The Sweetest Obsession

3: the world she visions

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Brent's vision blurred as he lay on the ground, gasping for air. His chest burned with pain, and he could feel the warmth of his own blood pooling beneath him.

But even in his agony, his focus remained on Alanise, who was being carried off by Maxelle.

His hand twitched, trying to reach for her, but his strength was fading fast.

The world around him seemed to spin, the distant sound of sirens growing louder, but it felt as if they were miles away.

"Alanise..." He whispered, barely audible, his voice a weak rasp. The sight of her being dragged away was the last thing he saw before his vision went dark.

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Alanise struggled weakly, her body aching from the earlier scuffle. Maxelle's grip was strong, her pace relentless as she carried Alanise further away from Brent.

The woman's deranged obsession was now beyond anything Alanise had ever imagined.

As Maxelle carried Alanise through the dark streets, her grip tightened, not just on Alanise's body, but on the fractured remnants of her control.

Alanise struggled to stay conscious, her body growing heavier with each step, the pain from the gunshot wound pulsing through her with every heartbeat.

Maxelle's steps were hurried, almost frantic, as she forced them both toward a hidden car parked just beyond the park.

Maxelle muttered under her breath as she shoved Alanise into the passenger seat, strapping her in like a prisoner.

Alanise groaned softly, her head lolling to the side. She tried to lift her hand to her shoulder, where the bullet had grazed her, but she was too weak.

Maxelle slammed the driver's door shut and sped off, leaving Brent's lifeless body behind in the dust.

The ride was silent, except for Alanise's ragged breathing and the occasional hiss of pain. She tried to open her eyes, but the world around her swam in a haze.

She knew she had to fight, to escape, but the weight of the trauma, both physical and emotional, kept dragging her down.

“Don't worry,” Maxelle murmured, glancing at her every now and then. “I'll fix you. Gagamutin kita.”

Alanise barely registered the words. Her thoughts were a blur, a jumble of pain and fear. She could hear Brent's voice echoing in her mind, his final moments playing over and over.

The thought of his sacrifice fueled the last of her strength, but as the car continued down the winding road, away from the city, she felt the pull of unconsciousness creeping closer.

After what felt like an eternity, the car came to a stop in front of an isolated house, deep in the woods. Maxelle rushed out of the car and hurried to Alanise's side, dragging her out with a grunt of effort.

Alanise whimpered as her feet hit the ground, the sharp ache in her shoulder intensifying.

The house was cold and dark, the perfect reflection of the woman who now carried Alanise inside. Maxelle shoved the door open with her shoulder and kicked it shut behind them.

She laid Alanise down on a small couch, her hands trembling with both urgency and adrenaline.

“You'll be okay, love” Maxelle whispered, more to herself than to Alanise. She hurried into a nearby room, returning moments later with a first-aid kit.

Alanise drifted in and out of consciousness as Maxelle cleaned the wound, her touch surprisingly gentle given the violence she had inflicted earlier.

The cold alcohol stung as it touched her skin, jolting her back to some semblance of awareness.

Maxelle's eyes were intense, focused on the task. She applied pressure to the wound, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"I didn't want to hurt you. You made me do this,” She whispered, dabbing away the blood. “You'll understand one day. I'm the only one who can protect you, Alanise.”

Alanise shuddered, her mind fighting to form words. “You shot me” She managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Si B-brent”

Maxelle's hands paused for a moment before she continued her work, carefully stitching the wound.

“Brent was in the way. Dapat lang sa kanya ang nangyari dahil gusto ka niyang ilayo sa akin” She wiped her brow, her fingers steady. “But you're going to be fine here, I'll take care of you now. You don't need anyone else.”

Tears slid down Alanise's cheeks as the reality of her situation sank in. She was trapped again, further away from freedom than ever before. Maxelle had her, and there was no one left to save her.

“Max please” Alanise's voice cracked as the pain and exhaustion overtook her. “Let me go.”

Maxelle's expression softened for a moment, but there was a madness in her eyes that couldn't be quelled.

She stroked Alanise's hair, her voice low and soothing. “Shh, I'm here now. Everything will be better. You just need to trust me.”

The words were suffocating. Alanise's heart raced, her body too weak to fight back. She closed her eyes, her tears mixing with the sweat on her brow.

In the dim light of that cold, lonely house, Alanise felt the last flickers of hope slipping away. Maxelle finished bandaging her shoulder, her movements calm and methodical.

She leaned back, admiring her work before standing up and pacing the room. “We'll stay here, away from everything. It's safer this way. No one will find us, not the police, not anyone. Mamumuhay tayo ng masaya at bubuo ng pamilya”

Alanise's breathing was shallow, her body barely responding as she lay there, helpless.

She knew that escape would only come if she could outlast Maxelle, if she could find strength in the darkest corners of herself.

But for now, she was stuck in Maxelle's twisted delusions, captive by the world she visions.

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