The Eyes On Me

Chapter 24: The Edge of Sanity

The moment Ethan stepped inside, the air grew heavy, suffocating. My body trembled uncontrollably, frozen in place as his eyes locked onto mine with a gaze so dark, it felt like it was swallowing all the light in the room.

"Emilia," Ethan’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, but the malice underneath it sent chills down my spine. "I didn’t want it to come to this. But you gave me no choice."

I took a step back, instinctively putting distance between us, though I knew it wouldn’t be enough. There was nowhere to run, no way to escape. Ethan had always been there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"You don’t have to do this, Ethan," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Whatever this is, it’s not too late to stop."

He chuckled softly, a sound so devoid of warmth that it only heightened my fear. "You don’t understand, do you? This isn’t about choice. This is about fate. You and I—this was always meant to happen."

His words hung in the air, suffocating me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. How had things gone so wrong? How had Ethan turned from the person I once cared about into this monster?

"You’ve been following me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, trying to make sense of it all. "Why, Ethan? Why are you doing this?"

His smile widened, but there was no joy in it. "Because no one else could. Not Zane. Not anyone. I’ve watched over you for years, Emilia. I’ve protected you. And now it’s time you understood that."

I took another step back, but he was already closing in, his presence suffocating. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, deafening in the silence of the room. I had to do something. I had to get out.

"You’re not protecting me, Ethan. You’re trapping me," I spat, feeling a flicker of defiance rise in my chest. "And I won’t let you."

Before he could respond, I lunged for the back door, my heart racing as adrenaline surged through me. But Ethan was faster, his hand gripping my wrist like a vice before I could make it two steps.

"You’re not going anywhere," he growled, yanking me back toward him, his grip tightening painfully. "You belong with me, Emilia. Always have."

I struggled against him, fear and anger battling within me. "Let go of me!"

But he didn’t. His grip was unyielding, his expression twisted with obsession. "I’m the only one who can keep you safe," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Zane—he doesn’t care about you the way I do. He doesn’t understand."

"Zane..." His name slipped from my lips, my mind screaming for him, begging him to come back. To save me. But the house remained silent, and Ethan’s grip only grew tighter.

"Zane can’t help you now," Ethan muttered, as if reading my thoughts. "He never could."

Suddenly, the front door burst open with a loud crash, and there stood Zane, his face etched with fury. "Get your hands off her."

Ethan turned, momentarily stunned, but his grip on me didn’t falter. Zane took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Ethan’s with a cold, deadly intensity.

"You think you can protect her from me?" Ethan taunted, pulling me closer to him, using me as a shield. "You’re too late, Zane. She’s already mine."

Zane’s jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving Ethan’s. "Let her go. Now."

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still, the tension in the room suffocating. Ethan’s eyes flickered, uncertainty flashing across his face. But then, with a twisted grin, he shoved me toward Zane and bolted for the door.

Zane caught me before I hit the floor, his arms wrapping protectively around me as Ethan disappeared into the night. I buried my face in his chest, trembling, my heart still racing from the encounter.

"He’s gone," Zane whispered, his voice low and soothing, though I could feel the tension still radiating from him. "He won’t hurt you."

But as I clung to him, a deep, unsettling feeling crept into my chest. Ethan wasn’t finished. He’d be back.

And next time, he wouldn’t leave so easily.

The darkness outside seemed to press against the windows, as if the night itself was closing in. We weren’t safe. Not yet.

And somewhere, out there, Ethan was still watching.