BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 10
Chapter 10
The screen darkened, though the audio continued to play through the studio speakers.
They could only hear footsteps crunching at the slope's edge, followed by Rowena's heavy breathing as she waited. Three minutes passed without a
from below Relief rushed out in her audible exhale.
"Had to be me in the end," she muttered
Her cryptic words sent ripples of confusion through both the livestream viewers and the Drayton brothers. The implication that others had tried to kill Elysia hung in the air, though no one could explain how Rowena would have known such information. The stream continued relentlessly, giving no pause for questions or reflection.
Rowena dragged Stellan along, grumbling steadily. "You're heavier than you look. I should've picked another spot. She shifted her grip "Stupid villagers-
1 said grab the younger one, not my precious Sten
"But once Stellan knows I saved him, I can marry him she whispered "The Rookwood family's far richer than the Draytons. Perfect marriage material
New voices broke through her musings "Miss Drayton!"
"Finally! My arms are killing me? Rowena called out.
Her bodyguards rushed to take Stellan. "Thank goodness you found him. Any sign of Mr. Caellan Drayton? We've searched with the police. Nothing yet. But... They found wanted criminals here- several rich heirs and heiresses of the town, all in their houses."
"Whatt Police Rowena's voice cracked.
The head guard scratched his head sheepishly. Half their group-five of ten-
had vanished in the blink of an eye. There was no way
they could face these wealthy families without calling the police.
Rowena glanced at the hill. The cave will gaped open like a wound-
once the police searched, they'd find her brother instantly,
Mom will never see me while he's around, she thought. She might even send me back to Dad. I will never
"Watch Stellan for me. Ell join the search she told the guard.
In the studio, Callan straightened in his chair. See? Unlike that snake Elysia, Rowena values family!"
"Exactly" Fenwick nodded. "Harsh to strangers, maybe, but she loves her own"
[Harsh Something's wrong with your eyes. Fenwick?]
Watch your mouth! Right, Fennen!
er accept a life with that pauper.
If our Fenwick says Rowena is good, then she absolutely is Us Fenners will destroy anyone who dares trash-
talk her!]
Fenwick's massive fanbase flooded the feed with defenses.
Ten minutes passed before the sound returned to the screen.
"They'll never find this now that I've covered it up? Rowena laughed hands on hips as she admired her handiwork. "Sorry, dear Cellan. You hogged Mom's full attention. Once you're gone, I'll be her only child. She won't dare send me away- hep only daughter, the Drayton family's only princess."
Her words faded into police sirens and retreating footsteps. The sound cut off abruptly, leaving the studio in heavy silence.
Something shattered in Caellan. He dumped against the chair, completely drained, his eyes suddenly hollow. Rowena's words struck his heart like a merciless hammer blow
Fenwick turned to Caellan, his expression holding nothing but pity and shock.
[My audio must be glaching because I did not just hear some witch claim she's the one and only Drayton princess. The audacity!]
[Kama strikes fast,]
[Rowena fans Fenwick stans? Better hurry-your idols are showing their true faces!}
[Rowena's mistakes aren't Fenwick's fault, okay')
Keep him out of this]
Rowena was young, just jealous of her mother's attention-
isn't that nommal! She's probably bringing the police back]
The sympathetic comment sparked hope in Caellan's eyes. “Rowena must have come back,” he said desperately. Someone gently while I was out. Had to be her!"
ly cared for me
The memory projection continued, holding the audience in rapt attention. Some viewers refused even restroom breaks, keeping their VR glasses. firmly in place as the scene shifted.
Through Elysia's eyes, the world slowly came into focus-
or tried to. Her left eye painted everything in crimson;
leaves, sky, all of it stained red through a veil of blood,
"Dad_Mom... Torn and Fenwick.. A broken whisper escaped her lips. "I want to go home."
moan, Elysia raised her bloodied hands toward the dying sun, arms outstreiched as if reaching to embrace her long-
lost family in its
pained m
fading light
The emotional scene affected even the livestream's quality-viewers couldn't tell if
their blurred screens were from technical glitches of their own
Just then, a soft whisper cut through Elysia's fading consciousness. "Help... The sound came from above-
it was the cave boy that Rowers had concealed from the police.
Her eyes snapped open. Gripping a branch, she whispered. "There's another one. Another boy I need to save him. He can still escape this hell"
Getting her footing on the thick branch that had broken her fall, she took a deep breath and began climbing upward, one careful step at a time.
Years in the wild had made her nimble despite the wounds covering her body. She climbed steadily until instinct made her look back. Her heart Stuttered. Where she'd lain, a black snake coiled, its tongue
flicking toward her. Content belongs
to Novelxo.org
The instant their eyes met, an icy chill shot up Elysia's spine and spread through her entire body. Terror made her lose control-
her steady staner faltered, and she stumbled helplessly to one side.
et
the livestream viewers collectively held their breath. Many squeezed their eyes shut, unable to watchè what seemed like an inevitable fall When the expected scream never
came, they cautiously opened their eyes, confused by the silence. Content belongs to Novelxo.org
Relief washed over the audience-
Elysia had managed to grab another branch. The black snake, for whatever reason, was slithering away in the opposite direction.
Heaven's mercy, they thought. Such a pure soul couldn't die for helping strangers.
Even Carllan's heart had stopped for
that moment. Only Fenwick
et
remained uranoved, his cold gaze steady, He seemed to have seen through it all, firmly convinced that Elysia's evil nature would soon reveal itself Content belongs to Novelxo.org