XSTORIES4U: Tales of Love, Lies, and Betrayal - Book 2

Part 45 She Wasn't Just a Friend...

Sitting at the candle-lit table, my heart raced as my boyfriend began to kneel, a velvet box glinting in his hand. In that moment, time seemed to slow, and I was certain this was it—the proposal I had dreamt of. But as he spoke, his eyes locked onto mine with a piercing intensity, only to shift ever so slightly to the woman next to me. My breath caught in my throat as he uttered words of love and commitment not meant for me. The world around me blurred, a cacophony of betrayal and disbelief. I had met her before, a friend of a friend, always lurking in the background of our lives. My mind raced back to the hushed phone calls, the late nights at work, all the signs I had ignored. As their lips met, the truth shattered my reality, revealing a web of deceit spun right under my nose. I stood up, my chair scraping loudly on the floor, and realized that the real betrayal wasn't just between him and her—it was something much darker, something planned.

As I stumbled back, my eyes locked onto the pair. She was no stranger in this situation; her smile was wicked, and she didn't try to hide it now. But her gaze held something even more sinister—a look of triumph. It dawned on me that this wasn't just some affair. This was orchestrated, calculated. My heart pounded as I tried to process what was happening.

Memories flashed before me: the subtle hints, the way he would bring her up in casual conversation, making her seem just like a casual acquaintance. All the signs I had dismissed as paranoia now formed a horrifying puzzle in my mind. I realized that she had always been there, always watching, waiting for this exact moment.

As I looked around the room, my sense of dread deepened. There were others, people I didn't recognize, each with a knowing smile, as if they, too, were in on the secret. I felt trapped, as though the walls were closing in. My instinct told me to leave, but curiosity held me back. I wanted answers, even if they shattered me.

My boyfriend—no, ex-boyfriend—finally looked back at me, his face devoid of any trace of guilt. "It's better this way," he said softly, his voice tinged with a strange calmness. "You were never meant to be here."

I stumbled back, my mind reeling. "What do you mean?"

But before he could respond, she stepped forward, that triumphant look unwavering. "We needed you to trust us, to let your guard down. This... this has been in the works for a long time."

My mind whirled, grasping at any semblance of understanding. Then, in a sudden flash of clarity, it hit me: she wasn't just some woman from his past; she was part of something larger. My eyes fell to the amulet she wore, a symbol I recognized from old stories, a symbol associated with dark secrets and ancient power.

"You're one of them," I whispered, a chill creeping down my spine.

She grinned, nodding slowly. "The moment you saw it, I knew you were the right one for this. We needed someone to bear witness, someone who wouldn't walk away. And you played your part beautifully."

I backed away, heart pounding, but the door was blocked by two other people, their expressions as empty as stone.

"Witness what?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

My ex finally looked at me, his face contorted with a strange sadness. "I wish you hadn't come tonight," he said quietly. "But they needed someone pure, someone untainted. And that's you."

He gestured to the woman, who now held a small, silver knife glinting in her hand. The room dimmed, as if a cloud had settled over the candlelight, casting flickering shadows that danced along the walls.

"But why?" I whispered, feeling the weight of dread pressing down.

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it carried through the room. "Sacrifice is powerful when given freely. Your devotion, your love, it was so easy to take advantage of. It created the perfect energy we needed."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath, to slow the rising panic. They needed me here, but why? And then it hit me—the ritual. They hadn't come for my love; they'd come for my soul.

With a sudden surge of defiance, I grabbed the nearest candle and swung it at them, the flame scattering sparks. Chaos erupted as the others scrambled to avoid the blaze. I turned, racing toward the back door, heart pounding, breath catching in my throat. I managed to break free, pushing my way out into the dark, cold night.

Running as fast as my legs would carry me, I didn't stop until I was blocks away, collapsing on the sidewalk in exhaustion. And then I felt it—the amulet around my neck, one I hadn't remembered putting on. My hand trembled as I touched it, feeling the cold metal.

But when I looked down, I saw something that chilled me to the core: it was no ordinary amulet. It was the same symbol she had worn, now somehow transferred to me. The real horror, the twist, came with the sudden understanding of what that meant.

The ritual wasn't over. I was no longer the one they were after—I was one of them now.