His Saving Grace

Chapter 31 - Myrtle & A Break

It had been a week since I had witnessed Tom in such an unstable state. I would look after him more, sort of like a mother fearing for her child's future, and I would try to be more understanding, but he had not shown any signs of needing these things from me.

He was back to his regular self: powerful, cold, intimidating, and pretentious Slytherin. To be honest, I would rather have a 'pretentious' boyfriend than a 'broken' one. Sadly, returning back to normal meant that he was back to his old ways in concerns to magic.

We were nearly done with the entire plan, he just needed someone to... I cannot even say it. I am worried that I cannot stall for much longer, but it was too late to get anyone else involved. Plus, I would not want to see us in Azkaban any time soon. Simply being here meant that I was an accomplice to the crime he would commit, there was no way out for me now. I was too deeply invested in his convoluted plan, but it was entirely my fault.

I was too curious, too desperate to play the hero, and became too invested in Tom Riddle.

Now, we were in the Room of Requirement reading the last of the books. Once we would finish, Tom would tell me what would happen next. I was hoping for him to tell me that this was all some sort of sick evil prank trying to mess with my head, but I knew I was setting up false expectations.

Tom broke the silence and said, "Anything on your mind?"

"Umm... not really... just finishing up the last book"

It was a half truth since I was almost finishing the last book, but I was obviously thinking of much more deeper things.

"Good that you are finishing up, because I have the perfect person in mind. It is a person no one will miss and you know her already. It is going to be the perfect execution.", Tom ranted in a diabolical manner.

"Wait... you are actually going through with this? After everything we have read and learned... After everything we have been through?", I questioned him angrily. I was shocked, but I was only shocked because I was actively ignoring the obvious and inevitable.

"Before next week, I am getting rid of that filthy mudblood Myrtle. I will place my soul on the diary, just like we discussed, and life will go on. Athena, we are just getting started on our quest. I am going to need more horcruxes, but we will worry about that when the time comes.", he revealed nonchalantly.

My jaw hit the floor and I covered my mouth with my hand in disbelief. I was disappointed, shocked, and saddened by what I was hearing. I did know her, he wanted to kill someone from my house. Not only this, but he wanted to kill more people without remorse. I tried to believe there was good in him, but had I deceived myself? I know what I had seen and felt these past few months, it could not have been my mind playing games. There must still be a way for him to snap out of this idiotic, dangerous and malicious mission for unlimited power.

"Tom, you cannot actually go through with this.", I repeated trying to get through to him.

"I can and I will, I trust you will not stand in the way? After all, we have made it this far.", he stated in a threatening tone.

"I cannot believe you! I knew you were not Hufflepuff nice but... You are crazy... you're... you are a psychopath! How could you still be considering and plotting such horrible actions? We could go to Azkaban for every single thing that is going through your mind right this instant. I do not even know who you are right now. The man that has been with me for the past few weeks is not the boy standing in front of me.", I sobbed feeling sick to my stomach.

"I am not a good man, I was never a good man, and I will never be a good man. You were naïve to believe such a fallacy!", he retorted in a patronizing tone as despicable anger deformed his face.

The man I hated from first to sixth year had made a return, but his darkest emotions and desires had been amplified to the greatest extent. I did not know if this was him fighting himself once again, trying to prove something, or if I truly had mistaken my feelings for a presence of goodness. I did not need to think any further, I would not stand by and watch him do this to himself.

"Then I guess I cannot possibly fancy such a despicable man..."

After taking a small pause to make sure I would not regret what I said next I hesitantly whispered, "I think we need a break.".

I did not want to leave him, not now and not ever, but I had to. This was for our own good.

I packed up my things and walked towards the door when I heard him scream, "You promised I would never lose you!"

"Some promises are made to be broken.", I replied as my heart tore into tiny pieces.

I wanted to run back to him and tell him I would follow him anywhere, but I could not do that. I wanted to look back at him; but without daring to turn around and tears forming in my eyes I left him, back to square one, all alone.