The Truth Shall Set You Free-Part One

Lucian and Visenya enjoyed a few more blissful days on the island, thousands of miles away from the rest of the world, in their own little paradise.

But when they finally returned home, Lucian found himself grappling with the weight of his intentions. He had longed to confess the truth about their tumultuous past to Visenya, but he kept postponing it, convincing himself that he simply needed a little more time with her.

Days turned into weeks, and still, Lucian couldn't bring himself to confront the reality of his own selfishness. He continued to grant himself just a few more days, and then a few more after that, evading the inevitable truth.

Meanwhile, Visenya was beginning to think that she was losing her mind. Each time she passed the mysterious hallway beneath the stairs, an eerie whisper seemed to beckon her. It haunted her, making her question her own sanity.

Driven by an inexplicable curiosity, Visenya found herself drawn to that solitary door at the end of the hallway. But each time, she was met with a perplexing denial of access, fueling her growing suspicion.

Where there was a lock, there had to be a key, and Visenya was determined to find it. Lucian often rose before her, leaving her peacefully asleep while he prepared breakfast for the two of them.

One morning, Visenya decided to search through Lucian's belongings in her quest for the key. She anticipated it would be cleverly hidden in an unexpected place, somewhere no one would ever think to look. So, she meticulously combed through their room, exploring all the unusual nooks and crannies, but her efforts proved fruitless.

Aware that Lucian could return at any moment, Visenya felt a sense of urgency. She looked around the room, growing frustrated with Lucian's little game of hide and seek, until her eyes fell upon his mahogany desk.

Approaching the desk with determination, Visenya gingerly opened the top drawer, and to her astonishment, a gleaming gold key greeted her gaze. Could it truly be that simple? She couldn't help but feel a pang of foolishness for suspecting Lucian of hiding something from her. After all, why would he place the key in such an obvious location?

With a conflicted mind, she closed the drawer, momentarily deciding to dismiss the whole ordeal. However, an insatiable curiosity gnawed at her, growing stronger with each passing day. Succumbing to its relentless pull, she opened the drawer once more, securely grasped the key, and discreetly slipped it into the pocket of her silk robe.

Later that night, when she was certain that Lucian had fallen fast asleep, she carefully maneuvered out of his arms, taking great care not to disturb his slumber. However, even the slightest movement from her seemed to disrupt his sleep, causing him to hold onto her possessively, as if he feared she would slip away forever.

"Where are you going?" He questioned, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"I'm just going to get a drink of water," she replied softly.

"I'll get it for you," he sighed heavily.

"I can get my own water," she insisted, her tone firm yet gentle. "Please, stop treating me like I'm incompetent."

There was a prolonged pause, as if he wasn't quite ready to relinquish his control over her. Eventually, though, he loosened his grip, allowing her to slip right out of bed.

Before leaving, she placed a tender kiss on his cheek, watching as he turned over and drifted back into sleep. She reached for her silk robe hanging on the hook, slipping it on and sliding her hand into the pocket to ensure the key was still there... and it was.

She left the room and slowly crept her way down the stairs, wincing with every creak she made, hoping it wouldn't wake the sleeping dragon. Finally reaching the first floor, she found herself face to face with that mystifying hallway once more.

With the key firmly held in one hand and a lantern to light her way in the other, she closed in on the door at the end of the hall. Her heart caught in her throat, her stomach swarmed with black moths, and she questioned if she truly wanted to uncover the secrets that lay beyond.

But she needed to know... There was a reason it had been taunting her from the very beginning. Determination fueled her as she inserted the key into the lock and turned it with a swift motion.

"No..." She wiggled the key forcefully, but it refused to turn... because it wasn't the right one.

Frustration welled up within her as she pulled the key out, realizing she still had no entry. Contemplating whether she should break the damn door down, she placed her hand on the doorknob, channeling all her energy and intent.

"Open, damn it," she commanded.

And just like that, the door yielded to her will, emitting an eldritch screech that belonged in a horror story. She half-expected a swarm of rats to burst forth, adding to the eerie atmosphere, but not a single one appeared.

With the gentle flicker of the lantern guiding her through the depths of the dark and eerie basement, she cautiously descended the stairs. Uncertain of her purpose or the inexplicable force compelling her to venture into the unknown, she traversed the steps with care, her heart pounding in her chest.

It was as if she had succumbed to a mysterious trance, drifting aimlessly into the depths of the black abyss. A yearning for something, a spark of awakening, drove her onward. And to her astonishment, as if some unseen entity had heard her silent plea, it presented her with exactly what she had been seeking all along.

There, right before her very eyes, lay the infamous red carpet, or rather, a rug that exuded an undeniable air of significance.

"Search for the red carpet..." A voice whispered to her from the shadows.

A shiver ran down her spine as she swiftly turned around, her trembling hand gripping the lantern, casting its flickering light to illuminate the four corners of the room. She sought to discover who, or what, shared this eerie space with her. But to her dismay, she found herself utterly alone. Yet, her gaze was magnetically drawn back to the dreaded red rug.

Without a moment's hesitation, she summoned her courage and lifted it off the ground, casting it aside with determination. Hidden beneath the old, dusty rug lay a trapdoor that immediately sent waves of panic and fright through her. With trembling hands, she mustered the courage to lift the door, only to be greeted once again by that chilling voice that had haunted her for days. "Visenya..."

"Hello?" Her voice echoed down into the dark void.

Clutching her lantern tightly, she descended the narrow steps, each one taking her further into the depths of the sinister unknown.

"Visenya..." The voice called out as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

Her voice quivered with fear as she anxiously asked, "Who's there?"

Raising her lantern high, she desperately scanned the darkness for any lurking figures, until her light revealed the chains fastened to the wall. Intrigued yet apprehensive, she moved closer, illuminating the wall with the lantern's glow.

It was exactly like her nightmares, with the same chains that restrained her to that very wall. And it was the same exact wall because, even in total blackness, she would know it anywhere. Her heart sank into her gut, and her eyes burned from the salt of her surfacing tears as the realization dawned upon her that the man she loved may not be who he says he is.

"Remember..." The voice echoed in the dark.

She spun back around, the light of her lantern now illuminating the face of Marienne, who grinned at her with creepy, blacked-out eyes.

"Remember!" Marienne's voice blared in a menacing tone, right before she vanished into thin air.

Visenya let out a piercing scream, terror coursing through her veins. She lost her footing and fell hard on her backside, the lantern shattering into tiny shards of broken glass beside her. Scrambling to her feet, she hurried up the stairs, desperate to escape the horrific pit of doom. But in her panic, she ran headfirst into what she thought was a wall, only it wasn't a wall—it was Lucian standing there at the top of the hole. His eyes bore the weight of guilt and remorse, mirroring the tumultuous emotions swirling within her.

"You shouldn't be down here, Visenya," he whispered softly. "Let's go back to bed."

Her eyes bore into him, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within them. Anger, animosity, resentment, and, worst of all, revulsion.

"So... it's Visenya now, is it?" Her stare pierced through him, as sharp and deadly as ever. "Not dog? Or mutt? Or whore?!"