Page 13 of Seek Me Darling

“Well, isn't this cute,” I murmur sarcastically, scanning the shadows. The surrounding trees whisper mockingly in the breeze, but otherwise offer nothing. If someone thinks leaving creepy packages is enough to frighten me, they're in for a rude awakening.

Cautiously, I approach, crouching down to inspect the box. No markings, no shipping labels—just pristine black cardboard with a crisp white envelope sitting precisely on top. Carefully crafted and unnerving.

I pick it up, testing its weight. Light but solid. No obvious threats inside. I let out a soft, humorless laugh. Whoever's playing games tonight clearly didn’t do their homework. I've built my entire life around chasing monsters—an anonymous box isn’t about to spook me.

Once I’m inside, I lock the door behind me out of habit and flick on the lamp, bathing my living room in warm amber tones.

Settling onto the couch, I set the box on the coffee table and slide the note from its envelope. My jaw tightens as I read the blunt, printed words:

I let out another cold laugh, tossing the note aside dismissively. Really? That's the best threat they could muster? I’ve gotten more intimidating notes from drunk idiots at bars. But my pulse quickens slightly—not from fear, but from the exhilaration of knowing I'm clearly closer to my target than ever.

Cautiously lifting the box lid, I'm half-expecting something grisly—some twisted token. Instead, resting on plush black velvet, is a single vibrant red flower. It’s unlike any flower I’ve ever seen—bright crimson petals arranged in graceful clusters, exuding an unsettling beauty. The delicate blossom looks freshly picked, as if someone took great care in choosing it specifically for me.

The sight startles me, making me frown slightly in confusion. A flower? Seriously? It doesn’t match the ominous vibe of the note at all. Are they trying to confuse me, or just being annoyingly cryptic?

I lift it gingerly, rolling the delicate woody stem between my fingertips. Its fragrance is faintly sweet. Whoever picked this out knows exactly what they're doing—trying to get under my skin.

I place the flower back into its velvet coffin, leaving the box open with a show of defiance. “Cute,” I mutter sarcastically, eyes narrowed. “But if this is your big play, you’ll have to do better.”

Before I can muse further, my phone buzzes harshly against the coffee table, shattering the silence. Glancing down, surprise flickers through me as Hydessa’s name flashes across the screen. It's late, unusual even for her, and given what Mom said earlier about her leaving for the undercover assignment, a flicker of concern hits me sharply.

Quickly, I move to the window facing her cabin, lifting the phone to my ear as I scan the dark expanse outside. My pulse jumps again when I see a light, faint but unmistakable in the darkness. Hydessa’s home—and something tells me this isn't just a casual check-in.

I answer immediately but wait, the silence stretching just a heartbeat before her quiet voice whispers the familiar words we've shared since childhood.

“If I hide…” Hydessa murmurs softly, her voice smaller, shakier than usual, carrying a heaviness that instantly tightens my chest.

“Then I’ll seek…” I reply automatically, my voice sharpening with protective concern. “Are you okay?”

She sighs deeply, hesitation clear when she finally answers. “No, I’m not,” she admits quietly. “I… I went to the club tonight.”

“The club?” My eyebrows rise in genuine surprise. Hydessa doesn’t do clubs. Crowds, noise, forced social interactions—not her scene at all. “Why?”

“I’m leaving on an investigation tomorrow,” she explains softly, vulnerability bleeding into her tone. “It was just… a distraction. I needed to escape, even if just for a moment.”

Her confession stabs deeper than I'd like, unsettling my usual cool exterior. I lean against the window frame, eyes narrowing in concern as they drift toward her cabin again.

“And did it help?” I prod gently, keeping my tone intentionally casual. “Pretending to be someone else for a while?”

“No,” she breathes, there is a bitterness there that makes my chest tighten. Quietly, she recounts an awkward encounter she had tonight—clearly meaningless, leaving her emptier than before. “It just made everything… worse. I feel so lost, Seanna.”

I let out a slow breath, my heart aching slightly for her. “You know I’m here for you, right?” I remind her gently. “Our parents already told me all about you heading out tomorrow. Maybe this investigation is exactly what you need.”

There’s a brief pause. “What do you mean?”

I chuckle softly, hoping to nudge her sadness away. “Think about it. It’s a small island, right? And you need to be discreet. When in Rome, as they say…” I trail off, smiling to myself. “Take the time to live a normal life for a little while. You’re technically on vacation, so act like it. Obviously, you’ll have to handle things your way at night, but still… you get my point.”

Silence follows. Finally, her voice softens. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” she concedes quietly. “Thanks, Seanna.”

“Anytime,” I say warmly, allowing myself a relieved breath. “Now, get some rest. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

“I will,” she promises softly. “Goodnight.”

“Night, sis,” I murmur gently, ending the call.

Moving away from the window, I glance once more toward Hydessa’s cabin, the shadows of the tall pines looming protectively around it. A brief pang of worry passes through me, mingled with irritation. She’s stronger than she realizes, yet still so vulnerable sometimes. I shake my head slightly, reminding myself she’ll be fine. She always is.

My thoughts quickly shift back to the unwanted gift waiting on my coffee table. That damned flower still sits there, bold and disturbingly beautiful. Its vibrant petals and sweet-yet-sharp scent now seem pointedly sinister, an intentional contradiction to the blunt threat of the note. Someone wants me off-balance.

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