Episode3
839 Words
Anita’s POV
There was a heavy air between us. My heartbeat was so loud that it was deafening to my ears. For a moment, I believed Jerry may get closer as his eyes shifted from my lips to my eyes.
However, he released me as abruptly as he had drawn me in.
His body went rigid as his jaw tightened. I noticed a glint in his eyes—pain, sorrow, something more profound than the haughty exterior he always wore.
He whispered to himself, "This was a mistake," and then he left the pool. He didn't even look back at me as he left, water dripping from his clothes.
I remained in the water, breathing erratically as my chest rose and fell. What had just taken place? He was making fun of me one moment, and then he appeared to be a man who was plagued by ghosts that only he could see.
Why did it feel like I had just caught a peek of the genuine Jerry Alfred?
******
I occupied myself with duties the following morning in an attempt to forget about the incident from the previous evening. He had said it was an error. I should forget about it.
But I knew in my heart that I wouldn't.
I was dusting Jerry's office shelves when I saw an odd bookcase. This one, in contrast to the others, has scuff marks at the base, suggesting that it had just been moved.
I tugged at it curiously. The entire shelf creaked open, revealing a secret door behind it, much to my surprise.
I gasped. A passageway hidden away?
I stepped inside, checking over my shoulder to make sure I was alone. There was a narrow stone staircase that led down to the dimly lit room. I lowered myself carefully, each step resonating softly, my pulse accelerating.
What did Jerry have to conceal?
I heard footsteps—heavy, approaching footsteps—just as I got to the bottom.
My heart struck my ribs hard. There was no time for me to flee.
The door creaked open again, and I pressed myself into the darkness in panic.
The paragraph continued with Jerry's voice. "This better be important."
Peril in the Dark
"You're being watched too closely," said a voice I didn't recognize, and I held my breath.
Jerry gave a quick exhale. "I know."
"She’s in your house, isn’t she?"
My stomach turned over. Were they referring to me?
Jerry took a while to reply. There was a tense silence, and then he spoke, but his voice was softer. "She’s just a maid."
The man laughed a dry laugh. "I know that's untrue, and so do you. She has been inquiring. Excessive viewing. If she poses a danger—"
"I’ll handle it," Jerry said crisply.
My heart was pounding as I swallowed hard. Was I the subject of his remarks? Was I suspected by him?
The man added, "Make sure you do," and then he turned away. Jerry stayed a second longer, then turned to go too.
I didn't release a trembling breath until the door clicked shut. My mind was racing, and my legs felt weak.
I had come to look into Jerry. However, I was now unsure of the true adversary.
I couldn't stop thinking about the talk I had overheard that evening. I felt as though I was balancing curiosity and peril every second I was in this mansion.
I was absorbed in my thoughts when I noticed Jerry standing by the fireplace once more, holding a glass. I hadn't caught his attention yet. The fire's warmth illuminated his profile, making it impossible to discern his expression.
I ought to have left. I ought to have retired to my chamber. Rather, I looked, captivated by his enigma.
His words, "You have a habit of watching me," broke the stillness.
I startled. I was observed by him. Once more.
His eyes pinned me in place as he turned. "Why?"
When I opened my mouth to make an excuse, nothing came out. He moved forward slowly. "What is it you’re looking for, Anita?"
I swallowed. "I simply don't understand you. You're cold one minute, then you're—"
"What?" he asked, taking a step forward. "Tell me."
With my pulse beating, I bit my lip. "Vulnerable."
He tightened his jaw. "You think you know me?"
I muttered, scarcely raising my voice above a breath, "I think you're hiding something."
Jerry quickly drew me closer to the wall and pressed me against it. His hands were on either side of my shoulders, trapping me, and I gasped.
"And what about you?" His voice was sinister as he whispered. "What are you hiding, Anita?"
My heart struck my ribs hard. He was too near. It was overwhelming, his warmth, his aroma.
However, the proximity wasn't the true threat.
I wanted to tell him everything because of that part of me.
Would I flee before it was too late, or would I allow myself to sink more into Jerry's perilous world.
- Writer
