The Shadow of her Heart

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Romano

My legs tremble, my body screaming for me to stop running, but I cannot resist the surge of adrenaline coursing through me. It sends shivers down my spine. My little ghost thinks she has the upper hand, and I am content to let her believe that—for now. But I would be lying if I said this chase was not thrilling. The way she called me her shadow struck a chord in my cold heart, igniting it like a blaze of fire, melting the ice away.

"Where are you, sweet boy?" Her voice echoes through the darkness, the insanity in her tone almost luring me to reveal myself. But I stay silent, my heart pounding so loudly in my chest that I would not be surprised if Anima could hear it.

She chases me into the forest, which is hauntingly beautiful at night, but my focus is solely on her. Her beauty eclipses everything around us. I sit silently on a tree branch, doing my best to stay concealed. Below, my queen moves gracefully through the underbrush, gun in hand, eyes scanning her surroundings. I can hear the floor of the forest crushing beneath her shoes, twigs snapping as she looks for me. Suddenly, she halts, her back to me. My heart nearly stops as I hear a shrill, mad laugh spill from her sweet lips, echoing eerily through the trees.

"I can hear you breathing, Baby." Anima's voice pierces the stillness, causing my breath to hitch. Her tone drips with madness, casting an even darker pall over the forest. Frozen, I dare not move as she slowly turns around, her gaze searching the shadows until she faces me.

. . . . . ╰──╮. . . . . ╰──╮🗡╭──╯ . . . . .╭──╯ . . . . .

Anima

I found him, my pretty shadow. Romano is nearly translucent in the darkness, blending into his surroundings as if born from them. He masters the shadows, weaving them around him like a cloak. But I know, just as shadows crave the light, the light yearns for the shadows. My love and I are intertwined in this dance of darkness and illumination.

I raise my right hand, pointing the barrel of my gun directly at Romano. He is a perfect target; just one bullet could end everything, could snatch his pretty life away. My fingers twitch on the trigger. Looking up at him, I see his gaze is cold, almost daring me to pull it. Yet, in his eyes, there is a small flicker of adoration. Whether I like it or not, I am hesitating, not ready to end our game just yet.

"Come on, little ghost. Pull the trigger, end it all. End my miserable life and hand me in. Be a good policewoman and abide by the law." My breath catches at his words. Romano's tone is teasing, goading me to do it, to pull the trigger.

"Do not tempt me with a good time, Shadow," I whisper, a mad grin spreading across my face as I take a step closer. I steady my hand, aim the gun, and fire.