HIDDEN | 18+

Chapter- III

Shining cars passing by us, as bright as the spark of lightning. I stare outside and mentally note what I was going to do. The light of the buildings illuminating every corner of this jungle of bricks. Every soul here had some motive, had some desires, and a goal to reach. So do I.

I was brought out of my thoughts with a chuckle.

“You seem quite in thought,” Kevin asked. A formal suit adorned his buff stature, quiet contrast to his amiable self. It did not take me a minute to figure out his genuine nature. ‘A true gentleman’ is what he was like. 

He was married. Yes, off-limits for all the females out there. But people need to do what they need to do to maintain their status, even if it meant to be in a position like him. I really don’t know how his wife keeps up with all that happens around and with him.

“Yeah, a bit overwhelmed” Wasn’t a lie though. I was experienced enough, but ain’t too dumb to be overconfident. Multiple successes sometimes can be a reason for an everlasting failure. 

“Everything will be fine, don’t worry”

And we fell into a comfortable silence. I looked outside through the tinted glass, drifting into a thought of how this beautiful night is going to be washed by blood before the zero hours. I should feel sorry, but remorse is something I have left far behind in my life. Now it’s only me and my target.

Getting out of the car, we pass the blinding flashes of the cameras. Media and press are unavoidable, a prerequisite to this world, and I, unfortunately, a part of it. Everything that shines isn’t a diamond—is something suiting to this world. The lenses show what we believe to be real, but the devils aren’t easy to see. Oh, how it would have been if there was a way of snatching the curtain of lies that cover these.

We entered through the doors to the hall, the same route I had followed this morning, but he doesn’t have to know that. 

The stinking rich lads and ladies, men of deep pockets and wealth surrounding every nook and corner. So excessive that it’s borderline poisonous. Lavish and luxury don’t see goodness and goodwill. Dressing immaculately, everyone wanted to be the centerpiece. Tonight, was the night after all. The wait was finally over.

The people were busy, no one paid any attention until Kevin went up to the stage to start the ceremony, and the commence of my plan.

The universe inside the ballroom came to a stop, every little sound echoed to the extent of limitless. Kevin, with his sleek expertise at enticing the crowd, made the whole plan seem smooth than what it was supposed to be.

Getting up from my table, my heel-clad-feet let me to the bar where awaits Rowan for the order. 

It was silent for a moment. The only sound being the clink and clank of the inexpensive glass and chinaware which Rowan handled.

I could see him from the corner of my eyes, the exorbitant tuxedo, and disheveled hair was a striking contrast to the majority here. Chills ran through my body when I looked at him straight. Why did it always happen?

Joshua had always been a threat to us, hell a threat to every gang that existed. And thinking it was me who was murdering him was in itself a blood wrecking thought. 

I looked back at the crowd. The place was back to how it should have been. We were living in parallel lives and I had always told myself to value lives. I wasn’t supposed to be everything I was now. Instead, I was living in a loop. But this was me now. 

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize the eyes tracking my every move. It is weird, how your body reacts so unusually to something so unusual.

My eyes scanned through the crowd, hoping to look for any eye that dared to cause me this discomfort, and stopped at The one.

Joshua.

He looked at me like he wanted me to look at him. Numerous people invaded our vision, but ours stayed glued to each other. I gazed at him like never before, a face sculptured like that of mythology, so beautiful. But why do I see the pain in those heavenly orbs? 

And in a second, the trance was gone. I averted my eyes from him and took a deep breath. The breathlessness, the heaviness in my chest, what was all that about? I could still feel his eyes on me, scrutinizing me just like how he had been since god knows when.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and pushed those thoughts that clouded my head.

I was his end and that was it.