Dark Paradise//J.M.

Broken Promises?

Chapter 18: Broken Promises?

"Story one:," he began, "I was 13 years old when I witnessed my mom having an affair with the man I knew was against my father. I knew my mom wasn't being completely loyal to my dad but the last person we expected was him. When my father found out, they teamed up and murdered him. I witnessed his death."

It grew harder for him to finish the story. It was like he was recalling the memory.

"Story two, I was 14. I had gotten in a fight with a neighborhood friend. He was Colin's son. At 14, I had connected the few dots that were there. I wanted revenge. I wanted to get back at them for murdering my father. I murdered Tucker Smith," he said, his hands clutched together in a fist position,"all because I wanted revenge. At the time, I didn't know what was wrong with me. I only knew that something was off because I didn't regret it. I didn't feel a single thing."

I see why he made me promise. He didn't want me seeing him as a vicious murderer even though that's exactly what he is.

"I know," he whispered, his voice trembling,"I'm a monster."

"Jason." I replied, placing my hand on his.

"Story three," he cut me off, "I realized I was good at this whole killing and getting away with it. Nobody found his body. Nobody discovered who was responsible for the disappearance of Tucker Smith. That drove Colin crazy. It was entertaining watching the grown man suffer as I sat back, chuckling to myself and remembering the torture I put poor little Tucker through. So I kept doing it. I went around, silently murdering innocent people. All for what though? Just for the fun of it. Cruel isn't it?"

The way he spoke gave me chills. He seems so nonchalant about everything.

"Very cruel. But I couldn't help it. I couldn't help the satisfying feeling it gave me to glide my favorite knife against people's throats. Or wrapping my mother's favorite velvet scarf around my pistol, holding it close to their temples and firing. How could others not hear the shot being fired? Because the scarf muffled the sound. The exact way bandanas muffle the sounds of torturous screams. It gave me a kind of rush, the kind you get when riding a roller coaster. All I saw was red, my favorite color," he chuckled.

I was speechless. This can't be Jason.

'Oh but it can.' A voice in my head said.

"Story four is the story of the young and innocent Lauren James," he said, "I was 15 years old and I took over my fathers gang. Alex and I were leaders. We were in charge of everything. Never thought it would get to my head though. Oh, I was so wrong. I was the outcast in school. No one ever noticed me until the day I grew a pair and decided to talk to her. She was so beautiful. The way her long, wavy, brown hair flowed in the wind. The way her forest green eyes glistened in the sun light. I couldn't take my eyes off her. But looks don't get you very far. And they didn't get her far enough because her personality was shit. I complemented her. She knew that what I said was true and she didn't deny it. She went on an annoying tangent on how she didn't need me, the weird kid, to tell her. She went around the school, laughing her ass off and telling people how the 'freak' hit on her. So I laughed my ass off when I sat in her pitch black room, seeing her terrified eyes grow wide when I pulled out my pistol."

I was speechless. I had no words so all I could do was listen. I think he realized I was uncomfortable so he stopped.

"I'm sorry. But it's been a lot. Not that I regret any of it or the things that will happen in the future but hopefully it helps you understand why I am the way I am," he began to explain, "I snap. I turn into this whole different person and I don't even realize it until after."

That explains a lot. One minute Jason is this sweetheart that would never even think of hurting you, and the next you're crying on a bathroom floor because he did nothing but hurt you.

I nod my head. Not in understanding. Not because I'm okay with everything he's done. Not because I see him as a normal person. I nod in fear. I nod because now I never know if he'll "snap" and become the monster I've witnessed.

He pulled me into a hug and even after everything, all the stories and harmful things he's done, I still feel safe in his arms. I didn't flinch. I didn't tense up. I hugged him back, wanting him closer. But how? How can I nod in fear but hug him with love? How can I love a monster? He killed innocent people and still does for a living.

"I love you..." he whispered.

Authors Note

Hello lovely readers💕

It's been so long! I'm so so so so sorry guys, I suck. This chapter took me so long and it still sucks. I had no idea what to do with this chapter and I did the best I could so hopefully you guys like it. I promise I will be updating a lot more and keeping up with everything. I'm just in a much better place now and I actually want to update and write more for you guys. I'm happy and just so grateful to have you all supporting me. I really appreciate every single one of you. Thank you guys!💞

Don't forget to vote and comment what y'all think about this chapter!

Love, ari❤️