A HEARTWRENCHING BETRAYAL
SEREIA’s POV
The rain hammered down heavily on the old roof unforgivingly and I was worried it would eventually give out under the heavy wind and rain. I stood inside a poorly lit library, waiting for it to stop. I glanced at my watch and read the time. It was way past 7 already.
The library had closed about an hour ago but the stubborn rain had refused to let up.
“Miss Voss,” a familiar voice called and I tilted my head to look at my boss, Mr. Parker.
He was a quiet man in his late sixties, cold and mostly kept to himself unless he really needed to address something. The library had been his wife’s favorite place. And after her death, he couldn’t bring himself to close up.
Because his wife had loved it.
“Have this,” he said, his lips pursed as he handed me a grey umbrella. I looked at his sincere face that I’d hardly ever seen smile.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Mr. Parker,” I said sweetly but his frown deepened.
“You’ve been here longer than you should have,” he said as his arms stayed stretched out.
“Mr. Parker...” I started but he cut me off sharply.
“You won’t spend your Friday evening stuck here. I’m sure your boyfriend must be waiting for you. Go!” he insisted and my fingers twitched by my side.
Mr. Parker wasn’t wrong. My boyfriend Emery and I had planned for dinner tonight. I should have been home thirty minutes ago and dressed.
“I’m locking up,” he grumbled and pushed the umbrella at me and I reached for it.
“Thank you,” I said sweetly and he grunted under his breath and nodded at the door.
I walked out into the pouring rain, my coat tightened around my midsection and my bag clutched tightly into my side.
My boot clicked on the sidewalk with each step, splashing into the puddles that had gathered. Cars sped past, and I walked alone humming a tune under my breath.
Thirty minutes later, the rain hadn’t let up as I arrived outside my apartment building. I rushed into the lobby and to the old elevator.
As soon as I stepped into my room, I peeled my clothes off and reached to check my phone.
A message from Emery lit the top of my screen.
‘Still on for tonight?’
My lips spread into a smile before I could stop it.
‘I’m getting dressed for you,’ I typed back, still smiling widely.
A minute passed and then another. Emery read the message but I got no reply.
My smile dropped as I stared at my phone without any excitement. Lately, Emery had been under a lot of pressure at work and it was affecting our relationship.
I wanted to be understanding because he showed up even though he was having a hard time.
The rain beat down harder than ever as I disappeared into the bathroom. I kept my clothes light and pulled on a bright coat.
Mr. Parker’s umbrella also came in handy as I walked out into the rain.
The empty road stretched out in front of me. The rain had kept everyone in and I should have done the same but I wanted to see Emery.
I walked down, keeping my eyes focused on the road ahead.
Suddenly, a feeling of unease struck me. I looked over my shoulder and saw a black SUV gliding forward on the road. The lights were steady as it crawled behind me.
Weird.
I looked back ahead, faced with the endless road and my heart thumped wildly in my chest.
My pace quickened, my breathing coming out hard and fast as I ran down the sidewalk. I looked over my shoulder once and saw the car, moving at the same steady pace.
I pushed harder, sprinting across a locked shop. The cafe came into view.
Relief rushed through me. My umbrella protested against the wind and my speed.
I wanted to hold on, but the thought of surviving became far more important. I let it fly to the wind and I ran faster.
The car was getting closer, the headlights cutting through the rain as it maintained its unhurried pace. My heart beat faster.
I scrambled to get my phone and dialed Emery’s number. My finger glided over the wet screen, trembling to unlock it.
“Come on... open...” I cried in panic, swiping harder. I missed a step and fell over, my phone flying as I landed on the punishing ground.
I looked over my shoulder first. The car had stopped. A man in a black suit climbed down. I didn’t wait to see what he intended to do to me.
I scrambled to my feet and took off again, my phone lost somewhere on the sidewalk. The cafe wasn’t so far away anymore so I pushed myself harder.
A force knocked me sideways, sending me crashing into the asphalt. My vision swam and I struggled onto my hands and knees, crawling along desperately to get to the cafe.
Fingers clamped tightly around my ankles and I kicked hard. Satisfaction thrummed through me when I heard a bone crack. I thought it’d give me time.
It didn’t. Another hand grabbed me, pulling me along the asphalt. The cafe door opened and I screamed, my voice loud in the silence.
The figure paused and looked at me.
I recognized Emery.
“Emery!!” I called louder in case he didn’t know who it was.
He stared at me for a heartbeat and then he walked towards us. I struggled harder even though the attacker had stopped pulling me.
“Emery...” I called when he was close enough. A wave of relief rushed through me. He was here. I was going to be safe.
He paused a few feet away and I looked up to meet his eyes, cold and empty.
I froze. It wasn’t the Emery I knew. He felt like an imposter glaring down at me.
He looked at the man behind me, and then his calm voice came.
“It’s her.”
