Page 177
Story: When Hearts Remember
My muscles seize, and I think back to Ethan and Elias’s warnings about their investigation.
“No,” I whisper, inspecting the documents, “Fleur Entertainment Holdings Operations Account.” One of the originating bank accounts’ sender’s information is Ethan’s company. “But why?”
These items are over a decade old. What was he involved in?
I click on a jpeg file. My heart stops when I flag the words, “The Association.”
I remember reading about it, the suspected shadowy organization that allegedly murdered a high-profile businessman.
Then I read the text messages in the folder.
My heart stops. I slap my hands on my desk, accidentally jolting the laptop, and the flash drive topples to the floor.
“Shit.” Quickly, I squat down and pick it up. How did I not know about this? Did I never open this folder in the past?
Something in my gut tells me this is the first time I’ve seen this information.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I need to talk to Ethan and Elias. I need to tell them what I’ve found.
Without looking above me, I get up.
And accidentally slam my head on the hard edge of my desk.
Pain explodes across my skull. I drop to the floor, the sharp pain robbing me of my breath.
The past drags me under again.
The music thumps loudly. Muted conversations and clinking of glasses filter through the walls. The hallway is dark, like someone purposely turned off the lights.
I should turn around. A sixth sense tells me I’m not supposed to be here.
But my body refuses to listen. My feet inch forward of their own accord.
I need to find Tay Tay. The party is over. Everyone from the ballet studio went home, and we’ve had our fun.
There’s still school tomorrow.
I should turn around and leave. I’m obviously lost.
Then I hear it. Screams. Gut-wrenching screams. The sounds of fabric ripping, skin slapping against skin.
My blood curdles and my breath freezes in my lungs.
Before I know it, I’m standing in front of the door at the end of the corridor. The cries are louder and whatever’s going on inside the room is utter terror.
It’s something that’ll change everything as I know it.
Holding my breath, I peek through the gap, and what I see has me slapping my palm over my mouth.
Men over women—multiple women, all drunk or incapacitated.
An orgy—an unwanted orgy.
My feet inch backward. I need to get out. I need to call the cops.
They can’t see me.
But then, something stops me.
“No,” I whisper, inspecting the documents, “Fleur Entertainment Holdings Operations Account.” One of the originating bank accounts’ sender’s information is Ethan’s company. “But why?”
These items are over a decade old. What was he involved in?
I click on a jpeg file. My heart stops when I flag the words, “The Association.”
I remember reading about it, the suspected shadowy organization that allegedly murdered a high-profile businessman.
Then I read the text messages in the folder.
My heart stops. I slap my hands on my desk, accidentally jolting the laptop, and the flash drive topples to the floor.
“Shit.” Quickly, I squat down and pick it up. How did I not know about this? Did I never open this folder in the past?
Something in my gut tells me this is the first time I’ve seen this information.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I need to talk to Ethan and Elias. I need to tell them what I’ve found.
Without looking above me, I get up.
And accidentally slam my head on the hard edge of my desk.
Pain explodes across my skull. I drop to the floor, the sharp pain robbing me of my breath.
The past drags me under again.
The music thumps loudly. Muted conversations and clinking of glasses filter through the walls. The hallway is dark, like someone purposely turned off the lights.
I should turn around. A sixth sense tells me I’m not supposed to be here.
But my body refuses to listen. My feet inch forward of their own accord.
I need to find Tay Tay. The party is over. Everyone from the ballet studio went home, and we’ve had our fun.
There’s still school tomorrow.
I should turn around and leave. I’m obviously lost.
Then I hear it. Screams. Gut-wrenching screams. The sounds of fabric ripping, skin slapping against skin.
My blood curdles and my breath freezes in my lungs.
Before I know it, I’m standing in front of the door at the end of the corridor. The cries are louder and whatever’s going on inside the room is utter terror.
It’s something that’ll change everything as I know it.
Holding my breath, I peek through the gap, and what I see has me slapping my palm over my mouth.
Men over women—multiple women, all drunk or incapacitated.
An orgy—an unwanted orgy.
My feet inch backward. I need to get out. I need to call the cops.
They can’t see me.
But then, something stops 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
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197