CHAPTER TWO

Elara's point of view

I drove home like my foot was personally offended by the accelerator of my car. My breatsh were painful from all the things I was thinking at the moment.

The apartment building loomed ahead, too familiar, too normal for what my gut already knew was waiting inside. I parked crooked, didn’t bother fixing it, and took the stairs two at a time because the elevator suddenly felt like a luxury I hadn’t earned.

The hallway was quiet. It was unsettling. I unlocked the door as softly as I could, out of habit, out of instinct, out of years of not wanting to disturb anyone. The irony nearly made me laugh.

The smell hit me first.

It wasn't any food or a strong detergent. Not even the faint vanilla candle Murphy insisted helped her “heal.”

Sex. I could smell it in the air, literally! Never felt this disgusted in my life. I noticed the kitchen lights were on.

I stepped inside my apartment. They didn’t hear me coming. I peeked from the corner of the door, making sure I wasn't in the sight.

Murphy was on the counter, legs wrapped around Kit’s waist like she owned the place. Like she hadn’t cried on my couch three months ago, swearing she was afraid of men. She was wearing my robe. The grey one. The one Kit once said made me look “cute and domestic.”

I stood there, very still, my brain doing that funny thing where it refuses to accept reality because it’s too busy trying not to combust.

Murphy laughed softly, breathless and pleased with herself.

“Babe,” she said, voice syrupy, “how do I compare to Elara?”

There it was. The moment I wanted to see, actually I needed to see badly. Even the universe didn’t even give me the courtesy of easing into it.

Kit didn’t hesitate at all knowing he have a girlfriend... He had one.

He toyed with her like she was something precious and new, his smirk lazy, indulgent. “How could that boring woman ever compare to you?” he said. “You’re my goddess. These past three months have been the happiest time of my life.”

Three fucking months!!!

Murphy giggled. She actually giggled. “Aww, babe. You must’ve been starving.”

He laughed, low and cruel. “You have no idea. Elara is so boring. Can you believe it? I only dated her in the beginning because she had a good body. Turns out she’s even duller than I expected.”

I felt something inside me crack. It was too quiet, like a bone splintering under pressure.

Murphy leaned closer to him, eyes bright with satisfaction. “My dear old classmate still has no idea,” she said. “She gets off work and washes my dirty clothes, cooks for me, takes care of me. I almost feel bad!”

She didn’t sound like she felt bad.

“But she was my little maid back in school too,” Murphy continued. “Whenever I said someone bullied me, she’d charge in to defend me without hesitation. Do you know she’s even planning to marry you?”

Kit burst out laughing. “If you stay, maybe I’ll still propose to her,” he said. “She can be our servant while we sneak around. That’d make it even more exciting.”

I stopped shaking as my body went numbe. Cold sweat and warm tears. That was the moment rage settled in, cold and clear, like it had finally found a purpose.

I lifted my phone. Quietly and carefully. I recorded everything. Every word, every laugh and every disgusting casual betrayal delivered like a joke at my expense. Then I stepped forward.

“Smile,” I said pleasantly. “You’re both going viral.”

They froze. Murphy shrieked. Kit stumbled back, knocking over a chair.

“I’m uploading that video,” I said, my voice shaking just enough to make it interesting. “You’re done. Both of you. Congratulations.”

“Elara... wait...” Kit started.

I didn’t. I turned around and walked out.

I don’t remember getting into my car. I don’t remember the streets blurring past or the way my hands were shaking on the wheel. I remember thinking, very clearly, that I had wasted two years of my life being loyal to people who saw me as furniture.

Then the world tilted. The tires skid, and steering wheel jerked violently. There was a loud, sickening crunch as the car slammed into something solid.

A tree. The airbag didn’t deploy. The silence afterward was deafening. I sat there for a moment, stunned, waiting to feel pain. When it didn’t come, I laughed hysterically.

“Of course,” I whispered. “Why not? What bad can happen to me now?" 

I grabbed my phone. There were no signal. Perfect... I am alone here and I can't even call for help.

I stepped out of the car, legs shaky, scanning the empty road. That’s when I noticed men. Too many of them. They emerged from the darkness like they’d been waiting. Dirty clothes. Hollow eyes. Smiles that didn’t reach anywhere human.

“Hey,” one of them said. “You lost?”

My heart slammed into my throat. They circled slowly, their movements wrong somehow. Predatory. Hungry. I took a step back. 

"She's scared..." Anoter said.

"I love it when prey fears..." One of them smiled widely at me.

"Don't come near... I have called 911." I tried to warn them.

"Bullshit!!! We no there is no signal in this area." 

"We got a nice dinner tonite..." 

I almost gave up to the fate that’s when the stranger appeared in my sight.

He moved fast. Too fast. One moment the men were there, the next they were scattered, thrown aside like they weighed nothing. I barely registered his face. Just the way the night seemed to bend around him.

Now the pain came and I felt dizzy. Strong arms caught me as my knees gave out. 

“Don’t look,” he said quietly.

And then everything went black.