Ruthless

23

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Allison's revelation had me springing up from my seat. My lips moved, attempting to form words, but a sudden loss of speech rendered me silent. I stood there, utterly baffled, and silent as I endeavored to steady my erratic breathing and also simultaneously my heartbeat, which was thunderously beating resonating in my ears.

The intensity in the room was such that I wished the ground would swallow me whole at that very moment.

In an effort to rein in my emotions, I clenched my fists, determined not to reveal my fear, although deep down, I suspected they were already aware of it.

"What nonsen-se are you sp-spluttering?" I stammered.

The previously unsettling silence was shattered by Allison's chilling laughter, casting an ominous pall over the room and sending shivers through my fragile heart, teetering on the edge of collapse.

"I understand this may be shocking news to you, but let me make it clear. Everything I said is true, and we intend to follow through," Allison declared.

Tears welled up in my eyes, breaking the facade of the strong resolution I had made. I blinked rapidly, inhaling deeply in an attempt to compose myself once again and prevent the unshed tears from falling. This is not the time to break down.

As I fought to control my emotions, the others observed me in silence. Allison, in particular, seemed to revel in the unease I displayed, a sickening grin on her face.

"Why?" I choked out and paused and swallowed, hardly feeling my throat on fire. "Why me? What have I ever done to you?"

Allison rose from the couch and approached me, and stopped maintaining a respectable distance, but I still couldn't shake the unease.

"You've done nothing. Sacrifices must be made, and unfortunately, you're the one for us," she stated with a detached air, as if casually sharing gossip.

Resentment and anger surged within me at her callous response. How could she be so indifferent about taking a life? Was ending someone's existence truly so easy for her?

Allison, a master manipulator, had everyone convinced she was faultless. Behind the facade of a perfect woman lay a true snake. I had been naïve to trust her blindly, ignoring the numerous red flags. Regrettably, the damage was irreversible, and I was left to pay the ultimate price with my life.

"Don't worry; your memory will live on forever," Allison remarked, a smirk playing on the left corner of her lip. Her head tilted slightly as she added, "Maybe we'll even make a statue in your honor." She was clearly trying to exacerbate the sting of my open wound, and that's when I snapped.

With a sudden burst of energy, I lunged at Allison, our bodies colliding with a thud as I unleashed a rapid barrage of strikes at her face, venting all the pent-up anger within me.

My assault came to an abrupt halt when someone intervened, looping their arms around me and lifting me off the ground. I kicked my legs in protest, struggling against whoever's hold I was in.

"Let me go! I'll kill this witch," I shouted at the top of my lungs.

I knew I was likely sealing my fate with this attack, worsening my situation and diminishing any slim chance of survival. Strangely, I found myself not caring anymore. Tired of being treated as an object, manipulated for others' advantage, I had reached a breaking point.

We all face death at some point, and mine seemed to have arrived prematurely. There was no regret; instead, a sense of pride swelled within me for the bold action I had just taken.