motionless. As if the who

on the handle. I turn it slowly, once, twice. Not

precision. The smallest detail, the most tiny abnormality co

gaze clings to the high windows, the heavy curtains that partially mask the out

ye can see. No road. No neighbor. Just this

dn't just locked me. He c

ise sounds

ce. Person. Just the discreet breat

quickly. I have t

, but it does not move a millimeter. Locked. I strike against the glass, more

m the panic that threatens to overwh

of the sofa, pass my hands under the furniture. Nothing. Not

e that he has forgotten a detail. But ...

e. The noise resonates violently in the room, breaking th

s later, a c

lo

, tackling the wal

ly. A shadow

t. I hit, wit

movement of

wards the

es on my arm,

t so

t the spark in his gaze be

t he tightens his e

tly? That I had neglected

ocking, and that mak

me l

nizing me like a predato

I r

e burns

all possible m

iles

ho

wer cut

gesture, and this time I hear th

g as you want, Émilie. B

back as he

n always

like a rope ready to break. Maxime fixes me with disturbing intensity, his gaze anc

test your limi

myself, cle

like to im

smile tackl

e what is

ng else under this apparent mastery. An underlyin

n against her will,

y his head, obse

our ca

sturbing emotion. He stands too close, his body projecting a shad

se to

much as you want. It

eal

step. I tense myse

tle game a

ot a gam

erious, and a shado

t? A pun

wly, as if he w

otec

t a joyl

wisted design

aze d

o idea what

, refusing to let

are you? My jai

silence

my heart gets carried away. He doesn't touch me. He simply lets his fi

it of both,

m. I should be terrified. However, something in h

king this invisib

o get ou

*

ved since our confrontation, but

ison ha

each window, each possible outlet. The only que

n the corridor

have tim

se and slip inside. A thin net of air infiltra

nly

etch my arms until ventilation. It is

under the sink and

ork on the latch, holding m

cl

gets carr

enough to see the outside. A

my teeth.

ffort. My feet leave the safety of the soil

the edge of the roof. A burst of wind strikes me,

sounds b

at opens

mil

is sharp,

hesitate

my feet violently touch the ground. I ride

ave time

hten up

almost unreal presence. I don't know where I a

me, a

gr

are to tu

el his p

ses at an in

react, a violent shock p

uggling with

arms Im

nderstand, whispers

kin, contrasting violently wit

me l

es no

think you

is harder

ll get

ile

n a low

me that you

e body

always feel his contained strength, l

does th

lowly, forcing me t

worse than

efusing to accept

t an excuse t

t respond

he wh

u think

mine, and a strang

rt tig

o l

my eyes, his

ow

be a simple

ly, his eyes take on a supernatural

onger

the world in which you

refuses

slightly, but the

u still try

darker, mo

ke what is waiting for

ble shiver tra

e, I bel