Sinned Blood

CHAPTER 24 ~ Cruelty

"And who are you?" Drago asks her. Sky, caught in the scrutiny of Drago's suspicious gaze, takes a deep breath before responding,

"I was just looking for someone. I got a bit lost. I was heading back to the salon, actually." She hopes her casual demeanor will deflect any further inquiries and that Drago won't delve deeper into her presence. As she was just about to leave, he steps firmly in Sky's path.

Drago, broad and intimidating, casts a shadow over her. Her heart quickens, and she hesitates, meeting his stern gaze with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. The imposing figure of Drago seems to block any escape routes, intensifying the tension in the narrow hallway.

"She belongs with me, actually." An angelic voice calls out. Annabelle's voice. Like a soothing melody, it cuts through the tense air, asserting her claim over Sky. Drago, though initially resistant, acquiesces to Annabelle's unexpected interference. As Annabelle takes Sky's hand, they retreat from the looming figure of Drago, leaving the oppressive atmosphere of the hallway behind. The echoes of Drago's footsteps gradually fade, replaced by a sense of relief in the wake of Annabelle's intervention. Sky looks at Annabelle, a mixture of gratitude and fear in her eyes, as they navigate the mysterious corridors together.

"Don't speak until we are in a room. They can hear you."

Annabelle opens a door, guiding Sky to enter. The room unfolds before her, familiar yet altered in its historical context. The furnishings bear a timeless elegance, and the muted glow of vintage lamps casts a warm ambiance. She recognizes it as the room they have given her in the present time. Annabelle leads Sky to a chair by a gracefully adorned vanity and gestures for her to sit.

As they sit in the antique room, the ticking of an ornate clock punctuates the silence. Sky, hesitant yet intrigued, finally breaks the quietude.

"Why did you help me back there? And where are we?"

Annabelle meets Sky's gaze with a mysterious smile, "You're in a place where time converges, my dear. As for why I helped you, let's just say our paths are intricately entwined." Her eyes, reminiscent of emeralds, hold a depth that transcends the temporal boundaries. Sky's head begins to spin, after all, her temperature is still high.

"It's a complex web, Sky," Annabelle begins, her words measured as she reveals a fragment of their intertwined fate. "Today is the day I meet my demise. Yet, you can alter that fate. I need you to save me."

"I don't think I understand..." She says weakly. A surreal sensation envelops Sky as Annabelle prepares to delve deeper into the intricacies of their shared destiny. Yet, before the revelations can unfold, a mysterious occurrence disrupts the scene. The world around Sky dissolves into an ethereal white, a stark departure from the room where her fate hung in the balance. In the blink of an eye, she's transported back to the bustling city street, the present time reasserting its dominance with an unexpected and disorienting force. Sky stands amidst the urban rhythm, caught between the enigma of her encounter with Annabelle and the familiar chaos of the city's pulse.

Sky's body feels like a leaden weight as she pushes herself off the unforgiving sidewalk. The indifferent cityscape continues its hustle around her, a stark contrast to the otherworldly encounter with Annabelle. A shiver runs down her spine as she attempts to rise, unnoticed by the passing pedestrians, their hurried steps echoing a detached rhythm. Sky's surroundings blur for a moment, the transition from the mysterious realm back to the concrete reality disorienting and unnerving. Cold seeps into her bones, a stark reminder that the spectral journey has left her physically vulnerable in the heart of the indifferent city.

"Sky," a voice calls out, drawing her attention. Looking up, she finds Zachary standing nearby. Relief washes over her, seeing a familiar face.

"How did you find me?" she inquires.