Chapter 001: One
1079 Words
Evangeline.
“This feels like a dream,” I muttered, my voice soft with emotion. “I can’t believe we’re getting married.”
My eyes shifted to the diamond ring resting on my finger. Its edges glint with the reflection of the tired afternoon sun.
A gush of strong wind hit my face and almost threw me off balance. My expression hardened. I trailed the black Rolls-Royce as it tore through the busy road. Fast and reckless.
Its tires glided roughly on the wet asphalt as it abruptly changed lanes.
Reality hit me in merciless waves when I spotted the little girl on the other side of the road. Too scared to move. Too young to dodge.
“Watch out!” I shouted.
I held my breath.
My hand remained frozen mid-air.
I tore myself free from Mason’s grasp and dashed towards her side. The incoming vehicles hooted angrily, the noise loud enough to awaken the dead. Smoke choked the street.
That was the least of my concerns.
“A-are you o-okay little one?” I hissed, my voice low like a stone dipped in water.
The girl could barely speak. She choked in her tears.
My eyes scanned around for anyone—an adult.
I ran my hands through her slightly disheveled hair and crouched next to her. “And what should I call this beautiful soul, hmmm?”
My words hang in the air like a guillotine blade.
Silence.
She was probably debating whether it was wise to speak to a stranger.
She frowned as she stared at her knees. Her hands trembled at the sight. Sure. It was a tiny scratch, but she was a child. A child who saw her life flash in front of her eyes.
Her face was pale. Her eyes were wide with panic. Her expression was gloomy, and I could tell she was bracing herself to destroy my eardrums in tears.
Panic clawed in my throat. I wouldn’t let her cry.
“Ah-ah,” I wriggled my fingers at her. My expression was tight with disapproval.
“S-Sofia,” She muttered. “My name is Sofia.” Her words trembled. Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It hurts…it really does.” She pouted. Her chest heaved up and down. Her throat was dry and raspy as she withheld her tears.
“You’re safe with me,” I assured. I reached for my bag and fished out an Elastoplast engraved with cute bunnies on it.
I held her knee and placed it on mine.
“Wanna see a magic trick?” I asked. My eyes were wide and expectant. Her lips curved into an angelic smile. She shook her head in agreement.
“Count to five,”
Sofia hesitated. Her eyes were darting across the busy street. Wide and tired. I took out my handkerchief and sanitizer. I bended closing the distance between Sofia and me, and blew her wound softly.
Sofi’s eyes remained closed, obediently counting the numbers.
“All done!” I exclaimed after covering Sofia’s wound.
“Soffy…” A voice sliced through the air like a blade. Worried and confused.
His eyes locked with mine. Dark voids that swallowed the light.
He dropped the two cans of ice cream in his hand and strode towards us. His movement was fast and panicked.
“What happened? Who did this to you?” He asked, his expression tight with disapproval.
The air around us dropped ten degrees. I stood and carefully straightened my sundress. I kept my spine straight. My heart is humming in frantic rhythms against my chest.
“I’m…” I started, my palms sweaty and fiddling with the hem of my dress. “A car almost hit her.” My voice was steady despite the trembling in my knees.
I saw his palms clench.
The flicker of fury in his eyes.
I wanted to assure him that Sofia was now okay. That there was nothing to worry about, but it all stuck in my throat.
The man stretched out his palm, and my lips thinned.
I took a breath, forcing my trembling hands to unclench.
“Esteban Moralles. Thanks for saving my girl.” His name hung in the air. Heavy and toxic. His vice, though low, felt fluid and practiced.
“Don’t mention it, sir. It’s humane to do so.” My words tasted of fear.
“I ,'m Eva. Evangeline …”
Mason crossed the road after he noticed my uneasiness. He stood beside me and gently held my shoulder. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Mason here.” He said. A lousy grin on his face.
“Too bad we can no longer trust Acapulco for our children’s safety.” He added. His voice was smooth like a stick dipped in honey.
Mason always had a talent for joking at the wrong time. I feared he'd one day get us killed, just not that that day would be this soon.
A cruel smirk twisted on Esteban's lips.
“Whoa, I need to get my hands on your workout plan,” Mason said, his eyes drooling over Esteban’s physique.
Mason wasn’t masculine, but he wasn’t slender either. He had always planned to get a gym subscription and start his workout, but that was once we got married. He had once joked that working out sooner would make girls chase him, and he still didn’t have a ring to keep him safe.
Mason nudged me on my shoulder, “So… is he invited?”
Esteban raised a brow.
I lowered my eyes. My hands fiddling with my dress, “I didn’t want to bother him. Plus, we only just met and…things happened so fast.”
Mason face-palmed, “Come on, Eva, “The more the merrier.”
“My fiancée’s somewhat shy,” Mason explained, his lips curving softly, “…if possible, I hope you bring this little cutie to our wedding.” He said, gently caressing Sofia’s cheeks.
“Two weeks from now at Saint Cathedral…”
Mason’s words were muted in my thoughts.
My eyes subconsciously travelled to the opposite side of the road, where I spotted the now familiar black car watching subtly from the shadows. The road between us stood as an invisible barrier of fear and respect.
I felt a pair of sharp eyes dissecting my posture, and for a moment I wondered whether I had just voluntarily crawled to the jaws of terror.
- Writer
