Page 41 of Neptune

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CASSIE

A fter today's awkward breakfast and lunch where the three of us ate quietly at the dining table—I was still trying to compose myself after what happened with Luke, and Aiden was still in a bad mood because of Luke's failed attempt to bake the banana cake—I find myself settling at my grand piano inside the music room.

A sigh leaves my lips before I begin playing one of my favorite Disney song— A Whole New World —and it indeed manages to calm me down by the time I finish playing it.

I stare at my music book, in which I draft every song that comes into my head, and slowly open it. I haven't tried composing new songs lately, so maybe I should try to do it now.

Sometimes, the best masterpieces are created when the composer is feeling the worst, when their hearts are most broken.

How ironic.

As I flip through the pages of my music book, something surprises me. There's a sticky note attached to the page.

I hold my breath as I read it.

Are you playing the piano? Every time you do, I can hear it from my room, and it calms me but at the same tortures me because I can't help but realize my feelings for you all over again. - Luke

I sigh, shaking my head in disbelief. He knows that I still don't want to talk to him, so he decided to approach me this way.

Silly . But then, I wonder why my hand is shaking when I turn the page again.

The banana cake you saw this morning was horrible, but I'm not a quitter. Be ready for the world's yummiest banana cake, from yours truly, your husband. Don't tell me to fuck off, because I just want to see that beautiful smile again on your face. - Luke

Didn't he say to Aiden this morning that he can't cook? How stubborn. Yet, I can't help the small smile touching my lips.

I turn the page again.

See? You're already smiling again, aren't you? I haven't even given you the banana cake ;) - Luke

My cheeks heat up. How can this man tease me and make me blush even though he's not even here with me?

Gosh, this is irritating. I growl in frustration, turning the next page of the book, and another sticky note shows itself.

Do you know my favorite song? It's called "Always Be My Baby." It's your favorite too, isn't it? Just like the song, you'll always be mine, Cassie. And so will I. We are more real than the song itself. - Luke

I frown.

How does he know that I love that song too? I haven't told anybody about this song. This is odd. Does he have a sixth sense?

I turn the page again, but the notes have stopped. Another sigh leaves my lips as I close my music book. How wrong I was to think that I could compose a new song today.

Now, all I can think about is Luke, and if I compose a song, I'll be only writing about him. And I don't want that.

Still thinking about how Luke sometimes gives me the vibe that he knows me more than I know myself, I get up from the piano bench and head to my room.

Since I'm not in the mood to play music anymore, I decide to just wait until later in the afternoon when I can play again with Aiden.

I step into my room and halt when I catch sight of something new. There on my nightstand lies a small plate of banana cake.

I approach it and examine the cake. Judging by its messy appearance, it definitely wasn't made by a professional cook or the chef in this house .

This must be from Luke.

Somehow, the thought of him trying his best to make this for me even though he’s never cooked before, just to put a smile on my face, warms my heart.

This is indeed the first time that someone has cooked for me since my dad did. Curious, I take the spoon and try the cake.

Surprisingly, it tastes really good.

???

"Found you!" Aiden exclaims, catching me hiding behind the bookshelves in the living room. We're playing hide and seek again.

I laugh as he hugs me. He pulls me out from my hiding place, and as I step back into the center of the living room, I notice that Luke is watching us with smiling eyes, leaning against the bar counter, a cup of coffee in his hand.

When our eyes meet, I quickly look away. There's slight guilt in me from knowing that Luke must be eager to join the game, but since he knows that I want to keep my distance from him, he holds back.

The sound of a cellphone ringing echoes, making me shift my attention back to Luke as he picks up the call and steps out of the room.

It seems that he just got a sudden interruption from his office.

"Now it's your turn to be the demon," Aiden exclaims, snapping my thoughts away from Luke.

The boy grins at me, completely absorbed in the game.

I smile at Aiden before turning around and beginning to count, hearing his footsteps pounding fast as he looks for a place to hide.

When I finish counting to 20, I travel my eyes around the living room, but of course, he's nowhere to be found.

Based on what I heard earlier, it seems like he has run out of this room toward the back of the house.

Slowly, I step onto the back patio of the house, toward the spacious back garden. I look to the left and chuckle when I catch sight of Aiden still looking for a place to hide.

It looks like he can't decide whether he should enter the house again through another door or hide behind the plants.

He snaps his head around as he keeps searching for the perfect spot, stepping backward, not realizing that he's stepping back toward the swimming pool.

My heart almost stops, my eyes wide in fear. "Aiden!" I shout.

But it's too late. Aiden falls back into the water. It splashes as he vanishes underneath it. I feel like my chest is about to explode, my legs shaking as I run toward the swimming pool.

Without thinking further, I jump into it. The cold water attacks my skin, and as my feet touch the bottom, adrenaline rushes through me.

Panic consumes me as I snap my head around in the water, focusing on Aiden. He looks like he’s in pain—gasping, punching and kicking in every direction under the water.

I feel like I'm going to die. With all the energy I have in my body, I push myself toward him and pull him up. A loud gasp escapes from my mouth as we appear at the surface, but I still have to drag him to the edge of the pool.

Ms. Langston screams, finding both of us floating in the water. She must have heard the chaos just now.

"Come here! Quick!" she urges.

And that's when I suddenly can't feel my leg. It feels numb, and I can't move it.

Oh, God. It's a cramp.

Maybe it happened because I was moving with so much force so suddenly. I feel like I'm about to go down in the water again, dragging Aiden along with me.

But I can't let that happen. I have to save him.

I've never been so scared in my entire life. Even though my leg can hardly move, and I'm carrying an unconscious Aiden with difficulty, I still force myself toward the edge of the pool .

It feels like I'm struggling between life and death, but it's not because I'm dying. It's because I can't let Aiden die.

Ms. Langston keeps shouting at me, expecting us to reach her in no time—I don't think she realizes what's happening.

I have to save him. Please, God, let him be okay.

I don't know how it happens—it feels like a miracle—but despite the cramps in my legs, I manage to get closer to the edge and push Aiden toward Ms. Langston even though the pain in every muscle of my body is unbearable.

Ms. Langston catches him, crying as she shouts his name, her attention solely focused on him. That's when the cramps attack me a thousand times more powerful than before, and I gasp as I sink into the water.

I choke, feeling the water getting into my respiratory system, and it hurts like hell. I'm drowning, and the fact that the water is quite deep frightens me even more.

I shoot my hand toward the wall of the swimming pool. It's just a little bit more. I just have to reach it and climb onto it.

But I can't, my body falling deeper toward the bottom.

While my head feels like it’s being attacked by a thousand needles, a voice suddenly echoes in it.

Please, save him. I don't care about myself, but please, save him. Please save this little life.

Then the needles are replaced by an even more powerful force, like a hammer. A silent scream fills my lungs as the air I need to breathe doesn't exist anymore.

My throat hurts to the core, my chest crushed with extreme pressure.

I've heard these voices before. It's like I'm experiencing the same hell all over again. I can't stand the pain. I can't.

It's too painful. I feel like dying.

Please, save him. Save this little soul. Anybody.

While my vision darkens, my eyelids becoming heavier, I can hear another voice, distinctly, like it's so far away.

" Cassie !"

It sounds just like Luke's voice. I hear a huge splash of water, and that's when my unconsciousness begins to engulf me.

Even though I can hear someone coming to get me, it's too late, because the only thing I can feel now is darkness enveloping everything around me.

Then everything goes black, and I can no longer feel anything.