Episode 16: The Beginning of the End
663 Words
The Guilt That Won’t Leave Her
Claire stared at the ceiling.
The sheets tangled around her bare skin.
Ethan’s arm lay across her waist, holding her down.
As if even in sleep, he was afraid she would run.
She should run.
She should leave.
Ryan’s words still burned inside her.
"You won’t escape him… unless you want to."
But that was the problem, wasn’t it?
Because did she want to?
Claire squeezed her eyes shut.
She had spent the night with Ethan again.
Even after everything.
Even after Ryan.
Even after knowing the truth.
And the worst part?
She still ached for Ethan.
Still craved his touch.
Still belonged to him.
And that—that terrified her more than anything.
Ethan Knows She’s Breaking—And He Uses It Against Her
Ethan’s fingers brushed down her spine.
"Thinking too much, sweetheart?"
Claire stiffened.
His voice was husky, teasing.
But beneath it—
Beneath it was something else.
Something dark.
Something dangerous.
She swallowed hard.
"I should go."
Ethan sighed, his grip on her tightening.
"But you won’t."
Claire’s stomach twisted.
Because he was right.
She could feel it—
The invisible chain between them.
The thing that kept pulling her back.
And Ethan?
Ethan knew it.
Knew that no matter how much she fought him—
She would always return.
Because she was his.
And he would never let her forget that.
Ryan’s Desperate Attempt to Break Through
Ryan’s fists clenched.
He could feel it.
The way Claire was still trapped in Ethan’s world.
The way she was still falling for the illusion.
But this time?
This time, Ryan wasn’t giving up.
He had already lost her once.
He wouldn’t lose her again.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
Pushed against the fabric of this reality.
And suddenly—
Suddenly, he was there.
In Claire’s room.
Watching her lie beside Ethan.
Watching her waste another night in his arms.
His chest ached.
But he didn’t come to watch.
He came to wake her up.
"Claire."
The Dream That’s Not a Dream
Claire gasped.
She wasn’t in her bed anymore.
She was somewhere else.
Somewhere cold.
Somewhere familiar.
A hospital.
Machines beeping.
Her own reflection staring back at her.
And Ryan.
Standing in front of her.
Watching.
Waiting.
Claire’s lungs tightened.
"No," she whispered.
Ryan’s voice was gentle.
"Yes."
She shook her head.
"This isn’t real."
Ryan stepped closer.
"This world isn’t real, Claire. Ethan made it. He made it to keep you."
Her heart pounded.
Because deep down, she knew.
She had always known.
But Ethan—
Ethan made her forget.
Ryan’s fingers brushed against hers.
"Come back to me."
Claire’s vision blurred.
She wanted to.
God, she wanted to.
But then—
A new voice.
Cold. Deadly.
"She’s not going anywhere."
Claire’s breath hitched.
Ethan.
The War Begins—And Claire Is Caught in the Middle
Ethan stood behind her.
His presence suffocating.
His eyes dark with fury.
Ryan didn’t back down.
"Let her go, Ethan."
Ethan laughed.
Low. Cold.
"Let her go?" he echoed.
His fingers slid around Claire’s waist.
Pulled her against him.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Tell him, sweetheart," he murmured.
"Tell him who you belong to."
Her stomach clenched.
Ryan’s eyes were pleading.
"Claire, please."
Claire’s lips parted.
She had to choose.
She had to break free.
But Ethan?
Ethan’s grip tightened.
And suddenly—
Everything went black.
Claire Wakes Up—And Ethan Is Waiting
She gasped.
Her heart racing.
Her skin damp with sweat.
She was back in bed.
Back in Ethan’s arms.
His voice was soft.
"Bad dream?"
Claire’s stomach dropped.
Because it wasn’t a dream.
It was real.
Ryan was real.
And she had been so close to escaping.
But Ethan—
Ethan had pulled her back.
Her body trembled.
Ethan’s fingers traced her jawline.
His voice was gentle poison.
"You’ll never leave me," he murmured.
Claire’s chest tightened.
Because the worst part?
She wasn’t sure if he was wrong.
(To Be Continued…)
- Writer
