Chapter 16

As Jasper held Ethan close, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been growing inside him. His dark past was still lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

Ethan, sensing Jasper's tension, pulled back and looked up at him. "What's wrong, Jasper?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Jasper hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Ethan's kind eyes and gentle touch put him at ease.

"I have a past, Ethan," Jasper said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "A past that I'm not proud of."

Ethan's expression turned serious, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he reached out and took Jasper's hand.

"Tell me," Ethan said, his voice soft and encouraging.

Jasper took a deep breath and began to speak. "I used to be a serial killer, Ethan," he said, the words spilling out of him like poison. "I killed people for fun, for the thrill of it."

Ethan's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't let go of Jasper's hand.

"Why?" Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jasper shrugged. "I don't know. I just did. It was like a sickness, a disease that I couldn't cure."

Ethan's expression turned thoughtful. "But you stopped," he said. "You're not killing people anymore."

Jasper nodded. "I am. But it's not easy. Sometimes the urge comes back, and I have to fight it."

Ethan's eyes locked onto Jasper's. "I'm here for you, Jasper," he said. "I'll help you fight it."

Jasper felt a lump form in his throat. No one had ever offered to help him like that before. No one had ever cared enough to try.

As they sat there, hands entwined, Jasper felt a sense of peace wash over him. Maybe, just maybe, he could leave his dark past behind and start anew.

But just as Jasper was starting to feel hopeful, his phone buzzed. He hesitated for a moment before answering it.

"Hello?" Jasper said, his voice cautious.

"Jasper," a low, gravelly voice said on the other end of the line. "It's been a while."

Jasper's heart sank. He knew that voice. It was a voice from his past, a voice that he thought he'd never hear again.

"Who is this?" Jasper asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The voice chuckled. "You don't remember me, Jasper? I'm hurt."

Jasper's mind was racing. Who was this person? And what did they want?

"I remember you," Jasper said finally, his voice cold. "You're Victor."

Victor's laughter echoed over the line. "That's right, Jasper. And I'm back to collect what's owed to me."

Jasper's heart was racing. What did Victor want? And how was Jasper going to stop him?

As Jasper stood there, frozen with fear, Ethan's eyes locked onto his. "What's wrong, Jasper?" Ethan asked, his voice soft with concern.

Jasper hesitated for a moment before answering. "It's Victor," he said. "He's back."

Ethan's expression turned serious. "Who's Victor?" he asked.

Jasper's eyes locked onto Ethan's. "He's my past," Jasper said. "And he's come to haunt me."

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