Page 16 of Dark Therapy

“Keep going,” he urged, his voice sharp, as though he was feeding off my fear, pulling strength from my pain. “Run, Amelia. Like you did back then.”

I forced myself forward, my limbs heavy, the darkness pressing down on me. My pulse thudded in my ears, drowning out every other sound but his relentless footsteps. Every part of me wanted to collapse, but I didn’t dare stop.

And as I dragged myself forward, his voice lingered, taunting, unraveling the truth I’d tried so hard to bury.

“Run, Amelia.Run.”

With every ounce of willpower, I pushed myself off the ground, my legs shaking as I fought to stand upright. I couldn’t let him see me weak. Not now. I had to run. I had toescape.

As I staggered forward, I forced my feet to move faster, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. The darkness swallowed me, but I couldn’t focus on the fear clawing at my throat. I had to break free. Just a little further, and maybe I would find a way out of this nightmare.

But then, the footsteps behind me fell silent. An unsettling stillness enveloped the space, wrapping around me like a thick fog. I glanced over my shoulder, but the shadows offered no answers, only deeper darkness. The absence of sound was more terrifying than his pursuit.

I quickened my pace, the adrenaline surging through me, urging me onward. But it was a false sense of security, and I knew it. My heart raced faster than my feet could carry me.

Before I could react, I slipped, tumbling forward, and the hard floor met me with a jarring thud. My breath escaped in a harsh gasp as I landed at his feet, the wetness soaking through my shirt. Panic surged through me, every instinct screaming to scramble away, to get up and run. But I was trapped, immobilized by the sheer shock of my fall.

I lay there for a moment, my mind racing, the dread clawing at my insides. I could feel his presence looming over me, the air thick with tension.

“Well, well, Millie,” he said, his voice smooth and mocking. “Youreallythought you could get away?”

I struggled to push myself up, but the weight of my fear pressed down on me. I could hear his breathing, slow and measured, like a predator savoring the moment before the final strike.

“Did you think you’d escape the past?” he continued, leaning closer, his shadow swallowing me whole. “You can run, but you can’t hide from what you are.”

Before I could muster the strength to crawl away, I felt his arms wrap around my waist. Panic surged through me as he hoisted me off the ground and tossed me effortlessly over his shoulder. I gasped, the shock of being lifted like a rag doll sending a jolt of panic through my body.

“Damien, no!” I cried, struggling against him, my fists pounding against his back, but it was futile. He was as solid as stone, his gripunyielding. As he carried me deeper into the darkness, he began to hum a haunting melody, the sound echoing off the damp walls and reverberating in my mind. The tune was unsettlingly cheerful, a cruel juxtaposition to the horror of my situation.

“Shh, shh,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, like a twisted lullaby meant to calm a frightened child. “You should have run faster, Millie. You know what I said. If I caught you, there would be consequences.”

I felt the dampness of the floor seep into my shirt as we moved through the darkness. Every step he took felt deliberate, each one bringing me deeper into his twisted world. I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to succumb to despair, focusing instead on the faint sounds aroundme—drips of water, distant echoes, and his steady heartbeat against my skin.

He hummed a melody. A haunting tune that seemed to wrap around me like a noose.

As he set me down onto a cold, hard chair, I felt the chilling metal bite into my skin. My heart raced, the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears drowning out the echoes of the empty space around us.

Before I could react, I felt his hands grip the hem of my shirt. “What are you doing?” I gasped, my voice trembling. The darkness loomed around us, wrapping us in its suffocating embrace. I couldn’t see his face, but I could sense the predatory glee in his movements.

“Just making you more comfortable, Amelia,” he replied smoothly, the low timbre of his voice sending chills down my spine. I don’t know why but, I didn’t resist.. I felt the fabric pull over my head, leaving me vulnerable, the cool air brushing against my skin.

The belt he fastenedaround my waist and arms was thick and unyielding, a leather strap that secured me firmly to the chair.The pressure was tight, making it hard to breathe.

“Now, isn’t that better?” he murmured, stepping back as I squirmed against the chair, testing the restraints, but it was futile. The more I moved, the more I felt the leather dig into my skin. “We can’t have you running away again, can we? You and I havesomuch to talk about.”

I strained my eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of his silhouette, but he remained a shadow, just out of reach. I could hear his breathing, steady and calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging within me.

He stepped closer, the shadows swallowing him as he leaned in, his presence looming over me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and I instinctively recoiled, pressing my back against the chair. The sense of helplessness crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I realized I was completely at his mercy.

As I sat there, bound to the chair, a chaotic mix of fear and something unsettlingly twisted churned within me. The cold leather dug into my skin, a constant reminder of myvulnerability, yet somewhere deep in my mind, a darkcuriosityflared. It was an unwanted reaction, something I couldn’t comprehend—an instinct that screamed to fight back, but another part of me…cravedthis danger.

I could hear Damien’s breath, steady and deliberate. “You’re scared,” he whispered, his voice smooth as silk yet laced with a dark thrill. “But there’s something else beneath that fear, isn’t there? A little spark that flickers withexcitement?”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I tried to muster an answer. I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, a shameful warmth that betrayed me. How could I be reacting this way? I hated myself for even considering the thrill of the chase he represented,for the way my heart raced not just from terror but from an inexplicable allure.

I clenched my fists trying to push the conflicting feelings away, but the more I struggled, the more I felt that twisted pull towards him. It was as if a part of me recognized this dark dance we were engaged in.

“I see you, Millie. I see how your body responds, how your breath quickens. You think you can hide it from me, but I’m not just any man. I know the depths of darkness, and I can sense the thrill of the unknown dancing in you.”

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