Marie POV
So many things have happened in the past few weeks but I'm glad that I was at least able to see my father and brother.
I don't know why Mancini allowed me to see my family all of a sudden and he's probably planning for something else but I'm glad for it nonetheless.
After that day, my mood had become better and my conviction as well. It served as a reminder for who I was here for and it helped me encourage them so all my efforts wouldn't be wasted.
I still sometimes have nightmares of when my father and I got shot, seeing my father lying lifeless on the floor while thinking about how my brother will be left alone in the world without us.
I cannot let that be our fate again. I have to uncover the reason why Mancini is doing all this, why did he want me as his wife as the repayment of the debt.
There are so many things that aren't adding up and it always gets me restless. Walking around helps me put my thoughts together and this time, I decided to walk alone.
While thinking, I didn't notice I had wandered far off from the areas I know. I didn't even know when I got there.
The corridors were unfamiliar and dark, the place almost seemed haunted. It was giving an eerie vibe and I got goosebumps all over my body.
I've always noticed that the mansion seems to be older than it appears, giving an ancient aesthetic to it but everywhere I went must have been renovated and properly maintained.
I guess these are the areas that were left untouched, unchanged by time.
From my peripheral vision, I noticed the walls from the corridors didn't match which was weird because these areas didn't seem to have any renovations done except it has always been like this.
Standing close to the walls, I suddenly heard voices coming from the walls and at first I jumped back and screamed. My initial thought process was that ghosts existed and were talking to me but when I calmed down, I realized the voice wasn't just talking but it seemed to be having a conversation with someone.
It piqued my interest and decided it might be worth investigating but one look up, I saw the small window high up the wall allowing just a bit of the moon light to come in.
It was already dark and I didn't even notice, worst of all, I wasn't with my cell phone or a flashlight and there doesn't seem to be any electricity in this part of the mansion.
If I decide to proceed, I'll have to wander far into the darkness where the light coming from that small window wouldn't meet.
I contemplated whether I should go or not but once the voice started to fade away, I decided to just follow it.
Someone was obviously there and so there but be light somewhere, if I can successfully get there, I might get information I need or find a secret passage where I can easily go in and out of the estate with ease.
I followed the voices I heard till a spot where it was the loudest. The place was pitch black with the absence of light so I couldn't see a thing.
If I was to get anything out of this adventure I had to search around the place with my hands. All of a sudden, a passage opened from the walls and I stumbled in.
The passage seemed to be narrow and I was starting to have second thoughts again but I suddenly heard the voice shout and I recognized it to be Mancini's.
I walked down the passage quietly so he doesn't detect me. I stopped at a quiet area where I could clearly hear him talk.
From the sound of the things thrown on the floor, I would guess it's coming from his study room.
"I hate that bastard!"
"He dared to act like the victim, so what if I took his daughter? It's only fair. No, it's my right!" His voice thundered from the room.
"After he betrayed me, he thought I wouldn't fight back? I always return the favor."
Mancini sounded enraged and from the looks of things, it seems he's talking about my father but I don't fully understand everything he is saying but one thing is for sure, he's not just mad about the debt my father didn't pay him, no, this seems far deeper than that.
After his crash out, he stopped talking entirely and all I could hear was footsteps walking around.
Before I got caught, I decided it would be best to leave only, I don't know how to go back. Did I come here from my left or right?
I decided to go right and try to find my way back but my heart jumped into my chest when a flashlight was suddenly pointed at me.
I froze for a few seconds then turned around, expecting to see Mancini but it was Lionel.
That wasn't any better, Lionel is Mancini's right hand man, I couldn't possibly bribe my way out of this situation even if I wanted to, I don't even have money for that.
My heart kept thumping in my chest as I thought of the different things Mancini might do to me when he finds me here like this.
I shouldn't have come here, this is what my curiosity has done to me.
"Follow here." Lionel's voice came out as a whisper. His flashlight was pointing to a passway and at the end I could see a faint light coming through.
My eyes widened as I realized he was helping me.
Lionel was helping me?
"Not all of us are loyal." He said before walking away in the opposite direction.
I quickly walked through the passage before I got lost again.
I didn't regret adventuring through those dark corridors because I got a piece of information that's more important than any other, Lionel isn't loyal and could become my ally!