With Devon gone, I can't keep pretending to be strong. My legs give way, and I fall to the ground, heart shattered and devastated. For the first time in my entire life, I feel a different kind of fear - the fear of losing Devon to this. It must be what Zachary wanted from the very beginning, hence the order for me to keep it all a secret, knowing fully well it won't work out."Please, don't hate me," I whisper to myself as I cry, tears still streaming down my eyes. "I don't know what I would do without you," I murmur, burying my face in my hands. I don't know for how long I sit there, just crying, but soon the door opens and Devon walks back in. I snap my head up, looking at him through the blurry gaze.His focus is on me, but he is holding something else in his hands. I soon recognize them to be tiny cameras, and my heart skips a beat. Without another word, he destroys them and disposes of them. Then he walks back to me, a furious look on his face. For a while, I'm frozen, just stari
Working hard in my office, my brow furrowed in concentration, as I try to locate Zachary's whereabouts. Just as I'm about to immerse myself in the sea of information, a gentle chime pierces the silence, signaling the arrival of a new message. I glance at my phone, watching it vibrate on the table. Picking it up, I open the message and discover it's a text from Jessica, my wife. My heart skips a beat, a mixture of anticipation and worry flooding through my veins.Upon opening the message, I read it quickly and a frown creeps onto my lips. The message reads, "Heading out to get meds for Emma." However, it sounds strange. Why would she suddenly decide to get medicine for Emma? She has never mentioned this before. With pursed lips, I try to call her, but her phone is unreachable. A nagging suspicion begins to take root in the back of my mind. Something is definitely not right.I stand from my seat, but my phone rings again. This time, it's Emma calling. I quickly answer, pressing the pho
I wake up, my body aching all over, and a throbbing headache pulsates on the side of my head. I glance down, my vision blurry, and I can make out bloodstains on my clothes. I'm soaked to the bone, and my teeth are clattering, the cold seeping into my bones. The lights above me flicker, casting eerie shadows that dance around the room. The air is musty, and the room's smell invades my nose, making me scrunch them up in distaste. Instinctively, I reach out, searching for the gun I had taken earlier in my body, but it's nowhere to be found. Someone must have taken it. Panic bubbles up inside me as I frantically look around. I'm in a windowless room, the dim light adding to the sense of foreboding. There's an empty bed frame at the corner of the room and different kinds of whips are hanging across a rack. How did I get here? The last thing I remember is driving through the rain. I try to move but note to my horror that I've been tied to the chair... Firmly. My wrists secured tightly to t
Warning ⚠️⚠️: Some parts may be triggering to some readers. Readers discretion is advised.Enjoy reading!Reeling from the effects of the electrocution, my entire body convulses uncontrollably. It feels as though a thousand red-hot needles have been thrust into my skin, their fiery tips piercing deep into my muscles. Tears stream down my face, mingling with the sweat that beads on my forehead, creating a salty river that slides down my cheeks. The spot where he shocked me hurts a lot, making it difficult to breathe."That wasn't so bad, was it?" Zachary asks, an amused chuckle escaping his lips. He walks closer to me, his face hovering just before mine. "Look at you screaming, just the way I remember it. Music to my ears.""Fuck you!" I growl, my voice already hoarse from all the screaming."Oh, by the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging me to do exactly that." He utters, his eyes glowing with lust."Not on my life," I mutter underneath my breath, making sure he doesn't hear. He
I notice the exact moment Jessica goes limp in my arms, her words faltering and grip loosening. Stiffening slightly, I pull her away and see her eyes are closed, and she's not moving, dried tears on her terribly pale face. Her body feels cold and lifeless against mine."Jessica?" I call out, gently shaking her, but she's unresponsive. Placing her back on my chest, my gaze darts around, and I start to panic. "Is there a doctor here!? My wife has fainted!" I call out, lifting her up from the floor and cradling her against me as I run out of the underground bunker, careful not to jar her.Once I step outside, the frigid air hits me, the sky is still dark and stormy, but there's no rain anymore. I spot the paramedics amidst and sprint towards them, cradling Jessica's lifeless body in my arms. The biting wind stings my face, but I barely register it. All that matters is getting her the help she desperately needs.They immediately swing into action once they see me coming; their faces are et
The very next day, after taking a shower and feeling refreshed, I head to the hospital. The chaos from yesterday has left me feeling a bit uneasy, and I really want to see Jessica's face to make sure she's okay. I go along with Emma, who has decided to skip school so she can spend more time with her sister—an idea that sounded splendid to me.Getting to her ward, I knock a couple of times before pushing the door open, walking in and meeting her sitting, discussing with the doctor. She sees us, and her face lights up, a gentle smile adorning her face. She looks so much better today, the pallor of her skin replaced by a gentle glow. Emma immediately rushes to her, giving her a quick hug, while I take a more leisurely stride towards her."Good morning," I call out softly, reaching out to kiss her forehead, a rush of affection warming me from the inside out. She smiles at me, her gaze never leaving mine. "How are you feeling?" I ask, holding her hands."I feel much better," she announces,
The air in the dimly lit room hangs heavy with tension. The faint hum of an overhead light echoes the pulse of impending confrontation. My gaze remains fixed on Zachary; my face expressionless despite the rage brewing in me. Across from me, bound and bruised, Zachary seethes, his eyes blazing with anger.A subtle smirk starts playing at the corner of my lips. "We meet again, Zachary. Hello there," I mutter as I watch him. He wheezes, trying to move in his seat but groaning as he does so, in obvious pain."You bastard!" He growls, glaring at me. "You did this to me!" He yells, and I nod, leaning back in mine."You're right. I did this to you. But that's because you deserve it," I answer, my voice as calm as ever. He glowers at me, snarling."You. I'm going to kill you," he growls, tensing all over his body."You're going to have to stand up from there first," I reply, adjusting my glasses. Enraged, he starts to hurl insults, but I just stare at him, unperturbed. I watch as Zachary's to
(A week later.)Today is my last day at the hospital, and I'm getting ready to go home. While I wait for Devon and Emma to arrive, I have enough time to reminisce about my life this past week. It's been a journey, a rollercoaster of emotions and pain, but I can finally feel the long-awaited sense of relief settling in. Today is the day I leave this place, the day I step out of the confines of the hospital, a place I never enjoyed being in anyway. I gaze out of the window, my eyes tracing the path of a lone bird soaring freely in the sky, and a small smile adorns my lips.My love for Devon has grown in leaps and bounds the past week, and I can feel it radiating off my body. He told me earlier this week that he had taken care of Zachary, although he didn't specify what exactly he did to him. I didn't bother asking, happy to be closing that chapter of my life for good.The door bursts open, momentarily interrupting me, and the two people I love and adore walk in. A smile graces my lips a