IMDD CHAPTER 224 [SEASON 4] (Patreon)

Eva was alone in her lowkey black car, a contrast to the luxury models that usually waited for her.

When she had no particular destination in mind other than her home, she often preferred to drive by herself. Late-night drives became her special time, where she'd lose herself in music and let the road guide her.

Sleep felt far away tonight, maybe because of the strong coffee she had sipped on the plane, so Eva chose a longer route home.

She drove on the familiar highways for almost an hour when she realized she was on that road again. She couldn’t count how many times she had driven there over the past seven years, hoping and praying that the establishment would miraculously appear again.

Yet, every time she passed, it greeted her with emptiness.

From time to time, she would still stop before that place, just standing and looking at the empty lot. But lately, she had stopped doing so. Because it was getting harder for her. The longer time passed, the more painful missing him became. It was strange because she thought time was supposed to slowly make it better.

That’s why tonight, she didn’t plan to stop there and sped ahead without reducing her speed. She didn’t want to get emotional tonight. She wanted to rest and sleep well so that tomorrow she would look her best. After all, tomorrow was one of the most important days of her life, as had been the case for almost seven years now.

She drove past the vacant lot, her foot steady on the accelerator, her gaze fixed ahead.

But something caught her eye.

Eva’s foot hit the brake hard, and the car screeched to a stop. Her face was a picture of shock, like she had seen something unbelievable.

Her heart was racing, the beats loud in the silent night.

Eva took a moment, breathing deeply, trying to calm the storm inside her. With her heart still pounding, she started the car again and made a U-turn.

A battle waged inside her. A part of her, hopeful and longing, dared to believe that what she saw was real. Another part, scarred by years of disappointment, warned her not to hope, to guard her heart against another letdown.

With her nerves on edge, Eva drove back, her eyes fixed ahead, not daring to glance aside. Fear and anticipation made a loud buzz in her ears. She pulled the car off to the side of the road, the engine’s hum filling the silent night.

Her heart wasn’t just in her chest now; it was in her throat, pounding loudly as the mix of hope and fear clashed. She took a deep, shaky breath, feeling the cool night air fill her lungs.

She couldn’t believe her eyes - the empty lot wasn’t empty anymore.

The Devil’s Den, the place she thought was forever lost, now stood there. Its familiar signage, the nostalgic architecture, and the silhouette of patrons moving behind frosted windows made it all appear as if time had looped back to that very moment seven years ago.

Eva blinked, half-expecting the vision to evaporate with the passing of seconds. But it remained, steadfast and real.

She felt a strange mix of emotions; hope tangled with dread, elation shadowed by fear. Years of yearning and the countless nights she'd spent driving past an empty lot had conditioned her to expect nothing. But here it was now!

Hands trembling slightly, Eva unbuckled her seatbelt. She hesitated, taking a moment to compose herself, drawing in the cool night air. With every step towards the entrance, memories surged, each more vivid than the last.

As she reached the door, she paused, taking one last deep breath to brace herself for what lay inside. Whether it was a trick of her mind or a twist of fate, she was about to find out. With newfound determination, she pushed open the doors to The Devil’s Den, stepping into the world she thought she’d lost forever.

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a/n: I'm really excited to write the next chapters. I think you guys will love it 🤭🤭😁