Diana kept staring at him. The pain in her body was nothing compared to the terror she felt toward Matthew.
He looked at her like a cold-blooded killer. That madness and hunger in his eyes...
Matthew let out a nervous smirk.
+You "don't know", huh? … I'll make sure you do.
He pulled out a gun, cocked it, and fired toward the balcony.
+Oops… guess it was loaded. My bad.
Diana's breath hitched again.
She shook her head quickly, side to side, terrified.
Matthew pointed the gun at her, and the look of sheer fear on her face made him smirk.
She began to struggle, screaming:
-Help! Somebody help me! Jacob!!
-I'm begging you… I didn't do anything… someone please..
Why wasn't anyone coming!?
Matthew tilted his hand and fired again
This time, the bullet grazed her arm, making a clean wound that started bleeding instantly.
He'd shot the mattress near her shoulder. but precisely enough to injure her too.
The sound of the gunshot and the smell of gunpowder sharpened her senses.
Diana cried harder now.
She was full-on sobbing, begging.
-Why… won't you believe me! I… I_sob_I didn't do anything… Oh God…
I don't even know who..or what..you're talking about.
At least tell me… tell me, so I know what I'm dying for!
Matthew stared at her pale, blood-smeared face.
Why wouldn't she confess? How much had they paid her?
He pulled back.
Grabbed her by the collar again and sat her up on the bed.
He dragged a chair in front of her, sat down.
+I'm going to ask questions. You answer with yes or no. Got it?
Anything else and the next bullet hits your body.
Diana was still panting. Was she still alive? Her eyes darted around.
Then he barked again:
+ did you hear me!?
She shakily wiped her tears with trembling fingers.
-Yes… yes… I understand.
+Did you meet Mike Stone?
-No.
+What about Stephen Stone?
-No.
+Did you speak to them on the phone?
-No.
+Anyone related to them?
Diana shook her head quickly.
-No… I don't even...
Matthew raised the gun again and shot hitting her already wounded arm.
Diana's scream tore through the room. She clutched her arm, her blood draining, weakening her fast.
Matthew looked at her coldly.
+I said… anyone related to them?
-N… no… no…
+That night...the first night...were you there on purpose? Did someone send you?
She sobbed harder.
-No… I swear to God, no…
+Can you hack?
Diana stared at him. The hesitation in her eyes made Matthew's darken.
+Can. You. Hack?
He asked, slowly, between clenched teeth.
-I… I can…
And she broke down crying louder.
+Last night..or today when you got the laptop, did you try to get into any of our systems?
-…Yes… yes…
That was it. This was how her life would end.
Matthew nodded once.
+Did you get in?
-Yes… I did.
+Did you steal any information?
-Yes.
+Did you give it to anyone? Sell it?
-No… why would I…
+Then explain. What kind of data did you get?
Her body felt cold. Her head was spinning. She forced herself to swallow.
-Last night… I didn't do anything. I started today… this afternoon.
And even then not the internal systems here.
I was just practicing. I hadn't used a laptop in a while.
I was bored.
That's it.
I just thought..maybe..I could access the security system, just to see…
She gave a bitter laugh.
-I only wanted to see if I could unlock a door or… maybe hear the guards' voices or something.
That's all!
Her vision was fading to black. Her body trembled. Cold sweat soaked her skin, and her teeth chattered from the chill.
She gathered every last bit of strength she had and tried to move.
-"I… hah… I can show you… I swear… on the laptop… it's there… I…"
She tried to stand up on her feet, but the moment she did, her head spun and she collapsed back onto the bed, unconscious.
Matthew stared at her and swallowed hard.
It was like a dark fog had finally lifted from his vision.
Diana's body was lying motionless on the bed. Her chest rose and fell, slowly.
Blood from her arm and forehead had soaked through the white sheets, staining them bright red.
+"Dia…"
His breathing grew ragged. A lump in his throat made it hard to take a full breath.
He blinked a few times, then with his left hand, shakily pulled out his phone. His hands were ice-cold and trembling.
He barely managed to dial Jacob.
+"Get to the mansion… now. Diana's room… hurry."
He disabled the room's lock.
A voice in his head kept screaming: You fucked up. You fucked up.
Was she dead? Did he kill her?
He scrolled through his contacts, searching for the number he needed.
Five minutes later, he heard footsteps racing toward the room.
The door burst open and Jacob entered, breathless, eyes darting between them.
_"What… what the f.."
His gaze locked onto the gun in Matthew's hand.
Then he saw Diana's limp body on the bed.
He froze.
A large part of the white bedspread was soaked red.
He blinked repeatedly, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
Was this a nightmare?
His chest tightened. was he having a heart attack?
He couldn't look away from Diana.
His lips moved, but no sound came out.
He didn't dare go near her.
Was it over? Was all hope gone?
He finally forced one step forward.
Tears welled in his eyes.
Matthew sat in silence, still staring at Diana, speaking softly into his phone.
Jacob looked back at him.
Matthew, seeing Jacob, turned his eyes away.
He was talking, but Jacob couldn't hear a word.
Another step. His throat clenched harder.
Step three tears spilled down his cheeks. His face was pure devastation.
Was he… crying? After all these years?
When had he even last cried?
Step four.
And then he choked out:
_"What did you… Oh my God… what did you do?"
He rushed to Diana's side. Her forehead was covered in blood.
He dropped to his knees beside the bed.
_"Little one?"
He yelled, his voice cracking:
_"Diana!! Wake up!"
He turned toward Matthew, his voice broken and raw:
_"What did you do? What the fuck did you do to her?"
Matthew blinked. His face showed nothing. no fear, no remorse.
+"I… I don't know."
His voice barely came out.
_"You killed her?"
He screamed, pulling Diana's body into his arms.
_"You fucking killed her, didn't you?! Huh?!"
Two men rushed into the room.
Jacob pulled Diana's arms free as the others moved fast, speaking urgently.
Jacob forced down the lump in his throat, holding back the sobs.
He cradled Diana once more and they ran out together.
Matthew slowly sank into the chair.
He leaned his head back against the seat and began repeating, over and over:
+"You fucked up… you fucked up… you fucked up…"