A kiss of deceit

king lot. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being wat

here. The road behind her was empty, the only sound the hu

flesh as she drove, her senses on high alert. She was waiting

aw it. A pair of headlights appeared in the distan

was a black sedan, its windows tinted and opaque. For a moment, t

an vanished into the night. Alessia was left driving a

was safe. But the feeling of being watched persist

s seeming to press in on her from all sides. She was tir

t drive anymore, she saw a sign in the distance. It was a m

racing with fear. She was safe, at least for the mome

ows that pursued her. And she had to find a way to un

s she filled out the registration form. She was exh

cing with fear. And then, just as she was starting

. Alessia's heart skipped a beat as she realized that she

e scratching stopped. Alessia was left standing

ape from the shadows that pursued her. But for now, she was tra

she stood frozen in her room, her ears straining to hear any further sounds. But there wa

f down. She was being paranoid, she told hersel

mpse of something out of the corner of her eye.

pick it up. It was a note, written in the same handwr

er," the note read. "

as she read the words. Who was writing t

of unease. She was trapped, alone and scar

r. Alessia's heart skipped a beat as s

led out, trying to k

stead, the knocking gre

ade her way to the door. She hesitated for

med...familiar. Alessia's mind was r

he remembered. It was the same knocking pattern tha

n the other side of the door. She slowly turned the handle an

doorway. It was a woman, tall and imposing, with pierc

ssia asked, trying to

hink I can help you," she said, her voice low and husky.

e of what to make of her sudden arrival. Who was this wo

ophia pushed past her and into the room, her

e," Sophia said, her voice

straining to hear any further sounds. But there was nothing. The scra

f down. She was being paranoid, she told hersel

mpse of something out of the corner of her eye.

pick it up. It was a note, written in the same handwr

er," the note read. "

as she read the words. Who was writing t

of unease. She was trapped, alone and scar

r. Alessia's heart skipped a beat as s

led out, trying to k

stead, the knocking gre

ade her way to the door. She hesitated for

med...familiar. Alessia's mind was r

he remembered. It was the same knocking pattern tha

n the other side of the door. She slowly turned the handle an

doorway. It was a woman, tall and imposing, with pierc

ssia asked, trying to

hink I can help you," she said, her voice low and husky.

e of what to make of her sudden arrival. Who was this wo

ophia pushed past her and into the room, her

e," Sophia said, her voice