In ballance of the night
After this "nice" conversation with Maximilian, Sebastian felt like smashing something into the wall. Especially the slippery bastard's head. Why had he appointed him in the first place? Surely he could find someone more competent and more human than him. He had not even contacted the police and the family of the dead security guard to express his condolences. But why would he? It's not like he had normal human feelings for people. He had better do it in person anyway. He tried to focus and push his anger back, at least until he got home and took it out on his punching bag. After some thought, he pressed a button on the phone and called his assistant. The young man entered the office and sat down on the couch.
- What did this vulture want? – Valentin asked directly seeing how angry his boss was.
- Jesus - Sebastian exclaimed and rubbed his face with his hand, looking at the city - If I have to have another conversation like that, I'll have to take him out in an ambulance.
- It will hardly come to that. The plužets are recovering on their own, - Valentin said calmly.
- I can not tolerate him anymore. Bring his file, go through all his business trip expenses, and check all his work from the previous year. I'm sure there's something rotten in there.
- With pleasure - answered the young man and began to take notes on the tablet, which he never parted with.
- Regarding the subject of his visit - Sebastian added - There was a theft in our gallery. The guard was killed. Contact the lawyers to see how we can compensate the family without being sued later. Check when the funeral will be and arrange for me to attend. Get the exhibit list to see what it's all about.
- Shall I investigate the manager? he asked.
- Yes, in addition, I want data on who tried to buy the book - he noticed the questioning look of his assistant and added - Whoever stole the object had enough funds to hire a group of specialists for the purpose. He would be foolish not to try to buy her off before anything illegal starts. Therefore, we have a list of suspects right among potential buyers. And one more thing, research where this book comes from and everything you can find about it.
- I will contact Gage - added Valentine - he will do the job as soon as possible
- Yes, well - he confirmed, but stopped - Actually, I will call him - said Sebastian - I promised to call weeks ago. Just make sure you get the information in time.
- Of course - answered the young man and stood up.
- And make sure you go home to sleep - he added while dialling his friend's number.
- I'll put it on my calendar - he said, closing the door.
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The corridor was plunged into darkness. Despair took hold of the mind and gave food to the shadows lurking in the corners. They formed a long and narrow tunnel, which was only perceived because of what was at the end of it.
She found herself once again where she did not want to be. One more time caught in the trap of sleep. A nightmare she wanted out of, that had taken over her mind without her consent and she had to do something. So she tried to focus on finding a way out, scanning her surroundings.
Just corridors, long and endless. The walls were not marked in any way. Everything was grey, fading to black. The plaster had flaked off in places and the colour, if it had ever been there, was none. There was a door every few meters, but they were always locked.
Corridors intertwined and disappeared into nothingness, lit only by a pale light that seemed to just be there. There were no light bulbs or lamps. Only a pale glow, which, instead of banishing the darkness, seemed to beckon and emphasize it.
She looked into every shadow, every movement, trying to find a way out. Then she noticed something in the distance. There, surrounded by nothingness, flickered a light comforting glow. Gabriella squinted and tried to focus on the light. Though faint, even a glimmer of it brought hope to the seeker's eyes.
She stepped forward. Her legs were weak and seemed to be full of lead. Each step required great effort, but the reward motivated even the weakest. With each step and each breath, changes were observed in the picture.
The light was not one, but many small threads. Breath after breath, step after step. With each breath, the goal was closer than before. Power began to flow into the woman's thighs, into her calves. Hope gave strength and confidence that if she reached her goal she would receive deliverance. The many lights began to move and took on the shape of a square.
A doubt crossed her mind. Was this all a delusion, a way to lure her into a trap? Wasn't it better to go back or just stop? But even if that were true, the hope she felt seeing the formation of light made her speed up rather than slow down. She felt movement around her, but she forced himself to ignore it, at least for now. They wouldn't attack her while she was inside. She could feel that they were still playing with her, but if she let them, they wouldn't hesitate to hurt her.
The walls shrank menacingly with her every move. She gathered her strength and ran to the door. Just a few meters, two, one. Her hand moved upwards by itself. Standing in front of the door, the light behind it was already blinding her. She heard a terrible noise behind her, as if something slimy and crawling towards her. She quickly reached for the doorknob when something stopped her just millimetres away.
Frozen at the moment, she could feel the terror being beamed at her and the hope radiating across her face. Without thinking about what it all could mean, she grabbed the handle with both hands and turned it with all her might.
It was at that moment that everything seemed to explode in her face and the darkness pulled her back into the abyss.
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Gabriela woke up with a scream. Her heart was beating irregularly from the dream, and her whole body was as heavy as lead. The fact that everything she had experienced in the last few minutes was no ordinary nightmare was clear in her mind. She quickly reached over and turned on the light in the room. She took a quick look around the room searching. The clock on her bed read four twenty in the morning.
Isis was at the end of the bed, all bristling and ready for battle. It looked his mistress straight in the eyes, expecting a reaction, an order, something from her. You could smell sulfur in the air.
No, it wasn't a dream, not completely. Her body had certainly been in that room, but it was her mind that had experienced it all. Was what awaited her strong enough to break through the defences she had built on her home? But she renewed them only a day ago. She reached out and tried to calm Isis, who was still alert
- Everything will be fine, darling - she whispered reassuringly - We will take care of it - she promised. They stayed like that for a while, soothing each other, until the woman no longer felt her body go numb.
She swallowed a few times and pushed the wet covers off of her. Then she sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the clock - it was still too early, but she wouldn't be able to sleep. Not because she was afraid, although that had something to do with it. It's just that the possibility of two hours of tossing in bed didn't tempt her.
Gabriela stood up and headed for the bathroom. She turned on the lamp and stood in front of the mirror. Her long hair was wet and dirty, clearly in need of a wash. Her face was puffy and her eyes reflected what she had been through. She stared at her image for a few minutes and began her morning routine. She would do some shopping and take care of the creatures she loved.
She washed her lovely hair that she loved so much, braided it into a fishbone, and headed to her closet naked to get dressed. She opened the closet and picked out a long green dress that her friend Maggie had bought her for her birthday. She would enjoy this day as much as she could in balance with her night.