Chapter 5 A peculiar encounter.

My friend smiled and then took my hand. The fear, along with life, was slowly leaving her body as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Tears started flowing from my eyes. I couldn't believe that my friend, the only one who had shared my darkest moments, was now in this state, leaving me. Where did all those dreams we promised to fulfill together go?

"We're finally f-f-free," she managed to say with a smile, a tear rolling down her cheek. Why not me? She didn't deserve to be with me in this situation. "F-find my s-siblings," she said with her last breath, her body slumping against my legs.

"Do something, damn it! Call a doctor, an ambulance, anything!" I yelled in frustration, because he had just been staring at me, not even attempting to save her. It was as if he was in shock or perhaps he knew my friend's fate all along, my dear Ann.

"She's gone, there's nothing to be done," he said as if he didn't care about the horror we had just witnessed. Moreover, I was sure this wasn't the first time he had faced death this way, nor was it the first death he had witnessed. I looked at my friend one last time, and that man was right in everything he said. She was gone, and I felt wretched. The happiness I had felt a moment ago now tasted bitter. I regretted wishing death upon those men. But that wouldn't bring my friend back.

I should have died alongside her. I should have let those men shoot me instead. They were after me, not her.

"I let you down, Ann, but your body will rest in peace now, don't you worry. I'll find your siblings and give them the best of me so they don't suffer the same fate as you and I. I'll forever be grateful for everything you've done for me," I smiled, my voice reduced to a whisper. I gave her one last embrace.

"We have to do something for her," I said, tears filling my eyes. I felt sad, powerless for not having been able to do anything.

"I'll take care of it. How many men were there?" asked the man whose name I still didn't know, but who seemed to be concerned about that small detail and about me, who apparently had a wound on my arm that I hadn't been aware of until now.

"I think there were two, at least those were the ones I heard," I replied, trying to recall, but it could have been five, I wasn't sure about anything at the moment. "Who are you? Tell me your name and stop looking at me like that," I asked curiously. I had never seen him before. Not that I had seen many people around here in many years, but he wasn't the man I was expecting. "And where is Julian?" I added, curious once again.

"I don't know any Julian," he said, looking at me with that serious gaze that left me absorbed, not only in the countless thoughts racing through my mind, but also trying to figure out what was going on in his.

"I'm the owner of this house, Nikolay Petrov. Yes, I'm Russian, that's why of my accent," he added. I nodded in surprise. The man seemed to anticipate my questions long before I asked them. All the letters I had been sending to this address had been reaching...

"How long... Well..." I stuttered, unable to finish the sentence I wanted, feeling embarrassed. Had he been reading the letters addressed to Julian?

"About a year ago," he replied. Oh, the embarrassment. This man knew my life! Of course, if he had read everything I had written. "Don't worry, your letters never reached him because I assume you were the one sending them," he said, causing my body to relax a bit. But I couldn't help shivering as I realized he knew exactly what I was thinking. Was it really that obvious what was going through my mind?

"Come on, let's go inside. It's better. Antoine will take care of your friend, and I'll call my doctor to have a look at you. We wouldn't want that wound to get infected," he said in a cold yet courteous manner.

"I'm not sure if I should enter your house," I commented, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. I didn't want to be a burden, and I felt a bit cornered by his piercing gaze. "I came looking for someone who isn't here, and I have no idea where they might be," I added, feeling a sense of sadness as I realized the person I was looking for wasn't here, and I was once again left in an uncertain situation.

"There won't be a problem. I suppose you can stay for as long as you need. I won't oppose it at all, but I ask that you comply with certain requirements to ensure both your safety and mine," he explained in the same calm manner as before. "I don't want you to see me as your enemy, and I'd actually prefer not to be. However, I must admit that I can be somewhat egocentric or short-tempered, whichever you prefer to call it. I like to have order in my life, so if you stay, I ask that you don't interfere with my affairs."

"Alright," I replied, feeling somewhat uncertain about the arrangement we were making, but I didn't have many options. I didn't want to run into more thugs, and I certainly didn't want to come across the person who had caused this chaos in my life. "What should I do?" I asked.

"I'll let you know in the morning. For now, come inside and rest. I'll tell Katherina to prepare the room that will be yours from now on, and I'll also call the doctor to check you over once he arrives," he explained. We entered the mansion, and I noticed that the layout was still the same. I stayed with Nikolay for a moment while the woman, Katherina, finished organizing the room Nikolay had assigned me just a few minutes ago.

As I entered the room and saw how neat and clean it was, I felt surprisingly grateful. I didn't care about the pale blue color of the walls; compared to my old room, it felt like a sanctuary. I would have liked to share it with Ann, but I was sure she was watching over me from a better place. Someone like her deserved more than a sad room.

"What a bed," I said, smiling and looking at nothing in particular as I placed a hand over my chest. "Finally, a real bed and not just a cot." Then, I received a gentle tap on my back. "Ann, I wish you were here with me. But don't worry, I'll fulfill your last wish and take care of your siblings as if they were my own," I added.

"Has your life been so difficult?" Nikolay commented from behind me. God, did Nikolay not realize how my life had been in recent times? I didn't know he was there, and my whole body shivered. He was definitely a cautious man, not afraid to intrude on whatever was happening.

"Um... yes, it's been a bit complicated since my parents died and I ended up under the guardianship of my aunt, or stepmother, whichever you want to call it. Although that's a story I'll tell you another time," I said, feeling emotional wounds reopening that I would prefer to keep closed. "Can I know what happened to my friend?" I added. I didn't know why I had shared that information with him; there was no reason for him to know, but I did. I suppose the lack of communication with the outside world over the past three years had something to do with it.

"I understand... Tomorrow we will bury her so you can prepare yourself, my trusted man is taking care of the body right now. For now, I think I'll let you rest, it's better that we leave it at that". He said with a smile. His smile sent a strange shiver down my spine, but I didn't uncover its meaning and it's not like I cared to uncover it.