Chapter 88
Chapter 88:
He directed his attention toward the rain cascading down the window glass in intricate patterns. When had their paths last crossed in the physical realm? It seemed like approximately three days ago, during that tense encounter at the hospital. Her forehead had been swathed in stark white medical bandages.
During the entire agonizing time, she had only spoken three brief things to him.
“What are you doing?!”
“What happened?”
And as he prepared to leave with Vivian, she had called out with unexpected urgency—”Brandon.”
Those initial two utterances hadn’t even been directed specifically toward him.
For inexplicable reasons, he found himself yearning for her presence with unexpected intensity. The image of her tumbling down those unforgiving stairs replayed in his mind, and he felt genuine concern about her current condition and recovery. His brow creased as troubling thoughts invaded his mind.
Brandon couldn’t comprehend what mysterious force was disturbing his usual emotional equilibrium. Millie had haunted his thoughts with persistent tenacity throughout every waking moment of the day.
A vivid recollection suddenly blazed across his consciousness—the enigmatic masked woman from earlier that evening. Perhaps she had triggered this emotional upheaval within him. For original chapters go to
Something indefinable about her had evoked memories of the Millie he once cherished—vibrant, passionate, always expressing herself through laughter or tears.
At that precise moment, a series of rhythmic knocks resonated against the car window. Brandon lifted his gaze and discovered Vivian standing outside in the rain, her silhouette blurred by the water streaming down the glass.
“Hey there, Brandon!”
Vivian wrenched open the car door and slipped gracefully into the seat beside him. Instinctively, Brandon concealed his phone from her penetrating gaze, sliding it away with practiced stealth. Vivian’s eyes tracked the movement briefly, though she appeared to dismiss it as inconsequential. But as she pivoted to close the door behind her, a flicker of resentment darkened her expression. When she faced him again, her features had transformed into a mask of radiant warmth.
She inquired with gentle concern, “Did I inconvenience you by requesting this ride? Have you been waiting here for long?”
Step into new worlds at g Ɐ lnσ ν𝓮 ℓs․conn
“Not particularly lengthy,” Brandon responded with measured neutrality.
“That brings me considerable relief,” Vivian replied, her smile never wavering.
The driver engaged the engine, propelling them through the rain-soaked streets. Vivian began recounting entertaining anecdotes from the recording session, but Brandon’s attention drifted like smoke, barely registering her animated storytelling. His consciousness remained fixated on the masked woman’s provocative words, which echoed relentlessly.
“You really ought to ask Vivian about what she said to me.”
“Brandon? Brandon?”
Vivian’s voice cut through his mental fog. Brandon jolted back to the present moment, his focus returning to the car’s interior. He turned toward Vivian, his expression clearly indicating that she should continue with her narrative.
“What thoughts were consuming your attention?” Vivian asked, her tone laced with curious concern. “You’ve appeared completely absorbed in your own world for quite some time now.”
.
.
.