17 parts Ongoing Mature"Going somewhere, Smeraldo?" His voice was calm, almost amused, but there was a dark undercurrent that sent chills down my spine.
I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. My mind was screaming at me to run, but my legs wouldn't obey. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be free.
"What's wrong? You seem surprised," Darren continued, pushing off the wall and taking a slow step toward me. Every inch of my body was screaming in terror, but I still couldn't move.
His presence was overwhelming, like a predator closing in on its prey. And I knew, in that moment, that there was no escape.
"Did you really think you could escape me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand reached out, and I flinched as he brushed a strand of hair from my face. The touch was almost gentle, but it burned like fire.
"You're mine, Divya. You always have been. You always will be."
The tears I had been holding back spilled over, and I finally found my voice. "No, no, please! I just want to go home!"