The Interrogation
"Even if you kill me, you won't get anything out of me!" the man shouted, his body bound tightly to a wooden chair.
"All you have to do is tell me who you gave my child to and who ordered you to do it. Is that so difficult?" Don Primo asked calmly, blowing the ash from his cigar. He looked toward his henchman. "Kalas, make him talk."
Primo took a seat, watching coldly as the man in the center of the room was slowly broken. Kalas delivered blow after blow, eventually swinging a metal baseball bat against the man's shins until the chair toppled over.
"Spit it out!" Kalas roared, kicking the gasping man in the stomach.
The man coughed up blood and began to sob. Primo raised a hand to signal a stop. He approached the dying man, grabbed him by the hair, and forced him to look up.
"Will you speak, or shall I skin that face of yours?" Primo asked with a terrifying smile.
"YOU DEMON!" the man screamed, spitting in Primo's face.
Primo didn't flinch. He took the glowing cigar from his mouth and pressed it firmly into the man's cheek. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the man shrieked in agony.
"You are the real demons," Primo hissed. "We have been searching for my daughter for so long. I can no longer stand to see my wife cry every night."
Primo took a sharp blade from one of his men. "What else? I'm going to skin you alive," he whispered.
"I'LL TALK! PLEASE, STOP! WAAAHHH!"
The man finally confessed. "We gave your child up for adoption at the Dangeon Orphanage. We watched over her until a couple came and chose her."
"Which couple?" Primo demanded.
"Ferdi and Suzette Trinidad! They were the ones who adopted her!" the man blurted out. He then provided the last known address of the family.
"Last question," Primo said, leaning in. "Who ordered you to take her?"
The man began to shake, his body a mess of sweat and blood. He whispered a name that left Primo paralyzed with shock: Don Franklin—Primo's own brother and corporate rival.
Primo walked toward the exit in a daze. How could you do this to me, Frank? For the sake of the company, you would discard your own niece?
The Hospital Visit
I spent the afternoon buying fruits to visit Oliver. When I arrived at his private room, he was fast asleep. I noticed a stack of textbooks next to him—he was studying even while recovering. Your mother is lucky to have a son like you, I thought.
I watched him sleep. He had soft lips, clear skin, and a perfectly pointed nose. He looked like a prince straight out of a Disney movie. Eventually, I drifted off into a nap in the chair beside him.
Some time later, I felt a gentle touch on my hair. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Oliver smiling down at me.
"Hi, Alice," he said softly.
"Y-You're awake. I brought some fruits. Do you want an apple?" I offered. He nodded, but his gaze was intense.
"Alice."
"Hmm?"
"I missed you."
I froze. He was looking at me seriously now. I quickly focused on peeling the fruit to hide my face. "Here, eat this. I'm sure it's sweet," I said, trying to change the subject. But before I could pull away, he reached out and grabbed my arm.
He pulled me closer until our faces were inches apart. I instinctively stepped back. "W-what are you doing?" I stuttered.
He cupped my face and leaned in as if to kiss me. I quickly pulled away, feeling a wave of discomfort. I only saw him as a friend.
"T-There was just some dirt on your face. I wanted to remove it," Oliver explained, his voice trailing off.
Did he really need to get that close just to wipe my face?
Suddenly, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out, feeling a rush of relief. It was just a weather alert from the government, but I used it as an excuse.
"Uhm, Oliver, I actually have to go. My mom is looking for me. I'll visit again when I'm not busy," I lied.
"Is that so? Okay, stay safe," Oliver replied.
"Sorry, Oliver," I whispered as I hurried out the door.