CHAPTER 56: 56

I glued my eyes to the CCTV footage on this tablet, trying to scan every pixel, every frame, every moment. And desperate to recall something, anything, but my mind was completely blank.

I sigh in frustration as my shoulders slump in defeat. I’ve watched this footage a dozen times already, but nothing stands out. Expect the familiar faces of my mother,the old man and the suspicious behavior of an unfamiliar man on mask,there were no clues whatsoever and It felit like my brain was a sieve, and every attempt to remember something just slips right through.

I rub my temples, feeling the tension build up within.

"Why can’t I remember despite my efforts?" I wondered about feeling hopeless.

I was there, and I am sure I saw and knew something I shouldn’t have and that’s why this unknown villain is after me.. But everything was just a haze. No matter how hard I try to focus on the grainy images, willing my brain to cough up even the smallest detail. A glimpse of a shirt, a snippet of conversation, a glimmer of recognition. Anything.

But it was all just static. Noise. Frustration kept mounting up and I let out a growl of exasperation.

I slump back into the bed, the tablet slipping from my grasp.

I looked up from the tablet I was holding and was greeted by the graceful figure of Nix... no, I mean his demon, reading a book. Anyone unaware of his personality switch would think they were the same person, but the reverse is actually the case. One is talkative, while the other prefers his quietness. One is mischievous with dubious thoughts, and the other is law-abiding but naughty.

They share the same body, but they are complete opposites.

"Have you been able to recall anything?" he suddenly spoke up,and I bit down on my lips, wondering if I should answer his question, knowing I was still going to give him the same response I’ve been giving for the past thirty-six hours.

"How exactly did you start sharing the same body with Nix?" I responded to his question with another and he sighed as he turned the page of the book he was reading. "You know, you’re a bit scary. I wonder how Nix is able to cope with you.."

"Scary, you say?" He closed the book he was holding and looked up at me. "The scary one is your husband. I’m just a part of him that had to force myself out." His words sounded unrealistic, but I had no choice but to believe.

"So... when did you force yourself out? What prompted it?" I sat up straight, setting the tablet aside as I finally found something else to focus on.

"Now, when was that... ah, that’s it. That day he was in a mental asylum, something tragic happened, and he couldn’t handle it. So I had to come out." I wanted to imagine the situation, but I doubted my imagination could do justice to what he spoke of.

"But how did Nix end up in a mental hospital?" I questioned, expecting a fitting response. Instead, he picked up his book once more and returned his attention to it.

"Did he, by any chance, kill those..."

"Nix never kills... the innocent, I mean. Not that he’s a saint, but he isn’t responsible for those deaths," he shunned me.

"Then who is responsible?" I retorted.

"His roommate... actually, you are responsible. If he hadn’t helped you escape, he wouldn’t have been locked up in a mental asylum in the first place."

"But..." I tried to retort but was at a loss for words.

"You want to know why I want you dead so much? Then I’ll tell you. With you gone, I’ll be able to become one with him. But with you around, he’ll never accept me. Not only did you abandon him when he needed you the most, but you also betrayed him," he scoffed. I could feel a sense of guilt building inside me, although I couldn’t remember what I had done to deserve such a harsh punishment from him.

"When will Nix wake up?"

"Why do you ask? So you can finish him off?" I rolled my eyes, wondering why he needed to answer my questions as if we were on a battlefield.

"Neither you nor I are good enough for him. He can only live peacefully after both of us are gone from his life," he spoke. Although his words were simple and understandable, I still couldn’t comprehend them.

If he isn’t good enough that’s is his problem why drag me into it?

"Meaning?"

"Let’s make a deal." He sat up straight, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he placed the book aside and rose to his feet.

Why do I have the hunch that I’m not going to like what he’s about to say?.

. . .

My heart raced inexplicably, a chill seeping into my veins, turning my palms pale. The sun blazed high in the sky, casting a deceptive brightness, but despite its warmth, shivers danced down my spine at the thought of what was about to unfold.

It had been over seventy-two hours, and all I could do was wait for Zamiel’s arrival. Nix, however, remained asleep for reasons I couldn’t fathom, and another unsettling feeling gnawed at me something unexpected was about to happen.

But... but... but...

Even my thoughts felt weary. All I wanted was to end this twisted game, to live a normal life if possible, to learn a thing or two about cooking, and to make my career flawless. But...

"The sea is beautiful, isn’t it?" The soft footsteps approaching and the warm tone addressing me made me wonder what destiny truly had in store.

I longed for a flawless career, yet I never seemed to escape the dark world’s inescapable web.

"What do you plan on naming this piece?" His question stopped my hand, heart, and mind. I sighed, taking one last look at the incomplete painting before me, then set down my brush.

My paintings had always reflected every stage of my life, but this one was different. It wasn’t about my life or my choices. Though unfinished, it brought me an odd sense of peace.

"Don’t you despise me?" The words slipped from my tongue as I picked up another brush, carefully highlighting the strokes I’d previously created.

"Do you want me to?" he responded.

"Then do you love me?"

The world seemed to hold its breath. The only sound was the waves crashing against each other, as if time itself had paused, even the water refusing to flow.

"Don’t answer me. Just don’t love me." I turned back to my painting, but a sudden roar of a helicopter interrupted. Its rotors sliced through the air as it descended toward the cruise ship.

From the opposite side of the ship, a sleek speedboat emerged on the horizon, its engines roaring as it cut through the waves. A group of rugged-looking men manned the boat, each wearing sunglasses and gripping firearms, exuding an air of confidence and authority as they closed in.

The helicopter hovered above the deck, its downdraft whipping my hair.

"Nix, Carmela, get in quickly!" Zamiel shouted, lowering a rope like ladder, but my attention was drawn to the speedboat, now just a yard from the ship’s hull.

"Climb!" Nix nudged me urgently.

"Go first, I have to pick something up." I took a step backwards and I could see uncertainty in his eyes "I’ll be back i promise I just can’t leave this painting here" I picked up my unfinished work and saw him nod as he began climbing.

As I took my first few steps on the ladder, I was stunned by the sound of a bullet fired at me,I looked up and could see Zamiel mutter something under his breath but that wasn’t my concern as I held tightly on the ladder as the helicopter suddenly began moving

"What’s going on?!" Nix finally asked the question I wanted to but we got no response, instead more bullets were fired at us

"He found out that Carmela is alive?"

"What! I thought you said he wasn’t suspicious?" Nix roared back

"I thought so but..." their conversation was interrupted by more bullets and I unconsciously let go of the painting I was holding.

My memories we’re incomplete and I doubt I could continuously rely on what others say or what they believe is true to live on. If I truly want to get my revenge then the only way is reliving the life I badly wanted to run away from.

If he wants me then he will have me.

I took a deep breath and grasped the rope ladder attached to the helicopter, my heart racing with anticipation as I let go, the wind rushed past me, whipping my hair into a frenzy and I felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with a hint of fear as I sliced through the air.

Time seemed to slow down as I descended, the helicopter’s rotors thundering above me. I felt weightless and free as the sea rushed up to meet me, its surface glistening like a thousand diamonds.

The water splashed as I hit it like a blaze ball, the impact knocking the wind out of me. But I didn’t have time to catch my breath or swim, I could see Nix screaming and trying to jump after me but it was of no use as this was my choice and decision to make.