Aurora sat in the dimly lit room, her wrists tied, her lips aching with a strange pain. The place smelled of something old, something rotten.

She tried to move, but the ropes around her wrists and ankles held her in place. She wasn’t in a hospital, not at home, not anywhere safe.

This was Adrian’s place.

And he was watching her...

He sat in a wooden chair a few feet away, his elbows resting on his knees.

His sharp eyes studied her every move, like he was waiting for something.

“You’re not screaming,” he said with a small smile.

“That’s good. You’re learning.”

Aurora didn’t respond.

She only nodded.

It wasn’t because she agreed with him.

No...

She was trying to survive.

Adrian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “I did a lot to get you here, you know. A lot. And you? You kept running to him.”

Him.

Sebastian.

Aurora’s stomach twisted.

Adrian’s smile disappeared, his fingers digging into the chair.

“You touched him. You smiled at him. You let him stay near you.” He let out a low chuckle. “And then, he kissed you.”

Aurora stiffened, remembering the accident, the way she had caught Sebastian when he slipped, the way their lips had accidentally met for just a second.

It had meant nothing. But to Adrian, it had meant everything.

He stood up suddenly, making her flinch. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice calm, too calm. “I took care of it.”

She looked at him in confusion.

He tilted his head. “You don’t have to carry his touch anymore.”

Then it hit her.

Her lips.

The pain she had felt when she woke up. The strange, stinging sensation.

He did something to me.

Her breathing became shallow, her chest tightening as she stared at him in horror.

He smiled. “I peeled it off.”

Her body froze.

“I took the first layer of your lips. The part where he touched you. It’s gone now,” he continued, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“You’re clean.”

Aurora wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

Adrian sighed and crouched in front of her, reaching out to touch her face.

She jerked away, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“You don’t have to be scared,” he whispered. “I did it for you.”

She swallowed hard, trying to stay calm. Stay still. Don’t fight him.

He likes control...

If you resist, he’ll only get worse.

So she did the only thing she could do.

She nodded.

Adrian’s grip loosened, and he looked pleased. “See? You understand now. That’s why you’re not arguing.”

Aurora clenched her fists behind her back.

I am not agreeing with you, you psycho. I just need to get out of here. Aurora thought.

He stood up, stretching his arms. “You know, I thought you’d be different. I thought you’d realize how fake Sebastian is. How he only wants you because I do.” His voice darkened.

“But no. You let him stay near you. You let him think he has a chance.”

Aurora stayed silent.

He turned to look at her again, his expression softening in a way that made her skin crawl.

“But it’s okay. You’re here now. With me. No one else can take you away.”

Then, he took a step closer.

And another...

Aurora’s heart pounded...

He knelt beside her, his hand moving toward her cheek.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

Then, he leaned in...

Aurora turned her head at the last second.

His lips landed on her cheek instead.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Adrian let out a soft laugh.

He pulled back, touching his own lips as if thinking about something.

“I see,” he murmured.

“You’re not ready yet.”

Aurora’s entire body was trembling.

Adrian stood up and smiled.

“That’s fine. I won’t touch you until you say.” His voice was light, like he was making a promise.

“I’m not that kind of man.”

He turned away, running a hand through his hair.

Then, he looked back at her, and his smile widened.

“I’ll wait.”

Aurora felt a chill go down her spine.

Because now, she understood.

Adrian wasn’t just obsessed. He wasn’t just dangerous.

He was completely insane.

To BE CONTINUED...