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Dead Inside
Mariam El-HafiThe story is undergoing edits.
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The Devil's Fire Letting You Go
Damiano “Are you getting any sleep?” Arianna asked me, a concerned expression on her face. “How do you expect me to sleep when she’s going through hell?” I snapped at her, but my tone did not bother her. I had stepped outside to smoke once Althaia fell asleep. She hadn’t slept properly, and I had secretly given her a sleeping pill just so she could get a little rest. I had never been this stressed or lost in my life before. I had quit smoking because she couldn’t tolerate the smell of it when she was pregnant, but I picked it up again. It was the only thing that could help me relax a little and prevent me from going out and slaughtering people. I couldn’t be a ticking bomb right now. I had to be patient, even though it was killing me to wait and watch her suffer like this. “How are you?” Arianna asked again, and I let out a humorless chuckle at her question. “Does it even matter?” I inhaled the cigarette smoke deeply, but it was not giving me the fill I wanted. “It does.
The Devil's Fire A Safe-House
Althaia “You’re leaving?” Cara asked. Her words made my stomach knot, and a lump formed in my throat at the way she looked at me. “I... just need to be alone for a bit,” I muttered to her. She bit down on her lips as her eyes glistened. “I understand. Take care of yourself.” She embraced me in a tight hug, and this time, I hugged her back just as tightly before saying goodbye. I took a deep breath and made my way outside. Arianna was standing next to an SUV, waiting for me, but she wasn’t alone. Antonio, Giovanni, Luca, and more men were outside as well. “Ready?” Arianna asked, and I gave her a small nod before she opened the backseat door, waiting for me to get in. Before sliding into the backseat, I couldn’t help but look around, and a pang of sadness hit me even more when I didn’t see him anywhere. “Damiano is... busy.” Arianna said, noticing my gaze. “I’m never too busy when it comes to you.” His words echoed in my mind, but I guess that day became today. I gave o
The Devil's Fire Restless
Damiano My fist connected with the punching bag, making it swing before it came back to me once again as I kept throwing punch after punch. Sweat dripped down my face, and my muscles were sore from the relentless workout. I wasn’t giving myself a break. I knew I was overworking my body by spending hours in the gym, but it was the only thing that could keep me from going to her. One week. It had been one agonizing week since she left, and not once had I heard from her. I had no idea why I had expected to hear from her when she had begged me to let her go. She left the next day as if she couldn’t wait to get away from me. Her tear-streaked face was still burned into my mind, and I felt guilty for letting her go through this much pain. I kept punching the bag, throwing one powerful punch after another, but no matter how much I worked out or how hard I hit the bag, the tension and anger wouldn’t subside. Sweat continued to drip down my face as I continued, pushing myself to go
The Devil's Fire Forgive Me
Althaia “Kiara!” I yelled after her when she once again ran over to the neighbor’s house. I had found Kiara all by herself when I had gone for a small walk on the beach. Out of nowhere, she ran to me. I looked around to see if she belonged to anyone, but she was just a stray kitten. She was all alone, and my heart couldn’t take it. I took her in, nurtured her, fed her, and she turned into the happiest and most affectionate little kitten I had ever met. She gave me a purpose again. I never went far from the house, always staying close in case something were to happen. The chances were slim, as I was pretty sure some of his men lurked somewhere, out of my view, but constantly watching me. He wouldn’t have allowed me to stay here if he didn’t have someone to report back to him that I was safe. Now, with Kiara in my care, I needed to explore the town to gather all the necessities for her. It was a small and quiet town, not much happening, but I liked it; it seemed everyone knew e
The Devil's Fire Michael
Althaia I have never been a morning person, but since I got here, I have turned into one. I went to sleep early, mainly to avoid my mind spiraling into a darker place, and I would wake up early to watch the sunset rising above the water. It was an amazing view and made me feel at peace. I had been drawing a lot more as well, unable to resist capturing the beauty of the beach with the sun rising on the horizon, casting a shimmering glow on the water. Each morning, I would sit outside with a cup of coffee, relishing the tranquility that surrounded me. This simple routine became a source of gratitude, slowly helping to heal my soul, mending it piece by piece. I bought blank canvases and paint supplies in town when I wanted to focus deeply on art. Drawing was my escape, and I would always stumble upon something breathtaking here that begged to be immortalized in my sketches. I couldn't resist sketching Kiara a few times; she was too adorable when she curled up next to me and dozed
The Devil's Fire The House
Althaia I could feel myself growing more anxious the closer we were. The gun tucked behind my back did little to ease my nerves. What if something were to happen, even in broad daylight? What if someone was still there, keeping an eye on the house, hoping someone would return to finish what they had started? But they weren’t after me. They were after my mother, and they got what they wanted. The idea of having to use the gun to defend myself didn’t sit well, but I knew it was a necessary precaution. I was not a killer; the trauma of what I had done still haunted me. The image of the man’s bloodied face lingered in my mind. I took a deep breath, forcing down the rising nausea. “Hey… Hey, you’re going to be fine.” Michael glanced at me and took my hand in his as I kept tapping my hand against my thigh in uneasiness. “I don’t know… I’m starting to think it’s a mistake. What if something happens?” I rambled on, sharing my fears with him instead of keeping them to myself. “I w
The Devil's Fire Shattered
Althaia “…What?” I breathed out, thinking I had heard wrong, but the look on his face told me otherwise. “What do you mean it was burned down?” “Your dad sent us out here to see if we could get any leads, and we found it burned down.” “Take me there. I want to see it.” “Thaia, we’ve already been here long enough; I don’t want to risk your safety by staying here.” He shook his head at me, and I grabbed his arm, looking at him desperately. “Please, Michael. I have to see it with my own eyes.” “Don’t look at me like that.” He groaned and faced away from me. He was quiet as he kept looking out the window. “Five minutes. No more than five minutes, and then we leave.” “That’s all I need.” I promised. Just as we neared the boutique, my throat closed when I saw the burned building. I got out of the car, barely believing what I was seeing in front of me. The boutique my mother had worked so hard for was just gone. Gone like she was. Vanished, leaving only memories behind. “I
The Devil's Fire Unfolding Secrets
Althaia Hours went by, and it was now pitch black as I remained on the floor, lying on my back while staring emptily at the ceiling. It never occurred to me just how much I had messed up by staying in the safe house. He had always been there for me, taken care of me, and I just left him all by himself. I knew I should have been there for him. I wanted to be there for him, yet I could barely handle looking at him without guilt eating me alive. I blamed myself for losing our baby; it was my job to keep it safe, and I had lost it. The weight of guilt pressed down on me, and I was afraid to look at him, terrified to witness him blaming me for everything. I ran away because I was scared that the longer I stayed around with a flat stomach, the more he would despise me for it. Slowly, I stood up and made my way to the bathroom. I uncovered the mirror and looked at myself, seeing how red and puffy my eyes were.
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