The Next Morning

Adrian waited. He had been patient all night, forcing himself not to do something reckless.

Now, the moment had come.

Aurora stepped out of Sebastian’s hospital room, carrying a tray of breakfast. She looked tired, her hair slightly messy, her eyes weary, but she was still beautiful.

And Adrian hated that she had spent all her energy on Sebastian.

She barely made it a few steps down the hallway before Adrian blocked her path.

Aurora stopped short, her brows furrowing as she looked up at him...

“…Adrian?”

His eyes darkened...

“Why are you still here with him?”

Aurora exhaled sharply, shaking her head.

“Not now, Adrian.”

“No. Now.” His voice was sharp.

His fists clenched at his sides.

“Why are you still with him after everything?”

Aurora’s patience snapped...

“What is wrong with you?” she hissed.

“Sebastian was hit by a car. He almost died, Adrian! And you’re acting like I’m the one in the wrong?”

Adrian’s jaw tensed. He stepped closer.

“You don’t understand, Aurora. He’s...”

“I understand enough,” she cut him off, her eyes cold.

“I know it was you.”

Adrian froze....

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it hit him harder than any scream.

“I saw you,” she continued, gripping the tray tighter.

“I saw you behind the wheel of that car.”

Adrian’s throat tightened...

“You could’ve killed him.” Her voice cracked slightly, but she swallowed hard, steeling herself.

“And I still didn’t tell anyone. Because I thought maybe... maybe... you weren’t as broken as you’re acting right now.”

His fingers twitched...

“Aurora...”

“But I was wrong,” she snapped...

“Staying away from you was supposed to make you realize what you were doing. But it only made you worse.”

His breathing was erratic now...

“I feel guilty even standing here talking to you,” she said, her voice barely hiding her disgust.

“You’re pathetic, Adrian.”

Something inside him cracked....

Before she could turn away......

*CRACK*

Aurora barely had time to register the pain.

A sharp, searing agony exploded in the back of her head as Adrian swung the wooden stick he had grabbed from the nearby janitor’s cart.

Her breath caught in her throat...

The tray in her hands slipped, plates and glasses crashing to the floor.

Her vision blurred instantly, the hallway spinning, the walls closing in.

Adrian stood above her as she collapsed onto her knees, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his grip tightening around the stick.

“Aurora…” His voice was eerily soft as he crouched beside her.

Her body trembled as she weakly pressed her palm to the back of her head...

Wet...

Warm....

Blood....

She tried to push herself up, but Adrian grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her back down.

Her breath hitched...

His hands were shaking....

“You weren’t supposed to do this,” he whispered, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

“You weren’t supposed to turn against me.”

She barely managed to glare at him through her pain.

“You… you’re insane.”

Adrian smiled.... A very sick onee....

“No, sweetheart.” He leaned in, his breath ghosting over her lips.

“I just love you too much.”

And then....

Everything went dark...

TO BE CONTINUED...