Page 195 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

I gathered my courage and said, “Sorry about all that at breakfast. Do you need anything from me after…” I trailed off awkwardly. “Can I help make it better?”

I glanced up and wished I hadn’t.

John’s scowl deepened, and shadows hovered around him.

He opened and closed his mouth, then asked slowly, “What are you apologizing for doing to me?”

His phrasing was weird, and my stomach twisted in knots.

Did he want me to beg for forgiveness?

Mr. Hyde always had an intensity that put me on edge.

I took a deep breath. Stop being a baby. You’ve wronged him. The kings are right, you’re making this all about yourself.

“I’m-sorry-for-raping-you,” I said as fast as I could.

John’s eyes widened.

He stopped running, and the shadows around him expanded until the air shimmered with a black void.

“What are you doing?” Malum called as he looked back at John, who stood on the shore, getting left further and further behind.

I turned and ran back to where John was unmoving. “Hey, what are you—”

John lunged forward and picked me off the ground by my shoulders. He squeezed, and it felt like I was suffocating.

I stared into his dark eyes.

John barked with anger, “Did you say ‘rape’?”

I nodded and winced as he squeezed tighter.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

John screamed like a broken man.

Then I was airborne.

Slam.

I crashed against a wave.

It felt like I’d hit solid rock.

He threw me into the sea.

Water filled my lungs, and I choked as the rough surf pulled me under.

John wanted me dead.

Just like Sari.

To know me was to hate me. How was a person supposed to live with that?

Waves slammed my limp form against rocks, then sucked me out to sea.

Edges.

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