Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 22: Accomplice

Chapter 22: Accomplice

I crave you who'll not just let my eyes but also my underneath rain.

My Alice, finally, here you are.

I need you for all my deepest, darkest desires to come through, my Joan of Arc.

Give me the relief I need, Lavender.

I long for the eyes that give me cold stares, making me feel like a blunder.

O, the pleasurable doubting eyes,

Please punish me underneath. Let me feel something other than blood in my thighs.

"Stop." Just like that, I woke up drenched in sweat. Panting as reality pulls me back in bed.

"Ridiculous," I uttered, staring at the ceiling. Remembering what Lennox said earlier at the office overlapped with the poem dove has sent me five months ago.

After hearing the poem from his own mouth—no, even while hearing him speak, I felt the cold shudder run down my spine. Feeling the chills, I couldn't help but just stand there as realization dug its nails deeper into me.

Stopping him mid-way, I stormed out of his office, leaving him dumbfounded.

Letting out a deep sigh, I rolled over on the bed, searching for my phone through the sheets and scrolling down through the emails I received from dove until the last email. I was able to save after mindlessly deleting my inbox before moving in here, which now bothers me the most after re-reading his previous mail.

3rd person's POV

"Any movements?" Lennox asked, talking with someone on the phone, looking at his living area's view, sitting on the sofa next to where Alice sat.

"Alright, notify me if you notice anything unusual." He said emotionlessly, responding to the person he was talking with, when suddenly, his conversation with the detective popped into his mind.

Reminding him of the urgency of the matter, his eyes sharpened.

"Ah, no, tell me every detail, no matter how insignificant it may look." He said, and he hung up.

Tossing the phone over, he glanced at the spot where Alice sat. Scoffing, he rests his chin on his hand.

"You didn't even drink the coffee I made. It's too bad I put too much effort into making it." He mumbles in disappointment. And then, he remembered the person responsible for Alice's mood.

Thinking it was Mae's fault, his head suddenly became full of menacing thoughts. Naturally, his lips are pulled up and back as his eyes are dull, staring dead at the glowing city lights visible from his seat.

"I'll make sure to end this chase once and for all." He added, thinking that the police still haven't found Mae, there's a possibility that the person hunting Mae has already caught her.

"Mae…" He said as his face darkened.

"That wench." He said purely of hostility, remembering the day he confronted Mae in the elevator before she'd gone missing from Alice's radar.

As soon as Mae saw Lennox inside the elevator when it opened, she casually came in and greeted him with a cheery smile.

"Oh! Hey, Lennox! Wow, I guess from now on we're going to keep on bumping into you—"

"Not until you save us the hassle and get lost," Lennox said, cutting her off with his deep toneless voice that, despite the warm smile, Mae froze.

Confused, she attempted to ask him,

"What did you just say—"

But, just as when she saw what Lennox had just pulled out of his bag, a cold wave embalmed her as the hairs rose on the back of her neck, and her mouth ran dry.

Feeling caught in fear and doubt, she looked back and forth at the document in his hand and at Lennox's face.

"H-how did you?..." stuttering she asked.

"I have many ways and trust me. You're not going to like it when you know. So? Aren't you going to get lost, or should I just take the honor and tell her what you've been busy doing?" Lennox said as they heard someone approaching, in fear that it could be Alice, Mae immediately decided.

"I-I'll get lost, just please don't—"

"Then, you might as well keep this a secret. After all, you'd be in a tight spot if she knew, right?" With that, Mae lowers her head as Lennox steps back to the corner, feeling the anxiety creeping in through her trembling and numb hands.

"Hey! Mae, good holding up!—"

Right then, when Alice finally stepped in, Mae could no longer hear her surroundings as her heartthrobs in her ears, loud and irregular, she panicked inwardly.

How?! How?! She thought continuously thinking of possible ways Lennox could acquire the evidence of her taking pictures of Alice's belongings.

But, her train of thoughts didn't arrive at any certain route and conclusion. Yet, in the end, she's only certain of one thing.

"He's a wolf hiding in a lamb's cloth." She thought, convinced. Thinking of the cold yet sly grin she saw in total contrast with the genuine and kind smile he's been showing them before he stepped back from her.

Going back to the present, Lennox staring blankly at the view, he ponders what to do with Mae. Speculating on the probability of Alice's forgiveness could overlook Mae's fault.

His frown got even deeper and darker when he knew Mae would surely be forgiven based on Alice's personality. But, an idea hit him, causing him to hit a conclusion about dealing with her. He mumbled in the void.

If the police still haven't caught her, then…

"Should I step in and lend a hand?" Lennox uttered threats, emotionlessly thinking of helping the person Alice suspects to be the one pulling strings behind him.

"Then, after that, I'll make sure to get rid of them both." He added, thinking deep of how to dispose about the problems getting in his way to Alice.

"That's two problems solved—" he stopped getting deeper in thoughts when he heard unexpected bells ringing.

Pulling himself back to his senses, he looked at the time.

"4:34 am," he uttered, thinking of the possible unexpected visitors at that hour. He stood up and headed towards the intercom to see who the person was knocking on his door at that very hour.

But, as soon as she saw his unexpected visitor, the contempt and anger written on his face immediately drained.

His face instantly brightens, eyes twinkling. He dashes out and opens the door without any further questions.

"My Alice!" Lennox exclaimed, welcoming her excitedly into his suite.

"My, my, what's with the long straight face? Hmm?" He asked, beaming a smile, full of energy, looking around her.

"We need to talk." But, Alice coldly ignored him. She went straight inside towards his suite, unbothered.

"Oh! Do you want coffee?"

"Lennox, help me." Caught off guard, as it wasn't what Lennox was expecting with her sudden visit, he stopped and looked at her slowly.

"…what?" Lennox asked again, dazed and blank.

"I'm…here to accept your hand. Help me." Alice said, looking straight and determined into her eyes.

Her words sinking in deeper, Lennox smiled quickly. For the first time, Alice saw the real genuine smile he had that almost took her aback.

"Ah, yes…of course." He said, happily approaching her.

"That's why I'm here, Alice." He said, touching her hands softly.

Ahh, now how could I dispose of them quietly? Hmm, how do you like to do this, Alice? He thought, grinning inwardly.

"This is crazy," Alice uttered, heart-pounding the longer she stood in front of Lennox's door. Recalling what he just said this morning is the same as what was written in dove's email five months ago.

With a note at the last part saying—

Felix Argo's poem, the poem the devil adores, favors it so much that it could be mistaken as his prayer of praise to his muse. Before dawn, and after, after his rage, in his cries, this poem never fails to calm his nerve as he drowns himself in lavender scent, his goddess' scent.

In time, if my analysis was right, he'll recite the poem to his muse in the flesh. He'll declare his mad love that even his muse won't be able to control him anymore, for his goal is all along to her side.

After remembering the letter after the poem, she thought nervously; I remembered this quickly for two reasons. First, it was the last email I decided to keep. Second, because it was the most disturbing poem I've ever read yet, never had it crossed my mind that I'd end up deciphering dove's message.

The poem, his lavender obsession, and mine scream Lennox's name on the top of the devil in dove's message...and f*ck it, I don't want to be the muse in this case!

She thought, remembering the times Lennox walked into her unit and mentioned lavender, which triggered her memory of dove's last poem.

Also, the chances of him reciting that poem on a whim are impossible because when I searched for that poem on the internet.

The poem's too underrated to get noticed, let alone the behavior he's been showing me matches the description in the letter.

F*ck, I dashed out impulsively earlier at his office.

Nonetheless, even if he's the devil, the dove has been warning me for years and still doesn't change the fact that I need him now.

Clenching her hand, biting her trembling lip, she heaves a sigh. Dang, it. Now I just dragged my feet in front of the devil's door.

Her mind consumed in chaos and confusion, she stood there, aimlessly staring at his door.

Thinking with all the circumstances, Lennox might've known her already even before she met him. Considering the dove took four years to send warnings—this means that the board of directors doesn't have anything to do with this—

Then a few lines from dove's letter came rushing in her mind.

You, who keeps feeding his dreams,

You, who drives him to the extremes,

I, wish you good luck...that is,

If luck itself would suffice.

For it was you, you, who let him live. Now, brace yourself for you're about to know that not everyone is worth saving.

As though a freezing bucket of water was poured out on her shoulders, she felt the cold shudders in every inch of her body.

I, wish you good luck...that is,

If luck itself would suffice.

"F*ck you, dove. Whoever you are, you're the jerk one here, leaving me in care of a tea brewing behind my back—tsk. All these years—ugh. This is so frustrating. Luck? Yeah right. You're a total piece of s**t. If you're going to send warnings, you should've done better—" Frustrated, she stopped and chose to chew in her anger, massaging her temples until her rage passed.

A few minutes later, she manages to collect her composure, fixing her focus on the matter at hand. With an unwavering and fixed mind, she knew she'd already decided. Overcoming the risks she takes and letting out a deep breath.

Putting her finger on the bell, she fixed her mind on her one and only goal of coming there. And that's to make the devil his ally.

Taking into account that she cannot face the person she suspects alone, Alice has decided to take Lennox to his side, as she needs someone of the same caliber as that person to be her ally.

Finally, the doorbell rang, the repetitive sound coming. Not too long later, Lennox opened the door, welcoming her with a beaming smile that didn't overwhelm Alice anymore as she felt herself getting used to it.

"My Alice!" Lennox greeted her warmly, with overwhelming energy for 4:34 am.

Feeling the hassle of wasting more time arguing, Alice stared at him blankly.

Confused about what she was doing at his front door at the very time, Lennox blinks, questioning her.

"My, my, what's with the long straight face? Hmm?"

"We need to talk," Alice said, walking straight to his suite.

Getting in, she stopped at his living area facing the view she used to look at when she first got there.

"Oh! Do you want coffee?"

"Lennox, help me." She said, right of the bat that fazed Lennox for a second. Turning in her direction, he asked aimlessly.

"…what?"

"I'm…here to accept your hand. Help me." Alice said, facing him against the view.

Lennox slowly took her statement as a 'go' sign to his terms, seeing how firm her resolute in her eyes.

Witnessing how Lennox's face becomes lighter as the sun rises, reflecting his eyes, she stood spectator to how breathtaking Lennox's happiest smiling face is.

"Ah, yes…of course." He said, happily approaching her.

"That's why I'm here, Alice." He added, touching her hands softly,. That strangely didn't bother her.

Feeling the warmth, she let him hold her hands. Watching him gracefully, lifting her hands onto his cheeks, she saw how Lennox comfortably pressed her hands onto his cheeks.

Ahh, now how could I dispose of them quietly? Hmm, how do you like to do this, Alice? He thought, grinning inwardly.

Then, Alice cleared her throat and abruptly brought him back to his senses. Opening his eyes, he saw Alice staring dead at him. Laughing awkwardly, Alice grabs the chance to pull back her hands from his grip.

Scratching the back of his head to his nape, he chuckles softly. Feeling on cloud nine, he turned his back and went to the kitchen bar.

"Coffee? Tea—"

"I'm not here for some tea party, mad hatter. Come back and let's talk business." Alice, straightforwardly cutting him, not even budging an inch from her spot.

Slowly, Lennox's gaze lifted, meeting hers, hearing she came in for business in mind. He instantly wears what face he shows in front of a business he knows.

The smile dropped down into a formed smirk, sparkling eyes shifting into menacing ones; he paused and put his hands on the kitchen bar, leaning up, looking intently at Alice's grim expression.

"Business? Hmm, do you know what business you're saying? My dear, Alice? Can you even handle it, Alice?" He asked, with a sly smile forming.

"What do you mean?..." Alice asked, feeling stuffy in the ambiance Lennox was giving off, contradicting the vast and open space Lennox has inside the living area.

His heart pounding faster, despite the straight face she was keeping up in front of him, he grinned the second he saw right through her.

"The means of business I'll take to help you…" He said, sending chills to Alice, sensing her hands would tremble; she hid them behind her back slowly.

Is this how it feels like to make a deal with the devil?

I know he's crazy, but I think I understand what measure he's talking about, and I wouldn't say I like it.

I went through his records available on the internet; unfortunately, I couldn't see anything interesting other than him being a goody-two shoe in each article I saw.

The genius architect

The youngest architect that reached success

The architect that wrecked the norms

Etc, and all those articles are utterly useless. On second thought, the fault is mine for even bothering to search for his online leak, since he wouldn't let any scandal leak in the first place.

In the end, it's all about being a master of pretense.

"By means, can you enlighten me about it?" She asked.

Then, Lennox leaned lower, putting his elbow on the kitchen bar right where Alice could see him, head tilting, resting on his hand.

"Hmm? Sorry, but explaining it won't help you understand the weight of being an accomplice." He said, sounding stern when he dropped the last part as if he wasn't the same person who was wagging his tail in front of Alice earlier.

"Accomplice?" Alice asked, gulping the moment she felt the heavy word being dropped.

"Mhm." Lennox said, solemnly smiling with a pair of fierce eyes.

Alice then found herself breaking cold sweats.

"What? Are we talking about some killing here?" She asked.

Then, with a mischievous grin, Lennox answered.

"If that's what would solve the problem, would you be glad to be an accomplice?"

With that, Alice felt like she had just witnessed two genuine sides of him. The warm, sweet one and the sly fox that's only in front of her, showing him his fangs.

Suddenly she chuckles sarcastically, which Lennox didn't see coming.

"Hah, and here I thought you'd still try to keep a face," Alice said.

"Well, aren't we already talking about business here?" Lennox said expressionlessly.

"….alright, show me what killing is like," Alice said, putting a bet and puts her hands on her waist confidently.

Feeling Alice's pure willpower, Lennox's face brightens, and within a second, what he has just heard brings him to laugh almost hysterically.

Alice frowns and watches him until he regains his composure.

"HA HA HA HA—Alice, quit fooling around—"

"It seems like you're the one who doesn't understand the weight of being an accomplice, Lennox." Alice said, and right then, Lennox paused.

Lifting his face to meet her's again, Alice's eyes widened, her lips parted as soon as she saw Lennox's wicked expression.

"You talk the talk…" He said, grinning from ear to ear as his ominous eyes pierced her.

"Do you walk the walk?" He added, making Alice gulp.

What the heck. Did I make a wrong turn?! Or did I underestimate him?!

This is driving me nuts.