Professor doesn't preach

Afraid

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Emma's room, casting a soft glow on the luxurious surroundings. She stirred, the events of the previous night still swirling in her mind. The sheets felt too smooth, the room too perfect—nothing matched the storm of emotions inside her.

A gentle knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Emma sat up, brushing her tangled hair from her face. "Come in," she called, her voice groggy.

The door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman with kind eyes stepped in, carrying a silver tray laden with breakfast—fresh fruit, toast, eggs, and a steaming pot of tea. "Good morning, Miss," the maid said softly, setting the tray on the small table by the window. "Master Alexander instructed us to provide anything you need."

Emma shifted uncomfortably in the bed, hugging her knees. "Thank you..." she murmured, glancing at the food but feeling no appetite.

The maid smiled politely. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss?"

Emma hesitated before blurting out, “Do you know where Alexander is?”

The maid’s smile faltered briefly. “I’m afraid I don’t, Miss. But if you have any requests or concerns, we will make sure they are taken care of.”

Emma bit her lip, debating whether to press further. “Actually... I need some air. This place feels like a cage.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Can you show me around the house? A little tour?”

The maid’s expression wavered between politeness and unease. “I... I would have to ask the Master first, Miss.”

Emma huffed in frustration, crossing her arms. “You said you’d do anything I needed, right? Just show me around, please. I’ll deal with Alexander if he gets upset.”

The maid gave a hesitant nod. “As you wish, Miss.”

Emma threw on a light robe over her nightclothes and followed the maid out of the room. They moved through grand hallways adorned with chandeliers and lavish artwork. The house was opulent—every corner a display of wealth and power. 

“This is the dining area,” the maid said, gesturing to a long table surrounded by tall-backed chairs. “And beyond that is the pool and garden.”

Emma barely nodded, her thoughts elsewhere. As they continued walking, she spotted something—a dimly lit corridor, different from the rest of the house. Shadows clung to the walls, and the air felt heavier there.

“What’s down that hallway?” Emma asked, her curiosity piqued.

The maid’s face paled slightly. “That area is off-limits, Miss,” she said hurriedly. “We should return to your room now.”

Emma narrowed her eyes. “What’s down there? Is it another exit?”

“No, Miss,” the maid replied, her voice firm but nervous. “Please, it’s not a place for you.”

Emma’s heart quickened, suspicion gnawing at her. “Fine,” she said, pretending to drop the subject. But as they returned to her room, her thoughts lingered on the dark hallway. 

Once the maid left, Emma quietly opened her door and glanced down the corridor. With a deep breath, she slipped out and made her way toward the forbidden part of the house. If there was a secret here—something Alexander didn’t want her to see—she had to know. 

Her steps were slow and silent as she reached the heavy door at the end of the corridor. She pushed it open, and what she saw sent a chill down her spine: Alexander, drenched in blood, standing over lifeless bodies.

Her heart sank as their eyes locked. And in that moment, Emma knew she had crossed into a world she wasn’t prepared for.

Emma’s breath caught in her throat as the heavy door creaked open. The dim lighting flickered eerily, casting shadows on a scene she could hardly comprehend. There, in the center of the room, was Alexander, his broad shoulders rising and falling with each breath. His white shirt was stained with blood, and his eyes—once filled with complicated emotions for her—now looked wild, cold, and ruthless.

A lifeless man lay sprawled on the ground, and another was gasping for air, his body trembling in terror as Alexander delivered a brutal finishing blow with terrifying precision. It wasn’t the man she knew—or thought she knew. This Alexander was something else entirely, a predator, merciless and feral.

Emma clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream, but the sound of the door had already caught his attention. Alexander’s sharp eyes snapped to hers, dark and dangerous. For a moment, they stood frozen—two worlds colliding. 

“Emma,” he whispered, his voice low and guttural, more beast than man. Blood dripped from his knuckles, pooling on the floor.

She stumbled backward, her heart racing, panic surging through her veins. *What did I just see?* Every warning she had ignored, every doubt she had pushed aside about him now screamed loudly in her head. 

He took a step toward her, wiping his bloodied hands on a cloth as if it were nothing. “Emma, it’s not what you think.”

But it was too late. Emma's mind was in overdrive. “What the hell, Alexander?” she whispered, her voice shaky but filled with disbelief and fear. “You— You killed them… like an animal.”

He approached her slowly, as if she were a frightened bird ready to fly away at the slightest movement. “Listen to me, Emma. I can explain this.”

“No,” she shook her head, stepping farther back until her back hit the wall. “You’re a monster...”

His jaw clenched, but his gaze remained steady. “You weren’t supposed to see this,” he muttered, frustration and something close to regret flickering in his eyes. “I didn’t want you to know... not yet.”

Emma’s stomach churned with fear and confusion. “What are you, Alexander? What the hell are you involved in?”

He exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair, his bloodied fingers leaving streaks. “It’s complicated, Emma.”

“Complicated?” she spat. “You just killed a man in cold blood, and you expect me to believe it’s complicated?”

Alexander took another step closer, his expression softening but still holding that dangerous edge. “I did it to protect you.”

She let out a bitter laugh, tears stinging her eyes. “You expect me to feel safe with you after this?”

He closed the distance between them, gently cupping her face with hands still stained from the violence. “I would never hurt you, Emma,” he whispered. “Everything I’ve done…now it’s all been to keep you safe. You mean everything to me.”

Emma’s mind raced, caught between fear, anger, and the faint flicker of something she didn’t want to admit—her heart still beat for him, no matter how monstrous he seemed. But this was too much.

She jerked her face away from his touch, her voice breaking. “I can’t do this, Alexander. I don’t know who you are anymore.”

He clenched his jaw, his hands falling to his sides as if letting her go was the hardest thing he’d ever done. “You don’t need to know everything right now,” he said, his voice low and filled with urgency. “Just trust me, Emma. Please.”

Emma’s breath came in shallow gasps, her mind spinning. She needed space, air—anything to escape the suffocating darkness of that room. Without another word, she turned and bolted down the hallway, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, leaving Alexander standing in the shadows.

As she ran, his voice echoed behind her, low and haunting.

“Emma... you can’t run from me forever.”