FLASHBACK

Short curly strawberry blond hair flows against the strong winds of Edelweiss, a small town with the population of 531 people. It was small, humble, and friendly. Everyone in town grows up together and sometimes end up together. This is Edelweiss. Everyone was content with their lives in this small town.

But young miss LaMotte wanted more.

“I want to sell billions of best-sellers!” Dom says as she swings mightily on the swings. “I'll make a movie once my books are everyone's favorite read and win the Oscars!” She joyfully proclaims to the wind. “I'll be so freaking famous!”

Right beside her is a younger Heath swinging gently beside her.

“I really believe you can do that. Can't wait to read your books once they're published.” He replies with a smile. Dom’s energy was contagious. If she was extremely happy everyone around her is lifted from their dull days.

“I know it won't be easy. I bet it'll be so hard to just be noticed…” she says softly. “But I won't give up!” Dom takes one strong swing and jumps.

The world felt like it was obtainable. Her dream just one step away.

Her hands reaches for the dream.

...and then……..

“You're being terminated. Effective immediately.”

END OF FLASHBACK

A gunshot. Heath screaming Dom’s name in a panic. A woman wearing red stands in the entrance, a pistol in her hand.

24 HOURS EARLIER…

Janice Leonhart files her divorce papers with her lawyer. She puts her red pen down and found no more reason to cry. It states that for damage control she gets 80% of her ex-husband's money and full custody of Tom their only son. Janice leaves the room.

In a multilevel sunrise hotel, a woman in red is found sitting on a sofa watching Netflix when Janice enters the room.

“Madam Red?” Janice walks cautiously as the woman in red gestures the divorced woman to take a seat on the sofa opposite hers. So she takes a seat. “A friend recommended your skills for my...umm…”

“No need to say it. I know that anyone who walks in that door wants one thing. And I'll assure you that I do not miss a shot.” The woman speaks with a mild Polish accent.

She stands and approaches Janice and eventually sitting next to her. Her long legs slightly teasing Janice’s skirt. Later she comes close to the woman and whispers to her ear seductively.

“So, which payment are you willing to give?”

The two middle-aged women sinks into the sofa as red lips devours the divorcee like full course meal. Licking and sucking her skin from neck and down to her neck, collarbone until slender soft hands starts groping Janice into ecstasy.

Outside, dark clouds start to form as the man in the television announces the storm Gloria hitting the city soon.

24 HOURS AFTER…

A woman in red follows Dom who eventually enters Eros Hotel. The scene Dom entered into was perfect to hide the woman in red as she takes out a pistol from her branded bag, aiming at Dominique's head from she stands without a heartbeat to waste…

..pulls the trigger…

Dom gets hit on the side of her left ear, barely missing the shot and falls on the floor.

Behind her is the woman in red, bleeding from the back of her head as she drops dead while Dom escapes death by a hair.

“DOM!” Heath lets go of Leilynn and rushes to Dom. He cries terribly not knowing if Dom was dead.

Dana who had medical background rushes to the lady wearing a nude scarf. She checks her for a few seconds and knew what to do.

“Don't worry,” she reassures Heath. “She's not dead. The bullet only grazed her ear and nothing more.”

“But why is she unconscious?” Heath responds helplessly.

Dana check her temperature. “She has a fever. A high fever to be exact… She's burning.” Dana takes out her phone and calls the ambulance.

On the other hand, Terry looks at the red woman covered in her own blood. He wasn't sure but he has an idea where this woman in a red coat might have gotten the headshot from. But the storm outside covers any evidence of another shooter nearby and that was all there is to it.

The hospital was nearby and the sound of sirens echoed around the halls of Eros Hotel.

FLASHBACK

It was a normal sunny afternoon and a young Dana Bleu can be spotted with her uncle Terry. She was a bit sad and was trying to hold it in. But her uncle’s hand comforted her and allows her to cry that very moment.

“I don’t want to pursue this uncle. I’m tired. All I do is study. I have no social life. No friends. My time is not mine anymore. I want to quit. This isn’t what I want.” Dana lets out her deepest regrets.

“Then what do you want?” Terry pats his niece on the head gently.

“I don’t know…”

END OF FLASHBACK

Terry embraces Dana who just came out of a hospital room. “Don’t worry, you did your best.”

Dana returns the embrace, “I know…”

The nurses and doctors rush in and out of the emergency room. The storm has hit the city hard and a lot of victims are being rushed in the hospital. Loud thunderstorms fills the city with anger leaving no light for the people to see.

Leilynn is found outside a certain room unable to enter. Her heart feels heavy and her stomach feels weird that she wants to throw up.

HOPELESS...HOPELESS...HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS

….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....

HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS…HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....

HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS

….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....

HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….

HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….

HOPELESS..HEATH......HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS

….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....HELPLESS….HOPELESS.....

HELPLESS….HOPELESS…

A hand taps on Lei’s shoulder which made her turn. It was Leon. With her best friend giving her that familiar warm smile she breakdown and embraces him, letting out her cries.

“I was so...so….stupid Leon… I wish I can tell you everything I’ve done so far and you can tell me how wrong I am….” Leilynn continues to cry while Leon just allows her to let out all her grief and sadness as he embraces her.

The storm continues and the people under it has more than the thundering clouds and the strong cold winds to face.

Dom lies unconsciously on a hospital bed where the doctor has finished checking up on her condition. Heath waits on the chair next to her bed with anxiety building around his chest.

“She’ll be fine for now.” The doctor said. “As for her hearing, emotional and mental state… we still don’t know.”

Heath just lowers his head.

The doctor leaves the two alone.

Heath looks at his childhood friend, holding her hand as he trembles to speak.

“Dom….can’t I… be the one to..”

...save you..?