With the clues starting to piece together in her mind, Juliette rose from the chair she was sitting in and slowly walked toward the bus stop. Juliette intended to take a taxi or an Uber to the location. She moved without thinking about anything; her mind was blank, and she felt like a robot. If it were true that Master D was Robbin all along, Juliette wouldn’t have known how to react anymore. She was too exhausted even just to be surprised.
Juliette took her phone out of her bag, opened her contacts, tapped Robbin’s name, and stared at the man’s name displayed on the screen. She gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. No! She couldn’t accuse Robbin; what if she misinterpreted Daisy’s words? Master D knew everything about her, and Juliette was sure that whoever Master D was, he had been stalking her for a long time-even before her birthday party five years ago.
Dion?
A sigh escaped Juliette’s lips. She closed the contacts window and chose to order an Uber; at least the driver wouldn’t ask too many questions like most taxi drivers in New York.
Juliette looked up when the car that would take her to her destination arrived. She put her phone back in her bag and got into the car. Juliette couldn’t tell Leo about her departure for one reason: Master D was watching her. She didn’t want to involve Leo any further. She was somewhat lucky this time that Master D killed Pure; what if that psychopathic man killed Leo? Juliette didn’t know what she would do if that happened.
Juliette’s thoughts continued to swirl with various things. During the ride, she could only stare out the car window with a blank expression. Her head leaned against the rest, and her chest felt tight. She noticed the driver stealing glances, perhaps wondering about her reason for going to Woods Valley at such an inappropriate time. Still, Juliette was grateful that, as she suspected, the driver didn’t ask anything.
Trees and houses passed by them. Juliette couldn’t even admire the scenery along the way. Five hours went by in silence and anticipation. After this last game, all her questions would be answered. She would know Master D’s identity and understand the true motives of that man.
Before she knew it, they arrived at a point near Woods Valley. Because the place was closed, they couldn’t enter. Juliette paid the driver a generous tip and then got out. A few times, Juliette took deep breaths and exhaled. Her heart, which had calmed down, now began to race again.
She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag before walking toward the entrance of Woods Valley. Her memories began to swirl back to a time when she was so happy spending time in this place. But unlike her memories of Woods Valley covered in a blanket of white snow, now it was covered in fallen leaves.
Juliette was surprised when the guard at the location opened the gate for her without asking about her purpose as if he had been waiting for her arrival. Of course, Juliette wondered what the reason was. Once again, she concluded that Master D was not an ordinary person.
Just like Robbin, she thought fearfully.
Juliette shook her head and continued walking along the path through Woods Valley. The main building of the resort was locked, indicating that Juliette’s destination was a different building. She kept walking until she stopped in front of a row of cabins that served as accommodations for visitors wishing to stay.
Her steps halted when she felt her phone vibrate in her bag. Quickly, Juliette took the sleek device out of her bag. She grimaced at the notification from Master D. Juliette held her breath as her finger touched the notification, and the message window displaying Master D’s message opened instantly.
‘Your birthday.’
Juliette blinked her eyes, reading the three words in the message. Her birthday? She thought for a moment and stared at the row of cabins in front of her. Then, as if she had received a revelation, Juliette understood what Master D meant.
With newfound confidence, Juliette walked along the line of cabins. The lights were turned on, and the doors were locked because the cabins were only used in winter. Juliette noted the number plates attached to the front doors.
Her footsteps stopped in front of a path leading to a cabin. The cabin was at the end and quite far from the main road, making Juliette feel wary of the situation she was about to face. She took a deep breath and began walking down the path until she reached the door.
The cabin door with the number 10 was her destination, 10 being the date of her birthday. Juliette’s entire body trembled, and her hands shook as she opened the door, which turned out to be unlocked. “Here it is…” Juliette murmured into the silence, and slowly, she opened the door.
Darkness was the first thing that greeted her. Still, a few seconds later, Juliette saw a glimmer of light at the end of the hallway that stretched between the living room and the other rooms in the cabin. Juliette prayed in her heart that what she would see would not be horrifying. She didn’t want to witness the same scene as in the hotel room back then. Juliette shivered as she recalled that nightmare.
“Hello?” Juliette murmured as she stepped further into the cabin. She gasped in shock when the door behind her suddenly slammed shut with a loud bang. Juliette calmed herself and tried to think positively that the door had closed due to the wind. Juliette took a breath and continued walking toward the only light in the cabin.
Juliette pulled out her phone and turned on the flashlight so she could see around. Was it time for Juliette to run? Because in horror movies, moments like this are the perfect time for ghosts to come out. She shook her head to dispel those thoughts. Juliette needed to focus because Master D could be here, watching her.
Juliette continued walking until she reached the threshold where the light was coming from. At first, she didn’t notice it, but when she realized what was in front of her, Juliette gasped and rushed inside. She cried hysterically when she saw a man tied to a chair in the middle of the room, helpless-Leo. The state of the man was horrifying as he was battered and covered in wounds. The area around Leo’s eyes was dark and swollen, blood dripped from the corner of his lips, and Juliette could see stab wounds in several places, like his shoulder and thigh. Juliette kept crying as her hands frantically tried to loosen the bindings around Leo’s body, but her efforts were in vain.
In her frenzy, Juliette didn’t notice a single purple rose, along with a piece of paper and an envelope, in Leo’s bound hands. Juliette kissed Leo’s unconscious forehead before standing up and grabbing the three objects. The first thing Juliette did was step on the rose, then open the piece of paper, which she had already guessed the contents of.
…