Rebirth Into My Second Chance

I made it back to the apartment, which was still spotlessly clean. Looks like Richard had someone keeping this place in shape. But everything felt so different now, as if the soul of the place had changed.

Staring at the glass terrarium on the windowsill, I noticed how much the plant inside had grown. It was planted in soil from the local community garden, a symbol of hope and new beginnings.

But now, it seemed like a grim reminder of the constant threats looming over us.

I wondered how Max was doing. He hadn't been able to reach me. Was he worried?

I searched every inch of the apartment and eventually found surveillance devices hidden all over the place after a long hunt. Apparently, Richard had rigged the apartment with these gadgets right from the moment he gave it to me.

His need to control was overwhelming, or maybe he was torn between controlling me and genuinely wanting to care for me. Or perhaps he was just following his mother's twisted advice.

If anyone needed to be in a mental health facility, it was Richard and Hannah, not me.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Peeking through the peephole, I saw Kate, anxiously looking around to make sure she wasn't being followed.

After double-checking for any additional surveillance, I hurriedly opened the door for her.

She dashed inside, clutching her chest, her heart racing. "Oh my God, Richard is terrifying," she gasped.

Her panic-stricken face said it all. Even she was scared.

I hadn't fully grasped how dangerous Richard and Hannah could be.

Kate dug through my fridge and chugged some bottled water. "I didn't dare drive here. Took a cab and sneaked my way to your place. Make sure there's no surveillance on me"

She smartly noticed the pile of mini surveillance cameras I had collected.

"You're already inside, what's there to fear?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Taking a seat on the couch, she shared, "Richard has been tracking every girl from the community center. He handed me a list, asking me to kidnap several who might be pregnant, and take them to Serenity Bluff."

The mention of Serenity Bluff sent a chill down my spine.

"He did take them, but I also tipped off Claude. I think he hates Richard too since it was Richard who hurt Claude's mom," Kate murmured, pulling out a surveillance tape. "I was scared Claude would think I wanted to harm his mother, so I took all the surveillance footage until I revisited them recently and confirmed it was Richard who actually killed Mrs. Hart. I didn't want Claude to hate me, so I showed him the video. I had thought about framing you for Mrs. Hart's murder, but I couldn't go through with it."

Kate was exposing her worst sides.

"Claude will get Ronald to save those girls, don't worry," she said casually, but something didn't sit right with me.

"Call Claude, tell him to hold off. If it's going too smoothly, Richard might get suspicious, especially since it's your first job for him."

Kate seemed to realize the gravity of the situation and quickly phoned Claude.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

After briefing him, Claude asked to speak with me at the end of the call.

I didn't hesitate. Given how vulnerable I am right now, I'm open to making more allies, and Claude could be a good one.

"Claude," I said, my voice steady.

But hearing my voice, Claude broke down crying.