The Betrayal of a Dying Heart

ral video turned me into a hero overnight. The public outcry was so i

e cooked a romantic dinner and proposed a toast to our new beginning. The next thin

world. Below, surrounding me in a massive, deserted warehouse, wer

, her voice stripped of all warm

eal animal here. She called Duard a kind soul and watched as the world turn

on my knees, live on camera,

id, "and maybe I'

distic grin, and then at the hungry dogs.

he hissed. "Duard

pte

ray cat by the scruff of its neck. The cat was hissing, spitting, its claws scratchin

saw him in the alley behind our building. I didn't think, I just acted. I grabbe

a guy I vaguely knew, who later told me he had

l." My face was on every news site. Duard's face was right there besid

ustice was a partner in, had no choice. The

ed on Duard, treated him more like a favorite son

me that night, her face calm,

I was blind to what he was. T

her supposed clarity. I thought, finally, our biggest

nner at home. I cooked her favorite m

s sparkling in the candleligh

ust happy. Then the room started to spin. My limbs felt heavy, my thoughts turned to mu

throbbed. I was on a cold concrete floor, my hands tied b

wasn't

dozen pit bulls. Their ribs showed through their skin. They paced, sn

sleeping

above me, looking down. Beside her, holding

esse? What the h

the warmth I once knew. "This is justice,

on. "Look at the big hero now. So much compassion for a worthless

n't a joke. This was real.

s sadistic grin, and then to the starving d

k me," I snarle

ok of pity on her face that was

eady broken. You jus

ousness. "You ruined a good man's life over a stupid animal. You

thought this was

week. How they would tear me apart, piece by piece, while Duard streame

ay he could twist any situation to make himself look innocent. An

pathy. "We're here live with Kai Sampson, who seems to be in a bit of

soul I know. He wouldn't hurt a fly. Kai, on the other

sgust. They were painting

on your knees and apologize to Duard. Beg for his forgiveness. Te

w, I thought he was a good guy.' 'Duard seems so scared.' '

loved and the parasite she protected.

hell,"

ned. The mask of ca

he hissed. "Duard