Chapter 17 – The Monster’s Weakness

Chapter 17 – The Monster’s Weakness

A War I Can’t Win

The door clicked shut behind Alexander, but his presence lingered like a ghost in the room.

I exhaled shakily, pressing my fingers against my temple. I needed to get out of here. But every attempt, every carefully planned escape, had ended in failure.

I curled up on the bed, my ribs still aching from my last attempt.

Was Anna right?

Should I stop fighting?

No.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. That’s exactly what Alexander wanted—to break me, to make me lose hope. I couldn’t let that happen.

But how much more could I take?

I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaustion weighing heavy on me. My body was tired. My mind was tired. And worst of all, my heart was starting to betray me.

Because even after everything…

A part of me still wondered—why?

Why was I still alive? Why hadn’t he hurt me the way I expected him to?

Why did he look at me like I was something fragile, something dangerous?

I hated it.

I hated him.

But deep down, I knew… hate wasn’t the only thing I was feeling.

And that scared me more than anything.

A Glimpse of Something Else

I didn’t sleep much.

Morning came too quickly, the soft light filtering through the curtains. My body ached, my mind clouded with too many thoughts.

A knock on the door made me tense.

Not Anna this time.

I knew before the door even opened.

It was him.

Alexander stepped inside, his tall frame casting a shadow over the room. He was dressed in black, his usual crisp suit, looking as untouchable as ever.

I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the way my muscles protested.

We stared at each other for a long moment.

He was the first to speak. “Eat.”

His voice was calm, controlled. But I caught the flicker of something else in his eyes—something frustrated.

I glanced at the tray of food on the table and folded my arms. “Not hungry.”

His jaw tightened.

I knew I was pushing him. Testing him.

And I hated that I was starting to understand how to do that.

“You need your strength.” His voice was lower this time.

I scoffed. “For what? Another escape attempt?”

Silence.

Then, to my surprise—

A smirk.

Not a full smile, just the ghost of one.

“Maybe.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t know if he was mocking me or if he actually wanted me to try again.

I wanted to scream at him, to demand why he was keeping me here. But I was too tired for another fight.

Instead, I grabbed the fork and took a small bite.

Alexander watched me, his expression unreadable.

I hated the way his gaze made my skin burn.

I hated that a part of me wanted to know what he was thinking.

But I hated myself even more for the way my pulse reacted when he suddenly spoke again.

“You never asked why.”

I froze mid-bite. “What?”

His blue eyes locked onto mine.

“Why I haven’t killed you yet.”

My breath caught in my throat.

I had wondered. Every single day.

But hearing him say it out loud?

It made the air between us shift.

Tighter.

More dangerous.

I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Why?”

Alexander was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally—

“Because I don’t want to.”

The words sent a shiver down my spine.

Because for the first time…

I believed him.

And that was more terrifying than anything else.

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A Dangerous Truth

I wished he had lied.

I wished he had said, because you’re useful to me. Or because I need you alive for now.

But instead, he had told me the truth.

“Because I don’t want to.”

The room felt too small, too suffocating.

I set the fork down carefully, my hand shaking just a little. “You expect me to believe that?”

Alexander leaned against the edge of the table, arms crossed. He looked relaxed, but I wasn’t fooled. He was watching me like a predator, waiting to see what I would do next.

“You already do,” he said simply.

I hated that he was right.

Because in all the time I had been trapped here, he had never truly hurt me—not in the way I had expected. Yes, he had been cruel. He had punished me when I defied him. He had controlled every part of my life.

But he had never gone too far.

Why?

Why did it feel like he was holding himself back?

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus. It didn’t matter. This was still a prison. He was still my captor.

And I couldn’t afford to forget that.

I took a slow breath. “So what happens now?”

Alexander studied me for a moment before pushing off the table. “That depends on you.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something small.

A key.

My stomach clenched.

Was he—?

He placed it on the table between us. “If you want to leave,” he said, “take it.”

I stared at it, my heart pounding. “This is a trick.”

Alexander’s lips twitched, almost like he was amused. “Is it?”

I didn’t trust him.

But the key was right there.

Within reach.

My pulse thundered in my ears as I slowly extended my hand.

I expected him to snatch it away at the last second, to laugh at my desperation.

But he didn’t.

He just… watched.

The metal was cool against my fingers as I picked it up.

Real.

Solid.

My heart raced. This was it. My chance.

I stood up, my legs unsteady, and took a step toward the door.

Alexander didn’t move.

I turned the key in the lock.

It clicked.

I pushed the door open—

And froze.

Two guards stood outside, their expressions blank, their hands resting on their guns.

Of course.

Of course it wouldn’t be that easy.

I turned back to Alexander, fury burning through me. “You bastard.”

His expression didn’t change. “I said you could leave.”

I clenched my fists. “But they won’t let me.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Then convince them.”

My breath caught.

Convince them.

He wanted me to fight for it.

To prove that I deserved my freedom.

I gritted my teeth, my fingers tightening around the key.

I could do this.

I had to do this.

I turned back to the guards, my mind racing. There had to be a way.

But before I could move, Alexander’s voice stopped me.

“Or…”

I glanced at him warily. “Or what?”

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You can stay.”

My heart pounded. “And what? Be your prisoner forever?”

Something flickered in his eyes. “No.”

He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing against my wrist.

I hated how my skin burned where he touched me.

He leaned in, his voice a whisper.

“Be mine.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

This wasn’t just about control anymore.

This was something else.

Something dangerous.

Something I wasn’t sure I could escape from.

Because the scariest part of all?

A part of me wanted to stay.

To Be Continued…

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