The Love From Vengeance

388: FRACTURED REALITY

ARIEL’S POV

As I moved further, my footsteps echoed in the silence, my eyes scanning every corner in search of the golden necklace that held so much significance. The cabin seemed unchanged since the last time we were here, yet an undeniable sense of foreboding lingered in the air.

Finally, I reached the bedroom where Luke had surprised me with the necklace, the memory still vivid in

my

mind. My heart skipped a beat as I approached the dresser, where he had laid out the delicate piece

of jewelry.

There it was, nestled among the trinkets and mementos. And as I reached out to take it, I heard some footsteps, causing me to cease my movements.

With a silent gasp, I turned around and could hear the footsteps getting close.

What the hell is that? I could only ask myself in my head. Because, at the moment, I was too terrified to

utter a word.

My fingers closed around the golden necklace, and the metal cooled against my skin as I lifted it from its resting place. The soft light filtering through the curtains danced across its surface, casting shimmering

reflections on the walls.

But before I could fully grasp the weight of relief, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cabin once more, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart raced in my chest as I turned towards the door my senses on high alert.

With cautious steps, I made my way out of the bedroom, the floorboards creaking beneath my feet with each movement. Every shadow seemed to morph and shift in the dim light, playing tricks on my mind as i scanned the room for any sign of intruders.

But there was nothing. There was no looming figure in the darkness, no source for the mysterious footsteps that had sent me into a panic just moments before. I let out a shaky breath, the tension slowly seeping from my body as I realized I was alone.

feeling that something was not quite right. Was it just my imagination, fueled by exhaustion and fear? Or was there truly something lurking in the shadows, waiting to

each step, I forced myself to

cast one last glance around the room, searching for any sign

leaves outside.

I stepped out into the cool night air, feeling the comforting weight of the necklace against

308 FRACTURED REALITY,

of fear in the darkness.

the cabin one last time, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. With a quickened pace, I hurried back to my car, eager to leave the eerie silence of the forest

the image of the hooded figure flashed through my mind once more. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the encounter than I had initially thought. But for now, all I could do was focus on Luke and hope that he would soon awaken from his coma,

had plagued

had gripped me lingered, refusing to dissipate even in the harsh light of reality. But I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing

The familiar sights and sounds of the hospital corridor provided some semblance of comfort

lying motionless

DE DOD

my hands, the cool metal a stark contrast to the warmth

reminder of what we had

that spoke of Luke’s love for me. Tears welled up in my eyes

in the quiet of the hospital room, the weight of uncertainty pressed down upon me once more. The fear that Luke might never wake up and that our future

prayer, a plea to bring Luke back to me. I couldn’t bear the thought of facing

more than just a figment of my imagination: The footsteps in the cabin and the hooded figure were too real

bedside table, a silent promise to never give up hope. As I leaned back against the edge of the

how I

in the middle of the night with a sense of unease in the air like a heavy fog. The soft hum of

dark.

at Luke’s still form, a wave of sadness washed over me, mingling with

398–FRACTURED REALITY