Page 14 of Forbidden Knots

"Why can't we just call the police?!" I asked, frustration and fear evident in my voice.

"No," she said, "they won't help us."

"That's nonsense, they should help us! It's their duty, for God's sake," I screamed hysterically.

She stood up, putting out her cigarette in the ashtray, which was already full of cigarette butts. She walked towards me, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the door.

"It doesn't cost us anything to ask the neighbor first. If that doesn't work, we'll call the police."

I'd never seen her like this, she was hiding something. Every time I wanted to ask her about it, the conversation would end with'Not today'or'I don't want to talk about it.'

There were so many secrets this house hid, and I wanted to find all of them. But now, she was taking me outside to the neighbor's house, and all I wanted to do was scream. I didn't want to see him again. I didn't want to see Chiara again.

As she rang the bell, I stood there blushing, my hand on my shoulder, my cheeks red, and my hair still wet. Outside, the rain poured down, and I wanted to be in bed. But somehow, without even noticing, I still held an oleander flower in my other hand. As he opened the door, Grandma noticed the flower and took it from my hand, throwing it to the ground and crushing it with her foot.

"No," I whispered, looking at the crushed flower.

Tristan leaned against the door frame, raising his brow as he saw my disappointment at the delicate flower's crushed petals.

"Can we talk?" my grandma said to him, and his eyebrows now formed a curved line as he looked at her, confused.

He nodded and tilted his neck, inviting us inside.

EIGHT

Shadow

Isaw her sad blue eyes looking at me like I was her only hope. As she stood in front of me, all I wanted to do was hug her, to tell her that I am that Shadow who protects her, and I will always protect her. She is carved into my brain like a nerve cell, and to carve her out would only leave me paralyzed. She is on my mind day and night, and now Lotta has brought her to my doorstep.

As Lotta walked in front, Thalia was walking slowly behind her. I couldn't help myself; I gently touched her hand, instantly realizing what I had done, so I let go immediately. I whispered, "You good?"

She just nodded, sniffing, turning around to follow Lotta. Chiara noticed and, as if I were transparent, clicked her tongue and raised her nose, walking upstairs towards the bedroom. All I wanted was for her to be gone. I guess I dug my grave deep with her, and now I can't break free to breathe. I know it's my fault.

As I walked into the living room, Thalia was sitting on my old sofa. She looked chained like she didn't want to be here, and that just made me angry. My tone raised as I spoke, "What's going on?"

"This is my granddaughter, Thalia," Lotta spoke. She was her grandmother, and suddenly it all made sense why she was in the house across the street.

Lotta took a paper out of her pocket and handed it to me. I knew this paper; I knew what it contained. As I looked at her, confused, my heartbeat was so fast that I could hear its rhapsody in my ears. Just as I was about to explain, thinking I had been discovered, Lotta spoke.

"Thalia found this on her nightstand. We need to find out who left this," she said, looking at Thalia.

I cleared my throat, and opened the paper, pretending that I didn't know the meaning of these words. As I whispered, "Shadow," Thalia raised her head, recognizing my voice. I cleared my throat again, deepening my voice as much as I could, saying, "Who is this Shadow?"

"Isn't it obvious, a stalker!" Lotta raised her voice. "He somehow broke in, left her a flower and a letter like he's obsessed or something."

I chuckled, mumbling to myself, "You have no idea."

"What?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Do you have any idea who it is?" I cleared my throat again, coughing to cover my slip.

"We hoped maybe you could watch over her window since your bedroom is just across, or maybe we can order a security system you could help us set up around the house or something?" She barely breathed, coughing as she spoke. "Your father owned a security company, right?"

"Yes," I smiled, looking at Thalia. "I can watch her through my window. The view is just perfect for that." I squinted my eyes towards her. Her cheeks blushed, and her gaze fell to the floor as her feet crossed.

"For security, I mean," I added, looking towards Lotta.

"Thank you, Tristan, I mean it," Lotta said, taking my hand. Then she turned towards Thalia, "Go home, child."

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