Camp Charlie

Chapter 25

"Wouldn't you say something?" questioned Charlie. His narration had ended about thirty minutes ago, but she had not uttered a word. Her eyes which were once so expressive now seemed hollow. The spark in them was gone. To any ordinary man, this site would've been heartbreaking, but he was anything but ordinary. His ulterior motive behind this narrative was to break Hannah beyond repair, to send her to a place of no return. 

And from the look of it, he had been successful. Many would think that he would kill her after this, but they were mistaken. He had never wanted to kill her in the first place. Upon meeting Hannah's friends, he had realised that he was in love with her. She had confided in him as the story of her life was similar to his. It wasn't admiration but tragedy that had brought them together. It was her love that made him realise how lonely he had been. 

The human company that he had never needed until then became a necessity. Even if he had one bit of humanity left in him, he would've left the demonic path that he had taken. But he had already destroyed everything human that he had ever harboured in his body and mind. He couldn't leave this road, but at the same time, he couldn't leave her as well. 

Then the only approach left was to make her like him. If he couldn't leave that road, he would make sure that Hannah walked with him. The hollowness in her eyes was satisfactory to him because he had seen the same, a few years back in his own eyes. He killed everyone close to her heart to make sure that she was alone. Now the last and final stroke of his plan included persuasion. Charlie had, never doubted his convincing powers and he was sure of a favourable outcome. He walked across the room to the corner where Hannah sat.

In a sweet and assuring voice, he said, "Hannah, I'm sorry about the things that happened."

Hearing this, she looked up straight into his eyes and said, "Are you?" It was not a question, rather a statement to taunt him and he was well aware of this.

"Honestly speaking, I'm not. But I want you to know that I'm not going to kill you. Not because I want to hurt you but because I need you."

Hannah laughed in a sick manner and said, "You didn't want to hurt me. All this that you did was not supposed to hurt me! Then I wonder what would happen if you start intending to hurt."

"You're just like me, Hannah. This world took away everything from us, and I'm doing nothing but taking revenge."

"You're mistaken. The world might've taken everything, but it gave me everything back in the form of friends. The friends that you killed. It was not this world but you who snatched everything from me."

"No, Hannah. It wasn't me but destiny. But now, I'm giving you another chance and another motive to live. You and I together could do anything."

"And why should I trust you? All I've ever received from you is betrayal."

"It wasn't betrayal but a way to finish off all those people who prevented the birth of another person like me. You, Hannah, are meant to be with me. Don't worry. I'll protect you from everything that tries to hurt you. I'll always keep you close."

"And why would you that?"

That question made him think. Not for a lie but to find the truth. Hannah had been asking him questions without showing any emotion. Not even anger. She seemed like a machine with nothing human about her.

"Because I love you."

For the first time, she portrayed some emotion on that robotic face of hers. But it wasn't shock. It was a smile, not her usual glistening one but a sickening smirk. For a moment, it looked as if one had been looking into the face of Charlie. He had never looked into the mirror with that look on. For the first time in his life, he felt scared. He was scared of the monster he had built. Trying not to lose his composure, he said, "Won't you say something?"

"No, I won't because I have nothing left to say. I have realised that it's not my words but my actions which will make a difference."

"Alright. Will you join me?"

It was a do or die situation for Hannah. By saying yes, she would say yes to a demonic life, but by saying no, she would welcome death. So, she remained tight-lipped. On the other hand, he was feeling anxious while waiting for her answer. He started convincing her again.

"You should think of this as an opportunity to take revenge from this world. Together, we could start an era of fear. We could rule together in a realm created by us. You might wonder why me? Believe me when I tell you, but you and I are just the same. Our lives were not inscribed by us, but by tragedy, but we could make sure that we write the destiny of others. We could be death itself. With me, you could learn to find pleasure in the pain of others, satisfaction in misery. We wouldn't need to find happiness when we could create it. You and I are just like two different sides of the same mirror. We are the same. Agh!"

She had wanted to buy time, and he had helped her. She had bottled up all the anger and pain she had felt waiting for the right time. His words had been hurting her, but she didn't let any emotion resurface. The moment her hands were free, she dug the knife into Charlie's neck. His scream ignited a fire in her.

"I had everything, but you took it all away. I'm nothing like you," said Hannah while digging the knife deeper into his skin. His screams of agony and pain echoed in the room. A river of blood flowed from the wound. He was on the floor with Hannah on top of him. The knife was still in his skin, and the knife's handle was in her hands.

"You were right. You have already taught me how to feel pleasure in other's pain."

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she dug the knife deeper. A pool of blood had formed on the floor. With her other hand, she slapped him on the face. She wanted him to experience death. She wanted to see the fear in his eyes. She took out the knife, and a scream escaped his lips. Her hands held the knife over his heart, but before she could do anything, he started laughing. 

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