Chapter Twelve
1120 Words
Carolina,
I took off like a shot, my feet pounding the ground as I followed Giulia's frantic gestures. "Run, Carolina, run!" she urged, her voice laced with panic. I didn't need to be told twice; I could almost feel Enzo's hot breath on my neck.
As we sprinted through the streets, my heart racing with every step, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in my stomach. What would Enzo do to me if he caught up? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I pushed myself to run faster.
Finally, we reached a secluded alleyway, and Giulia grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. "Wait," she whispered, her eyes darting around cautiously.
I bent over, gasping for breath, and turned to Giulia with a mix of confusion and gratitude. "Why are you helping me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Giulia's expression softened, and she looked at me with a hint of empathy. "Why wouldn't I?" she replied, her voice gentle. "You seem like you don't want to run. What's wrong?"
I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I just...I don't know what Enzo will do to me if he catches up," I admitted, my voice trembling.
Giulia's eyes filled with understanding, and she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Just be grateful I'm helping you, okay? Let's just focus on getting out of here."
I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. For now, I had Giulia's help, and that was all that mattered.
I took off like a shot, my feet pounding the ground as I followed Giulia's frantic gestures. "Run, Carolina, run!" she urged, her voice laced with panic. I didn't need to be told twice; I could almost feel Enzo's hot breath on my neck.
As we sprinted through the streets, my heart racing with every step, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in my stomach. What would Enzo do to me if he caught up? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I pushed myself to run faster.
Finally, we reached a secluded alleyway, and Giulia grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. "Wait," she whispered, her eyes darting around cautiously.
I bent over, gasping for breath, and turned to Giulia with a mix of confusion and gratitude. "Why are you helping me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Giulia's expression softened, and she looked at me with a hint of empathy. "Why wouldn't I?" she replied, her voice gentle. "You seem like you don't want to run. What's wrong?"
I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I just...I don't know what Enzo will do to me if he catches up," I admitted, my voice trembling.
Giulia's eyes filled with understanding, and she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Just be grateful I'm helping you, okay? Let's just focus on getting out of here."
I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. For now, I had Giulia's help, and that was all that mattered.
Giulia's piercing gaze locked onto mine, her eyes burning with intensity. "When will you tell the truth, Caroline? You've been lying to me this whole time. You're Zylaria, aren't you?"
I shook my head, a mix of confusion and desperation swirling inside me. "I'm not lying. If I'm lying, you should know. Why are you helping me, then? I don't know who Zylaria is. I don't have a twin. There's nothing connecting me to that name."
Giulia's expression softened slightly, and she leaned in closer. "What did Zylaria do to Enzo? Why does he hate her so much?"
I hesitated, my mind racing. "I've been asking, but nobody's telling me. The pain he's inflicted on me...it shows how much he hates this Zylaria."
Giulia's eyes seemed to bore into my soul. "Do you really want to know?"
I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes."
Giulia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Enzo was madly in love with Zylaria. Love turned to madness when Zylaria thought she could play him."
My mind reeled as I processed the information. "Is that all? Did she break his heart by leaving him?"
Giulia's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Yes, if that's all it was. But is it enough for Enzo to punish her?"
I shook my head, a sense of hopelessness washing over me. "Everybody makes their own right. Maybe if she hadn't left him..."
Giulia's expression turned icy. "Let's not talk about this story. Just take the version I give you. Drink up."
She handed me a cup, and I saw that it was wine. I hadn't eaten or drunk anything in days, and my body screamed for hydration. Without hesitation, I poured the wine into my mouth, feeling the liquid warmth spread through my parched throat.
As the room began to spin, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. I struggled to keep my head up, my gaze drifting to Giulia's face. Her smile was twisted and menacing, sending a chill down my spine. "What...what did you do?" I slurred, my voice barely audible.
Giulia's laughter was like a distant echo, her words slicing through the haze. "You're a fool for trusting me." Her voice seemed to come from far away, and I felt my grip on reality slipping.
I tried to focus, but my vision blurred. I heard footsteps, heavy and deliberate, and the sound of men's laughter. The driver, the one Giulia had supposedly injected, walked into the room, a smug grin spreading across his face. They all stared at me, their eyes mocking.
Panic set in as I realized I was trapped, and Giulia's true intentions were finally clear. I felt my spirit slipping away, wondering if she had poisoned me or if this was some twisted game. The room spun faster, and I was powerless to stop it.
I struggled to move, my body feeling heavy and unresponsive. Giulia's words cut through the haze, her voice dripping with malice. "Now you'll learn to never trust anyone again. Never trust your enemies again."
The men around her laughed, their voices echoing in my mind like a cruel taunt. I tried to speak, to scream, to beg, but my voice was trapped in my throat. My body felt like it was floating away, my spirit disconnecting from reality.
I was blanking out, my consciousness slipping away. It was as if I'd been pulled into a dark void, and I couldn't find my way back. I felt nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing. The last thing I remembered was Giulia's face, twisted in a cruel smile, before everything went black.
- Writer
