Threads of Obsession

Chapter 4 ~ Dark in the Attic

                    
♡ Aleiirah ♡

The sting of Asteri's slap still burned against my cheek as I stumbled backward, my heart racing in a desperate flight from the scene before me. Panic surged through my veins, urging me to escape from him, to find refuge from the man I had once adored. I turned and fled, my feet moving on instinct as I raced through the dimly lit hallway of our apartment, a maze of shadows twisting around me.
The sound of the rain pounding against the roof grew louder in my ears, drowning out everything else. I darted past the living room, past the kitchen, toward the narrow staircase that led up to the attic. I had always avoided that space, a dusty, neglected area filled with forgotten memories and remnants of a time before Asteri had consumed my life. But right now, it felt like the only sanctuary from the storm brewing below.
I climbed the stairs, the old wood creaking beneath my weight, echoing my anxiety. The attic door creaked open as I pushed it, revealing a space illuminated only by the faint glow of a single bulb that flickered erratically overhead. The air was heavy with dust and the musty scent of damp wood, a sharp contrast to the sharp, metallic taste of fear lingering on my tongue.
I stepped inside, the floorboards groaning under my feet, and I hesitated. Memories flooded my mind, memories of laughter and warmth that now felt tainted and distorted. This attic had once been a sanctuary, a place to escape and dreams of transforming the room into a children's nursery
but now it felt like a crypt, suffocating and dark.

I stumbled to the center of the attic, where the floor sloped slightly, and I sank down onto the cold, hard ground, curling into myself. The pain from Asteri's slap throbbed, a reminder of the torment I had tried to ignore. I wrapped my arms around my knees, pressing my forehead against them, willing myself to breathe through the rising panic.

The events of that fateful Halloween party flashed through my mind like a reel of haunting images.

That night had started out innocently enough, filled with laughter and excitement. Asteri had insisted we go together, and I had worn the revealing witch costume that clung to my body, its dark lacy fabric a perfect match for my raven black hair and milky skin. I had felt beautiful, confident, and ready to enjoy the night.

But as the evening progressed, I noticed Asteri growing more distant, his laughter morphing into a cold silence as he fixated on his corporate rival. His enemy in particular— Rosen—had always seemed to hold a hateful place in Asteri's heart.

Rosen was the kind of guy who lit up any room he entered. At 25, he exuded a warm, cheerful energy that made everyone around him feel at ease. With a pearly white smile, perfect strawberry blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, he had an infectious laugh and looks that made any girl vagina purred. Rosen was an accomplished accountant, admired by his colleagues and many.

In stark contrast to Asteri, Rosen embodied kindness and positivity. Where Asteri's presence often felt like a storm cloud, casting shadows over Aleiirah's life, Rosen radiated warmth and peace.

Asteri's jealousy toward him was palpable, and I had tried to downplay our interactions, but that night was different.
I remembered the way Asteri's demeanor shifted when Rosen had approached us at the party, complimenting my costume with a hot roving gaze. Asteri's expression had darkened in an instant, his jaw clenched tightly as he stood off to the side, watching like a predator ready to pounce. I had felt a cold chill creep up my spine, an ominous premonition of the turmoil that would soon follow.

"Whoii , Aleiirah! What a sexy costume!" Rosen had called out, his voice bright and full of enthusiasm.
"Thanks!" I had replied, feeling the warmth of his compliment. But as I turned to see Asteri's reaction, the warmth faded, replaced by an icy grip of dread.
Asteri had approached us, his smile forced and his eyes narrowed. "What are you two talking about?" he had asked, the casual tone belied by the tension in his body.

"Oh, just how sexy Aleiirah looks tonight," Jason replied provocatively,

"Yeah, she looks great," Asteri had replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But she doesn't need your approval, Rosen."

The tension had thickened like smoke in the air, and I could feel the weight of Asteri's jealousy pressing down on me. "Asteri, it's fine. We were just chatting," I had tried to diffuse the situation, but Asteri's gaze was a tempest, and I was caught in the eye.

That night was still young when we left the Halloween party. When we arrived home the night had spiraled into chaos. Asteri's jealousy had turned to accusations, his anger manifesting in harsh words that sliced through my heart. Asteri began to rage against the "disrespect" I had unknowingly shown him.

"You think you can flirt with anyone you want? Just because I'm not watching?" he had shouted, his voice rising above the music.

"I wasn't flirting! Rosen was just being nice!" I had protested, desperation clawing at my throat.

"Nice? You think he's just being nice?" Asteri had scoffed, his anger a storm that threatened to consume everything. "You're so naïve, Aleiirah. You think everyone wants to be your friend?"
The memories faded, and I sat in the attic, my heart racing as the rain drummed against the roof. I hugged my knees tighter, the creaking of the floorboards beneath me sending tremors through my body. Every creak felt like a heartbeat in the dark, a reminder of my isolation, my helplessness.

Suddenly, a new sound broke through the patter of the rain—the unmistakable sound of footsteps on the stairs. My heart lurched, a visceral fear clenching around my throat. I held my breath, straining to listen as the creaking grew louder, closer.
The footsteps were deliberate, slow and measured, like someone savoring the sound of my impending doom. I could feel the heat of panic rising in my chest, flooding my senses with dread.

Asteri.

Did he followed me here, fueled by anger and jealousy? The thought sent ice through my veins. I was utterly exposed in the attic, surrounded by shadows and remnants of my past, and the darkness pressed in around me like a vise.

I could hear the low whisper of my heartbeat in my ears, the sound drowning out the rain. I crawled backward, seeking refuge against the sloping wall, praying that the shadows would conceal me, that I could become invisible in the gloom.

The footsteps paused at the door, and I strained to catch my breath, every instinct screaming at me to run. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could escape into the darkness, wishing for the power to vanish completely.

As Asteri's footsteps started to descending down into the distance, a profound silence start to enveloped the attic, amplifying the sound of my heartbeat in my ears. Each step echoed off the wooden beams, gradually descending down the staircase, leaving me in a void filled with my swirling thoughts. The sound of the rain drumming against the roof seemed to synchronize with my pulse, creating a dissonance that reverberated through my entire being.
I pressed my back against the cold wall, attempting to collect myself amidst the turmoil in my mind. The warmth of Asteri's anger still lingered in the air, but with each retreating footfall, a glimmer of hope flickered within me.

I couldn't shake the image of Rosen, his bright smile lighting up my darkest hour.

As Asteri's footsteps disappeared completely, I was left alone in the dim attic, trapped in a suffocating silence that threatened to crush me.

In that moment, I longed for the warmth and safety that Rosen represented, a light in the darkness I so desperately needed.

But Rosen couldn't give me safety anymore; he was long dead. Found dead in a ditch after that fateful Halloween party, his body battered and bruised, a haunting reminder of the violence that lurked just beneath the surface of our lives. The news had shattered me, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. His laughter, once a beacon of warmth, had been silenced forever, replaced by the chilling reality of a world that could be so cruel. I was left grappling with the loss, the unanswered questions swirling in my mind like autumn leaves caught in a tempest.

His body had long since rotted and decayed in his grave, leaving behind only a trail of warm memories— memories that felt Warm, vivid and alive, just like he once was.