Unwelcome Thoughts

The silence in the hallway stretched like wire.

Ethan didn’t speak as he led Lara back upstairs, his strides long, precise. She followed a few steps behind, heart still racing from seeing Alex—the hero—in the flesh.

Her mind whirled with everything he’d said: “I’ll help you escape. He’s dangerous.”

But it was Ethan’s words that echoed louder.

> “Maybe she’s mine.”

“Don’t cry when he bleeds.”

He stopped outside her door and finally turned to her.

“You disobeyed.”

His voice was quiet—but sharp enough to cut bone.

“I just needed air.”

“You needed him,” he corrected coldly. “That’s worse.”

She clenched her fists. “You can’t trap me here forever.”

Ethan raised a brow. “I can do whatever I want in my world, little reader.”

“That’s not how this works! You’re the villain. You lose in the end!”

His lips twitched. “Is that what you read? Stories lie, you know.”

He pushed the door open and nodded for her to enter.

Lara stepped inside, but turned to face him. “Why do you even care? You said you don’t want me here.”

“I don’t.”

“Then let me go.”

A pause.

Then, colder this time: “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

He started to turn, then stopped and looked back. “Stay where I can find you.”

The door closed, and she was alone again.

But this time, she didn’t feel angry.

She felt… confused.

Why had he come for her so fast?

Why had he looked at Alex like he’d seen war?

And why—why—did her heart hurt a little when Ethan walked away?

Hours passed.

Lara lay curled on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She thought of Alex’s soft voice. His promise to help. His hand catching her when she stumbled.

He was the kind of person she’d always dreamed of.

And yet…

Ethan’s voice returned in her mind, low and rough like thunder:

> “Try not to cry when he bleeds.”

She shivered.

A soft sound broke the silence.

Her door creaked open.

She sat up quickly. “Who—?”

Ethan stood in the doorway, hair slightly tousled, shadows clinging to his sharp features.

“You’re still awake,” he murmured.

Lara blinked. “Why are you here?”

He stepped in but didn’t approach. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”

“I thought you wanted me to leave.”

He smiled bitterly. “I say a lot of things I don’t mean, little thing.”

Lara didn’t know what to say.

He walked to the window, staring out at the night. “When something enters your world uninvited, you should destroy it. That’s the rule.”

She swallowed. “But you didn’t.”

“No,” he said softly. “I didn’t.”

Silence fell again.

Then, he turned to her—his expression unreadable. “Good night, little one.”

He didn’t wait for a response. Just closed the door behind him and vanished down the hall.

Lara sat frozen.

Her heart was beating too fast.

And for the first time, she didn’t know if she was more afraid of the villain…

Or of the way he made her feel.

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