"If you catch me, I'll forgive you, butterfly. But if you don't... we're going to have a very long day here in this darkness until the word 'hate' is wiped from your brain," he said, his voice carrying an eerie calmness that sent shivers down my spine.

Please don't leave me alone, Rhys... I begged, and he chuckled, taking one slow, steady step, the sound of his shoes echoing in the empty mall again. I let out a loud sob, forwarding my hands in the dark as I tried to get closer to that sound, to him.

Pl...ease, I a...m scar..ed... I begged again, and he made a "tch" sound, saying nothing. His steps made a very small sound, but I knew he was coming closer to me, though from where, I didn't know. Suddenly, I felt his breath on my forehead. I threw my hands here and there, wanting to grab him, but my hands remained empty.

"You are no fun, butterfly. Find me quickly, and you will have me close to you... just like how you want, Maya..."

He said huskily, and a small sob of desperation, frustration, and fear escaped my mouth.

Yes, I wanted him close, but not the way he was mocking me...

"Rh...ys, please..." I said again and took one more step. I felt the soft fabric of his shirt on my left hand, but before I could grab it, he grabbed my wrist, twisting it behind my back. My back touched his chest...

I could feel those hot breaths against my neck again...

I whimpered in pain, crying out louder. He took a deep breath, inhaling my hair before pushing me away from him harshly. I stumbled onto my own feet...

"Be quick, Maya. I hate waiting..." he said and started walking away from me. I swallowed those sobs leaving my mouth, wiped the tears off my face, and started following his footsteps.

When he took one step, I took two. When he took two, I took three, wanting to be near him. I could see the faint reflection of someone on the white tiles, which were now fully dark...

My tears kept falling silently. My breaths were heavy, and I wanted to just slump on the floor, grabbing my knees and crying. But I had hope, the hope that it would end...

The hope I was talking about was nothing but Rhys. He was the cause, yet he was the cure. I was alone because of him, yet he was here with me. He closed all the options to become my only choice. He closed all the doors to become my only way. Pathetic, I wanted to laugh at myself...

My shoes felt the touch of a hard wall-like structure, and I knew he was walking upstairs...

I followed him, grabbing the metal railing slowly with trembling feet while he walked as if he knew where he was going, like the darkness never affected him...

Finally, the stairs ended, and Rhys' steps echoed to the left side. I followed him...

I kept trying to find something to hold onto. We were turning again toward the left, and I felt that the space was getting smaller and smaller...

The sound of stepping in water came from where Rhys was walking, and I grew more confused about where he was leading me...

Then, suddenly, the sound of his footsteps stopped, leaving me standing in place. I looked here and there, wanting to see his form in the dark, but saw nothing. Yet, I could feel his presence near me...

"R...hy..s..." I called, shuddering. The reply didn't come for a few seconds, then his very deep and husky voice echoed with the name he gave me...

"Butterfly..."

Before I could respond, I was pushed by his body, stumbling on my feet, while his body pushed me further and further until something hard collided with my back...

I bent down while his upper body hovered over me...

I could feel his breath, his stare—everything—even when I couldn't see him. I was shocked and scared. His hold was dominating, forcing me to submit...

"R...hys..." I said, feeling his face so close to mine...

"Shh... butterfly..." he shushed, and I obeyed, closing my lips. My eyes trembled here and there, wanting to ask, talk, or cry, but he didn't let me...

"You couldn't catch me..." he said in his deep voice, and I whimpered when I felt his hand, which was behind my waist, pinching the small flesh...

"Should we stay here all day, as I said?" he asked, demanding an answer with his stern, husky voice...

I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall that had been building inside since he came close to me, invading my space with his presence...

"N...o, p..lease..." I let out in a small voice, shuddering...

"Then should we change the punishment?" he said, this time making his voice deeper and huskier. My mouth let out a small yet loud sob. Those tears made their way into my mouth, my saliva becoming slippery and salty...

"Should we, butterfly...?" he asked again, and I nodded, saying yes to him...

I saw the mobile's brightness flashing in his hand as he clicked on the contact at the top...

"Turn on the lights..." he said, and I closed my eyes in relief, but no sooner than for a second, his lips suddenly pressed against mine, pressing me harder against the thing I had bent backwards toward...

His lips didn't move, just pressing hard, making me pull away. Yet his other hand, which was holding my waist, kept me in place. The muffled sobs of my cries were silenced with his lips on mine.

Then the light came on. My wide eyes, filled with tears, met his dark ones, filled with an unknown emotion. I was looking into them while he stared into mine, suddenly moving his bottom lip and then making the upper one open, bringing my lips together as one. He coated them with saliva. I trembled in his hold, feeling those moments. My eyes widened more in fear...

My hands kept trying to push him, but it never worked...

His lips were possessing mine, marking them with his touch. He placed his phone on the stand behind me and moved his hand into my hair, pushing my head from behind. My lips went further into his mouth...

I kept whimpering and crying, looking into his eyes, while his just looked at me blankly, sucking my lips slowly. His lips kept changing from my upper to lower lips. Even when my mouth was closed, I could feel his taste inside my mouth...

He kept doing it again and again, then stopped. I thought it was over, but suddenly he pulled my hair harshly, and I cried in pain. My mouth opened to scream. He again got close to my lips, and I tried to back away in fear. My neck arched backward a little. I was pushing it further away with all my strength, but his hold was so tight and steady that I felt the tremors of force. He licked my bottom lip, and I let the tears fall, finally giving up...

He took my bottom lip with a harsh bite and pulled it. His dark eyes never left mine, and mine never left his, begging for mercy, begging for him to leave me...

He kept my lip between his teeth for a few seconds, then released it. His hold on my hair loosened, and he pushed me again, closing the distance between his face and mine...

"The punishment is over, butterfly," he said, then chuckled near my face. I closed my eyes, my lips starting to get tortured by my own teeth. Crying with loud hiccups, I fell on his chest...

"Shh..." he said and grabbed a small amount of my hair, rolling it between his fingers...

(Maya's eyes were cast down, crying, while Rhys stared at the large wide mirror attached to the washroom wall, playing with Maya's hair...)



"Hey cuties, I'm so sorry for the long break, but we're back to our regular schedule now! I can't thank you enough for being so patient and amazing. As a token of my appreciation, I'm going to treat you to a brand new story. Stay tuned! 🤍"