The moment her feet hit the ground, something went wrong.
Her legs gave out almost immediately.
"Ah"...
She lost balance and fell forward, rolling roughly across the pavement. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, and for a second she just lay there, stunned.
Then pain shot through her legs. It started from her calves and spread upward, tight and crushing, like her muscles were being twisted from the inside. Her legs jerked involuntarily, refusing to obey her.
Madeline sucked in a breath, her fingers digging into the ground.
"What… is this…"
She tried to push herself up, her legs wouldn't move.
A thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead almost instantly. The pain didn't fade, it grew, spreading deeper, sharper, until even the smallest movement made it worse.
"Not now…" she muttered, her teeth clenched.
Using her arms, she dragged herself toward the pavement, her body moving inch by inch. By the time she reached it, her breathing had turned uneven, her back already damp with sweat.
She leaned against the curb and pressed both hands against her thighs, trying to ease the tension. It didn't help.
The pain kept coming in waves, each one making her grip tighten just a little more. Her head dropped forward slightly, strands of hair sticking to her face as sweat trickled down her neck.
"Damn it…"
About thirty minutes later, it finally stopped, her entire body felt drained. It didn't fade gradually.
It just… disappeared.
Madeline blinked, her breathing still heavy as she straightened slowly.
She flexed her foot.
Then the other.
No pain.
She pushed herself up carefully, half-expecting her legs to give out again.
They didn't.
She stood there for a moment, frowning down at herself.
"That doesn't make any sense… there was something seriously wrong with this body she was in."
A few seconds ago, she couldn't even move.
Now it was like nothing had happened.
She rolled her shoulders slightly, testing her balance again before letting out a quiet breath.
Whatever was wrong with this body… she would deal with it later.
Right now, she has something more important. She headed to the garage immediately, in front of her were different rides, her gaze moved quickly across them.
Then her eyes caught a motorbike parked toward the side, sleek and black, a small smile formed on her lips as she walked over, her fingers brushing the handle.
"Perfect timing."
The keys were still in.
She swung her leg over and paused briefly, pressing her feet against the ground to test them again.
No pain.
Good.
She started the engine, the low sound filling the garage, and then rode out.
The ride was smooth, but the further she went, the quieter the surroundings became, by the time she reached the suburbs, the silence felt almost unnatural. There was no sort of "night life" around here.
Madeline slowed down and parked a distance away from the address. She turned off the engine and listened for a moment.
Not a single sound except the faint chirping of crickets. She got off and adjusted her cap, pulling it lower before walking the rest of the way.
The building came into view soon after, it was a row of old houses. She looked at the paper and walked to house number 12.
It didn't match what she had expected at all, She stopped a few steps away, studying it carefully.
"A director lives here?" she didn't believe it.
Not for a second.
Still, she moved closer, her fingers already slipping into her sleeve to retrieve a thin needle to pick the locks when she heard an engine approaching.
It was particularly loud in this quiet environment and soon it stopped in front of the house she was in.
A bike pulled up in front of the gate, it was a delivery man. He got off casually, stretching his back before walking toward the door.
Then he noticed her.
"Oh, were you waiting for me?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry, I got delayed on the way."
Madeline blinked once, then adjusted her posture slightly.
"Yeah," she said, her voice easy. "You're late."
The boy looked relieved.
"Sorry about that. Here's your order."
He handed her the box.
" I know I was late but I'd really appreciate a five-star rating if you can."
Madeline took it from him, her fingers brushing his briefly.
"I'll give you five stars," she said with a faint smile. "And a good review."
His face lit up.
"Thank you!"
He didn't linger. He got back on his bike and rode off, disappearing down the street.
Madeline watched him go before lowering her gaze to the box in her hand.
This was simply handing a pillow to a sleepy person and so she knocked.
Once, then again.
"Delivery," she called out, but there was nothing.
No response, no sound at all.
Dropping the food box, she retrieved the pin again, but as she reached for the door handle, it opened slightly. The door wasn't locked, so she stepped inside.
The air felt heavy, as if the place hadn't been maintained. Takeout containers littered the floor, clothes were strewn about, and empty tissue boxes were everywhere. Her eyes quickly scanned the room.
That's when she noticed a piece of paper on the side table beside an empty pill bottle with scattered pills nearby. She picked it up, glancing over the contents.
It resembled a confession. A faint smile crossed her lips as she read through it.
"…Unbelievable."
The note began with: Hello, I am the mystery woman in the photo, and then basically claiming full responsibility, stating that Lee had not cheated on his wife, had nothing to do with all this and that the picture was released by her, leading to media misunderstanding…
She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture; although the trip felt wasted, it was wise to keep a record.
Just as she turned to leave, she heard a soft sound from the bedroom.
Madeline tilted her head slightly. Another rustle followed, signaling someone inside.
Quickly, she rushed in and opened the door.
The sight inside froze her in her tracks.
A blonde girl stood in the center of the room, trembling as she held a knife to her neck. Tears streaked her face, her breathing ragged as if she had been crying for a while.
Upon spotting Madeline, her eyes widened in terror.
"Don't come closer!" she screamed. "Don't... Don't come any closer or I'll kill myself!"
Madeline didn't move but regarded her with calm indifference.
"What does your death have to do with me?"