Heart Stealer

Chapter ten: I don't know such a thing as paradise.

CASSANDRA

“Who are you?” I asked him. He was just smiling at me the whole time, while I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop my brows from furrowing. 

I was the type of person to be curious towards someone I just met, but then, after hearing him call my name, it made me feel a bit surprised. I never saw him though, when I was heading upstairs, until I finally got there. His presence seemed to be undetectable. 

I was kind of expecting a quick answer but then all he did was keep on smiling at me and it’s giving me a weird feeling now. He doesn’t look like a psycho though, he’s neat and well clothed. Not to mention his perfect facial features. Those gray eyes, pointy nose and thin but perfect lips make me think that he came from a very wealthy family.

To break the silence that is currently making things awkward for both of us, I mean, maybe only to me, I decided to clear my throat and then asked him again, “Who are you? How do you know my name?”

He started walking towards me, still wearing that joyful reaction, “Well, I just happened to know it. You know,” He paused for a second and then he breathed. “Accidentally.” He began to walk towards the handrail after emphasizing that certain last word.

I turned around and then I went near him, “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Actually, you were the one who said that Cassandra is your name.” He responded while staring at the field. “I don’t think you can still remember it, since you went unconscious after that.”

After hearing that explanation from him, a sudden realization hit me. I was creasing my forehead while lowering my head as I thought of that thing, then I decided to raise my head up and then I said, “Wait a minute. Are you-”

I am not able to speak continuously because he suddenly faced me. He bent half of his body a bit and now his face is already towards my face, “Yes. I’m the owner of this island. I’m Austin.”

A mixture of curiosity and annoyance, that is what I am actually feeling right now. I mean, how dare this stranger do this to me? He won’t let me escape this island and now he’s harassing me?

“What the hell are you doing?” I shouted at him as I kicked his right leg.

He started complaining about the pain in his legs and then he laughed later on. “Damn, you are so cool.”

Did I hear him right? He actually complimented me after I nearly broke his leg?

“Want me to kick the other one?” I asked him, wearing a blank expression.“Such a weird person,” I mumbled.

He suddenly raised both of his hands while chuckling. “Okay, enough with the violence.” 

Again, I’m starting to get really pissed about him being super energetic and jolly at the same time. Seems like this guy never knows when to act seriously. I mean, I was clearly being mad here and all he did was smile every moment. Does he have that disease called smile mask syndrome?

“What’s your deal? Why did you trap me in this place?” I asked. I know it was kind of random for me to suddenly ask about that during our first meeting, but then it was not the right time for me to worry about anything. I need to keep my guard up against every single stranger that I am going to meet, because I think that it’s for the better.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He responded. “Anyway, sorry about what I did earlier. I was just trying to tease you, but I guess my charm doesn’t work on you.”

“Whatever you are planning to do will definitely not work on me, man,” I uttered.

“Oh, okay.” He nodded. I could see his smile was still there as he started leaning his arms on the handrail once again. “Anyway, how do you feel now?” He asked me.

I did the same thing but I got my eyes locked on the beautiful field one more time. “Well, as you can see, I’m fine now. Anyway, thank you for saving me and letting me stay in your house. I just hope helping me isn’t something you only did for a purpose.”

He was silent for a few minutes, but instead of paying attention to it, I just remained staring at the scenery and then the flower, which was actually my favorite, caught my attention. I pointed in its direction with so much excitement, “Is that an Iris flower?” 

He was nodding the moment I looked at him. I wasn’t actually expecting that he was paying attention to where I was looking at, but by judging how quickly he responded, it only means that he’s kind of watching me the whole time. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Sorry for being overwhelmed. It’s just that I love that flower so much,” I explained. I moved my gaze away from him and stared at where Iris was once again, “Faith, hope, courage, wisdom and also admiration. There’s so much to represent that flower.”

“Was it because of the meaning behind it? That’s why you adore that flower so much?” He asked me.

I nodded and smiled, “Actually, that’s not the only reason,” I uttered. “You know when I was young, I often got into a fight with some of my schoolmates just because they were telling me that my father was a bad person. I was really mad back then because I really adore my father as much as my mother. He’s like a role model for me.”

“What did you do to those kids who badmouthed your father?” He asked once again.

“What do you think?” I asked as I looked at him. “Of course I hit every single one of them.”

He started laughing at the end of my response, which unexpectedly made me smile too.

“And how is that connected to Iris?” He wondered.

“I know I might sound crazy, but I always cry after hurting somebody. Back then I thought I was a really bad person because I couldn’t stop my violent side from showing up.” I paused for a second and then I continued right after looking around.  “My mother always gives me a piece of Iris flower after convincing me to stop crying, and then she would tell me that I’m not a bad person, that I’m actually like the Goddess named after that flower, that I descended from heaven to earth by the way of the rainbow.”

I sighed deeply and then I looked up to the sky. I often do this thing every time I feel like crying because the memories I had with my mother were haunting me again.

“That was a very interesting story and the meaning of that flower that you said before was very wonderful as well.” He responded.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.” I urged, still raising my head.

“Um, yeah. That’s right.” He responded.

“What was that?” I surprisingly uttered as I looked at him. “You decided to make a field of flowers yet you didn’t know much about them?”

He started chuckling while gently scratching his head. “I didn’t know their meaning except for the one I gave you.” 

“You mean the chrysanthemum?” I asked.

He nodded his head as a response.

“Why would you bother to create this scenery if you’re not that passionate towards it?” I wondered as I was looking around the field.

“Um, maybe because I just love the sight of them.” He quickly responded. I could sense the sincerity in his voice and that made me agree with him.

“That’s right. It is beautiful.” I uttered.

“Yes, just like paradise.” He agreed.

Paradise? I don’t really know such a thing as paradise. It was simply hard for me to think that there’s a better part of the world that I haven’t seen yet, which is wonderful and will actually last forever. But it would be bad of me to say such a thing to him. I wanted to keep this thought all by myself without pulling others into this kind of negativity.

We went back to his vacation house after that and both of us were silent until granny appeared. “Master. It’s good to see you back.”

Hearing the word master made me think that he’s someone who is not that different from those rich bad guys, but then he is surprisingly different. He smiled after seeing her and hearing her warm greetings.

“It’s good to see you too, Granny.” He uttered as he put his arm over Granny’s shoulder. 

Granny surprisingly looked at me and then she moved her gaze back to her master. 

“Oh, did you guys come back together?” She asked.

Austin nodded his head and smiled at me, “Yes. I saw her at the lighthouse when I was resting from a long walk.” 

“I see.” She happily nodded. “You should have informed us that you’re going to be back, master. So that we could at least prepare something for you.” She added. 

“It’s okay, Granny.” He responded.

Seeing him like this is simply bewitching. He seemed to be a very nice and respectful person whom I thought would never exist in this world anymore. I hate to admit it though, but I’m kind of starting to like his personality and give him my full trust. 

“By the way, miss, I’m sorry I left you there.” She urged while furrowing her brows.

“It’s okay, Granny.” I responded.

“Anyway, you must be hungry. Let me prepare your lunch.” She told us both.

LUCAS

It’s been a few days since Gunner went out of reach. Something that is quite weird, since he has never done anything like that before. Only Search and I were the ones left to look for that woman who came out to disappear without a single trace. 

I went by to visit Search’s hideout and it was as nice as I was expecting it to be. She wasn’t there the moment I got in but then after a few seconds of walking, she suddenly went out of her bathroom, with a white towel wrapped around her body. I stared at her normally, since I was already used to her being like that. A girl who doesn’t care about a man seeing her naked. This is why Gunner was fully attracted to her.

“Hey, what brings you here?” She uttered in such a flirty tone. She was slowly sliding her hands on my chest down to whatever she wanted to when I gripped her wrist and said, “Stop.” 

She started chuckling after that. “Why? Did I wake that up?” She said, throwing a quick gaze somewhere down my pants.

I glared at her instead of responding and walked towards the couch. I sat on it then I started pointing out the reason why I came here. “Do you know where Gunner is? Or what he's been up to these past few days?”

She came towards me and sat on a couch as well. “Sorry but no. He hasn’t even contacted me for days, which is pretty odd.” She responded after crossing her legs, revealing her flawlessly white skin. “Maybe he’s seeing someone?”

“Impossible,” I urged.

Search started creasing her brows and wondered, “Why is that impossible?” She chuckled and then continued, “You know what, there’s this place he often spends his free days. He has been asking me to go there before, but I simply don’t like to.”

“What kind of place?” I asked. 

I wonder why he didn’t tell me about that place though, but it’s alright. He has the right to have his own privacy about certain things. As long as it’s nothing against me, then I have nothing to be worried about.

Search nodded her head and said, “Yup, an island to be exact. Maybe he’s there. Shall we go there and find him?”

“I think that’s a good idea,” I responded. “But now isn’t the right time for it. I want you to work on something about Alpha.” 

“What is it?” She asked me.

I took a deep breath and then I responded, “Find out about when and where they would do their next transaction. I’m going to need all the details about it. It’s time for the Alpha to finally have a taste of their own medicine.”