Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia didn't hesitate for a second-she drove the knife straight into the man

coming at her. She didn't care if she killed them all. Not one bit.

Norway wasn't just called the happiest country for its people's contentment. Its

laws were famously lenient. Heck, their prisons were practically five-star hotels.

Take out a couple more scumbags? In Sylvia's mind, she was making the world a

better place.

Fueled by pure adrenaline, she stabbed three men in quick succession. Blood

pooled across the hardwood floor. The two guys behind them froze, clearly

shaken.

"Get out!" Sylvia shouted, holding up her bloodied knife.

But just then, Warren burst in with his bodyguards.

He took one look at the groaning men on the floor. Rage flickered across his face.

Looks like you still don't get it. No one's coming to save you now."

He barked at his men. "Grab her. I want her to watch every second."

Sylvia fought like hell, but she was no match for the bodyguards. In seconds, she

was pinned facedown on the bed.

"Let me go!" she screamed, twisting and kicking.

Warren barely glanced at her. He ordered the wounded men to be dragged out for

treatment, then turned to the other two left in the room. He grinned as he opened

a closet, revealing a stash of tools that made Sylvia's stomach turn.

"This time, nothing's going to stop us."

She'd thought the blood on the floor was bad enough. She was wrong. The two

remaining men were the real monsters here.

They exchanged a look and stepped closer to her.

"Who's going first?" one jeered.

"You go ahead. Just don't get too rough like last time. Blood kinda kills the mood,

you know?"

Their words drilled through Sylvia's mind like a curse. Snippets of memories

tumbled together-

"All this blood... how are we supposed to have fun?"

"Wait, that doesn't look normal."

"Boss, you think she's pregnant or something?"

"That'd make things even more interesting."

And then Warren's voice, cold and sharp, cut through her head.

Why couldn't she remember? Why?

Sylvia's body shook uncontrollably. She found herself mumbling the same phrase

over and over.

"12252050. Red House..."

The clock on the wall caught her eye.

8:50 p.m. Red House.

One of the men started unbuckling his belt, moving over her.

"NO!" she screamed.

Bang!

Suddenly, the door crashed open. Two bodyguards tumbled into the room, faces

twisted in pain. They barely managed to crawl through the doorway.

Everything stopped.

Rupert strode in, all in black, Sylvia's

scarf wrapped around his neck. As

he drew closer, snowflakes dusted

his hair, and his storm-dark eyes

swept the room, cold and wild. His

presence sent chills through

everyone.

Warren's face twitched. "Uncle Rupert. Long time no see. But I'm afraid you're too

late."

He laughed bitterly, yelling at his men on the bed, "What are you waiting for?

Need me to show you how it's done?"

He didn't finish.

Rupert fired twice, quick and merciless. The two men howled, clutching their legs

as they tumbled off the bed.

Sylvia flinched. Before she could react, a warm, heavy coat dropped over her

shoulders.

She heard Rupert's voice, steady and familiar. "It's okay. I'm here. Just hold on."

It's okay... Hold on...

Sylvia's head throbbed. She curled up, cradling her skull.

She saw Warren grab a lamp, aiming to attack Rupert from behind.

"Rupert! Behind you!" she shouted.

He glanced at her, startled. For a

split second it all felt so real. The

way she said his name-it echoed

from a dream he couldn't shake, in

that dream, she'd called for him,

too her body battered, blood

trickling down her legs, staining the

floor bright red.

His fists clenched. He spun and knocked Warren to the ground.noveldrama

Warren, trained from childhood to be

an heir, was no pushover. He

blocked Rupert's blow, staggered

back into the wall, and spat out

blood, sneering, "Sylvia's ruined now.

She's mine."