Shadows Of Deception

dropped into a scene from a movie I w

n more intimidating in pe

the place screame

olished demeanor and calm voice, spo

ced me, as if that was really m

I mentioned, Adrian. She

he eyes of the man standing next to us i

potlight. He was really tall, his presence commanding the roo

seemed to strip away any pretense, lea

voice was smooth but carried

, my thro

er?" There was disbelief in his tone

my own. It was as if someone else was speaking through me,

n eternity, his eyes narrowing slightly

tiful woman like you c

ly very aware of how everyone was watching me Caleb, The b

ackwoods... it's more prestigio

t, surprised at how

, amused sound that se

e was warm, but his eyes they still held tha

ere was something else there too something in the way Adrian looked at me that set off al

us, Miss Walters," Adrian s

as intimidating as the res

at supposed to be reassuring? I wasn't sure. He didn't look like the monster I had b

had Caleb threatened me back in the car, telling me to comply or cease to exist? And why did this m

ore introductions. I nodded and smiled at the appropriate moments, but my mind was

g for sure: whatever game they were playing, I was r

ir pulled into a tight bun, took me on a tour of the mansion. The others had dispersed, leaving just th

ed wood floors reflected the dim lighting, and the walls were adorned with portraits of stern-loo

at seemed to stretch on forever. It was overwhelming, to say the leas

to a more conspiratorial tone. "But after the plane crash... well, most of th

gedy that had made headlines for weeks. Adrian's parents had died, leaving him and his grandfathe

them: Grace, the young, bubbly one who seemed to lighten the room with her presence; Martha, older and gruffer, but

aid cheerfully, giving me a quic

armth they showed me felt genuine, but there was an undercurrent

e kept up a steady stream of chatter about the estate, the routines, and what was expected of me

then one that caught my attention. It was of his grandfather, dressed in a formal suit, with a cross prominently displayed on his ches

I seen this