Page 1 of Enslaved

I’M BURNING DOWN the world looking for her. How dare she defy me, after she swore she’d never leave? I ripped off my mask—let her see the ugly monster hiding inside of me. He lives in the cavern in my chest where my heart should be.

She soothed him, told him it was okay—that she thought he could change from a monster into a somewhat likeable human.

She lied.

Made me believe she loved me, when no one on this earth has ever loved me.

How could they?

No one loves the devil.

My PI’s calls are the only ones I’m taking. When I found out she had fled, I broke. Any shred of humanity was crushed under the heel of my rage. The beast wanted his pet back and will stop at nothing until she’s here. Right where she belongs—locked up in my lair.

“Jin? Did you find anything?”

“No. She’s not in California and her passport hasn’t been scanned at customs in any country.”

“She’s on a boat. She must be. That’s the only way someone like her could travel under my radar.”

“I’ll radio every captain on the Mediterranean. I’ll find her.”

“You better or I’ll drag you into my hell, too.”

The phone in my hand hurtled like a stone from my fist, crashing into the balcony doors made of glass.

They shattered.

The screen on my phone cracked.

Good.

Everything is broken now.

Not just me.

“RING ROUND THE ROSY, pockets full of posy. Ashes, ashes. We all fall down.” I hummed the rest of the tune under my breath as I sat in the chair by the window.

The sea taunted me as it broke against the rocks below.

Just like I broke.

Pieces of me are all over him. I left them behind as I rushed, desperate to escape.

Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s laughing. Knowing, he ruined me, just like he said he would.

He took what he wanted.

Whenever he wanted.

And I was powerless to stop him.

I tried, but I’ve learned some things are fated. Destined to happen, despite your every effort to stop it. Just like the tide. The power of the moon and sun are too strong to ever break their hold on the ocean; pushing and pulling. Tugging and stretching the water in their game of war.

I laughed, the laugh of a truly mad woman.

It was us.

I was the sun and he was the moon. Our push and pull too strong for either of us to fight. The difference was he never tried to question or control it. I, on the other hand, ran as many times as I could. Denying what was right in front of me.

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