ist

ling smile spread across her face. It wasn't a smile of pain, but of pure, unadulterated malice.

The world narrowed to that single,

ve it back, Jaime! Please!" My voice was raw, plead

in said you wouldn't need it anymore. He said you were leaving, reme

the recent trauma. Jaime easily sidestepped me, extending her foot. I tripped, falling h

d. Then, with a flick of her wrist

der the harsh hospital lights. It arced, turn

ening

a cloud of fine, grey dust rising into t

led on the floor, trying to gather the dust, the fragments, but it was useless. It sif

in the small room. "Look at you, pathetic!

thin, finally broke. A roaring fire ignited in my veins, consuming t

ow I possessed. My hands found her throat, my fingers diggin

, unrecognizable even to myself. "You destroyed

h a surprising surge of force, she pushed me backward. My weak body gav

l wide with concern for Jaime, but then they landed on me,

ied to make me eat... eat that powdery stuff!" She pointed a trembling fing

ng her into his arms. His g

eat that?" he demanded, h

What if she wanted to harm our baby?" She looked up at Collin, her eyes wide

moment, flickered with doubt. He looked from Jaime

clutching her stomach. "Oh! M

All doubt vanished. "Get a dog in here!" he

eash. They held me down, my struggles futile against their combined strength. I watched, helpless, as Co

of anguish. "STOP IT! My mother! Do

on the dog, then on Jaime, who was

my god! Collin! The video! It's everywhere again! And they're saying... they're saying it's you! That you're a

saw the trending headlines, the viral videos. His

, his gaze sweeping over the

phone. "I just got a report. The IP address... it's comi

grabbing my chin, his fingers digging in painfully. "You thought you

madness. The pain, the grief, the betrayal-it all converged into this single, terrifying release. "Yes!" I screamed, my v

" He shoved me away, my head hitting the wall. "Take her! Take her to the underground facility! Put her in the cage

ng I heard was his cold, chilling

ed to laugh, a chilling, guttural sound. Then he lunged. The pain was beyond anything I had ever known. A brutal symphony of fists and kicks, leaving me gasping fo

the room. A section of the wall exploded inwards, showering us with dust and debris. A sliver of

e figure knelt, scooping my broken body into his arms. His touch was firm, yet gentle, a stark contrast to the brutality I had just end

ugh business news, a frown on his face. He called his se

, his voice tight with pan

ate for what? Just keep her loc

s frigid. "We've received a payment for Mrs. Henson's mother's outstanding medical bills. The fu

e. Overridd

ace ashen. "Mr. Fields! The stock market! Your company is in freefall! It's crashin