"WHO IS MRS. JOYCE LANG TO YOU?" The question hung between the two men, stretching the silence despite its simplicity. No, maybe it was complex. Too complex it caught Rowan's tongue for a few seconds that stretched like eternity. Rowan had never really thought about it before, and so the question echoed in his head again over and over again without any plausible answer.WHO IS MRS. JOYCE LAND?Mr. Henderson misinterpreted the silence for reservation."Pardon me, Mr. Rowan," he quickly said, "I don't mean to snoop into your personal matters. I was just...""I understand." Rowan cut through his words gently. A second pause, his mind processing. "I'll put it simply— Mrs. Joyce is someone who is close to me." He said simply.The manager wasn't satisfied by the response but he didn't push it. He nodded and turned, walking out of the room. The door clicked shut, leaving Rowan staring after it still spiralling about the question that made him reason about his place in Mrs. Lang's existenc

Dr. Daniel Lawson the dean of medicine faculty, a man in his early fifty flecks of grey combed back with dark recessing hair.A table occupied with files and books sat at his front, computer opened, finger flying across keys reading with full-rimmed glasses.He'd survived long in the Educational strata to read failure without having to probe deeper, experience that made him learn student's horseplay and it is impossible he'd be surprised by any discussion brought to his table.A knock came on the door and the door opened once.Dr. Daniel Lawson paused mid-work, raised his head to see a young man walking, hair tangled, sweats beading, he sat straighter in his chair, adjusted his glasses to have a proper view as though he was assessing sanity which of course he was.Jack Morris."Good morning, Sir." He stepped in, door clicked shut behind him."How may I help you? Are you a student of this institution?""Yes, sir. Jack Morris. " Jack said, desperation wearing a second skin on his face

"Well. Well. Well." The voice came intentionally dragged. The air surrounding Rowan instantaneously reeked of Cologne and arrogance and something more devastating. "Surprisingly, my step brother is still.... breathing. How did he survive?" He chuckled, glancing at Annabelle. His hands stayed in his pocket, smirked so Sharp it could tear through silk and people like Rowan that was vulnerable. As supposed.Rowan didn't look up. He just kept scrolling on his phone casually, ignoring their presence as though resistance would make Jack leave even though he knew him better— if troublemaker was a name, he should've beared it.Beside him, Anabelle was standing, collecting data silently, her eyes picking up information from his ex who should be rotting away somewhere under the bridge. But he sat there, in a place she would have never imagined him to be even if it was in her dream, wearing an outfit that probably cost more than everything she donned, scrolling on a phone that made her breath

"Well. Well. Well." The voice came intentionally dragged. The air surrounding Rowan instantaneously reeked of Cologne and arrogance and something more devastating. "Surprisingly, my step brother is still.... breathing. How did he survive?" He chuckled, glancing at Annabelle. His hands stayed in his pocket, smirked so Sharp it could tear through silk and people like Rowan that was vulnerable. As supposed.Rowan didn't look up. He just kept scrolling on his phone casually, ignoring their presence as though resistance would make Jack leave even though he knew him better— if troublemaker was a name, he should've beared it.Beside him, Anabelle was standing, collecting data silently, her eyes picking up information from his ex who should be rotting away somewhere under the bridge. But he sat there, in a place she would have never imagined him to be even if it was in her dream, wearing an outfit that probably cost more than everything she donned, scrolling on a phone that made her breath

Zone Eight, An off-limit area, located far, beyond the fringe of the city. Rumours had it that the truft was restricted due to a tremendous earthquake ten years ago, some believed that the government had forbidden the land because of some hidden reasons, and some personal opinion about the land was that— it was an inhabitants for the dangerous— Very dangerous animals, and hence it is prohibited for residence and any purpose. But one thing, regardless of the citizen's beliefs was that, Zone Eight is a terrified place to enter for any reason, and stepping inside the land is not just unjustly breaking the rules of the government, but also a threat to life. The geography of the land is more of forests, mountains, and hills. Some parts of the ground had fissures, deep into the ground, and perhaps, earthquakes might be the main reason the land was out-of-bound by the government, and this place became the hideout of Tristan Cole to carry out his outlawed missions. The car slowed as Dom