UNBOUND HEARTS

The Interrogation

The cold light of the interrogation room cast harsh shadows on the walls. Jack sat alone at the metal table, his hands cuffed in front of him. The room smelled of bleach and stale air, a combination that seemed to amplify the sense of dread that had settled in his gut. He could barely think straight; his mind kept drifting back to Emily. The idea that she might have turned him in was like a dagger twisting in his heart. Had their love meant nothing? Was everything they shared just a lie?

The door swung open with a screech, and Officer Max strode in, his demeanor polished yet carrying an undercurrent of tension. Max was known for his sharp mind and relentless pursuit of the truth. Today, he was ready to push Jack to his breaking point, but he chose to start with a more measured approach.

"Evening, Jack," Max said, his tone deceptively calm as he took a seat across from him. "I'm sure you're tired of being here, and we'd all like to get this over with. So let's start with something simple. Where's Rose's body?"

Jack's gaze remained fixed on a point on the wall, his eyes hollow. The question was a sharp reminder of the gravity of his situation, but he refused to answer. He was still lost in the tumult of his feelings for Emily, and the thought that she might have turned him in felt like a betrayal he couldn't bear.

Max continued, maintaining his veneer of patience. "I understand this must be difficult for you. But it's crucial that we locate Rose's body. It's not just about the case—it's about closure for her family. Can you help us with that?"

The gentle prodding did little to move Jack. He felt numb, betrayed by the one person he thought he could trust. Max noticed the silence, a subtle sign that Jack wasn't ready to talk. He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I've heard some troubling things, Jack. Rumors that Emily might have known more than she let on. Did she have any idea about what you were planning?"

Jack's chest tightened. The mention of Emily's name was like a cold splash of reality. He had been so consumed by his grief and anger that he hadn't considered the possibility that Emily might still be innocent. The idea that she might have been involved—or worse, that she might have betrayed him—was unbearable. But as Max's words sank in, Jack realized something crucial: Emily hadn't sent any recording confession. Max still believed Emily was out of the loop, which meant she wasn't responsible for turning him in.

Max's voice grew a fraction sharper. "Jack, you need to understand the seriousness of this. How did you kill her? Did you have a specific reason, or was it something spontaneous? People want answers."

Jack's fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white. The realization that Emily hadn't betrayed him gave him a sliver of hope, but the pressure of Max's questions and the cruel way he spoke about her were almost too much to bear. Jack remained silent, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Sensing that his initial approach wasn't breaking through, Max decided to shift gears. His tone changed subtly, becoming more personal. "You know, Emily was here earlier. She seemed quite upset. It's a shame, really. She's quite a beautiful woman—very striking."

Jack's face flashed with anger. The casual way Max spoke about Emily, coupled with his evident enjoyment in the discomfort he was causing, pushed Jack's buttons. "Shut up," he growled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Max seemed to take Jack's outburst as a cue to press harder. "I bet she's a real looker. Must have been quite the sight. I wonder how she'd feel knowing you've dragged her into this mess. A real catch, isn't she? Must have been tough on you, seeing her like that."

Jack's control snapped. The rage he felt towards Max's taunting was overwhelming. He jumped up, his body fueled by a blind fury. But before he could make a move, Max stepped back with an infuriatingly calm demeanor.

"Nice try," Max said coolly. "But that's not going to get you out of this."

Max turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. Sometime later, the door swung open again, and Emily was pushed into the room, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. She looked around, spotting Jack with a mixture of shock and concern. The sight of her, so vulnerable, made Jack's heart ache. She hadn't been part of this, not really. She was just caught in the crossfire of Max's cruelty.

Max approached Emily with a predatory calm. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch lingering and unnervingly intimate. Emily flinched, her eyes darting to Jack as though seeking help. Max's hand slid down to her upper arm, squeezing it in a way that was both possessive and unsettling. 

His movements were calculated to provoke a reaction, to increase her discomfort.He let his fingers trail lightly down her arm, brushing against her skin with a deliberateness that made Emily shiver.

"It's such a pity," Max said, his voice smooth but laced with malice. "You look so frightened. It must be terribly confusing for you, caught up in all of this. But you see, Emily, your presence here is rather important."

Emily tried to pull away, her face flushed with a mix of fear and indignation. "What are you doing? Stop it! This is wrong!" Her voice trembled, but Max ignored her plea, his grip tightening almost imperceptibly.

Max's eyes gleamed with a sadistic satisfaction. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I just wanted to see how you'd react. You're a real piece of work, you know that? The way you're trying to act like you're so innocent..."

Max's fingers wandered, tracing the line of her jaw with a cold, deliberate touch that seemed to seek to provoke as much discomfort as possible. Emily's face turned red, her distress palpable as she tried to shrink away from him.

Jack, his restraints biting into his wrists, struggled against them, his face contorted with a mix of rage and helplessness. 

Max's hands trailed down from her chin, slowly creeping down to her neck barely touching her cleavage. Emily was trembling with fear and felt like she was paralyzed unable to move.

He lightly grazed over her nipples and gently cupped her breasts. "Wow they feel so full Emily. Jack, you lucky little bastard" Max said laughing at Jack's furious attempts to break out of his cuffs.

Emily's face flushed with humiliation and fear. Her attempts to escape Max's grip were futile. She was caught between him and the cold, unyielding walls of the room. The sight of her distress was almost unbearable, and Max seemed to revel in it, his eyes gleaming with a twisted satisfaction.

The sight of Emily's terror, combined with Max's twisted enjoyment, was too much for him. He wanted to scream, to fight, to do anything to stop the horror unfolding before him.

Desperation overcame him. "I'll confess! Just leave her alone! Please!"

Max's grin turned victorious. He signaled to one of the officers who had been standing by the door. "Harris, come here for a moment."

Officer Harris, a middle-aged man with a stoic demeanor, approached the doorway. Max's voice took on a lower, more conspiratorial tone. "We need to do a quick maintenance check on the camera feed. Make sure the recordings from the past few minutes are erased. We don't want any of this getting out of hand."

Harris nodded, his expression unreadable. He moved to the camera control panel outside the room, his actions deliberate and professional. Within minutes, he was back at the door, his demeanor unchanged. "All taken care of, sir."

Max gave a satisfied nod and dismissed Harris with a wave. He turned his attention back to Emily, "Let her go. She's not a part of this. But remember, Emily, you've hidden things from the police before. Don't even think about telling anyone about this, or you might find yourself in a worse spot."

Emily, her face pale and eyes brimming with tears, was quickly escorted out of the room. Jack watched helplessly as the door closed behind her, his heart breaking with each step she took away from him.

Max turned back to Jack, his expression one of cold satisfaction. "There, that wasn't so hard, was it? Now, let's talk about what really happened."

Jack slumped into the chair, his spirit crushed. The cruel tactics of Max had left him utterly defeated. He had no choice now but to give in, all while the memory of Emily's frightened face lingered in his mind.