BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 13
The sickening thud reverberated through Elysia's bones, striking her heart like a physical blow. Her whole body shuddered as she stared in disbelief at her bloodstained hands, the metallic warmth turning her stomach.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to," she whispered, her voice tiny and broken. She dropped to her knees, frantically searching the room.
"A phone. He has to have a phone," she choked out between sobs but still found nothing. With no way to call for help, she turned to the window.
The chat erupted with conflicting reactions.
[Classic criminal behavior. Running away from her crimes.]
[Are you blind? She clearly acted in self-defense!]
[Nothing justifies murder. Period.]
In the studio, Caellan latched onto the comment. "So she was already a killer back then," he said, lip curling with disgust. "No wonder Mom and Rowena collected her from the police station. She probably did serious time in juvie."
Miles away, watching through his VR headset as he headed toward the company, Torin's features darkened with fury. His brother's casual accusation of murder made him itch to turn around and deliver another lesson in respect.
The stream's focus shifted to the window, where its clean surface reflected Elysia's face hauntingly beautiful even at thirteen. Smooth skin gleamed beneath crimson streaks where tears cut paths through blood spatter.
The viewers found themselves transfixed by this jarring contrast of beauty and violence, until the glass shattered, fracturing her reflection into countless shards.
[Was she always this stunning?]
[She's thirteen, not a child. But why doesn't she look anything like her photos now?]
[For real, though, with a face like that, why steal? Just fire up a stream and watch the money roll in.]
[I don't care about the past. I'm Elysia stan now!]
The memory continued to unfold on screen. Outside the broken window, Elysia scanned the courtyard frantically. Lyra had vanished with her precious son, leaving only Odessa chained in the cattle pen, a stark reminder of their captivity.
Her earlier screams transformed into relieved laughter at the sight of Elysia climbing through the broken window.
"Quick, hide behind me before she comes back!" Odessa called out, but Elysia just shook her head, tears streaming.
"I think I killed him," Elysia whispered, voice breaking. "What do I do?" She couldn't be certain the man inside was dead, but she'd never seen so much blood.
Odessa's heart clenched-she'd never seen Elysia this vulnerable, like spun glass about to shatter.
That glimpse of fragility beneath Elysia's steel exterior sent electricity through Odessa's veins. "Don't worry. If the police come, I'll take the blame."
The words slipped out before Odessa could stop them, but she didn't regret it one bit. This time, it was her turn to protect this poor girl.
Police. The word sparked something
in Elysia's mind. Officers were already in the village searching for the cave boy. If she found them, everything could be set right Even if it meant she would face prison.
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Odessa would be free. The injured boy would get medical care. The entire trafficking ring could be exposed.
"Wait here," Elysia said, hope breaking through her tears. "I'll be right back!"
This left Odessa confused but more worried than anything. Meanwhile, the
livestream chat started buzzing with malicious speculation.
[Sure, make Odessa wait here-while she saves herself and leaves Odessa to face the music.]
[Some gratitude. Odessa offers to take the fall, and Elysia abandons her to whatever punishment that monster dreams up.]
In the memory, Odessa's voice cut
1.n
el
through Elysia's resolve. "You're going to him again, aren't you?" The accusation stopped Elysia cold. "Three days sneaking out with medicine and food. Why is he so important to you?" Content belongs to Novelxo.org
Elysia's thin shoulders went rigid as Odessa pressed on. "If you hadn't wasted time on that boy, you'd have gathered enough herbs. Lyra would never have let that disgusting man touch you. Just run, Elysia. Don't look back." Content belongs to Novelxo.org
The revelation in Odessa's words sparked immediate outrage in the chat.
[Three days? What happened to Rowena's promised police rescue? Caellan'd be
dead without Elysia!]
[I can't believe I fell for Caellan's lies.]
[This is on Caellan. His presence destroyed her innocence. Her suffering traces
back to him.]
[My precious girl. Anyone who cared for me like that, I'd die protecting them.]
Fresh out of high school, Caellan lacked his brothers' empire of employees and followers. As the chat's tide of public opinion crashed against him, he found himself with barely a ripple of support.
"No, Rowena wouldn't do that to me," Caellan uttered through clenched teeth.
He recalled during his illness, someone had nursed him, fed him medicine and water, but who? The memory slipped through his fingers like smoke. He only remembered waking to Rowena's face in the hospital.
So, he naturally saw the person caring for him as Rowena, instead of Elysia.
Eyes locked on the screen, he searched desperately for proof of Elysia's cruelty, more focused than ever before.