Page 186 of Fatality

One of his hands drifts to my bruised throat.

I don't understand him.

I can't understand him.

Liam deserved to get beaten. But having his hand cut off? Dying?

No.

“Have you,” He murmurs “Any idea how hard it is for me? I wanted to be the worst thing that ever happened to you. Instead...”

He pauses, his thumb brushing my skin.

“The thought of losing you became the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

“S-Stop…” I stutter “Sh-shut up…”

“You're real to me.” His voice drops to a whisper. “You're the only thing in this fake fucking world that feels real.”

He closes his eyes, the crimson glow disappearing beneath his eyelids.

“I can't leave, Riven.”

His forehead comes to rest against mine. His jaw clenches.

“You're annoying. I hate you. You have that spoiled, bratty rich attitude that's a pain in my fucking ass, but…” He swallows hard. “You're real.”

His fingers twitch against my bruised throat.

“And if I leave... if you disappear...” His breathing catches. “The silence comes back.”

He lets out a shaky laugh that sounds more broken than amused.

“I don't want it back.” Another pause. “I can't.”

His fingers tighten just enough for me to notice.

“So don't make me.” His forehead presses harder against mine. “Don't make me go back to the silence or I'll stop caring who lives through it.”

My heart pounds against my ribs.

I don't know what to say.

I don't know what to do with that. What the fuck is this?

He can’t say that, I must have something in my ears because there is no way Evren is saying that.

I won't let him consume me. I refuse to become another prisoner of his obsession.

I can’t. I just can’t.

“Get out, Evren.” I grab his wrist and wrench it away from my throat, away from my cheek. “You and me... whatever this is? It's not normal. Get the fuck out.”

I watch his eyes change in an instant, back to what they always are, hard, stripped of everything raw and real he just had.

His jaw clenches, I can see a muscle tick.

I don't wait to see if he actually leaves, I stumble to Liam and press both hands against his wound.