Shadows of deceit

e turned to me, his gaze softer, but there was still that same posse

nsion, to ask why he was doing this. But I could not find the words. What was

m. It was beautiful,everything in the mansion was. But I was no

the door shut behind me, leaving me alone in the room

g about my latest predicament bef

by silence. The events of last night felt like a dream,or perhaps a nightmare.

But it was not the opulence that consumed my thoughts; it was the overwhelming sense of danger that linger

surrounded by lush gardens and rolling hills, but none of that mattered. I could not shake the feeling

indow, a sound broke the s

was to face Jack again. He terrified me, but there was something else,something darker,tha

en stepped inside. He was tall and i

you," he said, his voic

g hard. "Okay. I wi

to gather my thoughts. What did Jack want now? I had no

. With one last glance at the room, I stepped out and followed the man d

at the end of the hall,

ce from inside

ng over the doorknob. What

heavy curtains drawn over the windows. Jack was standing by a desk, hi

omething in his gaze,something that made my heart race, but no

with something darker. "You have made an impression on me

I could feel the air shift, and

k away, no matter how hard I tried. The weight of his presence hung in the air like an unspoken promise, and I co

here was no real escape. His movements were fluid, effortless,

, his voice almost gentle, as

ed, not just of him, but of the world I had been thrust into. A

at ease. It was calculating, dangerous, like he could s

, his tone almost soothing. "I will pro

ight and brought me here, to his mansion, to his world o

two-way street, Hazel. I have been very clear about what I expect from

s something in his voice, a dark pro

," he said, stepping closer again. "But you w