Chapter 31

Raymond hurried towards the night blind alley, exhausted, dehydrated, and the adrenaline that had coursed through his veins earlier now fading and breathing in. He slowly stopped and now blindly walked and thought about his mission. It was accomplished, and he had delivered the message. That's what matters most, yet he was dreading the idea of leaving the young woman in the mansion.

Raymond, look up; the stars filled the sky like pale corn on freshly turned ground. It was the promise of life in the darkness—a sense of warmth springing from the cold—that swept him to his skin. It was a vastness to bring humility and an eternal space to bring gratitude for the cosiness of home, yet he was far from home. No matter the years that passed, Raymond saw each night sky as a fresh gift given anew. It was the moment anyone who knew him would see his eyes smile and his breathing deepen just a little, yet the worry never left him. What happened to the mansion was not his problem, nor was i