Twisted Petals // MIKHAIAH AU

A Possessive Past

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the living room as Melissa and Alessia lounged together on the couch, the air thick with unspoken tension. Their relationship had blossomed in the dim light of intimacy, but the shadows of Alessia's past began to creep into their sanctuary, unsettling the fragile balance they had created.

Melissa glanced at Alessia, her heart racing. They had shared so much, but the revelation of Alessia's ex, Brian, loomed like a dark cloud overhead. As they had discussed Brian before, Melissa could see the unease in Alessia's eyes, a flicker of fear that danced there whenever his name was mentioned.

"He was... intense," Alessia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She shifted nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "It started out sweet, but then he became possessive. I felt trapped."

Melissa leaned closer, wrapping her arm around Alessia's shoulder, her protective instincts kicking in. "He would show up unannounced, always wanting to know where I was and who I was with," Alessia explained, her eyes clouding with memories that were clearly painful. 

"I tried to break things off, but he wouldn't let me go. It was like he thought I was his property."

A chill ran down Melissa's spine as she absorbed Alessia's words. The thought of someone so controlling sent a wave of anger through her. "He's not going to hurt you again, not while I'm here," she vowed, her grip tightening slightly as she pulled Alessia closer. "I won't let him."

As if on cue, the news anchor's voice filled the room, a chilling reminder of the ongoing investigation surrounding the new serial killer, dubbed "The Wilted Tulip."

"Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as rumors swirl regarding potential suspects,"  the anchor reported, and Melissa's stomach twisted.

"I can't help but feel like Brian is somehow connected to this," Alessia murmured, her brow furrowed.

Melissa's protective instincts surged. "What do you mean?"

"He has this sick fascination with violent crime, always talking about it like it's some kind of game. I wouldn't put it past him to try and create chaos," Alessia explained, her voice trembling slightly.

Melissa felt a knot form in her chest as she recalled the shadows of her own past. "We need to be careful, Alessia. If he's involved, we can't take any chances."

Just then, the doorbell rang, slicing through the tension like a knife. Melissa shot a glance at Alessia, whose eyes widened in alarm. "Who could that be?"

"I don't know," Melissa replied, her tone low and cautious. She stood up, instinctively positioning herself between Alessia and the door, ready to protect her at a moment's notice.As Melissa opened the door, relief washed over her when she found it was only a delivery person with a package. But as she took the box, her mind was elsewhere, still grappling with the dread that hung in the air.

Returning to the couch, she placed the package aside and sat back down beside Alessia. The weight of the conversation lingered between them, thickening the air.