Blindfolds of Desire

Until He Crawls

ARABELLA

I am starting to hate myself.

I am too weak. I should be able to escape from this monster, but for some reason I am stuck and powerless.

For the first time since I was captured, I feel the tears roll down my cheek.

I wipe my face with the back of my hand, but my tears don't stop.

I lie back on the bed, letting the tears soak my pillow.

The door opens.

I don't bother looking up. It's probably Sofia with another tray of food that I have no choice but to eat.

But the person seems to stop at the door.

I lift my face from the pillow.

Maximillian.

It's him. The crazy psycho with stupid blue eyes. I hate that they belong to him. He doesn't deserve those beautiful eyes.

His hair is damp. Dark strands clinging to his forehead. He's wearing different clothes than this morning—black shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, his jacket slung over one arm. He just showered. I can smell it from here. Soap. Cologne.

I roll my eyes.

He walks in. Tosses his jacket on the chair. Crosses his arms on his chest. One leg over the other.

I watch him. "What do you want?"

He never comes here without a reason.

"Your little boyfriend came to see me today."

My heart jumps.

I'm off the bed before I can think, my feet carrying me toward him.

"What?"

He finally looks at me. His eyes calm. Almost amused as usual.

"Liam. He came to the hospital." He stops talking, looks around. "He's worried about you."

I am confused. What hospital is he talking about?

"I am a doctor," he says, like he's annoyed that I'm confused.

I can't hide my shock as my lips part. I scoff. "You? A doctor?"

He rolls his eyes.

"He came to see you? Why? What did you tell him?" I don't care about him. Liam is more important.

"I told him he should see a psychiatrist." Maximillian shrugs. "It was obvious. Your disappearance is driving him crazy." He flashes a small smile.

I can't breathe.

Liam was there. In the same room as this man. This monster. And he had no idea.

"Did you hurt him?"

Maximillian tilts his head. "Why would I hurt him?"

"Because you're a psychopath."

He laughs. "Do you think I hurt him?"

"You tell me." My voice is rising in panic.

He steps closer. I don't step back.

"Your boyfriend," he says slowly, "walked into my office. But I assure you, I didn't kill him there because it was a hospital."

My throat goes tight. "He's just trying to find me, damn it."

"Yes. And that's going to get him killed." He says this quietly.

I move toward him before I can stop myself. My hands find his chest. Push. He doesn't move. Not even a step back.

"If you lay a hand on him…" My voice breaks. "I swear to God, Maximillian. I will kill you."

He catches my wrists. Holds them. His fingers wrap around the bones there.

"Not if you die first."

It's the same tone from earlier.

Then he brings his face down.

His lips touch my ear.

I freeze.

His lips are cold, and I feel a sensation run through my entire body. For some reason, I didn't hate it.

"What are you doing?"

My voice comes out weak. I am almost breathless.

He pulls back. Looks at me. His eyes are dark now.

"He needs to stay far away, Ara." Same tone. "Because if he keeps digging—it might just bring him closer to his death."

I yank my wrists free and step back, panting.

"You're sick."

He nods slowly, like he totally agrees.

"Yeah." He moves toward the chair, picks up his jacket. "My father died. I watched my mother go crazy." His eyes meet mine. "Thanks to your father. I told you I am worse than crazy."

I feel a sudden pain in my chest.

I step back again. My legs hit the bed.

"What are you saying? My father…"

"Until Victor Garcia crawls to me and begs," he says, his voice rising, "he will never see you again."

He takes his jacket, moves to the door, signaling that the conversation is over.

But I am not done.

"Why don't you just kill me already?" I whisper.

He stops at the door. Looks back.

"Nah. You have to live to see your father pay for everything he has done."

He leaves without another word.

The door closes.

And I'm standing in the middle of the room, shaking, my wrists still warm where his fingers were, and I still feel the sensation of his lips on my ear.

I rub my ear over and over.

Hating that I didn't push him away.

Hating that for some reason I liked the feel of his lips.

He is dragging me to his level. He is driving me crazy.

And I really have to do something before I lose my mind.

Until your father crawls and begs.

You have to live to see your father pay for everything he has done.

His words keep playing in my head as I get on the bed, burying my head in the pillow.

My father.

What did he do?

What the hell did he do to Maximillian's father? To his mother?

I press my palms to my ears. Trying to breathe. Trying to think.

But all I see is Liam's face. Walking into a hospital. Sitting in Maximillian's office. I am unable to imagine what they talked about.

And I hear Maximillian's voice.

No one will be able to protect him from me.

The sounds mix in my head until I am unable to stop myself from screaming.

But as usual, no one comes.

I have never felt so helpless.

I don't know when I fall asleep.

---

...........................................................................

But when I open my eyes, I am in a different place.

Liam is by my side, filling my hair with kisses.

"I love you so much," he says.

I nod. "I know."

"Maybe I am destined to die so you can live more freely."

I sit up. "Liam, what are you saying?"

"It's worth it," he says with a small smile.

Then I don't see his face.

But I keep hearing the words:

It's worth it.

It's all worth it.

It's worth it, Arabella.

It's worth it.

I cover my ears with my hands, looking around, screaming.

"Liam!"

"Liam!"

"Liam!"

Until my throat starts to ache.

Then I hear Maximillian's voice. Very loud. But I don't see him anywhere.

Go on your knees and beg me.

Crawl.

Do it.

Do it.

Ara, do it.

I jump from the bed, landing on the ground. My eyes open. A dream. A terrible dream.

I am doomed.

And it seems I have dragged Liam down with me.