âAt least theyâre being friendly.â
Rickey snorted, quickly steering the conversation to lighter ground. âAurora, admit itâyouâre feeling lonely without me around and secretly miss me like crazy, donât you?â
âStop being so narcissistic.â
âSo, you do miss me?â
Aurora felt a twinge of unease.
If Rickey had said this face-to-face, she would have brushed it off without a second thought. But with the distance between them, and the time difference creating a strange void, it felt oddly unsettling.
âMiss you? Not at all. You have no idea how peaceful it is without you around.â
Rickeyâs laughter faded. âYou heartless little thing,â he muttered.
âIâm hanging up. Theyâre still waiting for me to play cards.â
âWhat the hell? Is playing cards more important than me?â Rickeyâs voice rose, roaring through the receiver. âAurora, you better make yourself clearââ
She ended the call abruptly, cutting him off mid-sentence.
As she turned to head back to the private room, she caught sight of Addieâs boyfriend wandering around as though searching for something.
Since he was Addieâs boyfriend, Aurora didnât want to engage with him alone.
She tried to walk past without making eye contact, but he reached out and grabbed her shoulder.
Startled, Aurora immediately backed away, her heart racing.
âSorry, could you tell me where the restroom is?â he asked.
Aurora hesitated, then responded, âIsnât there a restroom in the private room?â
âSomeoneâs using it.â
Aurora didnât think much of it and pointed him in the direction, but was suddenly grabbed from behind and had her mouth covered. Aurora struggled desperately, her muffled cries escaping through his hand.
The man, towering over her, used one hand to stifle her screams and the other to grip her neck, dragging her backward.
Her heels scraped against the floor, her strength failing to match his. She couldnât make a sound loud enough to call for help.
In her growing terror, she spotted a familiar figure turning the corner.
It was Dunn.
Auroraâs eyes lit up, and she stopped clawing at the manâs hand, stretching out to Dunn instead.
But Dunn, engrossed in conversation with someone beside him, didnât even glance her way.
His figure disappeared around the corner, leaving Aurora stranded in the empty corridor.
Addieâs boyfriend hauled her into a nearby room. Auroraâs mind raced with fear, expecting the worst. But instead of attacking her, he whispered frantically for her to be quiet.
Confusion mingled with her fear.
Barely two minutes later, she heard the sound of voices approaching from outside. Addieâs familiar laughter drifted closer.
.
.
.