DARKNESS IGNITES DESIRES

LI

ut solace before I realize that I'm fast becoming more useless than a couch pota

ack a joke about my being underweight

, I berate myself befo

sig

s and I'm bleary-eyed. I would need to drum it into

ng a drive through town and maybe picking u

t ma

my bodyguard is watching the TV. As soon as I land on the f

V. "Crime Now? Very

rning, ma'am. Going somewhere?" He

holed up in that room anymore. A change of scenery and fresh air w

e the premises by yourself, ma'am. Let me come along. I can take anot

nnocent man is just doing his job. "Thanks but I'll be fine by mys

uating my words in his head. A second later, I see

ot so much o

, I'll be on my way to find you. I

. After Kyle's body was discovered, it was revealed that the job was done by a b

that I'll be fine. Soon, I'm in the Porsche which was gifte

ate and onto the main road where the boiste

ze to filter in. It instantly calms me, l

ing storm but I find my teeth chattering aga

eel tightly, trying to

rive out and take a narrow but quiet path. It's a road Kyle u

I glance at my phone

sks after I pick up, his voic

r my husband and how I packed every one of his belongings so they co

with instructions not to be brought food whil

after obsessively wearing K

instead. I can't stand ano

ls. It feels too awkward so I

hing at his forgetfulness. "I've got updates

yeing the exit of the s

cted," he explains. I catch the crinkling of

lley, cutting me off abruptly. I s

ick my head out of the car and yell, "Are

at? What's

r behind my ear. "Just some idiot who thinks the road is h

ts to drive. "Move, will ya!" I yel

to back out of there only to see another car parking t

cing men step out. M

, Th

s happening?" He

at closes up in fear. I struggle to brea

" He sounds angry and frantic too. There's a sh

e. "I left him at home. I just

ave you lost your

. "Get out." T

ms wrap around my hand, yanking me out. In blind te

gers like a bit

of them grabs my AirPod and flings it t

the crotch of another one holding me. He k

ll back against his chest and he begins to pull me roughly. I

er grabs my ankles and lifts me off the g

ir car as I'm shoved in wh

ain, the next, I'm choking violently on a

ible with the intent to break skin and draw blood

large hand collides with my cheek. My teeth close

and now I'm confused about which hurt

ry, terrified

like for Kyle when h

one whiff to stop myself from suffocating, I inhale ch

lose consciousness of the worl

t is

oughts when my head lolls back again