The Price Of Gold

10. broken

[ tw : mentions of rape and assault ]

x.
OPHELIA ARCHIBALD

It's easier to lie to yourself when you don't want to face the truth.

The thought kept spinning in my mind as I walked down the long hallway. I kept trying to ignore it—ignore him. I kept trying to forget the things I had heard but they were the things I couldn't unhear, those words were like poison sinking into my bloodstream. The more I tried to get it off my mind, the more I thought of it.

He had a way of making me believe him. A way of twisting everything, bending my thoughts until they fit his sick version of reality. And I... I let him.

I listened.

I was in too deep. There was no turning back, not now. Not after everything. I had crossed a line I couldn't uncross.

I heard a sound of footsteps.

I didn't need to look back to know who it was.

"Ophelia."

Alastair's voice slid into my mind like a blade. I didn't move, didn't even try to pretend I hadn't heard him. Because I had. And I had heard more than I was supposed to. And now, there was nothing left to do but face him.

His footsteps were close now, and I could feel him behind me. He was too close now. But I didn't dare turn around.

"What do you want?" I managed to croak but my was voice shaking.

There he stood. Though I didn't turn around I felt like he was watching me, leaning against the doorframe like he owned it. Not only the doorframe but he watched me as if owned me.

"You've been overhearing things, haven't you?" I heard his footsteps he took a step closer.

I took an involuntary step away from him.

"I—What do you mean?" My throat felt tight and my words were coming off clumsy but I couldn't let him see how scared I was.

He was too close now, stepping forward each passing second. I felt my legs shake slightly. His voice dropped, the words almost a whisper now.

"I'm just curious, Ophelia... curious how much you think you know," he said. "You overheard something, didn't you? Heard my conversation."

I could feel the blood drain from my face.

"What conversation?" I stammered, panic rising into my chest. I knew what he talking about. He saw me at the window, hearing him and the man talk about evidences and my grandfathers killer— and he was looking at me like he already knew everything. He wasn't asking me. He was telling me.

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breath, to keep my voice from shaking. "I didn't hear anything." I lied.

I could feel his gaze intensify as he took a step closer. "Don't lie to me, Ophelia. I saw you at the window. You were listening."

He wasn't asking me. He already knew.

Before I could say anything, he was right behind me, and I felt his breath on my ear. "Hmm, and what did you call me yesterday? Say that again please."

Get away.

Please.

He chuckled low. "A monster, huh?" He reached out and grabbed my arm, his grip so tight it almost felt like it would break my bones. "I'll show you what a monster really is."

I gasped as he yanked me forward, dragging me closer. The pressure in my chest built up, panic starting to claw at my insides. He reminded me of them. He reminded me of him.