Page 1 of Nocturne

Prologue

The calm skies betrayed the chaos unravelling in the thick woods of Phaga. Some truths should never be known, some secrets should always be buried, and some sins shouldn’t ever be spoken. The city's dark underbelly has opened its door to her, forcing her to shed the rose-tinted glasses she loved wearing. Knowing the truth meant an imminent death. The death Ara vowed to escape from. She had promises to keep.

The escape after her kidnap did not bring the freedom she wished for. She felt even more caged and powerless, always looking behind her shoulder, scared out of her wits that she would be picked up from the streets where she lived.

Virwouldn’t let her go. A lot of his life depended on discretion, and despite the fear that would keep her mouth shut,hewouldn’t be sure about it. If she heard right, he had plans for her. Plans that included suffering and pain that would make her beg for death.

The courage she usually lacked forced her to take drastic measures. She knew that she and her sister could never be safe in the city or even the country. He had his spies everywhere. He knew everything. It wouldn’t be too long before he decided to pounce, this time taking precautions to not let her escape. There was no going back.

She did not let her sister argue. Did not let her go searching to seek out the truth about Ara’s kidnappers. Ara only packed their bags and memorised the route of their escape as her plan startedat any given time. When her sister didn’t budge, she let her see the fear and desperation in her eyes. Iyra didn’t push back, but instead helped with packing.

“Is this needed?” Iyra asked as they slid into the boat that exported spices to Crestford.

Ara’s eyes were fixed on the dark roof that rippled with tremors due to the fire. The embers grew up to kiss the sky, sending the whole city into an uproar.

She had shed who she was in that fire. The fire that meant much more and depicted so much more. She erased everything about her and her sister. Taken steps so that he wouldn’t ever find them again.

“This is the only way.” She declared, turning away.

She knew she was on bought time. There would be repercussions for what she had done. There would be hell to pay. There would be forces unknown to her that she had to run from.

She looked up at the sky, looking at the twinkling stars and wished for a miracle.

One

Ara

We shouldn’t be here.

In the list of places two women shouldn’t venture into alone, this place would be at the top, written with red ink, caps and underlined thrice. And yet, Ivy circles a building with determination and emerges out into the road from the alley. And I’m the loon who couldn’t let her die alone because I love her.

Why couldn’t I find a friend who is a coward like me? Why did I have to befriend this annoying woman who loves exploring dangerous places and uncovering crimes to report them? She could’ve taken the job at the university like me, but no. Miss Nancy Drew had to take the job requiring her to explore the field before submitting her news article.

The places she ventured before today did bother me, but they did not terrify me into petrification like now.

Roarfort isn’t the town where the non-locals were allowed to venture. The locals are territorial, and many crime reporters and detectives went missing once they walked in here. Ivy decided that she was not only going to explore the area, but we would also go to the far end of this town with no means of escape. Other than jumping into the raging ocean.

“We shouldn’t be here,” I whisper-yell.

She ignores me like she has been doing for the past hour. But her grip is unrelenting on my wrist, an indication that she isn’t as brave as she pretends to be.

No one would be, this place is the home for criminals who spend more time locked up in a cell than in their homes.

Roarfort is the home for all kinds of criminals. The petty ones don’t scare me much, but the ones on the other side of the scale do. The men of the underworld. The cold-blooded killers. The ones the papers do not write about, but Ivy wants to.

Why? Because she has a death wish, that’s why.

Unlike the others, the road leading towards this derelict place was empty and shrouded with an eerie calmness that generally wafts around haunted houses.

No gang members were flaunting their guns at each other with silent threats, no hookers standing with bare clothing to find someone willing to indulge them with money or no homeless unfortunates desperate for food.

This dock looks abandoned as if everyone except us knew better than to venture to this part of the town.

“The bloody locals seem to avoid this area and we are strutting right into it!” I shake my head at her.

“Ever thought why?” Ivy counters as she looks around.

“I did. And the reason terrifies me even more.”

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