Vivienne looked pale as a ghost.

Clearly, it was time to fast-track the development of the new bomb detector. They could not afford another incident like this.

But Imogen's face was a tapestry of tension, and Vivienne noticed.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Imogen shook her head, troubled. "No, there should be thirty-one... Yesterday, he found one..."

She reached up, touching the headband nestled in her hair-a gift from her beloved, cherished more than gold. Just yesterday, he had whispered to her with undying affection, "Your hair is your crowning glory, love. With this, you're even more radiant."

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Three seconds remained.

Tears welled in her eyes as she dashed out of the Ellington Mansion.

Vivienne and Percival had no time to react before a deafening explosion shook the air.

When the smoke cleared, only a shattered necklace remained on the ground. It was the token Richard had given to Imogen, a symbol of her acceptance into the Ellington family.

The bomb's force had vaporized Imogen instantly, like a plane plummeting from the sky, obliterating everything in its path.

Vivienne and Percival were frozen. If Imogen had not acted on her instincts, they, too, would have been reduced to nothing.

Not far away, in a parked car, Isolde burst into tears. She had watched her beloved aunt vanish, her waterfall of hair gone without a trace. Cecilia nestled into her husband's embrace.

Out of all Flynn's sins, Imogen was the most tragic victim-a solitary girl who vanished from existence without a last word, as if she had never been. Vivienne stepped outside; the air still held a tinge of fire powder. She picked up the unrecognizable necklace and wiped it clean with her hands. Richard exited the car, addressing Percival, "We owe her a dignified farewell. The Ellington family failed her."

drawing Vivienne close, comforting her with a gentle

cleared the Ellington Mansion and raided Flynn's room,

herself, Vivienne entered

stood on the nightstand, everything untouched. The bed was made to perfection, two sets of

noticed a hair entangled in a button of Flynn's pajama top-likely

it between

strand, something felt

Vivienne?" Percival approached, concerned at

of her own hairs and placed both strands in

he felt the hairs, and realization dawned

from Flynn's pajama

Elsewhere in Rivenwood.

to GTO headquarters, stretching her neck

was time to leave

we'll meet

there, they would have recognized her as

Meanwhile.

was nowhere to

had intended to issue an Order of Nine Mystics Society to pursue the allegedly deceased Imogen. But she could not risk exposure with a traitor still lurking within the Nine Mystics Society. She turned to Draven and Matthew. "Search for any trace of Imogen in secret. Report back the moment you find

Vivienne,

seeing her stern face, and

Vivienne's brows knitted together.

true identity within GTO and her connection to F-Poison remained a mystery-perhaps someone even more significant than

finally uncovered the secret

and the bomb that exploded

the Ellington Mansion's gate. The shattered

fled the Ellington Mansion before the explosion. The scene was a pre-arranged hologram, coupled with smoke from the

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255