CHAPTER 76: FAMILIAR STRANGER

The guard leading Natalia stopped in front of the room of whispers.

"We’re here ma’am," he said.

"Thank you for bringing me," she replied sincerely.

"You don’t have more than an hour. I’ll be back to pick you up when your time is up," he said, before turning around and walking away.

Natalia did a little breathing exercise. In, out, she breathed and then propped a smile on her face.

She pushed the door open, walking into the room in hasty excitement.

"I’m here Val!" She dashed straight for the bed. "I can’t believe you’re already sleeping by this time," she laughed as she held the covers and tried to drag it out of her body.

Sonia tried to stop her, but before she could, the covers slipped.

A scream rippled out of Natalia’s throat when her eyes fell on a body that did not resemble Valentina’s.

In turn and in shock, Sonia also let out a piercing scream.

Their screams synchronised, and at its peak, slowly, began to reduce into nothing but an echo.

"Sonia?" Natalia called, wide-eyed and disheveled.

Sonia slowly turned to face her with a childish grin on her fluffy cheeks. "Hi miss Natalia!" She waved awkwardly.

Natalia breathed out. "What the hell is going on here?"

****

"Valentina, what is it? What’s wrong? Talk to me."

Valentine’s vision despite the goggles became blurry.

The song that sounded like the greatest sound ever made a few minutes ago, whipped harshly against her ears with torturous strokes.

Even her breathing became laborious.

"I need to leave," she whispered over and over again.

Elio returned in the process of Marcello trying to keep her calm whilst figuring out what was happening to her.

The second his eyes fell on Valentina, he knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" He swiftly questioned Marcello.

Valentina turned towards the direction she heard his voice and felt his presence.

"Elio?" She called out breathlessly.

He was beside her in a heartbeat. "I’m here Val. What’s the problem?"

"Get me out of here. I can’t–" she heaved twice. "I can’t breathe."

"Shit, you have to cover for me Marce. Luce asked me to do something for him but I thought to stop by first and see how she was doing. Until I get back, you have to cover for me."

"I’ve got you bro. Get her out of here, and hurry. Luce is looking this way."

"Shit! Act normal," he said, as he turned Valentina towards the exit.

"Move quickly," Marcello, facing the direction of Luciano who was now looking towards their section, said calmly, so as not to raise any suspicion.

He smiled when Luce’s gaze met his, and even raised the glass in his hand he had quickly picked up.

"He’s turning away now. Move!"

Elio held Valentina closely, as they began walking out of their section.

"You again, Elio? I see you’re going to get some action," the same guard said carelessly.

"Shut up, Leo," Elio retorted.

The moment the music began to sound distant, Valentina gasped, as fresh air rushed into her lungs.

She breathed out freely, and then yanked the goggles out of her eyes.

Her eyes met stark darkness that made her stiffen.

Elio swiftly carried her into his arms. "I’m sorry for carrying you without your permission, but we’re still in the light out areas. Bury your face in my chest."

Tears stung her eyes, but she sniffled them away, and did as she was told.

After a little while of walking, he finally put her down.

"What happened back there, Valentina?"

She opened her eyes to see bright light, but didn’t answer.

Not wanting to press the matter any further, he didn’t speak again until they were standing in front of the room of whispers.

Elio opened the door for her, and as she walked in, he went in after her.

"I say Val go–" Sonia paused in the middle of her explanation. "Val!" She called out happily.

Natalia whipped her body behind, and when her eyes fell on Valentina, she staggered a little from a mixture of joy and shock.

Valentina ran to her, and fell into her arms as they hugged dearly.

For the duo left behind, it was their cue to slip out of the room.

"The party over so soon?" Sonia questioned Elio as she reached the door.

"For just Valentina unfortunately," he replied, and they shut the door after them.

"I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me right now!" Natalia pulled Valentina away just to take a good look at her.

"I look like an alien, don’t I?" She laughed as she yanked the wig off her head.

Her own hair came cascading the length of her back.

"The paintings are a nice touch," she chuckled, but grew serious only seconds after. "You never listen, do you?" She shook her head, dragging her to the bed so they could sit.

"I know, I shouldn’t have gone to the club. But it seemed like a tantalising offer. I couldn’t resist it."

"So why do I see some sadness in your eyes? What happened back there, Val?" Her hand reached out to stroke Valentina’s hair gently.

"You won’t believe who I saw. I had to practically beg to be taken away. Before then, I was having such a good time. Until I saw him."

"Luciano? I mean Elio told me about the reveal and everything. I absolutely cannot believe the odds of him being Matteo Alvarez’s son. I’m still mind blown!"

"Yeah tell me about it," she rolled her eyes hard. "But it wasn’t even him. I saw Jared, Natty."

Her heart jumped to her mouth. "You saw who?"

"Exactly! I saw Jared."

"Curly hair, artist, cheating, lying ass, manipulative skunk of a man, Jared? What the hell is he doing here?!"

"Would’nt I love to know? He was with Luciano, and judging by their body language around each other, you could tell they know each other quite well. Maybe even super fond of themselves."

"No way!"

"It couldn’t come at a worse timing, Natty. Just when Sonia had agreed to get me a phone to make a call," she sighed.

Natalia lifted a brow. "What kind of call is Jared’s presence here supposed to ruin?"

"I was going to call Richard."

"Valentina!" Natalia shook her head negatively.

"But Natty—"

"How do you even know his number?"

She scoffed. "He never gave me his number through my phone. He made sure I memorized it on our second meeting because according to him, if I ever needed his help, I could call him from any device."

"Smart," she bobbed her head. "But also dangerous. You know what his goal is, Val."

"I do. Can you blame me though? How else do we escape this hole?"

"He is going to kill the son of the man that killed your father. That is Luciano! Do you really want the man dead, Val?"

Valentina thought about it for a few seconds, and then her eyes darkened as she returned her gaze back to Natalia.

"You know my answer, Natty. You know a year ago I would have said no. But a year later, tell me why not?" She dropped the heavy bomb.