Chapter 19- The Weight Of Lost Memory
LEONARD'S VILLA
"Yo, my man," Ricky began, voice low and conspiratorial. "Tell me what happened between you and Aurora. I really wanna know. Did you... you know, get to shag her in your parents' place? Or was she, as always, hard to get?"
Leonard cleared his throat, tracing the rim of his scotch glass. "I don't wanna talk about it," he said, voice flat.
"Come on, man," Ricky pressed, leaning closer. "Just tell me something. I wanna know."
Leonard shot him a tired look. "Stop. Seriously, you're pestering me."
Unfazed, Ricky tilted his head, a sly grin forming. "Fine-want me to get you a girl? Cool you down?"
Leonard let a half-smile flicker across his face. "Make it two girls," he replied, tone deadpan.
Ricky whistled appreciatively. "Whoa. It's gonna be a rough day."
THE LOPEZ RESIDENCE
Oma and Aurora were sprawled out on Oma's bed, nestled in soft blankets. Oma was already on her third doughnut, happily munching, while Aurora barely touched her first-taking small, distracted bites.
"So, tell me what happened," Oma said, licking powdered sugar from her lip. "Something definitely went down."
Aurora's expression darkened in an instant. Without a word, she crushed the doughnut in her hand, the sugary filling smearing all over her oversized T-shirt.
Oma gasped. "Whoa-chill, girl! Is it that deep?" She reached for a packet of wipes on her bedside table and handed one to Aurora.
Aurora tried wiping the shirt, but the stain held strong. "Sh?t."
"Better get that cleaned before I leave," she muttered, pulling the shirt off in frustration and tossing it aside. She was left in a fitted black singlet, her full breasts suddenly visible.
Oma's jaw dropped. "Fckity fck," she whispered under her breath.
"What?!" Aurora snapped, flinging the stained shirt right at Oma's face.
"Girl-your boobs!" Oma gasped. "They've gotten huge!"
Aurora rolled her eyes and groaned. "Ugh, stop. I hate it when you look at me like that."
"Seriously! It's giving Billie Eilish!" Oma exclaimed. "Can I touch them?"
"Oma!" Aurora cautioned.
Oma turned serious all of a sudden and leaned in, placing her half-eaten doughnut on the tray beside the bed.
"Ari, please," she said softly but firmly. "I'm serious now. Tell me what happened."
Aurora let out a frustrated sigh and shifted closer, sinking into the bed beside her. Her eyes were tired, her jaw clenched as she began recounting everything that went down at Leonard's place.
She didn't even get halfway through before Oma's eyes widened and she cut in sharply.
"Oh my God-what do you mean you almost let him kiss you?!"
Aurora cussed under her breath. "Yes. I did. I almost let him kiss me. And I don't even know how it happened. I don't know how he did it."
She raked a hand through her hair, clearly overwhelmed.
"If it wasn't for his sister who interrupted us... If it wasn't for her, I don't know what would have happened. Leonard is seriously messing with my head, Oma. And I really, really don't like it."
A thought flashed through Oma's mind, and her expression shifted slightly, like something had just clicked.
'Is it...? Is it what I think it is that's happening to Ari?'
She stared off, lost in her thoughts for a moment.
Aurora noticed and snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Hey. What's going on?"
Oma blinked quickly and shook her head. "No-nothing," she muttered.
But a moment later, she turned fully toward Aurora and spoke again, her voice lower.
"Ari, you never let guys get to you. Ever. Even when Leo looked insanely hot during that basketball game, you didn't even flinch. You didn't give him a second look." She gave a weak laugh. "Even when he danced with you in front of everyone, you were upset-like, really upset."
She paused, searching Aurora's eyes.
"So what happened now? What changed? What if his sister hadn't interrupted? Would it have happened? Would he have kissed you before you realized?"
Aurora sat up straighter, her jaw tight, eyes blazing.
"I would never let that happen. Never, okay?" she said firmly. "Leonard is just another flirtatious human being who wants nothing more than to get me into his bed. And he hates me-hates me-because I'm not like those other girls. The ones who are easy. The ones who melt at his stupid smirk."
Oma raised a brow. "So... you got seduced by him too, right? You let him get to you. If you hadn't, you wouldn't have even gotten into that almost-kiss situation."
"Stop it," Aurora snapped, her voice sharp. "Just stop it."
The room went silent for a beat before Aurora added bitterly, "And the worst part? I just found out he's my so-called childhood best friend and gawdforsaken lover."
Oma's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"
"Yes. Leonard's mother told me. Apparently, she and my mom were best friends-longest best friends-and Leonard and I were childhood best friends and lovers when we were just two years old. But something happened, and we got separated. And now, according to her, we're back together."
Oma was speechless. She sat frozen on the bed, blinking slowly as she tried to process it all.
It took her five long minutes to even form a coherent thought.
"Wait, what do you mean you and Leonard were childhood best friends and lovers?" Oma blinked rapidly, trying to process what she'd just heard. "You're telling me you literally just met your soulmate again? Like-you and Leo are soulmates?"
She stared at Aurora like she'd grown a second head. "Woah, woah, woah. You and Leo are soulmates? This is insane. This is like a K-drama. No-actually, it's giving American high school movie. What is this life?"
Aurora shook her head, visibly irritated. "It still doesn't change the fact that we're enemies. I hate him. I hate that he tried to assault me."
Oma's eyes widened. "So, he tried to assault you and you didn't get triggered or anything? Like-you didn't come home all shaken and start acting like-?"
"Stop," Aurora snapped, cutting her off before she could finish. Her voice wasn't raised, but it was sharp enough to silence the room.
"What if you two fall in love?" Oma whispered.
Aurora froze. Her breath hitched, her hands slowly coming up to clutch her head. "Stop... stop saying that," she said, her voice strained. "I don't like it. I don't like that word."
She held her head tighter, overwhelmed, and Oma immediately pulled her close, hugging her to her chest.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Oma whispered over and over, cradling her, patting her head gently. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean it like that. I'm really, really sorry."
Aurora stayed silent for a while in her embrace, her breath uneven.
Then Oma's tone shifted, more careful now-soft but serious. She still held Aurora close, her hand still patting her head with a comforting rhythm.
"Ari... don't get me wrong, okay?" she murmured. "But I feel like... since you literally let Leonard almost kiss you, and you let the flirting get that far... maybe you're opening up to him."
Aurora started to protest, but Oma gently hushed her.
"Please, just listen. I'm not saying you like him.
I'm not saying you're falling for him. I'm just saying.
.." She exhaled. "You were comfortable enough to go to his house in the first place.
Comfortable enough to be alone with him in a room and not get triggered.
That's something, Ari. That's trust. Maybe without realizing it, you trusted him. "
The words sank deep into Aurora's chest like stones in water. She blinked, letting silence settle around her. As much as she didn't want to admit it, everything Oma said made perfect sense.
She did trust him.
And that truth scared her more than anything.
Trust? She doesn't know what she hates more, between trust and love. They're disgusting!
Trusting is unlike her. What is going on?!
Oma held Aurora tightly against her chest, gently stroking her hair as Aurora remained curled up in her arms. Her voice came out low, quiet, but every word was soaked in a raw, simmering hatred.
"And he had the guts to take advantage of that trust?
" she muttered. "This is exactly what I mean when I say all guys-no matter how good or bad they act-always have one sick thing in common: they take advantage of girls.
And every single time I think about it, my hatred for that gender grows more and more. "
She didn't move. She just stayed in Oma's embrace, her fingers clenching softly into the fabric of her shirt, her breathing deep and tight with emotion.
"You felt something," Oma said. "Maybe it was attraction, maybe just a distraction. But the fact that you let him get that close-the fact that the flirtation got to the point of an almost-kiss-it means something. It doesn't make you weak. But it means you opened a door. Even if just a little."
Aurora stayed nestled in Oma's arms, still trembling faintly from the weight of everything.
For a moment, she didn't speak. Then, slowly, she realized how deeply Oma understood her-more than anyone ever had.
Sure, Oma had always been her person, her constant, but this... this level of understanding, this depth-it hit different. It wrapped around her like a warm blanket on a freezing day.
She hugged Oma tighter.
And Oma felt it. She felt Aurora finally letting go, finally allowing herself to be vulnerable with her. It made her heart swell. She held Aurora even closer, resting her chin lightly on top of her best friend's head.
"Please," Oma murmured softly, her voice gentle. "When you get home today, take some time to think about everything... even if not today, then sometime before college on Monday. Just... think."
Aurora didn't respond, but she was listening.
"Think about everything that happened in that house. Everything since Monday-your first day at college. The way you met him. The way he danced with you in dance class. The way you felt. Everything," she whispered. "Think about it, okay?"
Aurora slowly pulled away from Oma's hug, her arms dropping gently to her sides.
"I'll be right back," Oma said, standing up. "Let me give your shirt to the maid before that cream turns into a permanent stain."
Aurora nodded a little, not saying a word as Oma left the room.
Silence.
She leaned back against the pillows, her body sinking into the bed as she closed her eyes. And just like that, his face appeared-Leonard.
Why him?
She let out a shaky breath. Her head was all over the place, and for a second, it felt like something was clawing at the back of her mind-like she was trying to remember something that didn't want to be remembered.
That feeling again, like something was missing. A memory, maybe. A moment. Something important.
Her thoughts drifted to her parents and how they always brushed her off whenever she asked about her childhood. She'd asked them before-directly-if she'd ever lost her memory. But they always changed the subject.
Why?
The door opened softly and Oma walked back in, snapping Aurora out of her spiral.
"You wanna wear something else?" Oma asked, glancing at her singlet. "I know you hate showing skin."
Aurora gave a weak smile. "I'm good."
Oma flopped down beside her again. For a moment, they just chatted about random stuff. Just to fill the place, it felt like old times.
Then Oma said it.
"I still can't wrap my head around it," she blurted, eyes wide. "You and Leonard... childhood besties? Lovers, even? That's straight-up K-drama material."
But Aurora didn't respond to the whole "childhood lovers" thing. Instead, she stared at nothing for a moment before speaking, her voice soft and distant.
"Isn't it strange how I always feel like I lost my memory?" she muttered.
"Like... there's this part of me that's just missing-and it's not something small.
It feels important, like it could change everything if I just knew what it was.
I'm confused, Oma. And whenever I ask my parents about it, they completely dodge the question.
They say it's a side effect of my messed-up trauma, but.
.. I don't know. I don't buy that. Not anymore. "
Oma moved closer, her voice low and comforting. "You'll be good. You'll be fine, okay? Just enjoy this moment with me. Breathe a little. Be happy-just for now. Let your mind rest."
Aurora glanced at her, the tension in her eyes slowly easing.
"And when you get home," Oma continued gently, "try to think about everything I told you. And maybe... just maybe, try asking your parents again. But this time, don't go all fight mode, alright? You know how you get."
Aurora stayed quiet.
"Try asking calmly. Just... try," Oma said with a small smile. "Maybe then they'll finally tell you what you need to know."
Oma sat up with a spark in her eyes. "Let's watch a movie."
Again.
Aurora didn't even look at her. "If we're watching anything, it's gotta be horror."
Oma groaned immediately. "No. Absolutely not. Horror movies always give you new ideas on how to kill yourself. I'm not letting you slip back into that version of you. Not again."
Aurora scoffed, brushing her off like Oma hadn't just touched on something heavy.
Oma sighed, softer this time. "Fine. Just... help me get something for Leonard's birthday. I'll be the one picking the gift. You can just tag along and get yourself whatever. No pressure."
Aurora stayed silent for a while, giving her the "I'd kill you if you weren't my best friend" look. She cussed under her breath and groaned.
"Get ready quickly." She said flatly.
Oma smiled, victorious but quiet about it. She jumped off the bed, headed for her closet, and rummaged through a pile of clothes until she pulled out one of her signature oversized t-shirts. "Wear this."
Aurora took it without a word.
Fifteen minutes later, the two of them were walking out the door, keys jangling, sunlight hitting their tired faces as they climbed into Aurora's car.
THE LOPEZ GALLERIA
The glass doors of the mall slid open with a soft hiss, spilling sunlight across polished floors. Oma stepped in like she owned the place-because technically, she did. Her parents ran the entire building. It showed in the way the staff greeted her, bright smiles and soft bows of respect.
"Good afternoon, Miss Oma."
"Hey!" Oma beamed, waving like royalty.
Beside her, Aurora walked in like a shadow-silent, unreadable, uninterested. Her face was blank, eyes dead calm. She didn't smile. Didn't even blink at the greetings. Just walked.
They made their way past rows of expensive boutiques and glassy displays until Oma finally spoke, dramatic as ever.
"Oh my gawd, what the hell do I even get for Leo?" she groaned, scanning a shelf.
Aurora didn't look at her. "I don't care. Do what you want. I'll find something for myself."
There was no bite in her voice-just that quiet, heavy bluntness that made people uncomfortable.
Oma sighed but didn't argue. They wandered deeper into the store. Aurora took a few things she didn't really care about-lip balm, black eyeliner, a new pair of shades-just enough so it wouldn't look like she tagged along for nothing.
The two of them were halfway through a perfume section when a voice sliced through the soft mall chatter like nails on glass.
"Oh. My. God. Look who it is."
Aurora froze. She didn't need to turn around to recognize that venom-laced voice.
Kimberly.
Of course.
That overly perfect, plastic-smiled, obsessed little witch who couldn't breathe unless Leonard was somehow in the room-or in her mouth.
Oma stiffened beside her.
And Aurora... she slowly turned around, her expression still neutral. But her fingers? They curled just slightly tighter around the perfume bottle in her hand.
Kimberly gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like she was in some high-budget drama.
"Oh my God, what are you guys doing here?" she squealed, voice dripping with fake surprise.
Oma rolled her eyes, lips curling into a lazy smirk.
"We're here to look for the missing piece of your dumb little brain."
Kimberly's smile dropped just a little as she frowned.
"Hey, I asked a simple question. No need to be bitchy."
Oma cocked her head, folding her arms.
"Well, since you clearly don't know what people come to malls for, I guess you really are dumber than I thought. What else is a shopping mall for, genius?"
Kimberly forced another smile, sharp around the edges.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. This is the Lopez Galleria, isn't it? Your family's place."
She gave a bored shrug.
"Didn't recognize it-it just looks... I don't know, plain. Like all the other mid-range malls I've seen."
Oma took a step forward, her smile thin and dangerous.
"Be careful with the names you throw at me, Barbie. Unless you're ready for me to throw you out of here."
Aurora remained silent through it all, her face unreadable, cold. She wasn't wasting energy on someone like Kimberly. She turned to walk off, ready to disappear into the racks of black, oversized shirts and silence-but Kimberly's voice cut through.
"Aurora?" Kimberly called, her tone suddenly softened and mock-sweet.
"You look... tired. Did Leo wear you out that much after you went home with him?"
That did it.
Aurora stopped mid-step, her back still turned. Then, slowly, she turned around-her gaze pitch black, deadly calm.
A smile tugged at her lips. Not a kind one. It was the kind of smile that made hearts skip and knives sharpen.
She tilted her head slightly, like a predator assessing prey, her voice low and venom-laced.
"Kimberly, you're very pretty."
A pause.
"And I would hate to ruin that face because of the sewage that keeps pouring out of your mouth."
Kimberly blinked. Just once. She didn't say anything.
Aurora stepped closer, just enough for Kimberly to feel the air shift.
"Next time you bring my name and his in the same sentence, pray I don't feel bored enough to show you what exhaustion really looks like."
Oma chuckled darkly in the background, clapping her hands once.
"Damn. She said what she said."
Kimberly swallowed hard, her voice suddenly stuck in her throat.
Aurora turned and walked away without another glance, her silence louder than any scream.
As Kimberly stood frozen in place, still trying to recover from Aurora's venom-laced words, Oma stepped forward with a smile too sweet to be real. Her voice, on the other hand, dripped with condescension.
"You clearly don't belong here, Kimberly.
You're too... trashy."
She gave her a once-over, disgust obvious in her eyes.
"Honestly, you'd probably just end up camping in the food court.
Besides, you said this place isn't up to your precious standards, right?
It's just like all the other plainl malls you've been to. "
She clapped her hands twice.
"So why don't you do us all a favor... and get the hell out?"
Oma's eyes narrowed, voice dripping with disdain.
"For calling this mall 'plain' and 'mid ranged,' you just proved you're a cheap, lowlife bitch who wouldn't recognize class if it slapped you in the face. Get the fuck out."
Two tall, built staff members appeared almost instantly, ready to drag Kimberly out.
Kimberly's eyes widened.
"Don't you dare touch me!" she barked, stepping back.
"You can't just throw people out like that!"
Oma raised her phone, recording casually.
"Oh, but I can. And I will." She smirked.
"You love humiliating people, don't you, Kimmy? Posting their worst moments? Spreading rumors?"
She stepped closer, eyes gleaming.
"Consider this... karma, you attention-starved witch. A taste of your own medicine."
The men moved in, not bothering to be gentle. Kimberly screamed, flailed, cursed-but it only made her look more pathetic.
"Let go of me! I swear-if you touch my bag-!" she shrieked.
"Oh don't worry," Oma called out as they dragged her across the glossy floor,
"We'll make sure to throw your designer bag out with you."
Aurora stood off to the side, arms folded, watching with quiet satisfaction.
People in the mall watched and gossiped.
As Kimberly was pushed out the glass doors-hair messy, face red, her things following her like trash off a moving truck-Oma ended the video with a flourish.
"Have fun explaining this to Leonard."
The doors shut behind Kimberly with a final thud.
Oma turned to Aurora and smirked.
"Now that's what I call retail therapy."
Aurora was already halfway to the exit when Oma rushed after her, clutching her wrist gently.
"Just five minutes," Oma pleaded. "Let me find something for Leo. Please."
Aurora groaned, "Whatever. Just be fast."
Oma scanned the shelves with laser focus, moving past rows of watches, colognes, and cufflinks until her eyes landed on it-
a black titanium ring, engraved with sharp silver patterns that looked like snakes coiling into thorns. Elegant, minimal, but dangerous in every curve. It screamed Leonard.
She brought it to Aurora, who glanced at it with a raised brow and rolled her eyes. "Looks like something he'd wear to a funeral."
"Exactly," Oma said with a smirk.
They paid at the checkout desk, ignoring the still-buzzing whispers about the Kimberly drama, and left.
Aurora's red Lamborghini growled to life, slicing through the city streets like a beast unleashed. Her grip tightened on the wheel.
Aurora's foot slammed on the gas, the engine of her red Lamborghini roaring like a beast let loose. The city blurred past them, a chaotic blend of color and motion. Oma clutched the door, glancing sideways.
The silence was cutting-until Aurora spoke, her voice low and sharp like a blade.
"Leonard hates girls," she muttered. "So why did you bother getting him a gift?"
Oma smirked, not missing a beat. "Is that... jealousy I hear?"
The tires screeched as Aurora slammed on the brakes without warning. The car jerked violently, throwing both of them forward in their seats. Oma yelped, gripping the handle like her life depended on it.
Before she could recover, Aurora hit the gas again, speeding up even more-wild, reckless, unbothered by red lights or logic.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! You're not jealous!" Oma said quickly, heart racing. "I swear, you're not! I shouldn't have said that-Ari, please!"
Aurora's jaw was clenched, eyes laser-focused on the road. But her grip on the steering wheel relaxed just a bit. She let out a long, shaky breath and eased off the accelerator.
"Don't test me, Oma," she warned coldly. "You have a lot of privilege being my best friend. Don't push it."
Oma gulped, then forced a nervous smile. "Okay. I'm sorry, my darling. I'm sorry," she said, trying to soften the mood.
The wind whooshed past as they drove.
Then Oma sighed and finally answered, voice quieter this time. "I just... wanted to get close to him. He's dangerous, Ari. And if I'm ever in trouble-I don't know-I figured he'd be the kind of guy who could get me out of it."
Aurora didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed ahead, but her silence screamed louder than words.
Oma glanced at her again, brow raised knowingly. "What? You don't think he'll help me?"
Aurora cut her a side glare-sharp, cold, warning.
Oma smirked, despite the tension. "Right. You know him that well, huh?"
Aurora's jaw clenched tighter.
Oma looked back at the road, her tone softening. "I just want to see if there's a soft part in him. That's all."
The rest of the ride was a storm of silence.
She dropped Oma off with a small nod. No goodbyes.
As she drove in silence, the world outside blurred into streaks of color.
EVENING- LEONARD'S VILLA
It stood like a secret carved out of stone and shadow-Leonard's villa.
From the outside, it was tucked behind a curtain of towering cypress trees and black iron gates that curled like thorns.
Marble columns on the entrance, and the glass was always tinted just enough to keep the truth hidden.
There were balconies wrapped in ivy, doors that opened without a sound, and hallways that always seemed darker than they should be.
Just how Leonard Grande likes it.
Upstairs, where no one went without permission, was his domain.
The master bedroom felt more like a lair-moody, sprawling, and indulgent. Black satin sheets. Ash grey walls. A bar tucked into the corner. The scent of leather, musk, and something wild.
And that was where it was happening.
The air in the room was heavy-thick with sweat, lust, and recklessness. Leonard didn't hold back. His grip on the girl beneath him was rough, dominant, unrelenting.
Her moans echoed off the walls, her voice raw, breathless, as she cried out his name in broken syllables. Her legs trembled, lifted in the air as he pounded into her without mercy.
She was lost in the madness-hair tangled, nails clawing at his back, trying to hold onto something. Anything.
But Leonard gave her no room to think. No room to breathe. Just the weight of him, the fire of him, the storm of a man who didn't believe in softness.
Across the room, the other girl-the one with violet hair-lay unconscious, overwhelmed and long gone, proof of the chaos Leonard brought into every space he entered.
The dark sheets tangled around them. The room dimly lit by a red-hued lamp. Sin written into the air.
Leonard didn't smile. He didn't speak. His expression was detached, his jaw clenched. As if this wasn't pleasure. As if it was punishment.
And for a moment, the only sound in the villa was the slap of skin, the breathless cries, and the distant thunder rolling through the sky outside.
RAVEN MANSION
The night air was sharp, but Aurora didn't mind. She stood barefoot on the private balcony attached to her room, the glass doors wide open behind her.
The lights inside were off, leaving the room dim, shaped only by the bluish-gray wash of the January sky. The clouds hung low, heavy, and somewhere in the distance, the soft groan of thunder echoed.
Wind brushed her hair across her face as she stared out blankly, arms folded, her body still like a statue carved from grief and questions.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, her mother, Gemma, stepped in quietly. She didn't announce herself. She simply came closer and wrapped her arms gently around Aurora from behind.
The scent of her perfume mixed with the cool wind as she whispered softly, "My love, I missed you. How are you?"
Aurora didn't respond right away.
Gemma continued, resting her chin on her daughter's shoulder.
"Tomorrow's just you and me. We'll talk about everything-college, your new life, whatever's been happening lately. Okay?"
A faint "Mm," was all Aurora gave her. Her eyes stayed on the clouds, her body unmoving.
Then, with a voice low and edged with the kind of pain that simmers instead of burns, Aurora said, "Why does it feel like I'm missing a big part of my memory?"
Gemma's breath caught behind her.
Aurora turned to face her, slow and deliberate. Her eyes didn't blink as she looked up at her mother.
"Tell me the truth. I'm not believing that rehearsed line about trauma anymore, Mom... Tell me the truth."
Gemma stood silent for a beat too long.
"So it's something else, right?" Aurora pressed, voice hushed but firm. "Am I really forgetting something that matters? Something that's... huge?"
Gemma sighed, gently brushing Aurora's hair back, tucking a strand behind her ear.
"My love, listen to me... It's nothing to worry about. You don't have to dig into it. Don't stress yourself trying to remember-it's not good for you, okay? I love you."
Aurora's jaw tightened. She wanted to argue, to scream-but Oma's voice echoed in her head.
'Try to ask calmly... maybe they'll finally tell you what you need to know.'
Still, silence stretched between them. Gemma tried to fill it, brushing Aurora's hair again. "Do you maybe want to have that chat now? Before bed?"
But Aurora said nothing. She just turned her face away again, her arms folding tighter across her chest as she let the wind speak for her anger.
She didn't have the strength to be feisty tonight. Not when so much of her already felt lost.
Gemma sighed softly and pressed a gentle kiss to Aurora's forehead.
"Goodnight, my love," she whispered, her voice barely carrying as she slipped quietly out of the room.
Left alone, Aurora leaned back against the cold glass, the night wind tangled in her hair, swirling around her like restless shadows.
Her thoughts were a storm-fractured memories, buried truths, and a growing darkness she couldn't yet name.
The silence around her felt thick, heavy, like the calm before a breaking point.
Outside, thunder rumbled low-an ominous promise that nothing would stay buried forever.
To be continued...
I hope this makes up, darlings??