17 : Games and Riddles

**Evelyn :**

*This is a stupid plan*

Sighing, I turned my head back to look at the big house where I had already spent several days, I don't even know how many. They all seemed the same, that I couldn't keep up with the count anymore.

I knew I might be in trouble but I had to take my chance while I still had it. Raphael was on his own business, it was still three hours until he came back and I needed a plan to get out, even if life with him was like paradise. I wanted to know what he would have done for me if I had stayed where I am but I am not the same as he remembers me from my previous life. Although I felt protected, I should not have given up.

I won't let anyone decide for me how I should live and I wasn't going to be trapped in that place forever like a caged animal.

It wasn't a good idea to go to my grandfather's because he thinks Raphael and I are a couple and I stay with my new girlfriend on holidays so I had to disappear where no one would look for me. First, I need to collect things from my apartment.

Closing the jacket tighter, I couldn't help myself and lifted the fabric to my nose. It belonged to him, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, I liked his scent. It was divine and intoxicating which makes you feel like someone who likes to take drugs because the feeling was overwhelming. I could not escape from it.

Knowing full well that I could have taken women's clothes, there was something in me that made me take something from him because I knew - if we don't meet again then this is the last thing I will ever have from him.

*I'm crazy*

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and looked once more at the large mansion. Having crossed the gate, this time without effort and without any disturbances, I still had a small part of me what did not want to leave this place. It felt like my heart was breaking into little pieces. The feeling was confusing.

It was Wednesday, the middle of the week, and although the days were warm, this one was the coldest of them all. Another scarf was required but luckily I had my trusty gloves on so I wouldn't hurt anyone. My heart sank at the thought.

The clouds weren't exactly in good shape either. It looked like it was going to rain any minute. In the morning it seemed that it would be a beautiful day but again the sky arranged a storm-like painting which was waiting for the moment when it will come to life but there was no time to think about it. Had to leave this place.

When I got to the nearest bus stop, I realized that I had ten minutes to catch the bus that would take me to downtown Boston so I could get to my apartment. I didn't even know the feeling of being in my apartaments anymore. A few days and I was already used to the life that I only dream about and see on TV.

Sitting on the bench, I took my phone which I had charged up to 54%. Even though I had a means of communication, I hadn't really used it for four or five whole days because of everything that happened to me. Now I looked at it as if I was holding an unknown tool in my hand that I did not know how to operate. It seemed like such a strange feeling but after shaking invisible shivers from my hands, I pressed the Messages application to send a message to one person who has been with me in situations where no one else has been.

It was my cousin, Leo. He was three years older than me and even though I said that grandpa was my only family member, it really wasn't. I only go to Leo when I really need it and I hadn't seen him for a year and I knew that even though we rarely meet and communicate, I can still rely on him.

My fingers were ready to write but I didn't even notice that the bus had already arrived. Quickly standing up, I hurried to the open door to quickly pay for my ride. Raphael kept the extra money in his study desk, I knew it wasn't good to steal but I needed some to at least get away. Without reacting at all to the driver's strange look at my gloved hands, I quickly thanked him for the ticket and went to sit where it was not so crowdly, the free space at the very end.

As I settled into the chair, right by the window, I let out a long sigh. From relief or fear, I don't know but I'm a little tired of thinking what will happen to me in case he finds me. Although inside there was a pleasant excitement if the Phoenix really catches me.

There were countless questions in mind.

Will he be angry with me or just disappointed that I didn't obey his request?

Does he mean to lock me up and never let me anywhere again, or will I be freed only by being punished with which he often threatens me?

Or something more terrible awaits me?

With those thoughts, I unconsciously let myself fall asleep because I knew that the trip would be a bit long.

**

Waking up from a light shake, I stood up with such a surprise that completely alarmed the person who woke me up. Realizing that it was the bus driver, I smiled guiltily. The man just pointed boredly at the front door.

"Your destination miss. You're the only one to get out. You better hurry, I don't have all day here with you," with that he walked back forward to get back behind the wheel.

Feeling guilty again that I fell asleep unnoticed and made him wait for me, I apologized loudly and hurried out of the bus after thanking him, only to see that it was already six in the evening. Not knowing if this is the time that counts as an evening for Raphael, surely the owner of the house is already at home, only to realize that I'm gone. Swallowing hard, I didn't hesitate to walk to my apartment, which was a block away, straight to the end and to the right until you could see an apartment building. It was a little rusty place to live but it has been serving well for many years.

When I reached it, I breathed a sigh of relief that I had made it home without any problems. Having finally unlocked my door which was in the apartment, on the third floor, I let the familiar smell enter my nostrils and, turning on the light, I also got to know the rooms of the small apartment that I was familiar with every day, from which I was so bored, I didn't even want to lie but when I went deeper, behind me closing the door, something didn't feel right. Something was off.

It was much colder than I remember. There was dust in the air which strangely floated in the air, as if dancing an unknown dance. Frowning, I placed my bag next to my shoes to slowly make my way deeper until the lights in the corridor went out completely and I was left in semi-darkness. Stunned by the fear that began to grow around my soul, I instantly went back to the switch but once or twice attempts later, no matter how hard I pressed it, nothing happened and I was left in semi-darkness as before.

After running my hands along my clothes as if to clean the dirt of imagination, I shook off the feeling of fear and went to try the living room's light switch.

I guess I haven't been there so long that the lamp has burned out. Nothing superfluous, nothing to worry about

I tried to convince myself, thinking that the light in the room would turn on, the other switch didn't work either, and I looked at the curtains that fluttered suspiciously lightly in the wind. Realizing that the window was half closed, I stopped completely, not knowing what to do.

*Did I had left the window open all this time when I was gone?*

Without thinking too much, I went to close it but by the time it was closed, there was a deathly silence and something caught my attention on my bed.

My heart stopped.

There were flowers. **Red carnations.**

Next to it, of course, was a note that looked like an innocent gift card but I knew better. Coming closer, I took it in my hands with trembling hands and opened the card.

In blood red letters was a note.

**How much you take, that's how much you leave behind. What am I?**

Not understanding what the riddle meant, I was still scared because I realized that someone had been in my apartment to put these on my bed. Maybe that's why the balcony window was open. That alone made me almost throw up but I knew that if I feel fear and ran away from everything I was afraid of, I wouldn't get anywhere.

After taking a picture of the flowers and the card on the bed as I found it using the flash, I took it all to go to the kitchen where I had the trash. Throwing out the evidence, I sighed heavily and wondered what to do.

*Someone is playing with me and knows what I can do.*

It seemed that the riddle was meant for me because I can easily take anyone's life with my touch, no matter how bad it is. With that thought, I went to put the necessary things in my bag. It was time to prepare for anything.