{ Enzo }
Her lips pressed together, a mixture of pride and defiance flickering across her face. "And apparently still breathing," she shot back.
I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the headboard. This is going to be… interesting. My mind buzzed with a strange mix of irritation, curiosity, and something I hadn't felt in a long time: intrigue.
I took a deep breath preparing myself. " So... Is there a way for you to find Lili ?" I asked her holding my breath.
She froze once more. "Listen Enzo... I need my watch or a computer... But I prefer the watch."
I gritted my teeth. " What's so special about this stinking watch?!" I exploded.
" Listen.... " She sighed. " I can track her in five minutes with my watch... But with a computer I need an hour..."
I narrowed my eyes taking out my phone.
" I'll bring you a computer and I'll sendy men to look for your watch just... describe it..." I sighed rubbing my temples.
Her eyes lit up not expecting this from me but the light dimmed as soon as she heard the next sentence come out my mouth.
" But first... Tell me what's so special about it..."
Her whole body tensed and I could feel the room turning colder. ' How could such a young girl have so much power?' I thought admiring the way she controlled the room with just one breath.
" None of your business..." She started her eyes as cold as ice." If you want to see your Lili again... I suggest you stop asking stupid questions and get me my watch..."
I smirked patting her head. " Oh sweetheart... So you think you're the first to —"
Before I could finish her whole body locked into place and her eyes widened in shock. She immediately jerked away from me and whispered.
" W-what did you just call me ?"
I chuckled. " What? Have you never heard a word of affect—"
Her eyes suddenly grew colder. " Never. Call me that again..."
The smile faded from my face. " Hey, it's not a big deal... I can call you that... It's not just a one person thing ... It doesn't matter if you mom calls you that too..."
Her body shook violently I quickly grabbed her shoulders mindful of her healing injuries ' god help me what has she done to me !'
" Hey hey, calm down... No one's going to hurt you... " I whispered rubbing her back.
Her breathing slowed and for a moment her eyes showed pain not the kind of pain that comes and goes but the kind that never ever leaves...
But.. as soon as it appeared it vanished leaving nothing but calm sense in her eyes.
For a second my hands hovered, unsure if I should even touch her — but instinct won, and I pulled her into a hesitant embrace.
'Does she really trust me… or is this just weakness?' The thought gnawed at me even as I held her.
{ Larissa }
"Where is she?!" I screamed, my hands trembling as I threw the phone to the floor. Five hours since school ended… five hours she could be anywhere… My heart raced as every terrifying scenario flashed through my mind."
" What if they caught her... What if she dies tonight?" I chocked a sob.
A sudden knock at the front door made me jump, heart hammering against my ribs. I rushed across the living room, yanking it open without thinking.
And there she was.
"Mia? Is that you? Where have you been?!" My voice trembled with a mix of relief and panic.
She just shrugged, a faint, unnervingly calm expression on her face. "I, uh… lost track of time?" she murmured, eyes downcast.
"Lost track of time? It's been five hours! Do you know how worried I was?" My hands flew to my hips, a scolding tremor lacing my voice. "Do you even realize how reckless that was? You could've been hurt—or worse!"
She flinched, like she'd been expecting this. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered,her voice quivering.
I narrowed my eyes "Did you even think about calling? Texting?" I pressed,my hands shaking.
" Y-yes I tried but... My phone rang out of juice..." She whispered scratching her head. " Aaand... I forgot your number again..."
" Well... You're grounded! Now go to your room !" I ordered trying too hard not to cry.
Her face suddenly filled with rage but no words came out.
" Okay mom... I'm sorry..." Ahw whispered instead rushing to her room.
{ Enzo }
The moment her body stiffened at that single word, I knew I'd stepped somewhere I shouldn't have.
"Sweetheart."
Damn it. I hadn't meant anything by it. It was a throwaway — a habit, nothing more. And yet the way her eyes iced over… it rattled me.
She's just a girl, I reminded myself. Fragile, half-broken, bandaged up and glaring at me like she could cut my throat with her stare alone. So why the hell did she look at me as if I'd dragged a ghost out of her past?
I raked a hand through my hair, trying to shake it off.
She's dangerous. That much is clear. But not in the way I expected. No weapon, no army, not even her damn watch. Just… presence. A bite in her silence that had my chest tightening like she already had her claws in me.
I should be in control here. And yet, when I held her, even for that split second, I swear it wasn't me keeping her steady. It was her breaking me apart.
And I hated how much I wanted to know why.
{ Mia }
Mom's voice faded the moment I slipped past her bedroom door. Or rather — the clone's door.
I leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly. Good thing I'd sent her home early, a perfect decoy to sit there and nod while mom scolded. No suspicions, no questions. Just another night of me being the obedient daughter.
Meanwhile, the real me sat here — stitched up, bruised, and very much not obedient.
I rubbed at my bandaged arm, biting back a hiss of pain. Power drained me more than the wounds did, but the lie had to hold. Mom couldn't know. Nobody could.
The door creaked open.
Enzo.
He filled the doorway like he owned it, gaze sweeping the room before landing square on me. I straightened, already opening my mouth. "Can I leave now?"
"No." His answer came sharp, final. He crossed the room in two strides, his shadow falling over me. "Not with those wounds. You can barely stand without swaying."
"That's not your decision," I snapped, but he only smirked.
"You think I care about the stitches? I'm not letting you go because I still need you." He leaned down, eyes narrowing, voice low and deliberate. "You're going to find Lili. For me."
My chest tightened. He wasn't just keeping me here to guard me. He wanted to study me. I saw it in the way his gaze lingered too long, not at the wounds but at the spaces in between — the way I carried myself, the way I breathed, like I was a puzzle he'd already started piecing together.
I forced a calm I didn't feel. "And if I refuse?"
His smirk widened. "Then I'll just keep you here until you change your mind. You'll thank me eventually, sweetheart."
My fists clenched. " Don't. Call. Me. That."