Betty had no lunch, and she wasn't sure if he would return to bring her something based on his attitude. 

 

 When finally alone and almost lonely, Betty thought of her cousin and what was eating on him. 

She would say, 

'Is he in trouble? God, I hope not.' 

 

At noon, while Betty was taking a nap, Drew returned to the house. 

 

Finding her asleep, he didn't disturb her. Instead, covered her exposed legs before leaving once more. 

 

At around six in the evening, Drew parked his car at the nearby carwash and made his way to Charlotte's place. 

 

From a distance, he spotted Ben sitting on a bench. To avoid him, Drew quickened his pace without glancing his way. 

 

However, when Ben noticed him, he called out, "Hey, it's me!" and walked towards Drew. 

 

Drew muttered curses under his breath as Ben happily crossed the road, asking, "Do you have any more cigarettes, man?" 

 

Drew gave Ben a scrutinizing look. "Am I your supermarket or somethin' now?" 

 

As he walked away, Drew hoped that Ben wouldn't persist, but Ben continued following him. 

 "Can I borrow two dollars, man? Please, I haven't eaten in like two days, bro." 

 

In his better days, Drew might have intimidated Ben to the point where he'd never approach him again, but today he pulled ten dollars from his pocket and said, "Get yourself cleaned up, man; you look like zombie." 

 

With Ben sorted, Drew entered the building, following Jimmy's directions to find Charlotte's apartment. 

 

The last time Drew and Charlotte had spoken, she was staying at her sister, Lena's house. 

 

 

By the time she had moved here, she and Drew had fallen out, which was why he had no idea of her current address. 

 

Drew used key given by Jimmy the other night to open the door. 

 

The opulence of her apartment was intimidating to him. It possessed everything he lacked–upscale kitchen, countertops, lavish sitting areas, and luxurious bedrooms. 

 

He refrained from sitting down or touching anything, fearing he might leave behind his fingerprints. 

 

After some time, he felt his throat dry, so he used his sleeves to open the fridge.  

 

 

He noted, well-stocked. He grabbed a Red Bull and pushed the door. 

 

Next, he ventured into her bathroom, observing the beauty products and lotions.  

 

 

He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. The sorrow that crossed his mind made him hurriedly shift his attention elsewhere. 

 

 

In her bedroom, he gazed at the neatly folded sheets, the soft king-size bed, and the overall pristine atmosphere, which was intimidating. 

 

On his mind, he thought about his cousin Betty when he looked at the apartment. Agony taunting him. 

 His stony face told the truth in his heart. 

 

Outside the apartment, a hand swiped a key card to unlock the door. 

Although it was quiet, Drew caught up on that and instinctively positioned himself in Charlotte's wardrobe. 

 

 

Pulling the gun out, Drew removed the safety pin from the cold metal and waited. 

 

 

Dark, smelling of Charlotte and packed, the closet made his stay uncomfortable. As if warning him not to have entered there, or maybe in her apartment, or maybe her life. 

He took in deep breaths, raising the gun close to his chest and getting ready to fire away. 

 

 

Each step of the high heels on the Mabel floor created a melodic sound, making the presence of the owner noticed. 

 

 

Drew felt the moment nearing, as the footsteps came closer to the bedroom each time the wearer walked  

 

 

Drew heard the ominous footsteps at the door and then in the bedroom. 

Drew, taking his final breath, busted out of the wardrobe with the gun in his hand. 

 

 

In panic, Drew let go of the trigger, and gunshots vibrated in the room to the corridors outside. 

 

In seconds, a cold piercing through the clothes, through the delicate skin, and the warm body caused a stiff numbness. 

 

"I'm going to die.(Hesitation) Is this how I'm going to die?... 

Death feels like this? 

I'm fall… falling… ", the body lost its grip on gravity, and fell into an endless free fall, hitting the fluffy rug on the floor.

TO Be Continued...