Whispers of the Damned

"You guys should stay here tonight while I monitor your flat and around town," Damien said as I just came out of my room in his house.

I hugged myself, tightening myself with the blanket I had brought as I walked over to the sofa while Joanna was already seated, two glasses on the table. Damien stood, leaning against the wall, focused on his cell phone. "Who do you think attacked us?" I asked Damienn as I sat beside Joanna, who rubbed my shoulder.

"Not sure yet. I'm not going to make any assumptions about this." He sighed. "So stay here until I make sure everything is safe."

"Don't tell Papa or those two." I shook my head. "They'll take me to Madelin."

"I already did," he replied casually. I closed my eyes. He pushed off the wall. "There are pizzas and full groceries. You two can eat that or cook. I have to go now."

"Be careful," I muttered to him.

Damien didn't reply but just nodded as he stepped out of the house.

I leaned on the sofa while Joanna looked at me worriedly. "How are you doing now?"

I swallowed bitterly. "I'm fine," I replied. "You?"

"I'm fine," she replied, frowning. "My condition is not important. It's you... you're not fine."

"Im fine, Jo." I drew a soothing smile for her. "I'm just wondering now about who did it. Do you think it was Garcia? And that Zane Bernardi leaked our whereabouts to them?"

"We can't just jump to conclusions." She sighed softly. "Like your brother said. It could have been a random attack by a drunk or a robber looking to cause trouble." she continued.

"That's too crazy to be called a coincidence," I argued. "Right by where we're having dinner, Jo? They could have attacked another restaurant. And it's our favorite restaurant because they have tight security, and it's a five-star restaurant." I shook my head again. "This can't be a coincidence."

"We just need to wait to hear from your brother, then," Joanna resignedly said.

I sighed softly. "And if it's really them, then Papa or Abraham will force us to return to Madelin," I muttered.

"If that's the case, then so be it."

I blinked at her words. "Do you want us to move there?"

"There's no other choice. I think as long as it's safe from any threats, then it's okay to go back there." She said. "I can't lose one more friend, and I don't want to die leaving my family or you behind. That nightmare must end." She continued. I swallowed. "It won't be over if Garcia comes back to terrorize us."

"That's why," she sighed harshly. "...you need to leave that job. Your enemy, the man who got us into this mess, is in this city, standing before you in plain sight. You must leave."

"But Jason..." I swallowed.

"Break him up." Cutting her off, I looked at Joanna, who stared at me firmly. "Let him find out what you and his brother did in Los Angeles. After all, the carcass will smell in the future, and you've been hiding it for a long time. You'll regret it later for not telling Jason from the start."

Joanna always gave sensible advice, even if it was too bad for my irrational side.

"I want to speed things up to resolve our relationship, but I want to do it in a good way."

Joanna sighed. "Do whatever you want to do, but remember this is no longer about your feelings. It's about your life. Garcia is hunting our lives. Use your common sense."

I nodded. "I will." I hugged her and then murmured. "I'm so glad you're okay."

She hugged me back. "Me too."

<<<

I drank the herbal tea that Theo gave Damien, the same drink our second brother gave me. And then, I took a sleeping pill so that my sleep wouldn't be disturbed by potentially creepy dreams.

Joanna still didn't want to sleep because she had to finish her work deadline using Damien's computer in his study room. I left her because I felt exhausted and drained, and a terrible feeling was overcoming me due to the incident this afternoon. It was like I wanted to have a long sleep with no nightmares and then wake up when everything had gone well.

I lay on my side, staring at the sea from the expansive glass wall of my room. This room of mine was designed by me two years ago when it was still under construction. Although I had to argue with Damien because he thought 'his house, his decision', even though he only wanted to make one room, as an ignorant sister, I complained to Papa and asked him to tell Damien about the room I wanted. Although reluctantly, Damien finally gave me what I wanted.

It was a little selfish, I know, even though Papa had offered me to buy a house in the same location for me and Joanna. But, Joanna wanted a place close to her office, and I wanted to be in the city center so it was easy to do anything. I wanted a room in Damien's house because I liked to bully my brothers. Let's say it was payback for Damien's pranks when we were kids.

When we were kids, there were so many good memories. The four of us were always close siblings, could be best friends, and liked to tease each other. We could play freely without thinking that darkness and responsibility were waiting. Oh shit, I wanted to be a kid forever. Adult life is burdensome and frustrating.

I yawned as the fog thickened in my head.

My eyes blinked a few times, trying to focus on the beach and the ocean, whose waves were calm and illuminated by the moonlight. If I wasn't exhausted, I would have been there and enjoyed the beach breeze at night. It's beautiful and refreshes the mind.

I blinked a few times, but then my sleepiness was too much to bear. I closed my heavy eyes.

And the last thing I saw was someone on the beach, his head looking up as if he knew my room was here.

It was probably a hallucination.

<<<

"Did you see Joanna?" I ask Damien as he enters the kitchen, his face adorned with a sleep-deprived expression.

He scratched the back of his neck as he spoke, "She's working out."

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"This early?" I frowned. Joanna came into the room while I was sleeping peacefully last night and then woke up while I was still sleeping. I see her dirty clothes were in the bathroom basket when I had gone showering earlier, but I didn't find her anywhere now.

Damien cleared his throat and nodded, taking a step to the bar as he put a glass under the dispenser.

I grunted and went back to putting the mushroom soup I had finished cooking into my lunchbox.

"What's that?"

"Mushroom soup."

"Why did you put it in the lunch box?"

"I'll have breakfast at the office."

Damien pondered for a moment before nodding. "Let Kevin drive you today, and wait for him when you get home. He'll pick you up, too."

"Where should Joanna and I go?"

"Just to your flat, nothing suspicious happened."

I nodded. "What about yesterday's information? Who did it?"

Damien sipped my coffee casually. I frowned at him but refrained. "Garcia."

I stiffened.

"But Abraham and I have solved everything, don't worry."

"How can I not worry?" I hissed. "That means they already know that Joanna and I are here."

"The one who attacked you two is one of the old spies in this city, and they've lost contact with Carlos Garcia. Their plan was to kill you first and then return to Mexico with good news." "Unfortunately, they're already dead?" I guessed.

"In Abraham's hands."

I glared for a moment, but then the shock faded. I swallowed to ease the lump in my neck. It still didn't feel right to hear that one of my brothers had taken someone else's life.

"It was worth it, Danny," Damien said softly, his voice soothing me. "The one who hurt you should not walk freely on the earth and breathe." He continued.

I nodded. "Next time, don't give me the details."

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"What about the wounded? Are.. are the people there okay?"

Damien sighed heavily. "One person died on the way to the hospital last night. A man who is 40 years old, one of the managers at the restaurant. He is trying to protect the customers. From the CCTV, he was the first to be shot." A stone fell on my chest, and a tightness overcame me. My existence is taking people's lives again.

"It's okay. You don't have to feel bad. We didn't know there was a threat coming, did we?"

"But..." I sighed softly. "...give me his address details... where he's buried and his family. Anything. I should at least confirm the condition of his family that was left behind. I have to help them. Do something." He nodded. "I'll send it to you later."

"Don't tell Joanna." I wasn't sure she could bear the burden. I don't want to. Just me, that's fine.

Damien nodded again.

"Thanks," I was about to return to my lunch, but my eyes were drawn to the hickey on his neck. I frowned. "Your sister just experienced danger, and you're having fun with the woman of your collection?" He raised his eyebrows and stroked the hickey, grinning. "I did it afterward."

Snorting in disgust, I shuddered, focused on organizing my lunchbox, and said, "Is Joanna at the gym in the next building?"

"That's what she said." he cleared his throat.

"Okay, tell her when she returns later that I've prepared breakfast," I said.

"Isn't there anything for me?"

I looked at him sharply but then softened. "Of course there is." I leaned closer and kissed his cheek. "I'm leaving, then. Oh yeah, and tell her that shirts and skirts are in the closet. She can wear whichever one to work." "Okay."

"Bye."

"Take care."

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