Chapter 21 – The Monster Within

Seeing him space out she grabbed the knife and stabbed his right leg...

He screamed in pain and aurora moved back in instant and started to cry more.

She stabbed someone?

She was in disbelief...

A

drien sat on the cold floor, his fingers trembling, blood staining his hands. His breathing was ragged, his mind spiraling into chaos.

He had become him.

His father.

The realization crushed him like a collapsing building.

Aurora's trembling body, her red-stained cheeks, the fear in her eyes... he had done that. He had put that look on her face.

Just like his father did to his mother.

Adrien let out a broken laugh, one that sounded more like a choked sob. His grip tightened around the knife still buried in his leg.

It didn’t even hurt.

Nothing hurt more than the truth.

“I...” His voice cracked.

"I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to become like him." His fingers dug into his hair.

"But I did. I did the same thing. I became the same fucking monster."

Aurora was silent, but he could hear her breathing heavily, feel her watching him as he lost himself.

“My mother always told me that women are precious," Adrien whispered, his voice shaking.

"That they are the ones who give life. She always said a real man protects a woman, never hurts her." His lips curled in self-hatred.

"And today… today I tried to force myself on you. I am just like him."

He pulled the knife from his leg in one quick motion. Blood poured out, but he barely flinched.

“I don’t deserve to live,” he muttered.

His hands shook as he pointed the knife at his own throat.

"I was never meant to be anything else but a monster."

"Adrien, stop!" Aurora cried.

At the same time, Sebastian burst through the door, his heart pounding.

He took in the chaotic scene... Aurora’s tear streaked face, Adrien’s bloodied leg, the crazed emptiness in his eyes.

Sebastian’s gaze locked onto the knife at Adrien’s throat.

"Adrien, put it down," Sebastian ordered, his voice tense.

Adrien chuckled darkly, looking up at him with hollow eyes.

"You don’t get it, Sebastian," he murmured.

"I took care of her. I did everything for her. But I still became him. And now, I don’t deserve to breathe."

Sebastian lunged forward.

But before he could reach him...

Adrien smiled.

A sad, twisted smile.

Then... he slit his own throat.

Aurora’s scream shattered the air.

Sebastian caught her before she collapsed.

Adrien fell to the ground, a pool of red spreading beneath him.

His lips moved, his voice a mere whisper.

"I’m sorry, Mom."

Then, his body stilled.

TO BE CONTINUED...