Page 32 of Darkest Deception

“Let me speak, please. I hate myself for what I did to you, Aurora. To everyone. All when I lost myself. I should be ashamed. I am, and I’m trying to fix the damage I did. You are the biggest part of that. Your own sister is asking you for forgiveness, for tormenting you, for all the other things.”

Tears gather in my eyes, blurring my vision. Aurora shakes her head, a lone tear falling down her face.

“You may not ever forgive me, but please know that I will do my best to help you, or I’ll stay away from you if you want. I won’t look in your direction, won’t show up at your house, and won’t ever stand in your way.” I let her hands go, my eyes dropping to the ground. “Just know one thing. I hate myself for what I did, and I hope one day you’ll find it in yourself to forgive me.”

I blink up at the ceiling, willing the tears to go away, and then stand up.

“Ambrose, look at me.” Aurora’s shaky voice has me glancing down at her. “I can’t look past your harshness, Ambrose.”

I weakly smile, nodding.

She stands up too.

I will accept anything you give me.

“You ruined my self-confidence. You ruined the years that were supposed to be most memorable to me. You ruined everything when all I had was a mere hope that my older sister would just… help me, guide me in life, but none of that happened.” More tears fall from her eyes, and she looks to the side.

“I hate you for what you did to me,” she says sharply, then turns her eyes to me. They brim with hate, but most of all, hurt. Deep, deep hurt. “I don’t know how I can forgive you for it, but I know that it made me strong, almost immune to the hate and everything that comes with it from other people. But it hurts sometimes, you know?”

I sniffle, holding back my own pathetic tears.

“But I see you trying. I can see you fighting and holding on to a part of you that was once present before I joined your school. I see the Ambrose who loved bringing me snacks at midnight, the Ambrose who helped me bandage my knees when I fell, and the one who shared her dolls with me.”

By the end of it, I have a hand in front of my mouth, holding in the sob. Aurora isn’t ashamed to show her tears. They fall down her cheeks right in front of me.

“I hope you find a better purpose in life, Ambrose. Dad is gone, and Mum is slowly falling into his footsteps. I see it, and Remo tells me of her doings. Make your life better.” She turns around and heads out, leaving me a mess.

My head drops, my hand covering my eyes as more tears fall and quiet sobs shake my body.

10

The talk with Aurora put me in a place that is pushing me to be a better person. She doesn’t want me around her, and I understand. I will give her the space.

When I was watering my plants a few days ago, I felt the piercing gaze of my stalker, but the fear wasn’t there anymore. If he comes to me again, I’m going to demand answers. I’m ready to take him on, because for how much longer will I suffer? The answer is, I won’t anymore.

Why me?

For all these months, why me?

What is it about me that keeps him coming back, day after day?

What is his motivation?

So, when the heat crept from my back to my neck, I dropped everything and finally opened my bedside drawer and ripped open the rolled piece of paper he left a few nights ago.

Men who touch you will meet the same fate as Mr fucking Darci. This time, my bullet won’t miss him by an inch. Be careful of who you allow to touch my obsession. It’s not a pretty obsession. I will come to collect, to mark, and I will keep my promise of tasting my personal hell on earth.

It confirmed that the death of Darci’s best friend wasn’t simply an unfortunate car crash.

I worked up the courage to finally text my stalker.

Ambrose: You killed him?

The reply comes two minutes later.

Unknown: Yes.

I suck in a sharp breath at his unapologetic, one-word answer.

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