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Maniac!

Author: MinJee
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
Jason was abruptly startled out of the monotony of his drive as a loud, piercing shriek burst over the medical centre grounds. Lana was waiting for him to pick her up from work, and he was standing only a half mile away.

He hadn't heard that voice in fifteen years, yet it was forever seared in his bones and memory. He resolved to protect Lana from similar horrors in the future.

Still, destiny had its ruthless way of working. Before his very eyes, a man hurled Lana into the rear seat of his vehicle, plunging Jason into a sudden, terrifying reality.

It was an apparent attempt at abduction right outside the hospital's forensic department compound!

Reflexes on high alert, Jason accelerated his sedan, obstructing the culprit's frantic escape.

The sound of twisted steel and grinding gears filled the air as the man slammed his vehicle into the rear side of Jason's sedan. The impact rippled around the property, breaking the tense air.

There was a loud crunch as the metal gave way and bent from
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  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   A Recollection of ...

    "Lana,.."I'm unsure how long I have been lost in that swirling darkness, but eventually, a glimmer of light began to pierce the fog. Faint echoes of distant noises could be heard, like muffled voices underwater. I began to piece together the missing fragment of consciousness."Come on, Lana, wake up." a voice I knew well broke through the chaos in my mind.Struggling against the heaviness, I pry my eyes open. It felt like an eternity before my surroundings came into focus. I was lying on the warm rooftop floor of my high school back in my hometown.The waning sun hung low in the sky, casting its golden rays across the rooftop. These radiant beams played a silent dance and flickered like ethereal flames upon my face. The warmth caressed my skin, starkly contrasting the cold, hard concrete surface beneath me. I remember this scenery, but something was missing from here...A shadow loomed over me, and I strained my gaze to get a clearer view of the figure. The features of the face b

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Return

    The flight was a grueling ordeal—twenty hours of confinement in a cramped, pressurized cabin. While I'm not a fan of air travel, the promise of going back to my hometown after years of living in Granata kept me tethered to sanity.Jason, his head lolling peacefully against the headrest, was oblivious to the torment that plagued me. I tried to surrender to sleep, but even the podcast I usually listen to when drifting off, a soothing melody at other times, now throbbed in my temples. I clutched my head, the throbbing pain making me considering taking a painkiller the soonest we landed.Desperate for relief, I pushed myself to my feet, the cabin's cramped confines pressing against me like a suffocating embrace. As I stumbled towards the lavatory, Jason stirred, his eyes heavy with exhaustion."Everything alright, Lana?" he asked, his voice a low rumble."I tried to sleep," I replied, my voice a hoarse whisper. "But... perhaps I'll be able to rest better in the hotel.""Alright," he said,

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Secrets

    The road to Moon Valley Hill’s town felt longer than I remembered. The winding paths, situated along the rolling hills, were familiar, yet distant—like fragments of a memory just out of reach. Jason drove in silence, his fingers occasionally tapping the steering wheel. He didn’t say much, which was unusual. I stared out the window, watching as the landscape shifted into small, hilly streets lined with old shop houses and modest homes.The town had changed.Some of the old shop houses were now renovated, fresh paint gleaming where decay once was. New buildings stood where empty lots used to be, and the alley that had once felt desolate was now buzzing with life.Still, beneath it all, the place stirred something uneasy in me—a strange mix of nostalgia and dread.Naomi’s house loomed ahead, perched at the top of a set of stone steps. Jason followed me as I climbed the stairs, my heart racing with anticipation. The house looked old, the once-red gate now dulled and rusted, but it didn’t

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Dilemma: I

    The drive up to Moon Valley felt like walking into a storm. Jason gripped the steering wheel, following Lana's directions as she pointed out the way, her voice tinged with excitement and something more—hope. He wished he could share that feeling, but the truth sat heavy on his chest, weighing him down.He had never been to Naomi's house. He hadn't needed to go, not after what happened. The stories, the whispers about Naomi and what she had done, were enough. And now here he was, driving Lana toward a past she had long buried—a past that he knew would break her all over again.Jason's thoughts churned as they neared the small, hilly town. He glanced at Lana, who stared out the window with a look of distant nostalgia. She was so eager, so convinced that Naomi was still here, still alive. Part of him wanted to turn the car around, to stop her from opening old wounds. But Lana was stubborn, and if he didn't come with her, she would have come alone. At least this way, he could be there to s

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Dilemma: II

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  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Rooftop

    The nightmare came back that night. I was on the rooftop of the school again, the sky a suffocating blanket of darkness pressing down on me. Naomi stood there, her face a twisted mask of anger and fear. Her eyes locked onto mine, cold and unyielding. Behind her, I could see Samuel, standing at the edge, his back turned to us, as if he couldn't hear the chaos. I screamed for him, but my voice was swallowed by the wind.Naomi lunged at me, her hands cold. I tried to break free, but her grip was like iron. Her voice, sharp and accusing, echoed in my ears, "It should have been you, Lana!"I woke up with a start, drenched in sweat, my heart hammering against my chest. I couldn't take it anymore. I needed answers—answers I wouldn't find with Jason hovering over me, trying to protect me from my own memories.The decision was made.I would go back to the school.Alone.* * *The morning sun felt harsh as the hailing service drop me at my high school, its brightness starkly contrasting the gl

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Reunion: 1

    The clinic was a modest building, with pale blue walls and a quiet waiting room that felt oddly comforting. The familiarity of it all soothed some of my nerves. It was hard to believe that the boy I once knew now had his own clinic, treating people who were probably far more broken than I felt.Jerry greeted us at the door, his smile still as warm and charming as I remembered from high school. He looked much the same, just that time had matured him, yet his eyes still carried that same kindness I remembered from our school days."Lana," he greeted, his smile growing as he stepped forward. "It's been way too long.""Jerry," I replied, feeling a genuine smile tug at the corners of my lips. "I didn't expect to see you again after all these years."He gave a light chuckle. "I didn't either, to be honest. But life has a funny way of bringing people back together, doesn't it?"I nodded, my gaze shifting briefly to Jason, who remained silent, his eyes betraying how deeply worried he was."Ho

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Reunion: 2

    Sam shouted my name.I remember his voice, urgent, panicked. He was running toward me. I could almost see his face, eyes wild with fear. But the scene kept shifting, morphing into something I couldn't fully grasp. Behind him, the rooftop of our old school loomed, shadowy and distant.Why? Why was it always there, haunting the edges of my memories?My heart started to race, and I felt a jolt of panic rising in my chest.Sam, Naomi, and the rooftop...It didn't make sense. I couldn't piece it together, but the flashes kept coming.I flinched, my body tensing, and suddenly I wasn't in that quiet room anymore. I was back there, on the edge of something I couldn't comprehend."Lana, you're safe. Breathe. I'm going to bring you back now." Jerry's voice snapped me out of it.I gasped, opening my eyes, my breath shaky as if I'd just run miles. The dimly lit room swam into focus, and I blinked, disoriented. My body was cold with sweat, my heart pounding. I felt embarrassed, almost ashamed, bu

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  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Keeping her

    The room felt heavy with unspoken tension, the kind that seeped into the walls and lingered like a storm waiting to break. Jason stood near the window, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, gazing out at the city skyline. The glittering lights mocked him, a chaotic reflection of the battle raging inside. His jaw tightened as he exhaled slowly, the sound barely audible over the hum of the air conditioning.Behind him, Jerry sat at the table, methodically sorting through his medical bag. The precise clink of glass vials against one another was the only sound, a steady rhythm in the charged silence.“Jerry,” Jason began, his voice low, almost a growl. “I need your help.”He didn’t look up immediately, but Jason noticed the subtle stiffening of his shoulders. When Jerry finally met his gaze, his expression was guarded, his movements deliberate as he closed the bag.“I’m already helping you, Jason,” Jerry said coldly. “More than I should.”Jason turned, his expression dark. “We’re not

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Help!

    I lay motionless, every inch of my body weighed down by exhaustion. Outside the bedroom door, I could hear them.Jason and Jerry, discussing my condition in hushed tones.I strained to catch snippets of their conversation, words like "dosage" and "observing" drifting through the crack. They sounded calm and steady, but to me, it felt more like they were plotting my imprisonment.Then I noticed it.Jason's phone rested on the seat where he usually sat while keeping watch over me. The screen glowed, a recent message half-typed, abandoned in his haste to follow Jerry. My heart thundered in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins.This was my chance.Ignoring the throbbing pain in my stitched hand, I dragged myself to the edge of the bed, fingers outstretched toward the phone. I trembled, fighting to steady my breath.My mind raced as I navigated to the contacts list.Nelson.He was my only hope. After the heated argument with Jason days ago, I clung to the belief that Nelson would n

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Route to Freedom

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  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Her Guardian

    Jason stepped out of the shower, his movements relaxed as he wrapped a towel around his waist, droplets of water clinging to his skin. He noticed immediately that Lana was not in her room, but it only deepened his calm. He knew that there was no possible way for her to get out.He had seen to it. She was safely contained, her every means of connection to the outside world secured or removed. He'd thought through each scenario, each potential escape, and he knew with certainty that the only way she was leaving was with him, to Granata.As he dried his hair in his room across from Lana's, Jason glanced at the clock on the living room wall. The time was nearly up. He needed to change her bandage. He draped the towel around his shoulders, with a steady breath, he padded toward the kitchen, a small smile curving as he found her there, sipping a glass of water. She turned at the sound of his approach, her expression calm but distant, masking the tension he knew was hiding underneath."I hope

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Cage

    My arm throbbed lightly, a raw, stinging reminder of the wound left from yesterday. I winced, testing the movement, but relief washed over me when I realized it wasn't deep enough to slow me down.I needed to move fast, to be quiet. The shower hissed from behind the closed bathroom door, the only sound in the apartment. I took a quick, steadying breath.If there was ever a time to get out, it was now.I padded across the living room, feeling every muscle tense with purpose. When I reached the front door, my fingers went to the lock.I froze.That unyielding panel of numbers stared back at me, unmovable and impassive. I punched in the only codes I thought might work. Birthdays, common combinations, even random sequences. But each attempt ended with a sharp, unforgiving beep. My heart hammered in my chest. He had activated the security locked down system, blinking red with each failed entry.With growing dread, I tore my eyes from the door and cast a frantic glance around the apartment.

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Obsession

    I blinked awake, my eyes adjusting to the dim light as I took in the soft shadows of the room. My hand throbbed slightly, wrapped in a fresh bandage.The antiseptic smell lingered, a reminder of how closely Jason had hovered over me. It felt like a weight pressing on my chest, this feeling of being caged. I needed to get away, away from his grip that seemed to tighten with every passing day.I shifted on the bed, letting out a quiet sigh. A warm hand squeezed my shoulder, gentle yet firm. Jason's voice reached me through the haze, soft and careful. "Hey, you’re waking up. I’m here.”Blinking, I opened my eyes, struggling to bring the world around me into focus. My mind felt heavy, muddled, and it took a moment to recognize where I was. Jason’s face hovered over me, a faint, reassuring smile on his face.The sunlight seeped through the blinds, casting soft, crisscrossed shadows over the room, grounding me slightly in its warmth. As I looked around, my eyes caught on the IV bag, nearly d

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Apology

    Lana began to stir, Jason felt a flicker of hope. He gently squeezed her shoulder, his voice low and soothing. "Hey, you're waking up. I'm here." Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a mix of confusion and fatigue. He smiled reassuringly, hoping to ease the disorientation that seemed to cling to her.The sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows throughout the room. He glanced at the IV line, noting that the bag was nearly empty. The remnants of the medication administered by Jerry would soon be out of her system, and he hoped that would bring Lana back to herself."Here, drink this," he said, pouring warm water into a glass. He carefully raised it to her lips, watching as she took small sips. "You need more restful sleep." He added, wanted to ensure she felt comfortable and cared for."Jerry came by to check on you earlier," Jason explained, keeping his tone gentle. "He set up the IV to help you recover. It's almost done now." He gestured toward the line on her arm. "He

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Here, with me.

    Jason eased Lana onto the bed, taking care to settle her comfortably before pulling the blankets up snugly around her, cocooning her in warmth.He brushed his fingers gently through her hair, smoothing out any strands that had strayed, letting them slip like silk through his fingertips.A mix of tenderness and guilt deep within him stirred, he lingered a moment longer, his gaze tracing her face as she slept, realizing just how far he had gone to keep her close, even if it meant crossing lines he'd once vowed never to cross.Making sure she was settled comfortably, Jason moved to close the blinds, casting the room into darkness, softening the edges of reality.The dim light created a quiet cocoon around them, shielding her from the world beyond those walls. He lowered himself onto the mattress beside her, the mattress creaking slightly under his weight.He observed closely as the tension in her expression eased, her brow softening as the pain began to recede. Her bandaged hand lay limp

  • The Girl He Promised to Protect   Leaving

    I sat on the edge of the bed, gathered my belongings with trembling hands, stuffing clothes and a few personal items into a suitcase. I promised myself I would return once things were stable. I can't stay here any longer. Not after everything that had happened, not after the mess we were in.Jason had been kind, too kind, but everything had spiraled out of control. I couldn't face him. Not after what he'd done, after the lines he crossed.The guilt gnawed at me, and I couldn't tell where my own sense of shame ended and his manipulation began. I needed to get out.I needed to breathe.As I zipped the suitcase shut, a wave of panic tightened around my chest. What would Jason say? What would he do? My mind flashed back to our last confrontation, the way his eyes had burned with hurt and anger.I took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, cautiously stepping into the hallway. The living room was empty.No sign of Jason.Maybe he'd gone out. Keeping my steps light, I wheeled my suitca

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