KILL THIS LOVE | JENLISA

Chapter 52

Jennie

I shut my eyes close. Not because of my predicament with Lisa, but what I felt coming from inside. But of course, it didn't even take a second for Lisa to pick up on my hesitation.

Lisa's hand never left mine, as she stood up, bending forwards to stoop down to my eye level, just a hairsbreadth away from my face.

"Say what you want to. Say it out loud Ruby Jane."

I took a deep breath. "I know.." I paused to swallowed some saliva to wet my dry mouth, "...about Liam."

Lisa's jaw clenched. Her grip on my hand tightened with catastrophic intentions.

I stood up too, praying for my voice to not fail me. "I know all about it. All about how you're not yourself when you turn into that monster. Please, it's... it's all a delusion, you're not that pers..." I didn't get to finish my sentence, before my supply of air was cut off.

Slender fingers were wrapped around my fragile neck in the flick of a wrist, slamming me down into the chair. As I frantically fought to pry Lisa's skin-tight fingers away from my throat, my pleading eyes were trained on Lisa Manoban. I saw something there, something hidden in the depths of her face. It soon registered in my mind as insanity.

I managed to scream for help in between difficult breaths, dazed at how no one was doing anything to help me. Some of the patients even cheered on for Lisa to continue. I continued to grow light headed, my vision obscuring with haziness and dark spots. I had slowly started giving in to the darkness, when all of a sudden, I was set free from death's clutch.

My body slumped down on the floor, coughing, gasping for air. Soon enough, somebody was at my side, helping me up. The familiar face of So-yeon was sat beside my form, as I continued to writhe in pain and shock. So-yeon was saying something to me, but none of it was making its way to my ears.

Through my teary vision, I saw an unconscious Lisa Manoban being carried away by the orderlies. The other patients in the room too were being lead out. My hands flew to my neck instinctively, where the hands of the monster were a few minutes ago.

This is what Lisa Manoban was. This is the darkness that everyone fears. It's all her.

I stroked the sore area on my neck lightly, letting out a desperate whimper. So-yeon, who was rubbing circles on my back, crouched down to me, "I'm going to go get help sweetie, stay here. You're safe." With that she stood up, walking out the door swiftly.

I wanted to voice my disagreement, not wanting to be alone for a second anymore, but I'd lost all my strength, to barely open my mouth. As I waited for So-yeon to return, I wiped my tears with the sleeve of my sweater, shifting my eyes to the mess that I currently sat on.

Numerous papers lay scattered all around, being muddled and go flying all over the place during my scuffle with Lisa. My eyes spotted the dark painting which she was creating before. In a fit of rage and agony, I grabbed at it, tearing it up into tiny little smithereens, slamming all the pieces onto the floor.

It would never be the same again. As a fresh drop of stubborn tear rolled down my cheek again, my gaze landed on the small piece of paper that peeked out of the mess. Like all the others, it was a plain white sheet, except for the small writing on it that made it stand out.

My name.

It was an envelope. I grasped it warily, bringing it closer to my sight, dazed at the sight of my name written on it in cursive letters. I opened it with my shaky hands.

Meet me on Friday, 11 pm. Use the key to get in from the back entrance. Please, whatever happens, I need to see you Ruby Jane.

L.M.

And of course, inside it was a rusty key.

With trembling fingers, I managed to put the contents of the envelope back inside, shoving it in my pocket.

With that, I completely broke down.