Obsession

Chapter 53

"Get away from her!" Leo growls, lunging at Kai.

He pushes Kai to the ground and I quickly crawl away, pushing myself up against the stone wall behind me. I watch on in horror as Kai and Leo go at it, throwing punches, pushing and wrestling each other until finally, Leo pins Kai to the ground.

"You didn't think I had it in me, did you," Leo spits, wrapping his hands around Kai's throat.

Kai only smirks at him.

"I told you, she's mine," Leo says through gritted teeth, his grip on Kai growing tighter. "I won't let you hurt her again."

Leo suddenly jumps back, crying out in pain and looking down at his hands. And I know exactly how that searing, hot pain feels.

Kai quickly takes advantage. He springs to his feet and plants his foot right in the center of Leo's chest, pushing him back against the ground. "You're no match for me, Leo."

Leo fights to break away, but as he does, the glowing white light inside him starts to fade.

Kai grins victoriously. "Mara was never yours. And she never will be."

He presses his foot into Leo's chest, causing him to cry out.

"Stop!" I shout, crawling over to Leo's side. "You're hurting him!"

When Leo's eyes meet mine, the light that was once dimming starts to become brighter. I take his hand and bring it to my lips, kissing it softly.

"Don't give up on me, Leo. Please," I beg him.

Kai strikes me across the face, sending me falling backwards and onto the ground with a loud thud.

For a second, I'm not able to move or breathe, but when I hear Leo cry out, I sit up. I gasp when I see him stand to his feet, pushing Kai away like he's nothing more than a mere speck of dust.

Kai falls back into the stone wall behind him, sending pieces of it's crumbling structure raining down. He dives out of the way just as a large piece falls right where he was sitting just a second ago.

I still have no idea where we are or if any of this is even real. After everything I've been through, nothing seems real to me anymore and I'm ready to accept any form of reality. Even this one.

And because I accept it as reality, I know the danger we're in.

Leo takes my hand and we start running across the stone bridge. As we make our way across, it begins to crumble beneath our feet. We try to retreat, but I slip and find myself dangling above a sea of black.

I look up at Leo who is hanging onto me for dear life. That's when I notice the purple cord wrapped around his wrist that's holding onto the ledge.

I've seen it before. Many times. Kai kept it tied around one of the straps on his backpack. I have no idea what it is or why Leo has it, but seeing it now gives me a strange feeling.

"Hang on, okay!" Leo says, holding on with all his might. "I won't let you go, I promise!"

My eyes widen when Kai appears on the ledge, battered and bloody. He looks down at us in disgust. "I've tried to make you see, Mara. But you refuse. If you want Leo, then you can have him. Enjoy your very short time together."

He stomps Leo's hand, causing him to scream out in pain, but to my surprise, Leo doesn't let go.

Kai looks perplexed. He squats down and that's when he notices the purple cord wrapped around Leo's wrist. "Where did you get this?" he asks.