Emily's POV:

My hands tremble, my vision blurred by tears spilling uncontrollably. My breathing is ragged, uneven, as if I’ve been running for hours. My entire body is shaking, cold sweat covering my skin. The dagger that was once in my grip now lies discarded, its silver edge tainted with his blood. His blood.

I didn’t want to do this. I had no fucking choice. They would’ve killed him… killed Xavier, Salley… and they would’ve made me watch.

The realization of what I’ve done sinks in like a weight dragging me into an abyss. My knees give out beneath me, and I collapse onto the floor, my hands pressing against the bloodied carpet. His blood is still warm, staining my fingertips, seeping into my skin like a sin I can never wash away.

A sob rips from my throat. What have I done?

No one comes into the room. No one speaks to me. The walls feel like they’re closing in, the silence suffocating. I crawl toward the door, gripping the handle, twisting—locked.

A choked scream escapes me as I slam my fists against it. Let me out. Let me see him. Let me fix this.

My breathing grows erratic. My chest feels tight, my vision spinning. I can still see it—the way his eyes widened, the flicker of betrayal mixed with something darker as my knife buried into him.

His lips had parted slightly, but he didn’t say anything. He just looked at me.

And then… he fell.

The memory is too much. The room tilts violently, my body swaying, my mind shutting down. Everything fades into black.

— ●●● —

When I wake, I’m not on the floor anymore. Soft sheets encase me, but the warmth does nothing to soothe the cold settling in my bones. My throat is dry, my head pounding, but as I turn my face, I see him.

Xavier.

He’s sitting in a chair a few feet away, one leg crossed over the other, his elbows resting on the armrest. His gaze is like ice—void of warmth, of mercy.

Before I can open my mouth, he speaks.

“Why?”

The single word is sharp, laced with something dangerous.

I part my lips to answer, but he doesn’t let me.

“Why the fuck did you stab him, Emily?” His voice rises with every syllable, his eyes darkening with fury.

I flinch. Tears pool in my eyes, but I don’t look away. I don’t deserve to.

“He’s my only family,” Xavier growls. “The only person I fucking care about.”

He stands, his movements slow, calculated—like a predator circling its prey.

“You know what I promised myself?” His voice is eerily calm now, which terrifies me even more. “That if anyone ever hurt him, I would skin them alive.”

I let out a shaky breath, my entire body trembling.

“I-I never wanted to hurt him,” I stammer. “P-please listen to me.”

Xavier’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t interrupt. His silence gives me the courage to continue.

“They—” My voice cracks. “They threatened me. I had no choice. If I didn’t do it, they would’ve killed him. They would’ve killed you. They would’ve—”

The door suddenly opens, and a chilling presence fills the room.

Alex.

He stands in the doorway, his hand pressed against his bandaged abdomen. His suit jacket is gone, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, stained with hints of blood.

My stomach clenches at the sight of him, at the way he looks at me. Not with anger. Not with hatred.

But with something infinitely worse.

Possession.

"Leave, Xavier," he orders.

Xavier hesitates, his gaze flickering between us. Then, with a stiff nod, he leaves, shutting the door behind him.

Alex steps forward. I don’t move.

He reaches the bed and stops, towering over me like a god deciding my fate. Then, suddenly, his hand lashes out—gripping my chin hard.

"You know, kotenok," his voice is calm, but there’s a lethal edge beneath it, "the people who stab me don’t even breathe the next second."

His fingers tighten. I gasp.

"And yet," he continues, tilting his head, "here you are… still breathing."

His grip shifts, sliding down to my throat. Not enough to choke. Not yet. Just enough to remind me of who he is. What he is.

"I could snap your pretty little neck right now," he murmurs, his thumb tracing over my pulse. "End it. No sound. No struggle."

A tear slips down my cheek, but I don’t beg.

He exhales sharply, shaking his head. "But where’s the fun in that?"

My heart pounds against my ribs. He's toying with me.

I clutch his wrist, my breath shaky. "P-please listen to me," I whisper.

His lips curl into a dark smirk. "Oh, I will."

And then, he leans down, his breath ghosting over my ear.

"But first..." His grip tightens, not painfully, but firmly enough to make my pulse hammer.

"You run."

I freeze. What?

Alex steps back, tilting his head, eyes gleaming with something dark.

"If I catch you…" He trails off, licking his lips. "I fuck you."

His words send a violent shiver down my spine.

"Not sweet," he clarifies. "Not gentle."

His gaze burns into mine.

"I. Fuck. You."

I swallow hard, my legs shaking.

"You have ten seconds, kotenok," he murmurs, stepping away. "Make them count."

My breath catches. He’s serious.

His expression leaves no room for doubt.

"Run."

And so, I do.

Author’s Note:

Hey, my beautiful readers! ♥︎

First of all, thank you for being here, for reading, and for diving into this dark, twisted world with me. This chapter was intense—pain, betrayal, obsession… everything that makes this story deliciously dark. Alex is not a man to be crossed, and Emily? She’s caught in a dangerous web where love and destruction intertwine.

Things are only going to get darker from here. Are you ready?

Let me know your thoughts! Your comments, your theories, your emotions—I LIVE for them. And don’t forget to drop a ♥︎ if you enjoyed this chapter!

Much love, ♥︎