Allison's POV
The silence between us was starting to get heavy.
We walked past the loud music, the blurry lights, the sound of people laughing and shouting from the venue far behind us. It’s like every step we take, the world we left gets quieter, smaller.
This path... where was it going? Trees around us, barely any lights, just the soft ones coming from the small lamps along the pavement. I kept looking around, still unsure if I should really follow this man. I didn’t even know his name. Just that he wore a black shiny mask earlier, and now...
He’s just walking like it’s nothing.
Like he didn’t just ask me to leave everything behind.
I let out a slow breath, trying not to feel the nerves eating me alive.
Then I spoke, trying to break the silence.
“So... are you going to explain something or we’ll just keep walking like two strangers in a horror movie?” I forced a little laugh, but honestly, I wasn’t kidding.
He didn’t answer at first. Still walking. Like he didn’t even hear me.
I stopped walking.
“Hey,” I said. Loud enough.
He didn’t turn back.
“What the hell is this? Why are you even helping me?”
He paused, not moving, his back still facing me.
I stepped closer, but not too much. “Do you want something from me in exchange? Is that why?”
Still nothing.
My chest got tight. My fingers curled slightly. “Just say it. If you want something, then say it. Don’t just act like this is for free.”
Then he let out a breath. A heavy one. One of those deep sighs that hold too much inside.
He slowly turned around.
And when his eyes finally met mine, I froze.
He reached for the mask.
Pulled it off.
And my whole body felt cold.
My lips parted but I didn’t say anything. I knew that face. I don’t remember where or how, but my gut told me I did.
His eyes were calm but tired. His jaw tight. And there’s something about the way he looked at me that made my heart race.
Then he spoke, voice low.
"Because your dad told me to move. To find you and watch you."
I blinked, trying to understand.
"And now," he continued, taking a step closer, "your father is in trouble. The people who have issues with him... they’re not just going after him anymore. They’re looking for you too."
My heart thumped loud.
He held both of my arms, not too tight but firm enough to get my full attention.
"Your dad is in trouble, Allison. But I need to keep you safe for now. I need to take you somewhere to make sure that you remember everything."
I stared into his eyes.
"You are somehow... part of the missing pieces that can save your father."
I swallowed hard.
"But you need to lend me your trust for this," he added, softer this time.
My throat felt dry. Everything around me started spinning in slow motion. What was he talking about? My dad? Missing pieces? Remember?
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out something shiny. Then slowly held my hand and dropped it on my palm.
It was a gold locket necklace.
I stared at it. Gently opened the locket. Inside was a small picture.
A picture of me, and two adults. A man and a woman.
I knew it was me as a child. But the adults?
My hands shook a little. I couldn’t remember this picture. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.
“Where did you get this?” I asked, my voice shaking.
"It was your mom’s," he said softly. "Your dad gave it to me. Said when the time comes, this might help you remember."
I looked at the photo again. And suddenly, memories tried to pull themselves from deep inside me. But it’s still blurry. Still out of reach.
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We need to move."
I nodded slowly, still looking at the necklace.
But then he stopped again. Looked at me.
"Allison... before we leave, you need to know... we won’t be staying in town."
I looked up.
"What?"
He sighed. "We need to leave this place. Tonight. It’s the only way to keep you safe."
My lips trembled. "But Zeyon... Leo... they’re still—"
"They can’t come," he said.
"What? No. No, they have to. I can’t just—"
"Allison," he said firmly, holding both of my shoulders now. "If we take them with us, their lives will be at risk too. We cannot take that chance."
I shook my head. My vision started to blur.
"Please," I whispered. "Zeyon... he’s always there. I can’t just disappear again and not tell him. I promised. I promised not to do that again."
He looked down, silent for a moment.
Then, "I already made the call. My men are taking them back. Safely. To where they came from."
A tear escaped from my eyes.
It hurts.
It hurts so much.
Leaving again. Without goodbye. Without telling him anything.
I clenched the necklace in my hand.
"Can I at least..." I asked. "Can I at least leave him something?"
The man looked at me, then gave a short nod.
I searched my pockets, pulled out the small folded note I kept, one I wrote earlier as a joke. I grabbed a pen from my small bag, flipped the paper and quickly scribbled something.
"Zeyon,
I’m sorry. Not for leaving. But for not saying goodbye again. There are things I need to do. Things I need to know. I hope you’ll understand one day. Please be safe. You matter more than you know.
A."
I folded the note again. And the man took it from me.
“I’ll make sure he gets it.”
I nodded, wiping my eyes quickly.
Then we walked.
Away from the resort.
Away from Zeyon and Leo.
And into something I don’t understand yet.
But I knew...
It was going to change everything.