Disconnect

Part 2

 Nolan stalked her from above. The gums in Astrid's mouth were filling with saliva as she tried not to vomit. She vowed to herself that if it came down to it she would take him down even if it killed her.

For the last several weeks she's been understanding of his short temper and bursts. Even more so trying to understand the unsettling feeling she feels when he drifts off. Astrid ripped a piece of her shirt to create a tourniquet for her bleeding arm. The adrenaline was still pumping through her, but she could now feel the cut from their game earlier. He watched as the sweat from her neck traveled underneath her shirt. He was desperate to have her. The line between fantasy and reality was blurring for him.

For the last several years, they've explored intimately their most honest and darkest desires. Their relationship foundation was rooted in trust, respect, unconditional love, and long-term commitment to each other. However, their intimate relationship was based on consent, boundaries, power exchange, and emotional connection. Astrid was fighting for her life, her sanity. Nolan was still in his head playing a game. Astrid kept turning and glancing at every window and back at the door waiting for him. She was trembling in fear, trying her best to mask it. Nolan was starting to feel hot as blood continued to rush to his head.

Astrid was a white light in a dark room that is Nolan. The love that had flourished over the past decade, had transformed into a black hole. Tiny beads of his sweat fell onto her forehead. As observant eyes started to tilt up, gazing eyes noticed he had been hiding his arrival. Astrid was the last person to follow and glance up. She locked eyes with him as he smirked slyly.

He teased, "I told you I'd find you."

She knew she didn't have time to waste. With every passing millisecond, she felt the white light around her flicker, glitching at the sight of him. Although, they've been able to hide under the cloak of an impressive code from the Matrix. Nolan was manipulating the code and at this rate, they will both be exposed. Astrid's 'white' light was a code of her creation. A code to protect, empower, and heal herself. She has no choice but to fight against his persistent efforts valiantly.

She stated, "I'm not afraid of you."

Her teeth grinded against each other as she lied to him. She had never lied to him before.

He laughed, "Well, you should be." With a smirk, he added, "Astrid you know how much I love you. It just makes me crazy somet -."

She frighteningly said, "You're crazy. You're insane. I don't love yo-."

Another lie.

Irritated, he stated. "Don't lie to me, Astrid. I know you love me the same way I love you."

She shouted, "STOP! PLEASE STOP!".

With a flick of her wand, she made a chain appear, tying it around his waist, and slamming him into the floor. Nolan laid on his back for a moment acknowledging the power Astrid had. The power that she possessed was powerful indeed but not everlasting. The floor foundations broke and created cracks throughout the library.

He got up and said, "Out of all the weapons we have access to ...you choose a wand? Interesting."

She backed away from him slowly to subtly put distance between them. She said, "You know my love for magic."

Nolan dusted himself off as he got up and walked towards her. He taunted, "I know you do as do I. Let me cast my spell on you.....you play the offering this time."

Nolan used his powers to bring Astrid to him. With the power of telekinesis, he lifted her into the air and brought her into proximity. She tried her best to break from his hold, but the moment his arm encircled her waist, and he pressed a kiss to her neck, she succumbed to vulnerability.

His voice, laden with emotion, softened as he implored, "Astrid, my love, take a deep breath."

Astrid began to respond, a mix of defiance and anguish in her voice, "You don't get to call me that an—," but her words were cut short as Nolan, with an unexpected turn, grabbed her hands and spun her around.

He manipulated the environment around him, using the speakers throughout the library to play music. Against Astrid's will, they started to move left and right, surrounded by transforming green symbols.

Nolan embraced Astrid as she hesitated, her body fighting against its nature, attempting to maintain minimal contact. The music played softly as she could hear Nolan's breathing. He pulled her in close, and they steadily swayed from side to side, with Nolan initially showing gentleness. However, as he turned her around, his treatment of her shifted, manipulating her like a doll—twirling, lifting, and spinning her around.

She struggled to keep up with him. Dancing was the last thing she desired to do with him. Despite his smile and eyes being devilish, his words are angelic in comparison.

"I love you more than anything in the world Halo" pulling her in closer, digging his hand into her side.

"And I know you love me too, Astrid. Don't deny it... my heart can't take it."

The room returned to normal as they continued to dance. Astrid tried to find a way for her family to escape, as she scanned the room for an exit. Her innocent family were coming in and out of code trance. Nolan was more powerful than what he let on.

Her eyes met his and they were filled with a fire she hadn't seen since the last time they went to war. The color of his eyes resembled a burning passion flickering, a wildfire raging from the darkest corners of his soul.

In her eyes, she saw the love he once had for her go mad and turn into poison. By the way, he moved, it was of someone resisting to kill her. It's just the way he spoke and looked at her was of someone hiding in the dark. This was confusing her.

Nolan has always been a complex soul constantly haunted by his demons. Despite the love that bonded them, there were times that his demons came out to peek but never to play. Nolan knew the darkness that he carried around. He was always ready to go to war. Always ready to slay them. Unfortunately, no one could prepare Nolan and Astrid for the battle they would be facing by themselves today. Astrid questioned herself how could a foundation of ten years collapse in a matter of weeks. This is something she would hope to find the answer to soon. A question that she prays doesn't go unanswered.

Behind him, she caught a glimpse of her younger cousin cowering in fear underneath a desk. She was too young to be put in a haze. Luckily, the trance her family was under was harmless and mindless. Successively, he pulled them out of the trance and back into reality. His focus shifted and gently laid Astrid on the floor.

Nolan shouted, "GET OUT!".

Nolan walked to the door slowly, opening the library door wide open. Astrid signaled her family to leave, her eyes meeting her parents nodding to let her know she would be fine. As everyone came out of hiding to escape the fight a couple stayed behind to drag those too paralyzed away and out of the estate.

He stood over her and she squeezed her thighs trying not to meet his gaze. Attempting so hard not to make a noise and lose control of her bladder. Glancing at him would be too much for her. Nolan crouched down and turned her around to face him. He grabbed her and held her in his arms. He placed her right hand on his cheek as he held her. She laid in his arms like a damsel in distress. In most stories, the hero catches the damsel from her death. In this one, he was playing two parts- the hero and the villain. He has saved her and so many others dozens of times that seeing him as the villain felt morally wrong.