âIâm heading downstairs now. If you prefer not to raise your voice, just inform the bodyguard at the door, and heâll relay the message, Frances offered before making her exit.
Cherise hesitated for a moment before speaking up. âActually⦠I do have a request.â
Frances halted in her tracks, turning back to face Cherise. âWhat else can I assist you with?â
âI need a piece of fabric.â Cherise explained, her brow wrinkling as she tried to recall the details of the black satin cloth covering Damienâs eyes in her dream. âA piece of black satin fabric with intricate dark patterns.â She gestured with her hands, indicating the desired dimensions. âAbout this size.â
Francesâ heart skipped a beat as she processed Cheriseâs request. The fabric she described⦠can it possibly beâ¦
âWhatâs wrong? Is there a problem?â Cherise inquired noticing Frances sudden silence.
âOh, no. No issue at all!â Frances quickly reassured her, flashing a bright smile as she swung the door open. Tll fetch it for you right away!â Itâs just a simple piece of black fabric. Itâs completely harmless, right? With that thought, Frances descended the stairs, making her way to the utility room to locate the requested item.
After a thorough search, Frances finally located the black fabric amidst the various spare pieces stored in the house, remnants from when Damien pretended to be blind five years prior. âHere you go,â
Frances said, presenting the fabric to Cherise, who accepted it with hands trembling uncontrollably. It was exactly as she had seen in her dream.
Shortly after Cherise had finished her meal, Lucy made her entrance. âDamienâs keeping a close eye on you,â she remarked, opening the door and settling on the edge of Cheriseâs bed. âWhen I arrived, I spotted someone lingering beneath a window of one of the rooms. It puzzled me initially-what could be the purpose of standing under a window? But now that Iâm here, itâs clear. Itâs your room.â
With a swift motjon, Lucy opened the book she had brought and laid it out before Cherise. From her pocket, she retrieved a box of cigarettes. âMind if I indulge?â she inquired, to which Cherise shook her head. âNot at all.â
âDoes Damien truly believe youâve become invincible?â Lucy chuckled, crossing her legs and lighting a cigarette. âEven with amnesia, youâre not foolish enough to contemplate a leap from a room at this height!â She pushed the book toward Cherise. Take a look.â
Cherise furrowed her brow as she inspected the item before her, flipping through pages of the book.
with a puzzled expression. âWhatâs all this?â she queried, the book revealing a collection of old photographs depicting a diverse array of individuals spanning various ages.
âThese are faces from your past,â Lucy replied casually, taking another drag from her cigarette. âI heard. you and Damien had a bit of a falling out?â
âItâs rather unnecessary,â Lucy said, gracefully blowing smoke rings into the air. âLately, Damienâs been preoccupied with you. Since you mentioned a desire to reclaim your memories, about a week ago, he began dispatching people to gather information from those who knew you. Heâs been requesting any âCherry, youâre twenty-five now,â Lucy remarked, her smile aloof. âIn those twenty-five years, Iâve crossed paths with thousands of people. I thought it was an impossible feat, but Damien somehow managed to pull it off.â She produced several additional books from her bag nonchalantly. The manâs utterly mad. Heâs gathered photos of every person who has ever known you.
As Cherise continued to leaf through the pages, her confusion lingered. âWill I⦠regain my memory by looking at these photos?â she inquired, searching for clarity.
âOf course not,â Lucy replied curtly.