I crouch down and gently tuck the strands of her hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on her skin a little too long. Her cheek is warm, trembling, like some pathetic, frightened animal caught in a trap. I can feel her heartbeat. Fast. Too fast.
I didn't tie the ropes too tight. I made sure of that. But still, I see the pain in her eyes. I wonder—is it the rope or the memory of what she did?
Tears brim in those wide, terrified eyes, and I wipe them away with my thumb, slow and gentle. "Shh... Don't cry," I murmur, lips brushing against her damp cheek, tasting the salt of her tears. Once upon a time, I would've burned down the world if there was even a little drop of tears in her eyes. She was my everything. My world.
But now?
I throw my head back and let out a deep, guttural laugh.
Poor thing.
Her eyes dart around, looking for anything, anyone. But it's just me. Just us. Like it always should have been.
I stand and take my place in the chair opposite her resting my elbows on my knees. "I loved you."
"You're a fucking psychopath," she breathes, her voice trembling, barely more than a whimper.
I freeze.
A psychopath.
I laugh—a low, dark chuckle rising from somewhere deep inside me. I raise a brow "A psychopath?" I repeat, savoring the word like a bitter taste on my mouth.
Her jaw tightens. "My brother will kill you," she spits, defiance lacing her voice, though I can see the fear flickering beneath the surface.
Half brother. Though he would be a problem. But I'll deal with him when the time comes. Right now, I'm going to savor this moment, devour every second of it.
There are things I need to hear from her—answers I already know, but I want to hear her say it. I could've gotten everything from my lawyer—Late Mr. Andre.
He earned that title, late—I glance at the clock on the wall—fifty-seven minutes ago.
I can still hear his voice echo in my head, trying to reason with me, offering pathetic excuses. I didn't spend three years in the fucking Jail to come back and face pity. He was a betrayer. And all betrayers pay. He paid his price.
Now it's Sophie's turn.
I caress her lips—those soft, perfect lips that used to drive me wild. They were the cure to every pain, and yet inflicted me with more.
I trace my thumb along her bottom lip, feeling the heat of her breath. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
She jerks away. "I don't give a fuck."
If I still cared for her, that would've destroyed me. I grab her chin, forcing her to face me, my grip firm but not yet cruel. "You've become a very bad girl."
I pinch her chin harder, pulling a yelp from her. "Why did you do it?" My fingers tangle in her hair, tugging slightly, just enough to remind her of who's in control.
Her eyes widen, and I watch the panic ripple through her, tightening her body.
Good.
I lean in, our noses almost touching, my breath hot against her skin. "Who made you testify against me?"
Her jaw tightens. "I'm not saying shit."
A slow, wide smile spreads across my face, and I sigh, almost disappointed. My hand slides to her throat, fingers pressing lightly at first, feeling her pulse hammer beneath my touch. "I've had three years to think of all the ways I could make you suffer." I press my thumb harder against her neck, watching the fear dance in her eyes as she whimpers.
"Why did you testify against me?" I ask, my voice softening for a moment.
She glares up at me. "That man didn't deserve to die."
I start to chuckle, and before I know it, I'm laughing uncontrollably, loud and full.
"You don't get to decide who lives and who dies. You're not God!"
"Well, maybe tell God to do His fucking job." My laughter morphs into a frown. "If He exists, He wouldn't sit and watch the innocent die while the sinners walk free." My chest tightens. "Everything I did, Sophie, I did for you."
She shakes her head. "I didn't ask you to kill someone. You're a monster, Ky."
I smile. I hear those words everyday. I'm more than used to them. "Do you want to know why I killed him?"
She remains silent but I continue, "He's the reason you grew up with only memories of her."
Her eyes widen, she shakes her head in disbelief.
"He was the one who killed your mom, Sophie." My thumb traces the path of her tears. "I did what God couldn't."
The tears pour down her face, her body trembling as the truth crushes her. She gasps, struggling to breathe.
"Now tell me, who deserves to live? And who deserves to die?"
Her scream tears through the room, raw and piercing, echoing off the walls.
Oh, Sophie. I wish I could let her go. I really do. But some things can't be fixed with tears.
I stroke her hair gently as I watch her come apart. "Don't waste your tears," I murmur. "You'll need them for the reunion."
She pauses, a flicker of confusion crosses her eyes but I don't explain. Not yet.
"Do you know how I felt that day?" I stroke her hair again, softly, like I used to when we were a thing.
I pull back just enough to see fear creeping back into her eyes. "I trusted you, but you betrayed me."
Her lips tremble as she tries to speak, but nothing comes.
I place a delicate kiss on her forehead. Then her cheeks. Her tears mix with the warmth of my lips, but I don't mind.
"Was there something wrong with the way I loved you? Was it not enough? Was it too much?" My lips trail down her neck.
"I just wanted you to love me back." I pull back, watching her closely. "But you chose him."
She cheated on me multiple times and I thought maybe I was the problem. But it was never me.
"You were fucking him." I chuckle. "Funny how he didn't even want you."
"I… I'm s-sorry," she says between her sobs.
Lies.
"I loved you." I trace my fingers along her cheek, wiping away the tears that fall. "I would never hurt you, trust me. You brought this upon yourself."
"N… No…" she gasps.
"I really wish I could spare you, Sophie. I really do," I say, pulling out the gun from my belt.
Her breath hitches, and I see the fear flickering in her eyes. Satisfaction washes over me, but it's not complete. Not yet.
I lean back and twirl the gun in my fingers, watching as her gaze follows the movement, filled with a mix of terror and disbelief. "You're not going to be alone. You'll be with your mom."
"K… Ky, ple…ase," she whispers, her voice trembling.
I pout my lower lip and tilt my head. I let out a mock sob. "Oh, Sophie.You're breaking my heart here. Do you really think I want to do this? That I enjoy watching you cry?" I take a step back, placing the gun against my chest. "You have to understand, this is all your fault."
I watch as her expression shifts, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. "We can make it work again. I will learn to love you."
"It's too late." I stand up, pointing the gun at her.
I've searched for a way out but there's none. I kept praying for one, but it seems it was all in vain.
A single tear slips down her cheek. "I'm sorry."
I shut my eyes, drawing in a sharp, painful breath. "Go to sleep," I whisper, my voice barely more than a breath.
The deafening sound of the gunshot echoes through the room, reverberating in my ears as I watch the light fade from her eyes. "I forgive you."
I watch her body go still, the warmth of life slipping away, leaving only an empty shell behind.
I lower myself to the ground beside her, gently lifting her lifeless head and resting it on my lap. Her hair, once vibrant and soft, now feels cold and lifeless, just like her. I stroke it anyway, my fingers running through the strands like I used to when she'd fall asleep in my arms.
"Why did you leave me?" I whisper, my voice trembling.
My fingers trace the curve of her cheek, her skin cooling beneath my touch. The silence is deafening, pressing in on me, and for a moment, the weight of it all becomes unbearable. There's no answer, no explanation—just the empty room and the hollow thud of my own heartbeat.
"You shouldn't have betrayed me," I murmur, leaning down to press my forehead against hers. Her skin is still warm from where I held her, but it's fading fast, slipping away like everything else. I close my eyes, inhaling her scent one last time, breathing her in like I used to when everything felt right.
"Why did you make me do this?" I ask quietly.
It didn't have to end this way.