Upon the issuance of the global warrant for Cleo’s apprehension, it seemed as though she
had, quite entirely, evaporated from the face of the earth.
But I knew better. ‘Cleo won’t end things just like that.‘
And I was right.
Within the span of a week, someone spotted suspicious activity.
[Possible sighting of Cleo Penrose: Unconfirmed identity seen fleeing a coastal town near Newport, Rhode Island. Back view captured.]
The backdrop of that image—a familiar stretch of stone wall–belonged to none other than the private estate Humphrey and I once called home.
Without delay, I forwarded the image to him.
He replied: [She has returned.]
We didn’t make a scene. We spoke of it to no soul.
Not to the steward. Not to the groundsmen. Not to the maids who brought us tea.
At first light the following morning, we quietly withdrew from the estate and took refuge in a newly acquired estate–one boasting the most rigorous security architecture in the world.
Humphrey upgraded everything–state–of–the–art surveillance, motion detectors, cameras covering every inch of the old estate.
We had known Cleo far too long to underestimate the ferocity of her mind when untethered.
And we were right to prepare.
Three nights passed, just past midnight, the surveillance devices captured a figure in black. Raincoat. Mask. Hat.
Completely covered, head to toe.
But her walk, her posture–I would know them in any lifetime.
‘It’s Cleo, that psycho!‘
She crept through the garden like a rodent, digging into the lawn and burying things.
One hole. Then another. And another.
All the way around the property line.
She was careful, precise.
But she didn’t realize we were watching her every move in real time.
With a face carved of stone, Humphrey rang the cops.
Within minutes, squad cars surrounded the estate, sealing off every exit, Floodlights shone
Chapter 21
11:15 Tue, 20 Mayer
down upon her like the eye of Heaven.
She froze.
Then came the loudspeaker.
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“Cleo Penrose! You are under international arrest! Drop everything and put your hands where we can see them!”
She didn’t move, not until flashing red and blue lights lit up her face as she slowly peeled
off her mask.
Her face–oh, God above–was no longer a face, but a ruin. That hollow, dead expression wasn’t human anymore.
“Why are you stopping me?” she muttered, almost to herself.
“I just wanted to ruin her! She took everything!
“She destroyed me, ripped everything I had away from me. I was the one who deserved to be loved. I was the one who should’ve been adored!
“She stole my place–my legacy, my crown, my life!”
Suddenly, her voice sharpened into a shriek. “That bitch deserves to die!”
In one swift motion, she threw off her coat and yanked something from her belt. ‘A crudely built explosive trigger!‘
“Stand back!” an officer shouted.
Cleo began to laugh–laughter without soul, without mercy.
If I die, she goes down with me!
“I’ve had nothing–nothing! And she shouldn’t get to have it all!
“If I’m going to hell, she’s coming with me!”
Just like that, several explosions ripped the night apart.
The scent of blood and burnt metal filled the air.
Officers tackled everyone nearby. The blast hurled metal and ash in every direction. The spot where she had stood was reduced to a smouldering pit.
Her body–what little remained–was scattered to the wind.
And thus ended, in the most violent and final way imaginable, the wretched life of Cleo, a woman born of envy, consumed by delusion, and destroyed by herself.
I stood before the monitor, unmoving, as the final image dissolved into smoke.
Beside me, Humphrey broke the sickening silence.
“It’s over, my lady. It is finally over.”
I nodded. “Yes… Yes. It’s over.“.
Three months later, I gave birth to our daughter.
And with her birth, Humphrey and I resolved to leave behind all claims to nobility, industry, and power.
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11:15 Tue, 20 May G
རཱ94%ཟེ
The entirety of the estate was donated to those suffering famine and war in the distant lands of Africa.
With Grandpa Gilbert, we moved to a quiet small coastal town… where no one knew our
names.
And in that quietude, under the sunset, hand in hand with my beloved and our daughter, I finally discovered the only truth worth preserving.
This peace–it’s the finest crown I will wear… for the rest of my life.‘
