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Chapter 37
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 38
As we bounded up the stairs, the creaking of the steps echoed our frantic heartbeats, promising to give way at any moment. Willow stirred in my arms, her eyes fluttering open. She looked at me, her face smeared with soot but her eyes full of trust."I'm sorry," she muttered weakly.“There's nothing to be sorry for. We’re getting out of this,” I said, more for myself than for her. Her eyelids drooped again, the exhaustion overtaking her.The sound of the fire seemed distant now, overpowered by the sound of our breaths and footsteps thudding against the metal steps. The further we climbed, the hotter it got, making each stride a Herculean effort.We burst through a door at the top of the staircase, emerging onto the rooftop. The night air was a harsh contrast, cold and biting against our sweat-soaked skin, but it was a lifeline. The fire raged below, and for a moment, we were eerily suspended between disaster and escape.A ladder bolted to the side of the building led down to the alley
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 39
The sound of beeping machines filled my ears. It was a sound I had started to become familiar with. Feeling started to come back into my body, and with it, pain. An ache settled into my bones, radiating with each heartbeat. I groaned softly, trying to shift, but a weight held me in place.Something warm and heavy encased my hand. Strangely, it brought me a small measure of comfort, grounding me as the fog of unconsciousness began to lift. I forced my eyes to open, blinking against the harsh white light of the room. My vision gradually came into focus, and I saw him.Brax’s head rested on the edge of my bed. His strong hand was wrapped around mine. I struggled to find my voice, but when I did, it was weak and hoarse."Brax?" I managed to whisper.At the sound of my voice, his head snapped up. Relief washed over his face like a tidal wave, his eyes softening as they met mine. He sat up straight, still holding my hand firmly."Willow, thank god," he breathed, his voice thick with emotion
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 40
As I stepped out of the hospital into the crisp evening air, a mixture of relief and anxiety warred within me. The looming uncertainty of what awaited me outside those automatic doors sent chills throughout my body. Hospital discharge papers clutched tightly in my hand, I took a deep breath and headed towards Brax’s car. I could feel his eyes on me, studying my every move as if I were a bomb ready to explode.The drive there was quiet. Brax drove with a stern expression, the lines of worry clearly etched on his face. His hand occasionally reached for mine, warm and reassuring, yet I couldn't relax.We arrived at Brax’s house just as dusk painted the sky with shades of orange and pink. My heart pounded in my chest as I played with the bottom of my sleeves. It was no secret that Brax's father didn't like me, and the idea of being in his house scared me. Brax's phone buzzed just as we set foot in the hallway, his eyebrows drawing together as he read the message."I have to go," he said s
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 41
I slipped into Brax’s room. My fingers traced the patterns of the quilt on his bed as I sat down, trying to focus on the plan I’d outlined in my mind. The darkened room felt oddly comforting, a sanctuary where I could let my guard down, if only for a moment.Hours passed, yet it felt like only a few minutes as I played and replayed the plan in my head. Every detail, each possible scenario, unfolded before me like a macabre dance. What if something went wrong? What if I couldn’t protect Brax or anyone else?I turned towards the window, watching as the shadows grew long and the world outside descended into darkness. The house remained eerily silent, the only sound being my own shallow and strained breathing. Time lost all meaning as my mind ran circles around the countless “what ifs.”Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Brax’s silhouette filled the doorway. My heart skipped a beat as he flicked on the light, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of me sitting on his bed.“Willow,
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 42
Leaning my head against the cold tiles, I listened to Brax's footsteps fade as he walked away from the door. Tears still blurred my vision, but I slowly started to calm myself. But guilt still ate away at me. I would never be able to give Brax what he wanted, and there was no way I could stop spending time with him because if I did, Steve would only punish me for not doing as he told me to. My heart ached to be able to be a normal teenager and to be able to fall for Brax like my heart wanted me to. Minutes turned into an hour before I mustered the courage to emerge from the bathroom. The room was dark, save for the faint glow from the bedside lamp that Brax had left on. He was sprawled on the bed, arm across his eyes, clearly lost in his own storm of thoughts."Brax?" My voice was fragile, and the words hung in the air.He sat up instantly, eyes heavy with concern yet softened by affection. "Willow, are you alright?"I nodded, even though it was far from the truth. Walking towards hi
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 43
The day I had been dreading for a while was the day I went back to school; I never liked school, but I liked it more than being at home because the bullying was nothing compared to the pain Steve put me through. I walked through the doors, my hand in brass. Everyone stopped and stared, making me more uncomfortable than I already was.Nat came rushing up to me, throwing her arms around me. “Oh, I've missed you so much,” she said in a chirpy voice that pierced straight through my ears. She let me go holding me at arm's length. “Dad is pissed that you haven’t been home.”My heart skipped a beat at Nat's words, but I forced a smile. "I’ve been dealing with some stuff. You know how it is."Brax squeezed my hand reassuringly. Nat's eyes shifted to Brax for a second before they came back to me. “Well, I’m glad you’re back. We’ll catch up later, okay?”I nodded, even though I had no intention of spilling the chaos inside me. As Nat walked away, Brax leaned in and whispered, “You, okay?”I si
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 44
Brax povThe drive to my house was suffocating. The silence between Willow and me was loud, filled with unspoken words and suppressed emotions. I kept my eyes on the road, my grip on the steering wheel tightening with each thumping beat of my heart. The rage inside me was like a sleeping beast, waiting to be unleashed. I glanced at Willow from the corner of my eye. She stared out of the window, her face pale, her hands trembling. Her stepfather, Steve, was the monster who had been hurting her all along, and I was furious with myself for not seeing it earlier.When we finally pulled up to my house, I couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. Willow followed me inside, her steps hesitant. We went straight to my room, the one place I could let my anger out. As soon as the door closed behind us, everything felt too small, too confining. I couldn’t contain the rage any longer.“Brax, can we—” Willow started, but I was already losing it. I grabbed a photo frame off my dresser, the image of m
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 45
Willow's POVMy feet pounded against the pavement as I ran, each step matching the frantic rhythm of my heart. My lungs burned, pleading for mercy, but the fear propelling me forward was stronger. Brax’s outburst had shattered more than just his room—it had shattered the fragile trust I’d placed in him. The image of his rage was seared into my mind, a grotesque tableau of fury and destruction. I had thought he was different, and I believed him to be my safe haven. But now, all I wanted was to be miles away from him.The cool air stung my cheeks, mingling with the tears I couldn’t keep at bay. My legs threatened to give out, but I pushed onward, driven by an instinctual need to escape. The noise of Brax's rage still echoed in my ears—his guttural scream, the sound of shattering glass. It was all too much. I had to get away. I had to—My foot caught on an uneven patch of sidewalk, sending me sprawling to the ground. I could feel the jagged concrete bite into my palms, scraping my skin r
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Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 92: Lost in Shadows
Brax’s POVThe stairs creaked beneath my feet, snapping me out of the daze that clouded my mind. The room I was leaving behind still held traces of my last distraction, yet there was only emptiness echoing in my heart. I passed by a mirror in the hallway and caught a glimpse of myself—a mess of unkept hair and a face that seemed older than its years. Even the girl up there, with her long black hair similar to Willow’s, didn’t fill the void.Descending the stairs, I grabbed a drink from the makeshift bar on the kitchen counter. The cool liquid burned, a somber reminder of how far I’d fallen since Willow left. A chorus of familiar voices floated in from the living room where the guys were gathered. I moved over and dropped onto the couch, positioning myself where I could observe quietly.“Hey, man, you good?” Dillion asked, glancing at me over his shoulder.“Yeah, just tired,” I said, feigning a lightness in my tone that I didn’t feel. My eyes followed Dillon’s line of sight, noticing h
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 91: A Knock at the Door
Willow's POVThe echo of the knock startled me, piercing through the silence like a knife. For days, I had waded through the murky waters of my thoughts, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that defined my existence. The flat was my sanctuary, yet it also felt like a cage, confining me in its walls while I waited for the chaos to unfold around me.Steve was away, and although his absence lifted a heavy weight, the uncertainty that loomed was almost worse than his presence. Marco had not called on me since I last saw him, which was a relief but also a worry at the same time. And Brax's image danced through my mind—haunting and unattainable.Bracing myself, I tiptoed toward the door and peeked hesitantly through the small window. Relief and confusion swept over me at the same time when I recognised Brody, David's son, standing on the other side, shuffling his feet nervously.I hesitated for a moment before opening the door, expecting anything but this. "Brody? What are you doing here?" My
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 90
The moonlight cast long shadows on the dimly lit alleyways as I ran, each breath a reality crashing down on me as tears streamed from my eyes. My feet pounded the pavement, echoing the decisions I couldn’t walk away from. There was no time for hesitation or second-guessing. The stakes were too high, and Brax’s life was on the line. Once home, I threw on a pair of jeans and a hoodie before grabbing all the things I had stolen. Every part of me screamed to stop, to breathe, but all I could think of was making my way to David’s. The pounding dread surged through me as I pushed past the front door, launching myself into the night.David’s house loomed before me, a beacon of what little hope I had left. I banged relentlessly on the door, my impatience punctuating each knock until finally, Brody, his son, swung it open.“Is your dad home?” I blurted out.“No, he's at work. What’s going on?” he asked, concern furrowing his brow.I thrust the bag into his arms, urgency lacing my voice. "Give
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 89: The Party
Brax's POVThe taste of whiskey burned like fire, numbing every part of me that still felt pain. It was my armour of choice tonight—a shield against memories that refused to stay buried. Dylan and Kasey watched with eyes full of quiet concern, but they understood. Sometimes, all you could do was let the liquor drown the ghosts before they drowned you.Stumbling through the party, the music pounded around me, a relentless rhythm that shook the ground. It promised a temporary escape, a distraction from Willow's haunting presence. But tonight wasn't about peace; it was about surrendering to something primal, something that roared inside me at the sight of Lana across the room.Lana had been an escape before—a fleeting, physical release. As I staggered towards her, the rage inside me simmered. Her friends barely blinked when I grabbed her wrist, pulling her away. We lived in a world where such bold moves were neither new nor shocking."Brax," she breathed, a sultry promise layered in ever
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 88
: Brax's POVSilence enveloped the room after Willow's departure, a vacuum so absolute it felt almost tangible. I stood in the chaos we had created—the shattered dish on the floor, the imprint of my fist on the wall, and the lingering echo of her defiant words. Anger, confusion, and an aching sadness twisted inside me, each emotion wrestling for dominance. I ran my hand through my hair, tugging at the roots in frustration.How had we gotten here? I wanted to hate her for pushing me away, for labelling me as not enough. Yet, underneath the fiery surface, I knew the truth—my heart had chosen her long before I was ready to admit it, and now I was stuck in limbo, unable to move forward without her.Disgusted with the state of things, I left the room, forcing my leaden feet down the stairs. Kasey and Dillon were still in the foyer, their faces reflecting concern and questions they dared not voice aloud. I couldn't deal with their probing eyes or the pity masked as sympathy."Brax…" Dillon
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 87: Unravelling
Willow's POVWatching Brax leave the room felt like watching safety slip through my fingers. The clatter of the lock was a reminder of the mess my life had become. It was ironic being locked in a room that felt more like a sanctuary than a trap.My mind was a mess of worry; Brax could have just wrecked everything I had been working so hard towards. However, Macro had already been useful in getting me into places that I would have never been able to do on my own. But now it all might have been for nothing, all because Brax couldn’t do as I asked and leave me alone.As I sat there trying to work out how I was going to get out of this mess, I felt the pills I had taken before going into the room with Marco take effect, which wasn’t a good thing. I needed a clear mind to talk my way out of this with Brax and get back to Marco before he went to Steve and everything that I had done was worked out.Getting up, I headed for the bathroom, not because I was obeying Brax but because I hoped a co
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 86
Brax's POVMy hands shook as I clutched the doorframe, the sight in front of me branding itself into my mind. Willow—my Willow—entwined with another man. Her naked body pressed against him. I couldn't believe it. Anger exploded, every rational thought igniting in a blaze of betrayal.My voice came out like a low growl, a thunderous roar that reverberated off the walls. "Willow!"She spun around, her eyes wide with desperation, her body scrambling for cover. Panic painted her features as she grabbed a bedsheet, clutching it to her skin. The man beside her had the audacity to open his mouth, likely to threaten me or beg for mercy. I didn't care.Before he could utter a word, I crossed the room and grabbed him by the collar. My fists flew, driven by a vengeful fire. Each punch landed with a satisfying crunch, a symphony of anger echoing within the confines of the room."Brax, stop!" Willow's scream pierced through my fury, her voice laced with panic and something else, something I couldn
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 85
Brax’s POVMy mind was an unending loop of worry that circled around Willow. Weeks had passed since I last saw her face or heard her voice, and her absence carved a hollow ache in me that I couldn't ignore. The reports from the men I had watching her became increasingly sparse, as though she had somehow worked out that they were following her and had found a way to avoid them. She wasn’t at school, avoided parties, and anywhere I expected her to be.Work from my father kept me preoccupied, but it brought no peace. Meetings filled with strained respect and unspoken threats blurred together with each assignment he gave me. This life, the one paved for me before I was even born, was all I had known. But since Willow, all I ever did was wish for an escape. My father’s expectations loomed over me like a persistent shadow, whispering of future obligations I didn’t want, but I would take if it meant keeping her safe.I stood at my front door, the day’s stress weighing on me heavily. The fami
Pathetically Beautiful Chapter 84: Into the Darkness
Willow's POVThe fight with Nat replayed in my head, and guilt ate away at me. My phone hadn't stopped buzzing for hours with calls and messages from both Brax and Dillion. I knew that Nat would go back to them and tell them everything. Looking down at my phone, Brax’s name flashed across the screen. I picked it up, holding it for a second. Rage bubbled within me. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone? I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw my phone as hard as I could at a tree, watching it smash into pieces.Standing up, I left the park. If I was going to get things done, I had to turn off all my emotions. I needed to be stronger and smarter. And then the idea came to me. Turning around, I made my way to one of Steve's houses, where I hoped Marco would be.The house wasn’t far from the park. I had been here a few times, and I knew Marco spent a lot of his time there. As the house came into view, my heart began to race in my chest. I stopped pulling the pill bottle out of my pocket and
