Page 128
Story: These Shattered Memories
We stand in an empty space that sits under a posh Queen’s Park convenience store a few blocks away from The Serpentine. It was once a record store and bar, but it closed down a year ago according to the owner.
The space smells of dust and disuse. Exposed brick walls and dim golden light give the basement an oddly cozy feel, despiteits emptiness. The floors are a splintered and termite mauled hardwood that will definitely require some TLC.
I look at both Alex and Halle who has joined us after I had a driver pick her up. They stare at me blankly. “Why are we standing in a dusty basement?” Halle asks me.
I smile. “It’s yours.”
Alex frowns. “What do you mean‘it’s yours’?”
I shrug. “Exactly that,” I tell him. “Remember when I asked you what you’d do if it wasn’t for the OCU?”
He nods. “Yeah…?” and then he trails, realisation dawning on him. “No way,” he breathes, understanding dawning over his eyes. “Rowan, please tell me you didn’t—”
“What’s going on?” Halle asks, looking between us.
Alex turns to her. “Rowan bought this,” he says simply. “For us.”
“What?” she asks, looking between us before turning to Alex fully. “Alex, what the hell is he talking about?”
“I might have told him about our deal to open a bar one day?” He phrases it like a question.
Halle’s eyes go impossibly wide. “You told him about Serene Tiger?”
Alex winces and nods.
“No way,” she deadpans, turning to me. When she realises I’m not joking, those eyes widen again. I’m terrified they might pop out. “Wait, so, this place, it’s ours?”
“As of yesterday, yes. Serene Tiger is a go,” I say. “If you want it, of course.”
“Of course we do!” she shouts. “Oh my God. This is amazing! Thank you. I can’t begin to…” she continues rambling, but I can only focus on Alex.
He’s looking at me carefully, a shy smile dancing on his lips. Under the golden lights of the old record store, his eyes glint andI’m caught by him all over again. I’d give him the world if he even hinted at wanting it. I’d give him anything.
“You didn’t have to do this,” he says softly.
I step closer, brushing my fingers against his. “I wanted to,” I say simply. “I want you to have something that’s yours. I want you to have everything you want.”
For a moment, the world shrinks to just the two of us, the weight of everything else fading away. In the distance I can still hear Halle speaking but all I can see is the conflict in Alex’s eyes. I can tell he wants to tell me this is too much, but when he looks at Halle who is exploring the space with that awestruck expression, he swallows whatever he had to say down.
He turns back to me. “Thank you.” It’s two simple words, but I can read everything else he wants to say between them.
“We need to have a copper sink in here!” Halle shouts.
Alex laughs, shaking his head. “Those are impractical.”
“Fuck practicality, Alex,” she all but screams. “Serene Tiger is real!”
He nods, still smiling. “Serene Tiger is real,” he repeats, his eyes covering the entire space in a slow sweep. As he says those words, I can tell he fully believes them, and I couldn’t be happier.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Alex
It feels like I’ve stepped into an ancient pantheon, a temple pulled straight out of a storybook from childhood. Nestled in the hills of Queen’s Peak, hidden from the city’s chaos by towering pine trees and a heavy black gate, stands the grand lime-and-stone building. Golden lights line the path leading to the structure, which rises wide and tall with ivory-white columns. A grand staircase stretches upward to massive cherrywood double doors with iron knockers shaped like serpents.
“Okay, this is crazy!” Halle squeals next to me, eyes filled with excitement as they dart to the rows of expensive cars parked nearby and the glittering jewellery adorning the guests.
I follow her gaze. Men and women dressed in immaculate tuxedos and flowing gowns mill around the entrance. They’re the who’s who of Senna’s elite—members of The Snake, The Judiciary, bankers, and police chiefs. Familiar faces pepper the crowd, and I keep my eyes down, wary of catching someone’s attention.
“It is pretty crazy,” I admit, though there’s a lightness in my voice that surprises me.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128 (Reading here)
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134