Obsession

Chapter 47

Leo

I study Mara's side profile closely, trying to remember everything I can about her. Every day, it feels like we slip a little farther and farther away from reality and while that's scary as hell, I don't bother stopping it. If we're crazy, then at least we're crazy together. If no one else believes us, we believe each other. No matter what happens, I have her. And she has me. No matter who we used to be before all this happened, that's who we are now.

"I'm crazy," she finally whispers. "I really am crazy."

"I saw him too," I tell her, even though I never actually saw Kai with my own eyes. But I heard the window break. I know he was out there. And I know Mara saw him. And that's just as good as seeing him with my own eyes to me.

She looks at me, holding that same frazzled look in her eyes she's had all night. "No you didn't, did you. You're only saying you did because you don't want me to think I've completely lost it."

"I didn't see him, but I know he was there. I believe you, Mara. Even if no one else does, I believe you," I tell her.

She falls into my arms and hugs me tight, sobbing into my chest. "It wasn't supposed to be this way."

"I know, baby," I whisper, stroking her back soothingly.

"He's ruined my life. I don't even know who I am anymore."

I pull away, taking her face into my hands and meeting her eyes. "You're still you, Mara. Just a tired, worn out, damaged version of yourself. You've been through a lot, but you're so much stronger than you realize. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to hold up through all this."

"Don't do that to me," she cries. "Don't try to make me feel like I'm okay when we both know I'm not."

"I know you're not okay," I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers. "I know, baby."

She clings to me, clenching my shirt into her fists. I want to help her, but I have no idea what to do from here. After what happened tonight, I think it's safe to assume that Kai really is dead and Mara's trying to repress the memory of killing him. He's made her so crazy, he's still haunting her even after he's left this world.

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"Oh good, you spent the night," Adam says as I walk past the kitchen.

I freeze in my tracks. I slowly turn around and meet his amused eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. "She's pretty upset. I didn't want to leave her."

He smiles softly. "Come, sit."

I hesitantly take a seat a the table next to him while he stirs his coffee.

"Daryl told me about what happened last night," he starts, setting his spoon down and bringing his coffee mug to his lips. He takes a sip, never taking his eyes eyes off of mine. "So there's only two possible explanations here. Either this demon-freak spawn of hell is a ghostly apparition, or my daughter has gone mad."

I look down, hating his choice of words, but too much of a coward to call him out on it.

"I'm sorry to be so blunt," he goes on, "but if Mara isn't...herself...then I really need to know something like that. You've got your head shoved up her ass twenty-four seven. Who would know better than you if she's lost her mind or not?"

"Who could blame her for losing her mind?" I ask quietly, without looking up. "He's been torturing her for months. She's not even he same person anymore."

"I can see that. That's why I was hoping you could convince her to talk to a therapist before things get any worse," he says, causing my head to snap up in surprise.