From Frying Pan to Strange Fire

Joan stood frozen, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the damaged car. The front was crumpled, the windshield shattered, and the tires looked like they had been clawed. She couldn’t comprehend how anyone could have survived such a wreck.

“How did you… how did you survive this?” she stammered, looking at Trevor with a mix of disbelief and fear. “And Grace? Was she hurt?”

Trevor shook his head, his expression calm. “No, your friend is fine and at her house already. She wasn’t in the car when it happened.”

Joan’s mind raced, trying to piece together what could have caused such destruction. She was still reeling from the sight when Roman pulled Trevor aside, speaking in a low, urgent tone.

“Take her home,” Roman instructed. “But wait ten minutes before you leave.”

“Boss, they are too much. This fight is not one you should confront alone.” Trevor spilled, his frown deepening.

“When did you begin to underestimate me?” Roman probed, narrowing his eyes at Trevor.

“I would never do that, boss. I’m only speaking based on the fact that you said Lazer is weakened. How do you plan to face them without Lazer?”

Don’t worry about that. Just take her home.”

Trevor nodded, understanding the seriousness in Roman’s voice. Roman then walked back to Joan, his face softened with a reassuring smile.

“Trevor will drive you home,” he told her in a gentle voice. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine. We’ll find your mother.” He assured her and led her to the car.

Joan climbed into the car, though her mind was far from settled. Apart from the fact that her mother was missing, she couldn’t overlook the feeling that something was happening and she was being kept in the dark. These people were hiding something and she could feel it.

As Roman walked out of the gate, sounds of growls reached her ears, sending a chill down her spine. It was a sound she recognized all too well, one she had heard the night she tried to run away.

She turned to Trevor, her eyes pleading for answers. “What was that? It sounded just like-”

“Security dogs,” Trevor cut her off with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “They can be pretty intimidating.”

Joan wanted to press further, but she stopped herself from doing so, doubting she would get the truth or any further explanations from Trevor. So she reluctantly accepted his explanation, even though her instincts screamed otherwise.

Ten minutes later, true to Roman’s instructions, Trevor drove them away from the field. The car moved at a “close to normal” pace, the silence between them filled with unspoken questions.

When they finally arrived at the mansion, Joan climbed out of the car, feeling more drained than ever. Trevor restarted the engine, ready to leave.

Her brows arched in question as she set her gaze on Trevor, who was about to drive off.

“I’m going to pick up Roman,” Trevor answered her unspoken question before driving off.

Joan turned towards the mansion, her steps heavy with exhaustion. As she approached the door, she saw Daniel standing there with a woman she recognized- the same woman who had visited last time looking for Roman.

“Welcome back, Madam.” Daniel greeted, his voice friendly but tense, knowing from her facial expression that everything didn’t go well.

“Thank you.” Joan answered, shifting her gaze from him to the woman. At that moment when their gazes met, Joan felt something she never thought she would feel again, especially not with Roman. The woman was beautiful, no doubt, but that was the very reason why Joan became upset.

She wondered what business Roman had with the woman to make her keep coming over to see him. Having dealt with Richard’s unfaithfulness, she didn’t think she could do it again.

Just when she was about to say something to the lady, the door swung open and Cody stepped out, offering a bow. “Welcome madam.”

Realizing it was no use engaging the woman, who also didn’t bother to engage her, Joan simply walked past them, heading inside. The events of the day had sapped her strength, leaving her in no mood for a fight.

Just as she walked out of sight, Irene, the visitor, frowned deeply. “Why is she allowed to go in and I’m not? Who is she? And did I just hear you call her ‘madam’?”

Daniel’s face hardened, his tone firm. “It’s none of your business. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“You have grown guts, I see. The Roman effect. ” Irene nodded, eyeing Daniel in a condescending manner. “But you know I am not one to be disrespected. So don’t even think about it.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. We have instructions not to let you in,” Daniel said. “It would be wise for you to leave.”

Irene smirked, shifting her gaze to Cody for a while, before settling them on Daniel again. “I will be back in the morning. I better see Roman or else, the entire family will be here with me on my next visit.” She threathened, then turned around elegantly and walked away.

Joan could hear their voices fading as she moved deeper into the house. She wanted to collapse into bed and shut out the world, but questions gnawed at her mind.

She felt like she was in the eye of a storm, with chaos swirling around her, yet unable to grasp any of it. Her steps finally brought her to her room, and she sank onto the bed, her body aching with fatigue.

In a short while, like a black hole pulling someone in, she was soon pulled into sleep, however, her rest was not a peaceful one. She opened her eyes in dream land to find herself running yet again, and the man without a head chasing after her intensely.

Tired of running, she decided to stop and face her pursuer. Only at that moment did she realize she had been holding onto a head -his head- all the while she was running.