THE FIRST MOVE
630 Words
The garden fell silent after the phone call ended.Hidden beneath the shadows of the towering oak trees, the mysterious man slipped his phone into his pocket and adjusted the black cap that concealed his face.His cold eyes remained fixed on the balcony where Amelia and Damien had been standing moments ago.A cruel smile curved across his lips.Let's see how long he can protect you.
Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness.
Inside the mansion...Amelia closed the balcony doors behind her, but Damien's warning refused to leave her mind.
Don't trust everyone in this house.
She turned to face him.
"You're frightening me."
Damien's expression softened.
"I don't mean to."
"Then tell me what's going on."
For a brief moment, he looked as though he wanted to answer.Instead, he gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
There are things I need to deal with first.
Amelia sighed.
Every time I ask you a question, you give me another mystery.A faint smile tugged at Damien's lips.I promise... when the time is right, you'll know everything.
She searched his eyes.
"Can I trust that promise?"
Before Damien could answer, his phone vibrated.The head of security.I'll be right there.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"I have to go."
Amelia nodded, though disappointment flickered across her face.As Damien walked away, he turned back one last time.
"Lock your door tonight."
Minutes later...
The security control room buzzed with activity.Dozens of surveillance screens displayed every corner of Blackwood Mansion.
Damien stood behind the technicians, his eyes fixed on the paused footage from the charity gala.Run facial recognition again,he ordered.We already have, sir, one technician replied. "His face is hidden in every frame."
"What about the service gate?"
Another guard enlarged the footage.
"The access card used to open the gate belongs to a staff member...The room fell silent.
...who died three years ago.
Damien's eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible."
"Unless someone copied the credentials."
Damien folded his arms.
"No."
"This wasn't random."
Someone inside this mansion has been planning this for a long time.
Elsewhere...
Sophia sat in her bedroom, slowly applying lipstick as though she didn't have a care in the world.A soft knock came at her window.
She smiled.
Right on time.
Sliding the window open, she found a small black envelope resting on the ledge.No one was there.She quickly opened it.Inside was a single photograph.
Amelia.
Crossed out with a thick red X.Beneath it were six chilling words.Tomorrow night. No more mistakes.Sophia's confident smile disappeared.For the first time...Even she looked nervous.
The next morning...
Grandmother Blackwood announced a family tradition.Tonight, the Blackwood family will host the Founder's Charity Gala here at the mansion.The dining room erupted with quiet conversation.It's our most important event of the year," Adrian explained to Amelia. "Every influential family in the city will attend.Grandmother smiled warmly at Amelia.
And this year, you'll stand beside Damien as the lady of the Blackwood family.
Sophia nearly dropped her teacup.
Vanessa's smile became painfully forced.
Neither woman liked the announcement.
Not one bit.
Later that afternoon...Amelia wandered into the mansion's private greenhouse.The scent of fresh roses instantly reminded her of the simple life she had left behind.
For the first time in days...
She felt at peace.
Until...
Crunch.
A twig snapped behind her.
She turned.
No one.
"Hello?"
Silence.She took another cautious step.
Then another.
Suddenly, a gloved hand reached from behind a row of flowers and clamped over her mouth.Before Amelia could scream, a voice whispered against her ear.
"Don't fight."
"It'll only make this harder."
Her eyes widened in terror.
At that exact moment...
Damien stepped out of his car at the mansion gates.
His phone rang.
The head of security's panicked voice exploded through the speaker.
"Mr. Blackwood!"
"Miss Amelia is gone!"
- Writer
