Loved by the Villain
The pain is written all over his face, his eyes wide with terror.
I don’t move to help him. Instead, I calmly take out a cigar from my pocket, place it between my lips, and light it with the lighter I always carry. The flame flickers for a moment before catching, and I take a slow, deliberate puff. The smoke curls up into the air, mixing with the acrid smell of the acid and Sebastian’s burning flesh.
I watch him suffer, each puff of my cigar a reminder of who is in control here. His screams grow weaker, his movements slower, but I don’t look away. This is his punishment. He has made his choice when he decided to hurt Emily.