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Flashback - During the hunt - with Amani
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What a perfect plan Dominic had β wait for the scavenger hunt when everyone was distracted, and only then could he finally make his escape. It was a scavenger hunt, a mere game, and yet, not in a million years could he have predicted it would carry so much importance.
Dominicβs steps felt heavy as he followed behind his group. With a strong grip on the strap of his bag, he dragged his feet along, muted against the echo of the other footsteps.
This event heβd underestimated had turned out to be a test. Their knowledge, thinking, skill; everything would be examined. And though Dominic cared little for a rank or recognition, there was no denying how everyoneβs eyes seemed to surround him. In every room, every corner he felt as if something was hovering over him, waiting for the moment heβd step away from the prewritten path. And the people, his teammates he was assigned to, in his silence would glance at him for answers. And if he spoke, they would turn their full attention, giving him no room to breathe.
As they walked across the courtyard now, if Dominic were to step away into the shadows, how long would it take them to notice? Would the headmaster be alerted, as if heβd mapped out each studentβs location? Was security tighter?
No, forget that. The higher ups were the least of his concerns. Especially since in front of him was a man around his height, intimidating eyes the color of ice β the very person to have beaten him near death.
Vincenzo.
Even as a month had passed by, Dominic still struggled to clear his head of that dark presence. When he rested, mind unoccupied, heβd see flashes of that night. In his dreams when heβd let his guard down, that man would take his peace. The pain and tightness, the metallic taste in his throat and how his body betrayed him β Dominic remembered each detail as clearly as he was living through it.
Out of all the eyes which watched him, Vincenzoβs gaze was one which made him freeze in place.
Why couldnβt his escape be easy?
His mind began to spin, gritting his teeth behind closed lips. How much further would this hunt drag on? He couldnβt go on any longer.
As his team continued through the courtyard, Dominic came to a stop. For a moment, he looked around his surroundings. Was now a good time? Surely the excitement for the hunt was enough of a distraction. If he turnedβ
And suddenly, he felt a collision against his body. He stumbled, a jolt of adrenaline spiking in his chest. An attack?
His head snapped down, expecting the worst.
βWatch where youβre going!β an angered voice exclaimed.
Oh. Heβd only bumped into someone. Something about her voice grated on his ears. Perhaps, it was how she jumped to accusations, without even bothering to look at him first.
βI was fairly certain I was paying attention,β he responded, glaring down with a sour expression.
She lifted her head, their gazes meeting. For a moment, her hazel eyes seemed so familiar, and he couldnβt bring himself to look away. It was as if memories flashed through his mind, of a person whose gaze looked so much alikeβ¦ Hers.
His brows furrowed. A tightness in his chest, and his blood began to boil. Fists clenched, teeth grit so tight veins bulged on his neck. Dominicβs lips parted, preparing to speak β only to be cut off by her wide eyelids, pupils trembling in fear.
She took a step back. Had he frightened her?
In that instant, his muslces relaxed, his jaw unclenching. It couldnβt be her, she would never make that expression. Not in public where strangers could see. With a sigh, Dominicβs face softened as he looked down at the woman. βIβmβ¦ sorry,β he mumbled, the words still feeling so foreign. His foot went back as well, putting more distance between them.
Silence lingered in the air. Dominic stood still, looking down at the eerily familiar stranger. She seemed in panic, something about his appearance had set her off. He felt a heaviness against his chest, a feeling he couldnβt quite explain. His mind raced, flipping through the possibilities of the womanβs thoughts like pages, each one worse than the other. Either heβd frightened her, and his fate of being eventually feared was inescapable β or, he was standing face to face with an oldβ¦ Friend.
He couldnβt say which he dreaded more.
Finally, with a strained voice she broke the silence. βWhatβ¦ are you doing here?β
Dominic furrowed his brows, expression twisting in confusion. Out of all the sentences he imagined sheβd utter, this was not one of them.
βWhat?β he asked bluntly, dumbfounded by her question. βIβmβ¦ Iβm taking part in the scavenger hunt,β his eyes flickered back to his group for a moment, before meeting hers. βWhat kind of question is that?β
The scavenger hunt, Vincenzo, and his foiled escape. All of these factors weighed on his mind, a load which slowed his steps and caused his feet to drag. And all the while his mind spun, spun and spun, with possibilities, future events, the danger that would arise. Would it be any wonder his reasoning would get clouded, leading to the assumption this was a woman he once knew?
Taking a deep breath, he stepped away. His head turned towards his group, whoβd already advanced into the next corridors. He couldnβt afford any distractions. That was something heβd settled on from the start.
Yet, the weight seemed to get heavier with each step, as if something was pulling him back towards the woman. Could he really walk away, especially after the question sheβd asked? At the very least, he had to know who she was.
He stopped. Turning back, Dominic faced her again. βHave we met?β