Page 3 of Obsession

Every step I took away from him felt like a battle against an invisible force, urging me to turn back and face the unknown. The air was heavy with unspoken danger, each heartbeat echoing like a drum of impending doom. As Lyla’s whispers urged me to flee, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something far more sinister. The tangled web of fate seemed to weave tighter around us, entangling our fates with threads of uncertainty and dread.

But despite my terror, I saw a strange allure in Riot’s gaze, a forbidden curiosity that beckoned me closer even as my instincts screamed to run. The promise of danger and mystery, tempting me toward the unknown depths of darkness that awaited.

In that fleeting moment of hesitation before our escape, I sensed a shift, as if destiny itself had taken hold of our lives. I walked with Lyla back to her bakery, leaving Riot’s haunting gaze behind.

I did my best to stay away from Riot the rest of the day. As night fell, a chill skated down my spine. The streets of Raven’s Vale were empty, the shadows creeping in closer as the sun sank below the horizon. I could feel eyes on me. The sensation was like a thousand tiny needles pricking at my skin. It was that fucker Riot Tredway -- I knew it. There had been times throughout the day it felt like someone was watching me. Since this morning, I hadn’t spotted him again, but I’d known he was there.

Everywhere I looked, I saw nothing but dark corners and deserted alleys. But someone seemed to always be watching me. I could feel it. Didn’t matter if I could see him or not.

“What do you want with me?” I called out, trying to sound braver than I felt. My voice echoed through the empty street, the sound bouncing back at me mockingly. No response came, but the oppressive weight of his presence remained.

“Damn it,” I whispered, quickening my pace. My heart pounded in my chest, blood thundering in my ears. I couldn’t let him see how much he affected me -- how much he terrified me.

I turned a corner, nearly colliding with a tall figure that seemed to materialize out of the darkness. I stumbled back, cursing, before realizing it was Riot himself.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Fuck off,” I snapped, quickly regaining my footing. If he sensed weakness, it would only make things worse. I had no choice but to appear as strong as possible. I couldn’t appear to be prey to him. If I did, I was done for.

“Feisty,” he murmured, smirking down at me. “I like that.”

“Get bent.” I pushed past him and continued on my way. The brief interaction left me shaken and angry -- but most of all, vulnerable. It was like he’d reached inside me and grabbed hold of something, squeezing it tight until I could barely breathe.

The wind sliced through the air, carrying the smell of blood and decay. I shivered, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I hurried down the street.

I stopped at a rundown café, ordering a steaming cup of coffee to warm my chilled bones. As I sipped the bitter liquid, I saw him again, watching me from across the street. Riot’s eyes bored into mine, his gaze predatory and unnerving. I felt a familiar unease coil in the pit of my stomach.

“Still following you, huh?” The barista, an older woman with sad eyes, shook her head. “You gotta watch yourself, Hollis. That man’s got a taste for blood.”

“I know,” I admitted quietly, staring down into my now cold coffee. I couldn’t deny the warped attraction I felt toward Riot, and it only seemed to grow stronger with each passing day, each brief encounter. I hated it, but something inside me craved it too.

“I need to get out of here.”

“Be careful,” the barista warned, her voice full of concern.

“Always am,” I lied, forcing a weak smile before stepping out into the biting cold once more.

I didn’t make it far before hearing Mayor Rawlins’ voice boom out from behind me. “Hollis Crane!”

“Mayor? What’s going on?” I asked, turning to face him.

“Riot… it’s time for another sacrifice. One life to save hundreds. He’s been watching you. We all know it. It has to be you, Hollis.”

I knew the town offered up someone every month. It didn’t seem to stop the killings, but they did seem to be slower than the months they didn’t offer one. I understood the reason behind it, but it didn’t mean I wanted it to be me!

“Me?” My heart pounded in my chest, my blood running cold. “Why?”

“Does it matter?” Mayor Rawlins snapped, anguish etched on his face. “I’m sorry, Hollis. There’s nothing I can do. You know the rules we live by.”

“Fuck you! You’re just gonna hand me over to that monster?”

“What choice do we have?” he asked, desperation in his voice. “If we don’t, he’ll kill us all!”

“Then let him,” I said. “I’d rather die fighting than be some sick bastard’s plaything!”

“Enough!” Mayor Rawlins roared. “You will be the next sacrifice, whether you like it or not. It’s for the greater good.”

“Fuck the greater good!” Deep down, I knew he was right. My life was nothing compared to the lives of everyone in Raven’s Vale.

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