Diabolus: The Lethal Hunt

Chapter Twenty Two

LEXI SPENCER

The ticking of the clock echoes through the silent room, each second stretching out like taffy as if time itself has slowed to a crawl. I am frozen in place, watching the world around me crumble into pieces. My mistakes, like a hurricane, have left nothing in their wake but destruction and regret.

It's as if the universe has hit the pause button, forcing me to feel every pang of sorrow and every twinge of pain. I can't escape the consequences of my actions, they loom over me like a dark cloud. Every passing moment feels like an eternity as I am forced to witness the fallout of my poor decisions.

The air in the room is thick with tension as Aaron stands facing Jesse. The flickering light of the overhead bulb casts eerie shadows across the walls, adding to the sense of foreboding. Aaron's fists are clenched tightly at his sides, his muscles tense and ready for action.

"You're dead, you hear me?!"

Suddenly, without warning, Aaron launches himself forward, his fists flying through the air. Jesse is quick to react, dodging and weaving as he seeks to avoid the blows. The room is filled with the sound of fists striking flesh and the grunts of exertion as the two men battled it out. They moved around each other like dancers, their movements fluid and graceful.

"Calm the fuck down, Aaron!"

I stand there, frozen in place, as Aaron continues to rain blows down on Jesse. My throat feels tight, as if a hand is squeezing the words out of me, and my shout disappears into thin air as soon as the words leave my mouth; as if nobody heard me. I feel powerless, useless, and guilty.

Aaron's fists fly around Jesse like a violent dance, and Jesse does his best to avoid them, ducking and weaving as he tries not to punch back himself. But Aaron's rage is palpable, and I can see the veins popping on his neck as a sign of anger for the things he's not guilty of.

"Aaron, please, stop!"

"I knew you're not to be trusted, you fucking piece of shit!"

And then, without warning, Aaron lunges forward, his fist flying through the air like a thunderbolt. Jesse doesn't even have time to react before the fist made contact with his nose, the impact echoing through the room. Jesse's head snapped back with the force of the blow, and he staggered backward, his hands flying to his face to stem the flow of blood.

For a moment, Jesse is lost in a fog of pain and confusion, his mind struggling to make sense of what had just happened.

Jesse turns his face away in pain, stretching his jaw to feel if anything was broken, before turning back to face Aaron. His eyes are cold and hard, a reflection of the pain he is feeling inside.

"You're messing with the wrong guy, my friend."

The air is thick with tension as Jesse and Aaron face off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. I know I can't let this escalate any further, not when the consequences could be disastrous.

Without a moment's hesitation, I launch myself into action. My body moves on pure instinct, propelling me towards Jesse with lightning speed. As I stand in front of him, my back to Aaron, I can feel the heat of his anger radiating off of him.

But then, everything changes. Aaron's hands find their way to my waist, and I'm momentarily taken aback by the familiar touch. I've always known the warmth of his embrace, the way his fingers can make me feel safe and loved.

But this time, there's no love in his touch. No tenderness, no gentleness. Instead, his grip is rough and forceful, as he shoves me aside with all his might.