22 The mes


    ~Liam~


    The siren''s re rudely shattered a significant moment for me, leaving me grappling with the urge


    to utter curses. As we reluctantly emerged from the water and hastily dressed, I couldn''t help but


    feel that the interruption had robbed us of what could have been a magical kiss with Josephine. I


    stole a few nces at her, trying to gauge her feelings, but her face remained stoic, revealing


    nothing.


    I longed to linger in the water with Josephine, as she fit perfectly in my arms, and everything felt


    right when we were together. Inhaling her scent, I couldn''t help but be captivated by her sheer


    beauty, knowing deep down that she was meant to be mine. The way she responded to me was


    simply enchanting, reinforcing the belief that we were destined to be together.


    Josephine adored the surprise I had prepared for her. I had worried that she might not appreciate


    the simplicity of a food truck or the location I chose, but it turned out we shared more inmon


    than I had realised.


    The experience was both unique and thrilling, and I can''t help but hope that we''ll get the chance to


    do it again soon, perhaps even fulfilling what we started.


    Being with Josephine promises to be truly wonderful, and after our time in the water, I''m finding it


    difficult to hold back my feelings, but I intend to give her time.


    "What''s happening outside?" Josephine inquired, pulling me back to reality as we neared the gate. I


    decided to approach the guard for answers.


    "Excuse me, sir, what''s happening out there?" I asked, and he bowed his head respectfully.


    "There was an explosion involving a van on Sam Street just around the corner, which resulted in a


    house catching fire," he exined. Hearing this, I instinctively rushed towards the gate.


    "Liam!" Josephine called after me, and I slowed down to wait for her.


    "What''s wrong?" she asked with concern.


    "My grandparents'' house is on that street," I replied, and her expression turned to shock.


    "Are they in Grizlo?" she inquired, and I wasn''t sure, but I knew I had to find out.


    I dialed my grandmother''s number, patiently waiting for her to answer. She finally answered and the


    tranquil background noise on her end brought a sense of calm to my mind.


    "Grandma, are you in Grizlo?" I inquired.


    "No, darling. We''reing tomorrow. We sent the housekeeper ahead to prepare things, so it might


    seem like we''re home. We''ll be there tomorrow," she responded. It was evident they were unaware


    of the situation unfolding.


    "Please postpone your trip, grandma. Don''te, at least not yet," I pleaded, and she fell silent.


    "Is there something I should know, Liam?" she asked, sensing my concern.


    "A car exploded near a house on your street, and the house caught fire. I don''t want to jump to


    conclusions, but I''d rather you and Grandpa stay away until we''re certain it''s just a coincidence," I


    exined, and she let out a sigh.


    "Okay, darling. I''ll let Jake know," she assured me, and we said our goodbyes before ending the


    call.


    Upon hearing my grandmother''s assurance, a sense of relief washed over me. Josephine asked,


    "Are they safe?" I drew her close, wrapping my arms around her, findingfort in her presence as


    we continued walking.


    "Yes, they''re not in Grizlo," I reassured her, knowing she had likely deduced that already.


    "Let''s head back to the pack house," I suggested, but Josephine suddenly stopped in her tracks. I


    nced at her, curious about her sudden pause, and the mischievous glint in her eyes spoke


    volumes. It was evident she was contemting doing something adventurous or daring.


    "Jo?" I questioned, and she grinned back at me.


    "It won''t hurt to check the ce out," she urged, her eyes pleading with me.


    "We might find some clues before any evidence gets erased. Besides, you have every right to be


    there. Your grandparents live on that street," she reasoned, trying to convince me.


    I hesitated, unsure of what had really happened and the seriousness of the situation. Thest thing I


    wanted was to put my loved ones in harm''s way.


    "I don''t think it''s wise, Jo," I managed to say, but she shook her head, still smiling, and began


    stepping away from me. Suddenly, she bolted towards the sound of sirens. I was taken aback, but I


    wasted no time and followed her, shocked by her boldness and determination.


    "What are you doing?" I shouted, but she justughed in response.


    "Hunting for clues. It could be connected to Sophia and our case; every detail matters, Li," she


    exined, sprinting towards the scene, and it pained me to see her so driven.


    How could she still be focused on finding Sophia after we hade so close to something


    intimate? Josephine''spassionate nature shone through. She wasn''t selfish, and I couldn''t help


    but feel grateful that I hadn''t rushed into anything with Sophia. I hoped this would work out and that


    we coulde together without the influence of any bond.


    Determined, I quickened my pace, taking the lead, and she followed close behind. It felt like a


    thrilling race, and my body weed the exercise after a long time without training. I embraced the


    physical activity and the pursuit of answers alongside Josephine.


    As we approached the zing fire, the scene was intense. The fire service was already on the


    scene, keeping people at a safe distance while battling the mes. They had seeded in


    extinguishing the fire of the now mangled vehicle, leaving behind only an iron carcass. Looking


    ahead, I noticed some light emanating from my grandparent''s mansion.


    "Let''s go," I urged Josephine, and she followed me, trying to catch her breath. Her tiredness was


    evident in her steps. Without hesitation, I squatted in front of her and suggested she hop on my


    back.


    "Liam," she responded withughter, as if thinking I was just joking. I turned my head to the side to


    catch a glimpse of her face behind me.


    "Never had a piggyback ride before?" I asked yfully, and she chuckled before agreeing to hop on.


    With Josephine on my back, we continued towards my grandparent''s home. I guided us through the


    gate, and I didn''t set her down until we reached the front door. I rang the doorbell multiple times,


    hoping the housekeeper would answer, but there was no response. I decided to try the doorknob,


    and to my surprise, it was unlocked.


    "Why would she carelessly leave the door open?" I murmured, puzzled by the housekeeper''s


    negligence. Josephine chuckled, yfully ncing around the area.


    "I guess she might have gone to see what was happening or fled when she saw the fire. You''d be


    surprised what people do in moments of survival," she remarked, taking in the surroundings. She


    had only been here once before, and I doubted she paid much attention back then.


    "Come on, let me show you my room," I suggested, and she raised an eyebrow, giving me a


    knowing look. I quickly reassured her, "No funny business, I promise." Her smile assured me that


    she believed me, and she nodded in agreement. I led her up the stairs towards my room, and she


    followed me curiously.


    Opening the door, I was relieved to find the ce immactely clean, a testament to the diligent


    housekeeper. Josephine stepped inside and took in the surroundings.


    "Something tells me you were a serious-minded student," she remarked, and I chuckled, nodding in


    agreement.


    "You got me there. Some might say I was outrightly boring," I confessed, ncing at her as she


    smiled back at me.


    "I wouldn''t say boring, Li. You are anything but that," she assured me, her words warming my heart.


    "Coming from you, that means a lot," I said gratefully, feeling honoured by her praise. As I moved


    closer to her, the memory of our interrupted moment at theke fueled my eagerness to continue


    where we had left off.


    "Li," she yfully teased, and I drew her closer to my chest.


    "Yes, Jo. Are you ufortable?" I whispered into her eyes, noticing the goosebumps forming


    around her neck. I thought she wouldugh, but instead, her demeanour suddenly became tense. I


    pulled away, concerned, and observed her fixed gaze on something. Following her line of sight, I


    realised it was a picture frame on my dresser – a picture of Sophia and me.


    Josephine moved away from me and approached the photo. "She seems so full of life," she


    remarked, and discussing it felt ufortable.


    "Yeah, we... took that picture a few months ago," I awkwardly admitted, realising that the mood had


    been dampened once again.


    Deciding to change the atmosphere, I gently led her away from the dresser and guided her out of


    the room.


    "I want to show you the rest of the house, but first, I need to check the room where the light was on


    from outside," I said, and she nodded gently, reluctantly tearing her eyes away from the picture


    frame.


    We proceeded down the hallway, and a metallic scent of blood assaulted my nose. I nced at


    Josephine to verify that the scent was real.


    "Do you smell that?" I asked her, and she nodded with a look of worry and disgust on her face. I


    decided to follow the trail of the scent, and it led us to the music room, where Grandma often yed


    her piano.


    Josephine gasped while I stood in shock, witnessing the housekeeper lying on the floor amidst a


    pool of blood. Acting swiftly, we rushed towards her; she was breathing faintly. Without hesitation, I


    grabbed my phone and dialled the emergency service.


    "There''s silver in her, so she isn''t healing. They need to hurry," Josephine remarked, kneeling close


    to the woman and examining her wound.


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    I observed the deep w marks on her chest and felt a sense of dread. If those marks had been on


    her throat, she would likely be dead by now. Why would anyone enter my grandparent''s house and


    harm the housekeeper? I was grateful that I had convinced my grandparents not toe.


    The danger we might be facing hit me, and I quickly pulled Josephine to her feet, making a swift


    decision to leave the house.


    While we walked, I spoke to the emergency operator, exining the situation. Relief washed over


    me when the operator informed us that the ambnce was only five minutes away. We needed to


    get the housekeeper the help she urgently required.


    "Why are we leaving her?" Josephine asked as we walked out of the building, concern etched on


    her face.


    "For our safety. The person who attacked or killed her might still be nearby," I exined, urging us


    to keep moving. But Josephine stopped abruptly at the gate, bending down to touch the ground.


    There were burnt tire marks on the floor, leading directly to the burnt-down van that had caused the


    commotion in the first ce.


    The realisation hit us simultaneously. "What are the odds that the perpetrators were the owners of


    the van?" Josephine whispered, her eyes widening in shock and understanding.