27. Fear

Innessa didn't know for long. She sat outside in the park near her dormitory, she kept crying until her eyes were swollen and puffy; no tears were left as she stared cluelessly at nothingness. 

Her phone dinged with a message. Scarlett was ranting in their chat group. Innessa checked the time. She had to get back before the security guard locked up the gates. 

She felt so drained and exhausted, making her way back to the dormitory. She lowered her head because she must look like a mess right now. 

Innessa opened the door of her room with her card key and stepped inside, closing the door as it automatically locked. She placed the card key and bag on the table, toed out of her shoes, and stepped into the darkness. 

Ambling further inside, she plopped on the bed face-first and hugged her pillow, not wanting to cry again, but tears brimmed in her eyes. 

Barely a second or two passed when the hair at the back of her neck rose, and her shoulders tensed. She felt it before she even saw it. The faint familiar scent, the coldness of the room. 

Innessa abruptly sat up straight. Her eyes darted around her room in sheer panic. Faint light from the lamp on the street was casting a light glow on the ceiling. She stiffened, noticing a silhouette. Someone was sitting on her chair. 

She abruptly jumped out of bed and dashed to the lights, quickly switching them on. 

Her eyes widened, and terror struck her soul when her eyes met with the cold cognac hues that were scrutinizing her. 

Issac sat on the chair in her room wearing a black shirt and sweats, he was donning a couple of bruises and a cut on his eyebrow. His hair was in bangs as if he had just showered. 

She stepped back only for her foot to touch his shoes, which were near the door right beside hers. 

Her alert gaze flickered to the card key on the table. How did he get inside? For how long was he in her room? The fact that he could get into her room without being caught was terrifying. 

"H... How did you get in?" Her voice was small and shaky. 

"That's not what matters, Innessa. I told you to stop. Why did you run away from me?" His voice was cold and dark. 

"That doesn't matter? You sneaked into my room like this. It's illegal-" She stopped abruptly, seeing his dark eyes. 

"I... I don't want to talk. Leave me alone," She whispered, lowering her gaze. 

She was scared, but she was forcing a brave facade on. After everything that happened in the last couple of hours, it felt like she was talking to a stranger who deceived her. 

"Leave you alone? I think it's better to clear things out right now before the misunderstandings grow." He said calmly, making her feel worse. 

"Misunderstanding?" She said sharply. Her eyes zeroed in on him as she glowered at him. 

"There's no misunderstanding in this, Issac. You lied to me. Played with my feelings. Used me. Deceived me. You did nothing but play tricks on me," she said angrily, trying her best not to cry and keep her voice strong. 

"Used you?" There was a dark edge in his tone as he got to his feet. His stance was cold, and his eyes deadly as he took predatory steps in her direction. 

She tried to remain unfazed and did her best to remain in that spot, but the sudden icy aura that enveloped him forced her to step back in fear. Her room felt so small because of his intimidating presence. 

Every step he took towards her, she took two steps back until her back touched the door, and she flinched with the sudden contact. Within seconds, Issac was in front of her, standing in her personal space, looming over her like a beast. 

The position was nerve-wracking. She felt like a lamb in front of a wild wolf who'd chew her up and leave no crumbs. 

"I didn't use you, Innessa. Instead, I let you use me to save yourself," His voice was sinisterly low. 

Her chin quivered as she tried to remain calm at that acquisition. "I didn't lie. I told you the truth, and you agreed to help me. I never used you. I even tried to end things, but you... You lied to me. Played tricks on me. You made a joke of my feelings. I... I was just a toy for you," she said in a shaky voice. 

"A toy?" He burst out laughing, throwing his head back as she stiffened, watching him laugh humorlessly. It was void of any emotion and sounded ominous to the point she plastered her back against the door even more, wanting to melt into the door and escape. She fumbled with the doorknob at her side, but the door wouldn't open. 

He stopped laughing and faced her. His eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched. Placing his hand on the door beside her head, he leaned closer, lowering his head so they were face to face. 

"Do you even know what men do to women they consider as toys? No, Innessa, you don't know and won't like to know either," he said as she stared at him with big, moist eyes. 

"If you were a toy to me. You would be in bed crying and screaming for me to stop," His voice dangerously cold. A chill ran down her spine at his crude words. Innessa could never think Issac could say something like that. 

She stopped breathing when he leaned in closer. Innessa jerked her face away and chewed on her bottom lip, not wanting to cry. The way her heart was beating so wildly, she was sure it would burst out of her chest any second and lie on his feet bleeding as he would stomp on it mercilessly. 

He tsked when she looked away from him as if the mere sight of him disgusted her. 

Issac was enraged and barely restrained the demon in him. He rested his forehead on her shoulder, making her flinch, his bangs falling on his forehead as he inhaled her scent deeply, which helped him to relax a little. 

"Okay. I'll tell you everything. Promise me you'll forgive me," he said, and got no response from her except for her sparse breathing. 

"You won't forgive me?" He asked, his free hand resting on the curve of her waist as her body went rigid. She wanted to push him away, but she stood there like a block of ice. 

"W... Why did you agree to help me?" She asked, voice shaky and small. 

He pulled back to look at her face, which was still tilted away. She wasn't looking at him, and he kept telling himself to remain calm. 

"Because it was fun. You were so naive and adorable. I liked your innocent expressions, so I agreed to help," he said, and she gulped. 

Her head was a chaotic mess. So, he didn't help her out of kindness but helped her for fun. 

"W... Was Henry stalking me, or did you make it up? W... When you first kissed me, was Henry there?" She asked. 

Innessa has been recalling every single moment with Issac on a loop in her head while she sat crying in the park, and there were many things she needed answers for. And deep down, she knew if whatever she was thinking was right, her heart would break even more. 

"He wasn't there," he said through a clenched jaw. A tear trickled down her cheek as he inhaled deeply. F*ck. He didn't want to tell her all this. She might end up hating him, but if telling her the truth would make her forgive him, then he'd do it because he didn't want to lose her. 

"I kissed you because I wanted to, so badly. I knew you wouldn't kiss me, so I used Henry as an excuse. I didn't know when and how it started, but I was attracted to you, which was not a part of anything. I was falling for you slowly-" 

"When I tried to end things, did you send Henry to threaten me again?" She asked, cutting him off. 

His eyes narrowed. Grabbing her chin, he forced her eyes on him. 

"Henry told you all this, didn't he? He just dug his own grave," He sneered menacingly as she pushed his hand away from her chin. 

"Henry didn't tell me anything. Tell me the truth," She demanded as he tsked, walking away from her and rubbing a hand down his face. 

"F*ck," He cussed under his breath. 

"So, it's true. You planned all this. Made Henry threaten me, and then you saved me on the condition of being your fake girlfriend again. That blonde girl and her letter, everything was a lie. It was all your plotting, and I was simply a stupid pawn. How could I be so blind all this time?" She said the last part to herself, holding her head in disbelief as her lips trembled. 

"What choice did I have?" He said icily, glaring at nothingness before he faced her. 

"Tell me what choice did I have? It was all fun in the beginning, but I fell in love with you. I was awestruck when I saw you pray in the church. I just got your taste for once, and I was going crazy for you. I asked you what type of man you liked, and I felt rejected even before asking you out. What was I supposed to do, watch another guy snatch you away? No. I tried to be the man you wanted. What's so wrong with that? If I had approached you with the truth, you would've run miles away from me, and I didn't want to let you go, which made me do all this," he said, his voice a little high and dark as he glared at her. 

Innessa was doused deep in the chaos and wreckage inside her head. Everything makes sense now. The post of a fighting ring on his I*. Elena asked her again and again how she was dating him. Archie, Darla, and their concerns. It all made sense now.

"This didn't change the fact that everything was a lie. You played with my feelings, Issac. You made me a fool." She said, staring at him with tears sparkling in her big ice-blue eyes. 

He stalked over to her. "I did not play with your feelings." He gritted as she shook her head, roughly wiping her tears. 

"You did! You fooled me! Used me for your sick fun!" Her voice was high and hurt as she glared daggers at him, causing the vein in his neck to pop out in rage. 

Shoving at his chest, she walked to the table and grabbed the card key. If he wouldn't leave, then she would. 

Before she could even take a step forward, he grabbed her arm and yanked her roughly, causing her to crash into his sturdy chest. She jerked back, but his hold on her arm kept her close as he scrutinized her, a cold look in his deadly eyes. 

"I may have fooled you. But my feelings for you are genuine, and stop f*cking saying I used you. I did not!" His voice boomed, causing her to flinch. He was losing his temper as she stared at him with wide, scared eyes, trying to free her arm from his brutal hold. 

This wasn't the man she fell in love with. 

He wasn't a kind gentleman. 

Issac Knight was the man she should've stayed miles away from. 

"Everything is a lie. Our beautiful moments are nothing but a lie and part of your sick fun. I don't trust you anymore, Issac. You terrify me," she said as a whimper tore through his lips when his hold tightened. 

His nose flared. Isaac was holding onto a thread and trying to keep his sanity in check. He could see her slipping through his fingers like sand, and he wasn't ready for that. Just the thought of her leaving him had him losing his f*cking mind. 

"You love me," he said, forcing his voice to be gentle. 

She let out a sad, humorless laugh. 

"I loved the man you created just to woo me. I don't love the real you, Issac Knight. If anything, I don't want to be in the same space as you; let go of me!" She yelled, and the last thread of his sanity snapped. 

He jerked her closer, wrapping his free arm around her waist and pulling her up, causing her toes to barely touch the ground, their chests pressed together as she stared at him with wide eyes. "You don't want to be in the same space as me?" He asked in a viciously low voice, which caused every cell in her body to shiver in fear. 

Innessa tried not to sob as she shoved at his chest, trying to free herself, but instead of letting her go, he jerked her body closer, making her jolt as she gasped. 

Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. "I don't." She said with mustered up courage, hoping that he'd let her go, but instead, his jaw ticked. Letting go of her arm, he snaked his hand in her hair, grabbing a fist full of her hair as he tugged her head back, making her yelp as he glowered down at her. 

"Don't push my buttons, Innessa." He warned, and she was terrified of his dark side. The true Issac Knight. Now she knew why everyone was scared of him. He looked so ruthless and cold that she wanted to run away and hide for the rest of her life. 

"You... You've no right to manhandle me like this. I'm b... breaking up with you. Leave before I scream and gather the whole dormitory in my room," she said with mustered-up courage. She was trembling with sorrow in her chest as tears kissed her cheeks, while her chin quivered, and he saw it all, and yet he didn't let go of her. 

Cruel. 

Issac leaned in closer, his hot breath fanning her ear as he licked the shell of her ear, making her gasp and squirm to free herself, but his hold on her hair tightened to keep her in place as she winced. 

"I dare you to scream, love. Go ahead," His deep tone was thick with a looming threat. 

He was wrong if he thought he could stop her. Their eyes met, and she didn't wait a second as she parted her lips to scream. Barely a sound left her before he meshed his lips on hers. 

Her eyes widened, and her body went still, feeling his hot tongue plunging in her mouth as he slithered her tongue with his. She tried to break the kiss, tilting her head away, but his grip on her hair kept her face in place as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss. He sucked on her tongue, going deeper, forcing her mouth to open wider. 

Innessa shoved at his chest and was able to break the kiss for a fleeting second as he nibbled on her bottom lip, making her whimper. 

"Please stop," She breathed, but he chased her lips again. Locking their lips in a passionate kiss. He kissed her so thoroughly, savagely, for the longest time until her legs gave out on her and her body relaxed, melting in his arms despite everything he had done. The kiss was anything but gentle; he was punishing her. 

He trailed his lips down her jaw, and she panted. Innessa used that opportunity to push him away, but he stumbled back along with her, and they both dropped onto her bed. 

Issac didn't wait a second to change their positions, so she was under him. Innessa shoved at his chest, trying to push him away. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with a single hand. 

"HELP-ummphh," Her scream was cut off as his free hand clasped her mouth shut.  

"I like your room. It smells like you. But I'd like you better in my room," he rasped hotly. Eyeing her swollen, red lips and the way she squirmed under him. 

Tears streamed down her face as she wriggled, and he slowly pulled his hand back, which was covering more than half of her face. He looked so cold and terrifying, not an ounce of softness in his intense gaze, which was enough to terrify her as she didn't dare to scream again. 

"L... Let me go. Y... You've no right to be here and touch me like this," she said in a trembling voice as he clicked his tongue. 

Issac shoved her legs apart with his hand before settling between her legs as he pressed his body down on her, making her gasp loudly at that dominating position. 

He leaned in closer; his bruises made him look like a cold gangster as his bangs touched her forehead. The tip of his nose touched hers, his breath hot on her lips as his cold gaze pierced through her soul. 

Innessa was breathing heavily because of the kiss, but as he leaned closer, her breathing stopped as her panicked eyes watched him in fear. Innessa has never been in such a position where she realized how helpless she was against a huge, strong man like Issac. She was at his mercy. He has the upper hand at the moment, and this wasn't the Issac she fell in love with. It was enough for fear to clutch her heart in its claws. 

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk," He shook his head, slowly kissing the tip of her nose. 

"I've every right to be here, my love. Every right to touch you. You know why?" He asked, giving a soft, feathery kiss on the corner of her mouth as she trembled like a leaf. 

"Ask me why," He rasped as she kept her lips sealed and timidly shook her head, but his eyes darkened the very instant as he cupped the side of her face, his thumb pressing on her red lips as he forced her head to bob in affirmation. 

"Ask me," he said again. Voice icy cold and deadly, making her quiver in fear. The chilly aura in her room made it difficult for her to breathe.  

Innessa was so scared by his strength, the way he easily held her wrists with one hand and held her down. If he punched her, she might die. 

"W... Why?" She asked in a small whisper. 

"Because," He leaned down and bit on her neck hard, making her scream in pain as he sucked on that spot, nibbling the soft flesh. Satisfied with his handiwork, he smirked, pulling back to face her. 

"You belong to me." He rasped darkly, his smoldering gaze dousing in her teary eyes as he kissed her tears away and pulled back. While she lay there, terrified. 

He let go of her as he got off the bed, grabbed his shoes, walked to the window, and then put on his shoes. Glancing at her with those dark cognac eyes, he jumped out of the window as she lay there still as a statue, not moving at all. 

A new set of tears brimmed her eyes as she shivered. What has she gotten herself into?