Stolen hearts

Ophelia lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling when Max burst through the door without knocking. "G

her bed. "Jonathan will be leaving the club soon. We n

id, already swinging

yeing her as she stood. "Make yourself look helpl

im a small nod. He left, and th

and hand-stitched fabrics lined the interior. It was hard to lo

hat hung on her small frame like a forgotten memory. She tied her curls int

pad, an old wallet with some cash and lab, and a couple of second-h

ed the ti

s. Let this work. Let this be the

dressed in a sharp black suit. His polished cane reste

e muttered witho

ax said, stridi

ve them a cold glance and steppe

eirs. Ophelia got in the back besi

nd only a few scattered street lamps. The road was one-way, leading out of his private property and into t

everything you need to sell the story. Wallet, books, gum, a bu

dded s

wer now. "Once it happens, play the part. Be

rd the shoulder of the road. She arranged her satchel so it looked like it had fallen

ment, huddled into herself li

. Max doubled back through the woods, hi

was time

key in hand. The music pulsed like a heartbeat beneath the walls. Martin was sti

club, of the noise,

stale," Jonathan mutter

ot here." "I'm done," he said, already stand

gold cross necklace. The Rolex on his wrist caught the low light. Dark sunglasses obs

th his usual silent confiden

leave me here,

"Call your driver. M

weird that I want to come over? You've been

his car. "Martin, go home.

headache since

nd the wheel. Martin jumped in bes

. "You always act like you

ed the engine

quiet at first

me weird security system, and you black out all your windows. A

e and quiet," Jo

ia

w tensed. "Yo

here

g tree-lined stretch outside Jonathan's estate. Wh

he side of the road. A

ched. The car jerked to a stop with a violent jol

the door and got o

e sh

cattered around her like the aftermath of a storm. Her bag had

r head was bleeding . Her bre

ill alive

n muttered. "

carried her and laid her in the back of h

smelled like anti

he doctors ran tests, gave her stitches, checked her vitals. Six long h

's a

ly, brushing past the do

slowly, her eye

before. "You're safe. You're in t

around the room.

s driving. You ran out onto t

red. "I don't know where I was

hind him, his tone softer than

No. Nothing. I-I don'

e temporary amnesia. Likely caused by shock or head trauma. Her memor

conflicted. "And where exac

," the doctor said. "She has no ID, no contacts. Technic

slowly across his faceJonathan shot him a look, but Ophelia's eyes were

."Fine," he said. "She