Page 51 of Carnival Stalker

The woman steps closer. “You’re his, aren’t you? He chose you over me, kept you hidden like some precious treasure.”Her voice drips with bitterness, and I cringe at the pain etched on her face.

She seems far too old for Phoenix. She must be in her fifties. I wonder if he dated her.

“I don’t understand. If you want revenge, why take it out on me? I didn’t do anything.” My voice rises, tinged with desperation. “Please, I’ve already been through so much. I can’t handle more captivity. Just let me go. I won’t tell Phoenix, I swear.”

She leans in, her breath ghosting over my face. “You’re the perfect weapon to hurt him. And trust me, he deserves it. He played with my heart and then cast me aside. And now, he’s obsessed with you, and I intend to use that to destroy him.”

I search her eyes, seeing the raw pain and jealousy reflected there. “But why involve me? I didn’t choose Phoenix. It’s not my fault he moved on.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re the one he wants. The one he’s desperate to protect. And I’m going to make him feel the agony of loss.” Her hands clench into fists, the veins in her neck standing out.

I close my eyes, willing myself not to break down. She has a romantic attachment to Phoenix, and I’ve just become a pawn in a game between two ex-lovers. A game I’m not sure I’m going to survive.

Terror claws at my insides like a feral beast. My gazedarts around the empty warehouse, searching for anything that could aid my escape. But there’s nothing—just cold concrete walls and dusty windows too high to reach.

The woman’s footsteps echo as she circles me like a shark swimming around its prey. “Don’t look so scared, sweetie. This is going to be fun...for me, at least.”

I swallow hard, my mouth dry with fear. “What are you going to do to me?”

She smiles. “Let’s just say you’ll help me send a message to Phoenix. A message that will break him.”

Panic rises in my chest. “Please, I don’t want any part of this. Just let me go.”

Her laugh is like nails on a chalkboard. “Sorry, can’t do that. You’re the key to my revenge.” She leans in close. “And trust me, by the time I’m done with you, Phoenix will wish he never laid eyes on you.”

I flinch away, my heart pounding.

What did I ever do to deserve this?

All I wanted was a normal life, to focus on my studies and chase my dreams. But Phoenix’s obsession dragged me into this twisted nightmare.

The woman steps back, appraising me with cold eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you yet. First, I need to have a little fun.”She wields a wicked-looking knife, running her thumb along the razor-sharp edge.

My breath catches in my throat as she approaches. I thrash against my restraints, but they don’t budge. There’s no escape, no way to call for help. I’m utterly at her mercy.

“No, please!” I cry out, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. “I’ll do anything; just don’t hurt me!”

But my pleas fall on deaf ears. The knife flashes in the dim light as she brings it closer.

The gleaming blade of the knife slashes through the air, and I cringe, squeezing my eyes shut. I feel the cold edge of the steel against my skin, and I bite back a scream. I can’t fight back, can’t do anything but wait for the searing pain.

The blade traces a line down my arm, and the warmth of my blood trickling down my skin follows.

“Shh, don’t be such a baby,” she coos, her voice dripping with contempt. “This is just the beginning. I haven’t even started yet.”

I open my eyes, and the sight of my blood sends a wave of nausea through me. “Please, stop,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt me anymore.”

She chuckles, a low, menacing sound. “Whatever I want? Well, that’s an interesting offer. Let’s see how far you will go to save yourself.”

The blade presses against my skin again, and I bite my lip to stifle a whimper. This time, the cut is deeper, and I can’t hold back the cry of pain that escapes my lips. I can feel the warm blood trickling down my arm, pooling in the crook of my elbow.

“That’s it, scream for me,” she purrs. “Let me hear how much this hurts.”

The knife slashes again, and I cry out, unable to suppress the sound. Each cut feels like an eternity of agony, and I can feel the blood soaking into my clothes, warm and sticky.

“Please, I’m begging you,” I sob. “Just kill me and get it over with.”

She laughs, and the sound sends shivers down my spine. “Oh, you’re not getting off that easy. I haven’t even started with the real torture.”

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