BOUND BY FORTUNE

Chapter 4

Kelvin's voice boomed through the big house, slicing through the heavy silence like a whip.

"Stella!"

Adrian's lips curled into a proud and snobby smile, but the light in his eyes darkened like an animal (who hunts and kills others) interrupted mid-hunt. Stella pressed her back against the edge of the bed, her pulse racing as the sound of Kelvin's fast footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Adrian tilted his head, his look still fixed on her. "You might want to scream now, little bride. He likes playing the hero."

Before Stella could react, the door was shoved open with a force that shook the walls, and Kelvin stormed inside. His eyes swept the room, landing on Adrian with an angry stare so strong (and scary) it felt like the temperature dropped (more than two, but not a lot of) degrees.

"What the hell are you doing in here, Adrian?" Kelvin growled; his fists squeezed tightly at his sides.

Adrian straightened, his small smile unharmed and in one piece but his tone laced with faked innocence. "I was just checking on Stella. She seemed... uneasy earlier."

Kelvin moved with deadly (high) quality, placing himself between Adrian and Stella. His broad shoulders blocked Adrian's view of her completely, (acting to prevent harm) that spoke louder than words.

"Leave. Now," Kelvin commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Adrian laughed, a sound that sent a chill down Stella's spine. "Relax, brother. I was just leaving." His eyes flicked over Kelvin's shoulder, locking onto Stella one last time. "Goodnight, Stella. Sweet dreams."

And with that, Adrian calmly walked out, his footsteps relaxed, the door creaking shut behind him.

The room fell into a tense silence. Kelvin turned to face Stella, his gray eyes stormy and filled with questions he didn't voice. "Are you okay?"

Stella nodded shakily, her words catching in her throat. She wasn't sure what to say or how to process what had just happened.

Kelvin's look softened, but there was still an edge of frustration in his voice. "You should've locked the door."

"I didn't think I needed to," Stella whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kelvin's jaw tightened. "You do. Always."

—_:

The tension stayed around as Kelvin checked the room, his movements exact and carefully planned. He quickly looked behind curtains, opened the clothing, and even stared under the bed, his expression unreadable.

"What are you doing?" Stella finally asked, her voice shaking with fear.

"Making sure he's not still waiting (in a creepy way)," Kelvin replied without looking at her.

The result sent a shake from fear down her spine. She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling exposed (even though there is the existence of) the thick walls of the big house.

Made happy, Kelvin finally turned to face her. "This isn't just a house, Stella. It's a battlefield. You can't let your guard down, not for a second."

"Battlefield?" she echoed, her brow grooving. "Why would your brother--"

Kelvin cut her off, his expression hardening. "Adrian's games aren't just harmless fun. He grows and does well on noise and confusion. You're new here, and that makes you his favorite target right now."

Stella sank onto the edge of the bed, her mind spinning. The huge weight of Kelvin's words settled over her, suffocating and unable to be avoided.

"Why do you let him stay here if he's such a threat?" she asked, her voice mixed with a tiny bit of shock.

Kelvin's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's complicated."

"Everything with you seems to be," Stella shot back, surprising even herself with the sharpness of her tone.

Kelvin's look softened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. "Lock the door tonight. I'll have Sophia check on you in the morning."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Stella alone in the silence once again.

—_:

The hours walked (slowly and quietly) by, each tick of the decorated grandfather clock in the corner increasing the unease that coiled in Stella's chest. She tried to sleep, but every creak of the old big house sent her heart racing. Kelvin's words replayed in her mind: “This isn't just a house. It's a battlefield.”

Just as her eyes began to move unsteadily shut, a faint tapping sound jolted her awake.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It came from the window, faint but (constant). Stella froze, her breath hitching as she stared at the heavy curtains. The tapping continued, slow and deliberate as if someone--or something--was waiting for her to respond.

Calling for every ounce of courage, she slid off the bed and approached the window, her bare feet silent against the cold floor. With her shaking fearful hands, she grabbed the edge of the curtain and pulled it back in one fast movement.

The window was empty.

Her reflection stared back at her, pale and wide-eyed, framed by the faint glow of the moonlight. She exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest.

But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it--a shadow quickly moving across the lawn below. It was short-lived, almost invisible, but it was enough to send her heart into overdrive.

She tripped back while walking from the window, her pulse roaring in her ears. The tapping had stopped, but the silence that followed was far worse.

And then it came.

A sharp knock at her door.

It wasn't soft or slow to act--it was loud, extremely important, and unstoppable, echoing through the room like a thunderclap.

"Stella!" Kelvin's voice was sharp, filled with an extreme importance that sent her rushing to the door.

She threw it open to find him standing there, his expression very serious, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of harm.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely steady.

Kelvin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him, his movements quick and exact.

"There's something you need to see," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Before Stella could question him, Kelvin grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the window. He pulled the curtain aside, and her breath caught in her throat.

On the lawn below, lit up by the faint glow of the moonlight, was a message written in red paint:

WELCOME TO THE GAME