Shattered Innocence

XXVI

Lily
*STOP MAKING ME FELL THINGS***
17 years old.

The room was shrouded in darkness, save for the sliver of moonlight streaming through the window. I lay in bed, wrapped in the warmth of my covers, feeling the exhaustion of the day wash over me. Sleep came quickly, pulling me into a dreamless abyss where the weight of my captivity faded into nothingness.

But then I felt it—a presence, heavy and familiar. The bed dipped beside me, stirring me from my sleep. I blinked awake to find Death beside me, his silhouette blending with the shadows. Before I could protest, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close against his chest.

"Go back to sleep, little one," he murmured, his voice low and soothing, as if he were trying to lull me back into slumber. The warmth radiating from him was unsettling, igniting a flutter of anxiety in my stomach. I instinctively tensed but couldn't deny the urge to lean into him, his presence both terrifying and oddly comforting.

"Let me go," I whispered, though the words came out weaker than I intended. I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath my cheek, the rhythm grounding me, yet reminding me of the danger that lingered in every moment we shared.

"Every moment I spend with you only makes me want you more," he confessed, his voice low and intense, vibrating through me like a soft threat.

I scoffed, crossing my arms defiantly. "You think I'm going to fall for you?"

"I don't need you to fall for me," he replied, his eyes burning into mine, filled with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "I just need you to stay. That's all."

The thought made my stomach turn, a mix of fear and an unsettling kind of longing. "You can't just expect me to accept this," I shot back, trying to muster strength against the pull I felt toward him. "This is wrong."

He shifted slightly, his grip tightening around me, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body, almost like a predator claiming its territory. "You're right," he said, his voice low and measured. "It is wrong. But I can't help what I feel, and I can't change what you've become to me."

I met his gaze, the intensity of his stare almost overwhelming. "And what am I to you?" I challenged, trying to mask the tremor in my voice.

"A part of me," he answered, his expression softening, just for a moment. "You're the one thing that keeps me grounded. I can't explain it, but you're the only thing that makes me feel alive."

His confession hung in the air, thick with unspoken promises and looming threats. I swallowed hard, a mixture of emotions swirling inside me—fear, anger, but also an undeniable curiosity about the man who held me so possessively.

"Don't you see how messed up this is?" I pressed, trying to shake off the unsettling comfort of his embrace. "You're a killer. You don't get to play the victim."

He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. "And yet here we are, tangled in this web together," he replied, the corners of his mouth lifting in a half-smile. "You're trapped, Lily, whether you admit it or not."

My heart raced at his words, the truth settling over me like a thick fog. "You can't just keep me here forever," I said, my voice trembling as the realization hit. "You can't expect me to stay."

"Watch me," he replied, his tone dark and serious. "I'll make sure you never want to leave. I'll give you everything you never knew you needed, but you'll have to trust me."

The idea churned in my stomach, leaving a bitter taste behind. Trust him? How could I trust someone who thrived on violence and control? And yet, as I lay there in his arms, I couldn't ignore the part of me that was intrigued by his darkness.