Rogue Disaster

CHAPTER III

I feel like I am floating.

“Locco, come.” I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.

I opened my eyes, only to close them again as I squinted at the blinding light before me. A cool breeze brushed over my bare shoulders, and I felt light. As I tried to open them again, my sight adjusted to the dimmer scene before me. I look over my figure; I am wearing a plain white dress, with fresh wounds and bruises scattered along my bare feet.

Then, I became aware that I actually am not alone.

There, a few feet across from where I am, stood a silhouette—someone I find so familiar. The man had his back to me and was whistling a tune. A tune that only I and a certain someone know. I was the one who taught this person about it, and now that I already know who this man is, it makes sense.

“Roger?”

He remained silent.

Seconds passed, and I remained still until I noticed that my surroundings were starting to dim; it seemed like it was getting darker; the once light was now gone and was being replaced by an overwhelming absence of light. I began breathing heavily, my heart pounding desperately inside my chest. I feel dizzy and panicked, and it is getting hard to breathe.

Roger let out a low laugh, and then I heard it—the sound of ripping flesh.

I looked up and saw that the once intact head of Roger was now separated from his body. I watched it fall on the floor in absolute horror. Eyes wide, I stared at his orbs with tears running down my cheek.

What is happening?

“It’s your fault, sister.”

I woke up panting; sweat was all over my body, and I felt cold. My hands sprung up to wipe my cheeks, which were now covered with dried tears. I had been having the same dreams for the past year. It seems like I still carry the guilt in my heart, and each day, it seems to be growing, weighing me down even more.

I reached out to my left, outstretching my hand to grab the clock sitting on top of it.

4:12 am.

I groaned as I felt my throat dry up; usually around this time, there would be no one in the kitchen, but it would be bustling an hour later.

Wanting to grab the opportunity, I scrambled to my feet and began my journey toward the kitchen. As I walked down the grand hallways, it made me think about that dream again. A year ago, I promised to avenge my brother, to kill Duncan Severio and make him suffer badly, but I am nowhere near that yet. Though, being free is one step closer to having my hands on that bastard.

Now, it made me think about what happened to him after the attack. Father did not mention him at all, and it slipped off my mind to even ask at all. I planned to ask him last night, but he was nowhere to be found around dinner too. It was only me and Elijah, but I did not mind; I was too occupied stuffing my mouth with anything I could find edible.

I sure do hope that Duncan is still alive though; if not, I would be devastated. It would be a shame if it was not me who took his life.

I slowed down to a halt as I finally reached this manor’s kitchen. I took a beeline straight towards the fridge to help myself with a glass of cold water to soothe my aching throat. I was right on my third glass when I felt a presence behind me.

“In need of water too?”

He ignored my question.

“Your father wants to see you in this instance,” Elijah stated, leaving me in doubt.

What does he want this early?

I turned to face Elijah and asked, “Why?”

I searched his face for any signs that would give me a clue about what this was all about, but I found none. Elijah stared back at me with his emotionless facade.

As if he liked doing it, he ignored my question again and continued on to say, “He is waiting at his study.”

After he said those words, he immediately turned his back and left, leaving me standing alone again in a half-lit kitchen.

God, what is his deal?

I straightened up and quickly drank the glass of water still in my hands. I put it down on the counter and made my way out of the kitchen.

What could be so important that my father had to summon me to his office this early in the morning?

Before I knew it, I was now standing outside the grand double doors that would lead me to his study. I raised my left hand to knock, although, in mid-air, I hesitated. But before I could think more about this, I heard my father’s voice from the other side, calling out to me.

“Get inside, daughter.”

I gulped and took a deep breath before opening the door in front of me. Twisting on the knob, the doors let out an eerie sound as they opened. There, sitting behind his grandiose desk, was my father, his hands holding each other and his eyes staring at me. He looked restless, bags weighing down his eyes, and he was looking as stern as ever.

I made my way toward a chair, facing the front of his desk. The room remained silent, no one spoke a word. Only the sound of my footsteps against the floor echoed.

I took a seat and made myself comfortable before looking back at my dad.

He opened his mouth to speak, “Did Elijah wake you up?”

I shook my head, “I was already awake beforehand.”

“I see.”

After a minute of silence, I spoke.

“What is it, Father?’

He looked at me carefully as he began to speak, “Last night, I met up with some potential business partners of ours; although I secured the deal, they remained doubtful. I am counting on you to personally supervise our transactions there.”

I furrowed my brows and asked, “When am I going?”

“This afternoon, pack as much as you need; you will be staying there for a week,” he said. “We will have the shipment arrive in two days, so before that, eliminate all threats that could mess this up. I trust you with no slip-ups or mistakes; this is a very important one.”

I gave him a nod; this was nothing new to me at all. My father has given me orders ever since I could walk, literally. What bothers me is why he is giving me an assignment right away; I literally just got back from being imprisoned, starved, and tortured. I am unfit, but this does not seem to concern my father at all, and something odd that I have noticed is that he never mentioned my brother in any way—and this bothers me a lot.

Still lost in my thoughts, I managed to let out a, “Very well, I won’t disappoint you, Father.”

He continued to look at me as I began to stand up, and as I made my way out, he said something that almost made me back out.

“Bring Elijah with you.”