Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 1963

In the grand castle, a thirty-foot-tall Christmas tree sparkled in the center of the grand hall, its branches adorned with real silver and gold presents, courtesy of Raiden's extravagant tastes. Eager hands clawed their way to the top, eyes fixed on the ten-carat diamond that crowned the tree. Fistfights broke out among the climbers, and bodies tumbled down with thuds, some spitting blood upon impact. Yet no one seemed to care; they simply stepped over the fallen, their eyes filled with nothing but greed and lust.

As Estelle and Sylvia strolled by, they witnessed this chaos with a detached curiosity. Sylvia's lips curled into a wry smile. "It seems those who come here have lost their souls," she mused.

Estelle nodded in agreement. "Don't you think Raiden is purposely inflating their desires?"

Sylvia raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. What exactly is he planning?"

"I just find him very strange," Estelle said with a shake of her head.

That evening, Raiden was hosting a dinner party which Alvis and Lambert attended. After sharing a quiet dinner, Estelle and Sylvia headed to the 'Party at Midnight' event at the local bar.

The bar was more raucous than usual; it felt less like Christmas Eve and more akin to Halloween.

Patrons donned bizarre costumes and masks, kissing strangers without regard to gender—it was as if all the goblins and ghosts had decided to come out and play.

Sylvia chose a sultry Catwoman mask, while Estelle wore the same one she had last time. The two women found a quiet corner in the bar and ordered a pair of drinks.

Shortly after, Evelyn arrived with their beverages, wearing a Santa hat, her expression a mix of dismay and exhaustion. "These people are insane!" she exclaimed.

Estelle introduced Evelyn to Sylvia.

Evelyn's eyes widened in admiration. "You're stunning!" she said to Sylvia, who lifted her glass with a flirtatious smile and a simple "Thank you."

Estelle inquired about Evelyn's boyfriend. With a shake of her head, Evelyn replied, "I saw him yesterday. He looked awful, and he wouldn't tell me anything, no matter what I asked."

Estelle's expression darkened, but she said nothing more on the matter.

After a short chat, Estelle excused herself. "You two enjoy your talk. I have to step out for a bit."

Lynn gathered the syringes and the vials, storing them in the bedside drawer. "There's no way out for me now. There's no future for me and her."

"Can't you quit?" Estelle asked, though she herself doubted it was possible. She knew all too well the addictive power of the substance.

Lynn's eyes were filled with despair as he shook his head. "No. It's hard enough to kick the usual stuff, but Raiden's refined version does less harm to the body while increasing its hold on the mind. Once it's in your system, it's for life. You can't quit, you can't leave Zion."

Their bodies and minds were imprisoned.

Only by serving Raiden could they get their fix, and within these walls, no one judged them. Out there, they'd be treated like monsters, locked away. So no one wanted to leave anymore.

This had become their eternal refuge.

"Are you helping Raiden refine this stuff?" Estelle asked, her voice a whisper of velvet and steel.