Days passed by, and things gradually returned to normalcy. Toji continued to give Helia annoying tasks to perform, but the frequency and intensity of his requests had lessened.

However, he was becoming more and more creative.

Today, Toji had given Helia an assignment: to find a ring he claimed to have lost in the gardens. Helia spent hours searching through every corner and nook of the gardens, determined to find the missing item.

However, after a long and tiring search, she finally had to admit that she couldn't find it. When she informed Toji about her failed search, he casually revealed that he had actually found the ring hours before, in his room, not in the gardens.

At that moment Helia swears that she could have strangled him.

[...]

The day had been particularly tiring, and after completing her report on Toji's activities to Naobito, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

As she reflects on the information she had gathered for her report on Toji, she realizes that there wasn't much to share.

It leaves her questioning the usefulness of her mission. Why was she assigned to watch Toji if there was nothing noteworthy happening in his life?

Or maybe she was just a terrible spy which could explain why she hadn't find anything interesting.

As she approaches the compound, she forces herself to push away the nagging doubts and questions swirling through her mind.

The exhaustion from the day's tasks weighs heavily on her, and all she needs now is a moment to relax and recharge.

She makes her way to her room and prepares for sleep. She changes into her pyjamas before sliding into bed, the soft sheets welcoming her with their comforting embrace.

As her head hits the pillow, she surrenders to the exhaustion that has taken hold of her.

Gradually, her eyelids grow heavier and heavier, until finally, the world around her fades away as she drifts off into a peaceful sleep.

[...]

The tranquility of the night is suddenly shattered by a loud, piercing scream that jolts Helia out of her sleep. Her eyes snap open, her heart racing as adrenaline courses through her veins.

The sudden disturbance leaves her disoriented and confused, unsure of what could have caused such a disturbance at this late hour.

Her senses on high alert, she quickly throws off the covers and swiftly gets out of bed. She can hear the sound of panicked footsteps and voices in the distance.

Helia opens her door and peers into the corridor. Her eyes widen at the sight of the maids running and screaming in a state of panic.

Their fear and distress are palpable in the air, fueling her own sense of unease.

She reaches out and grabs hold of one of the panicked maids, desperate to make sense of the unfolding chaos.

"What is happening?!" Helia asks.

"The house is under attack!!" The maid exclaims, her voice filled with terror and disbelief.

The maid's panicked response sends a shiver down Helia's spine. She lets go of the maid as a wave of fear passes through her.

Her heart races, and her mind replays the words over and over again. She finds herself frozen in place as panic threatens to consume her.

But in the middle of the chaos and confusion, her thoughts immediately turn to Anna. Questions race through her mind, consuming her every thought.

Is she safe? Is she okay? Where could she be in the midst of this sudden attack? As panic and worry wash over Helia, her only desire is to find Anna and ensure her safety.

She pushes aside her own fear and without a moment of hesitation, she launches herself down the corridor, racing towards the direction of Anna's room.

Her mind is solely focused on finding Anna and ensuring her safety, her legs carrying her as fast as they can.

Her heart pounds in her chest as she reaches Anna's door in record time. With a burst of adrenaline, she throws open the door, her mind filled with a mix of anxiety and hope.

Her hope quickly turns into disappointment as Helia realizes Anna isn't there. The room is empty, devoid of any signs of her presence. Panic seizes her as her mind runs wild with possibilities and fears.

Helia darts from one room to another, searching frantically for any sign of Anna. Her mind races as she opens each door, her anxiety escalating with every empty room she finds.

Although the search for Anna consumes her every thought, the chaos and panic surrounding her serve as a constant and chilling reminder of the danger at hand. The screams and footsteps of the other maids fill the air.

In the middle of the chaotic scene unfolding, her eyes catch sight of men with their faces hidden running after some of the maids who are frantically running away.

Despite the terror and danger surrounding Helia, she pushes forward with her search for Anna.

Helia's ears are suddenly met with a spine-chilling scream filled with terror and desperation coming from one of the rooms.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

Her heart skips a beat as the familiar voice pierces through the chaotic atmosphere. Helia feels both relief and fear as she recognizes the voice as Anna's.

Without a moment of hesitation, she breaks into a sprint in the direction of the scream, propelled by a mixture of determination and trepidation.

As Helia bursts into the room, she is confronted with a chilling sight.

Anna is cornered against the wall, her eyes wide with fear and her body trembling. Standing before her is a masked man, slowly closing the distance between him and Anna.

Fueled by a rush of adrenaline and a fierce desire to protect Anna, Helia quickly spots a wooden chair nearby and grabs it.

Without even thinking, she rapidly and silently moves closer to the masked man, who is focused on Anna and oblivious to Helia's presence.

And with every ounce of strength she can gather, she swings the chair towards the back of the man's head, hitting him hard with a resounding thud.

The impact of the chair on the man's head is very loud and scary. The chair breaks into several pieces, and the man's body collapses to the ground, motionless and unconscious.

In that moment, disbelief washes over Helia as she realizes what she has just done.

With the immediate threat neutralized, she releases her grip on the broken pieces of chair, her eyes widen as her attention immediately turns towards Anna.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?!" Helia asks looking at her friend.

Anna throws herself into Helia's arms, wrapping her arms around Helia in a tight and desperate embrace.

Tears stream down Anna's face as she holds onto her friend tightly, finding comfort and safety in Helia's presence. Anna's body trembles slightly, a mix of fear and relief coursing through her.

As Anna holds onto Helia, her voice quivering with emotion, she utters the words

"I'm alright. Thank you so much."

Helia can feel the tension in her body slowly starting to ease. The adrenaline is still coursing through her veins, but the fact that Anna is safe in her arms provides her a sense of tranquility.

As the moment of reunion and relief draws to a close, Helia reluctantly breaks the embrace. They both know that the situation is still uncertain, and the chaos and attack continue to unfold around them.

With a firm grip on her hand, Helia pulls Anna out of the room. Helia's voice is a mix of reassurance and urgency as she speaks.

"We should get out of here."

She begins leading Anna through the chaotic halls of the compound, their senses on high alert, scanning the surrounding area for potential threats and safe paths to flee.

As they run together, their pace quick and full of adrenaline, their heart sinks at the sight of deceased maids, their lifeless bodies a reminder of the violence and chaos unleashed upon the compound.

They force themselves to continue their rushed escape and trying not to look at their colleagues. Suddenly, Helia halts in front of the kitchen. Realizing the need for protection, she suggests:

"We should take a knife just in case."

Anna nods. "You're right, we might need something to defend ourselves."

In a swift motion, Helia and Anna both enter the kitchen to seize the largest knives within reach. The cold steel of the blades feels both reassuring and weird in their hands.

With the sharp weapons now in their possession, they continue their flight down the corridor, their steps becoming more urgent and determined.

[...]

After several minutes of hurried footsteps and anxious glances over their shoulders, the sight of the exit finally comes into view.

The glow of the early morning light filters in through the doorway, and a sense of hope blooms in their chests. Helia turns to Anna, her voice filled with a mix of relief and determination.

"The exit is there! We're almost out!"

Their hope is crushed as soon as three masked men suddenly materialize in front of the two friends, blocking their path to the exit.

Panic seizes Anna and Helia, and they quickly spin around, only to find two more masked men closing in behind them. They are trapped, surrounded on both sides with nowhere to run.

They are in big trouble.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Hello guys! How are you doing?

As always let me know your thoughts about this chapter!

See you in the next one!

Sarah ☆