Page 68 of Obsession (Dark Revenge)
“Have I truly broken you yet?”
“I’ve cried. Many times.”
“But it wasn’t me who broke you. It was the reminder of your past,” I pointed out.
“You want me to feel powerless,” she observed.
I nodded, confirming her observation.
“Well, you’ve succeeded,” she admitted. “I know you’re not the same boy anymore. I know you’re not someone to underestimate. I can’t overpower you anymore. So, can we skip the game tonight?”
“No.”
“You’re just angry because I’m right!” she snarled, walking around the coffee table and coming closer to me.
“Right?”
“That you’re going to be a horrible parent and that you won’t be much different from your father.”
I reached out and grabbed her by the throat with both hands, squeezing tightly. She stumbled back, my sudden display of power taking her by surprise, but my grip remained firm.
“I told you I’m nothing like my father!” I growled into her face, her fingers digging into my wrists as she desperately tried to break free. My anger had flared up, and I couldn’t think straight. She had hit a raw nerve, and in the heat of the moment, I had lost control. But as she continued to struggle against me, I gradually realized the extent of my actions.
With a sudden release, I let go of her, and she stumbled backward, clutching her throat and coughing. I turned awayfrom her, my gaze dropping to my trembling hands. My father had become a trigger more potent than I had anticipated. I had hoped to bury him when he died, but it seemed Alison still knew how to push my buttons.
“He didn’t just beat you, did he?” she whispered.
“We’re not talking about him!” I yelled, turning back to face her. “Now, you have a 20-second head start. You’d better start running.”
Her eyes widened with fear, and I began counting, catching her off guard with the sudden commencement of our game. She hesitated for a few moments, uncertainty etched across her face. Then, with resolve, she took off. The open door revealed her disappearing down the hallway, but I was confident I could reach her before she reached the statue.
“20,” I finally whispered before chasing after her.
I sprinted down the hallway, descended the stairs, and caught sight of her at the entrance as she turned around a flight of stairs, continuing down the corridor. I sped after her, but as I reached the lower level, I realized that the doors leading to the garden remained firmly shut. They hadn’t been opened, and I could hear her running in a different direction. Did she not know the way, or why hadn’t she checked the room at least?
I turned left, pursuing her further, until I finally saw her enter a room. I hastened after her, entering the room just in time to witness her climbing out of a window. She wore a cheeky smile as she pulled her leg through the narrow opening. The window was small, and the room had no other exits leading outside. The cunning witch was trying to outsmart me this time, but I decided to take my chances with the window.
Alison sped away, and in one fluid motion, I grabbed the top of the window frame and pushed my lower body through. It required a slight twist to get the rest of me outside, and by the time I was through, Alison was heading toward the garden. Shehad to pass by the outdoor pool first. I sprinted after her, my heavy footsteps resonating on the porch and creating noise.
Alison cast a glance behind her to gauge my proximity, but as she did, she tripped and lost her balance. A loud splash echoed through the air as Alison fell into the cool water. I ran faster, reaching the pool’s edge, and watched as bubbles surfaced before Alison emerged, coughing but managing to stay afloat.
She glared up at me, and I couldn’t help but smile, standing by the side of the pool.
“Well, that made things easy,” I chuckled.
“You haven’t caught me yet.”
“You can’t get out without me catching you,” I reminded her.
“Well, then I guess we’ve reached a standoff.”
I shook my head, finding the situation absurd. “Just get out of the water, Alison. It’s only 24 more hours.”
“24 more hours of torture! No, if you want me to get out, you get in!”
I felt my heart freeze slightly, glancing down at the water. Alison was in the deep end, and even I couldn’t reach the bottom. I took a tiny step back from the side of the pool, and she immediately noticed.
“What? Scared of the water?” she taunted, and I made the mistake of meeting her eyes. Alison could see through my hesitation. “You are...”
