the front door...

Selene tripped over a broken step.

She let out a soft cry.

But she never hit the ground.

William caught her by the waist before she could fall.

Their eyes met once again.

This time...

There were no bullets.

No chase.

No screams.

Only a closeness neither of them had ever felt before.

Selene whispered so softly that it was almost impossible to hear,

"It seems you're always saving me."

For the first time...

William smiled with complete sincerity.

"I don't think I'm ever going to stop."

A blush spread across Selene's cheeks.

She quickly looked away.

But her heart...

Had already begun choosing a path she had never intended to follow.

At that very moment...

Several hundred yards away from the house...

A black vehicle slowly turned off its headlights.

A man stepped out carrying a pair of night-vision binoculars.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he noticed the light glowing through one of the windows.

He raised his radio and quietly said,

"I've found them."

End of Chapter Seven.