My whole body is shaking furiously, and I can’t seem to calm down. I feel like my heart is racing a mile a minute, and I can’t catch my breath.He is here; he is back; he found me. I can feel the panic rising in my chest, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Every fiber of my being is on high alert, ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice.The smile of the grim reaper is etched on his face, sending chills down my spine. I know he will do nothing to get me back under his control. I can’t let that happen.The pain, the trauma, and the memories flood back in an overwhelming wave, threatening to consume me. “Hailey...” I heard his voice in my mind, making me shudder. I must find a way to break free from his grasp once and for all. The smirk on his face tells me he enjoys seeing me suffer, gripping my heart with fear.“Hailey...” I heard him again, his voice sending chills down my spine. I close my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that h
I stare at Hailey, who is sleeping on the bed peacefully, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts a warm light on her peaceful face, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this moment of tranquility.She has been so stressed the whole day today, and seeing her finally able to relax brings me a sense of relief. I gently brush a strand of hair away from her face, hoping she can feel my love and support, even in her dreams.I sat beside her on the couch, staring at the peaceful expression on her face as I drank a strong liquor to ease my own nerves. The flavor tingles my tongue with a sharp bitterness that matches the ache in my chest.I stare at the glass with liquid swirling inside, wishing I could find the same sense of calm that she had found in her slumber. The weight of the day’s events settles heavily on my shoulders. Seeing Hailey in pain—the trauma that she endured is still fresh in my mind. I take another sip, hoping the alcohol
What the fuck? I crumbled up the paper in my fist and clenched my jaw, feeling a surge of anger and determination to protect Hailey at all costs. This was no time to back down; we needed to find out who was behind this and stop them before it was too late.I turn my head on Hailey, who is sitting across from me, her eyes wide with fear. “What is written on the note?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to her without causing more panic.I took a deep breath, brushing her hair away from her face before finally responding, “Nothing you need to worry about. Just some nonsense from a prankster, nothing to be concerned about.” Hailey’s expression relaxed slightly, but I could tell she wasn’t fully convinced.She leaned her head on her chest as I wrapped my arms protectively around her, hoping to provide some comfort in the midst of her unease. “I was so scared after seeing Ben in the ice cream parlor; I thought he was trying to make a m
I stared at Hollis as he was reading the note, trying to gauge his reaction. My body was shaking, scared of what might have been written on it. Was it bad news? Was it a threat? I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear creeping over me.I know for sure that it was Ben behind all this, and that is what makes me even more anxious. I have to find a way to protect myself and Hollis from whatever danger may be lurking.“What is written on the note?” I asked, with my heart pounding in my chest, my voice quivering with fear.Hollis turns his eyes on me as he crumbles the notes in his fist, clenching his jaw. “Nothing you need to worry about. Just some nonsense from a prankster, nothing to be concerned about,” he replied, but his eyes betrayed his attempt to hide the truth. I knew then that we were in deeper trouble than I had imagined.Is what Hollis is saying true, or is he trying to protect me from something he thinks I can’t handle? No, I don’t think he will deliberately lie to me. I rela
A loud cry escaped my lips as I sank to the ground, tears streaming down my face. The trauma of his presence lingered in the room—a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the memories, but his sinister laugh echoed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. He will take me with him, I thought to myself, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. The fear of his return consumed me, leaving me paralyzed with uncertainty about what horrors awaited me next.A felt hand landing on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts, causing me to shudder in terror.“Hailey,” a calm voice said, bringing me back to reality as I opened my eyes to see Hollis standing beside me, worried about my well-being. “What happened? Why are you like these?” he asked the room, all messed up with glass shattered on the floor.I feel him take my hand in his as I hiss from the stinking pain in my foot. “He’s coming back,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear
“Please...” I whispered again, my voice barely audible as I buried my face in his chest, pulling myself closer to him, seeking solace in his embrace.Hollis remained silent, his grip on me firm and reassuring, providing the comfort and security I so desperately needed in that moment, but he still didn’t fulfill my need to make love to him. I longed for a deeper connection, a way to express my passion and desire for him beyond just physical touch.I don’t know if I am being selfish or if my feelings are valid, but I couldn’t help but yearn for more from our relationship. I needed to find a way to communicate my desires and fears to Hollis in order to truly feel fulfilled in our connection.I moved my head from his chest and looked into his eyes, searching for a way to convey my innermost thoughts. “Please help me forget my insecurities and fears,” I whispered, hoping he would understand the depth of my emotions. “Please touch me and show me that you care for me in more ways than one.”
“For once, I want to feel like I belong and am truly appreciated for simply being me,” I added, my voice cracking with emotion. “Is that too much to ask for?”Tears streamed down my face as I awaited their response. Hollis kissed my forehead and whispered, “Ask my life; I can give you that and more.” He kissed both my cheeks, his lips lingering with a tenderness that made my heart ache. “You don’t have a mere idea how much your presence means to me,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing against my ear and sucking on my earlobe, gently nipping at it. “You are everything to me, my love,” he whispered, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine as his lips moved to my neck, leaving a trail of delicate kisses. Sucking on my neck, biting gently on the skin as he whispered. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever met.”A moan escaped from my neck, both from the sensation of his lips on my skin and the overwhelming emotions his words stirred within me. “Tell me, is this real?” I w
“Strip down, babe,” he whispered, his eyes never leaving mine. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve got.” Hollis leaned back against the headboard, a mischievous grin on his face.I stare at Hollis, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement building up inside me. With a deep breath, I slowly start to undress, eager to see the look on his face as I reveal myself to him.“Fine, if that’s what you want,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.“It’s the only way I want it,” he replied, his gaze intense. My heart raced as I nodded my head with a heavy sigh, feeling a rush of adrenaline at the thought of what was to come. Hollis’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as I finally slowly started to unbutton my shirt, revealing the lace lingerie underneath. The tension in the room was palpable, but I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be.As the shirt fell to the ground, his eyes never leaving mine, I felt a sense of liberation wash over me.“Now the skirt,” he whispered, his voice husky with desir
Hollis couldn’t breathe.The weight of his guilt pressed down on him, suffocating him with every breath he tried to take. His chest felt tight, as if the air had turned thick and heavy, and no matter how deeply he inhaled, it wasn’t enough. His hands trembled, clenching into fists at his sides, but the shaking wouldn’t stop. It was as if his body was betraying him, revealing the truth he couldn’t escape.The words he had spoken still lingered in the room, each syllable like a stone in his chest. "I killed her."He wanted to look away from the reflection of his misery in the window, but it was too much. His vision blurred, and his heart ached with a rawness that felt endless. He had spent so long trying to bury it—the guilt, the pain, the truth. He’d told himself that if he just kept moving and kept putting one foot in front of the other, it would eventually fade. But it didn’t. It never would.His voice cracked, hoarse from the strain of holding back tears. “I thought... I thought if
Hollis couldn’t breathe. He leaned against the doorframe, his chest tight, his breath shallow, like he was drowning in a sea of guilt that was rising faster than he could ever hope to escape.The weight of the words hung between them—"I killed her."His eyes burned as they blurred with tears that never seemed to fall. But the ache—the unbearable, unshakable ache deep in his chest—never went away. He had thought if he buried it enough, maybe he wouldn’t feel it. If he didn’t look too closely at the truth, maybe he could pretend that he wasn’t a monster. That he didn’t have blood on his hands.But that was all he ever felt now—the blood. The guilt that wrapped around him like a noose. And no matter how much he tried to push it away, no matter how hard he tried to keep his distance from everyone, especially his children, the truth was there. It was always there.His voice cracked as he forced himself to speak again, though every word was a struggle, like he was choking on his own guilt.
****Hailey****The air in the house was suffocating, pressing in from all sides like a heavy weight on my chest. I hadn’t expected to feel like this. I hadn’t expected anything, really. Hollis had walked out, leaving behind nothing but the echo of his words that hung in the air like a storm cloud. And I knew, in the pit of my stomach, that something had broken. But it wasn’t just my heart.It was everything.I sank into the couch, clutching a pillow to my chest, as if it could somehow shield me from the storm swirling inside me. Every breath felt shallow, every thought like it was coated in the sharp sting of the past few hours. What had just happened? What had I learned? Hollis’s grandfather—his presence had been like a blade, cutting through the walls I’d built around myself, leaving me exposed and raw. His words still echoed in my mind, cutting deeper with each passing second. And then that smile. That knowing, cold smile.It wasn’t just what he said. It was how he made me feel—lik
****Hailey****The air was thick with tension as I stood frozen in the doorway. The man on the porch didn’t belong in this world of warm lights and soft edges. His presence felt sharp, jagged, and entirely unwelcome.Hollis’s grandfather.He stood there, tall and unyielding, his sharp features chiseled with an air of authority that made my chest tighten. His piercing eyes swept over me with something too calculating to be mere curiosity.“Hailey,” he said, my name rolling off his tongue like a dark promise. “We need to talk."The words lodged in my throat as Hollis stepped in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking the older man from my view. The tension in his body was palpable, coiling like a spring about to snap.“You’re not welcome here,” Hollis growled, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.The older man chuckled, a sound that seemed to carry years of malice. “Is that any way to greet your family, boy?"“You’re not my family,” Hollis spat, his words cutting l
*****Hailey****The car hummed softly beneath us, the road slipping by in a blur of lights and shadows. My mind was still foggy from the meds, exhaustion dragging me under, but as we left the hospital behind, everything felt too sharp, too real. I was going home. But nothing about this home felt like it did before.Hollis sat beside me, his hand barely touching mine but enough to ground me. He hadn’t said much since we left the hospital. His silence was a weight that sat heavy between us, but I didn’t need him to speak. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was—about the life that had been torn apart, about the cracks we couldn’t fix. The questions that had no answers yet.The drive felt endless, the world outside blending together in a haze, like I was stuck in two worlds at once—one that nearly destroyed me and the one I was supposed to return to. I wasn’t the same person who’d left, and neither was he. Neither were his kids.When we finally pulled into the driveway, I could feel
****Hollis****The room was quiet—almost too quiet—except for the steady beep of the heart monitor beside the bed. It felt like the world outside had stopped, leaving just the two of us in this small, sterile space. Hailey was asleep, her chest rising and falling with each breath, but there was still a hint of tension in her face. I could see it, even in her sleep—the weight of everything that had happened, the unspoken pain that clung to her like a shadow. I couldn’t stop looking at her, though. Every time I thought about what she’d been through, it made something inside me tighten. This room had become both a sanctuary and a prison. In a way, I didn’t want it to end. But I knew it had to. She was about to be discharged. And that meant everything would be real again. Real in a way I wasn’t ready for. Lying with her in this small hospital bed, I wished I could freeze time and protect her from the world outside these walls. But I knew she was strong enough to face whatever came next
*****Hollis*****The hospital room was heavy, suffocating with silence that cut sharper than any scream. Hailey hadn’t spoken much since the day we lost everything. She stayed curled on her side, her back to me, staring at the wall like it held answers to questions she couldn’t voice.I sat beside her bed, my elbows resting on my knees, watching her. I didn’t say anything. She wouldn’t respond even if I did. But the weight in her eyes, the sharp edges of grief and rage, were deafening.Finally, she stirred, her voice breaking the quiet.“He did this."I straightened in my chair, her words slicing through the thick air between us.“Ben,” she said, her voice trembling with anger that barely held back the tears. “He took everything from me. My baby. My peace. Everything I fought to rebuild."Her hands clenched the blanket so tightly that her knuckles went white. When she turned her head to face me, the look in her eyes hit me like a freight train.“I hate him,” she hissed. “I hate that I
***Hailey****The room was suffocating, every breath tinged with the sterile sting of antiseptic, every corner thick with the oppressive weight of loss. I couldn’t seem to escape the constant hum of the machines, the feeling that time was moving, but I was stuck, suspended in a moment that stretched on forever. But then, a small voice cut through the quiet, a voice that always made my heart race with love.“Mommy?”It wasn’t just the sound of her voice that broke the stillness, but the urgency, the concern, the love. I snapped my head toward the door, and there she was—Summer. My little girl, her face framed by the doorway, her big brown eyes wide with worry. She was so small, yet she carried the weight of the world in those eyes. And right behind her, waddling with all the grace of a two-year-old, was Max, holding onto her hand like he didn’t quite know what was going on but was determined to follow her anyway.Summer’s eyes found mine instantly, and without a moment’s hesitation, sh
*****Hollis*****The soft click of the hospital door closing behind us barely registered in my mind. Hailey was sitting there, the pale hospital gown draped over her, her once vibrant eyes now dulled by grief and exhaustion. I couldn’t bear to see her like this, broken in a way that words could never quite describe. The pain that etched itself into her face, the way her body trembled as if it were carrying the weight of a thousand storms—it shattered me.I sat beside her, my heart aching at every flicker of emotion that passed across her face. She didn’t want the soup, I could tell. Her body, still recovering from the trauma, wasn’t ready to take in anything, but I needed her to eat. She needed to feel some kind of comfort, something to counter the all-consuming grief that had taken over. But I knew better than to push too hard. Hailey was not the kind of woman who could be forced into anything, especially when she was struggling like this.“Just one more spoonful,” I coaxed softly, t