Teaching

"You're thinking right, Angel, because I don't forgive—I kill if someone makes mistakes and does things I don't want," Alice drawled, observing her reaction closely.

His eyes could discern her fear, the tremble in her limbs, and the silent plea for escape written across her face. Even without her saying a word, he could read it all in her body language.

Every nuance, every hint of innocence and dread seeping from her expression as she struggled to maintain her composure.

But that was the problem—he didn't want to see her like that. He didn't want her to show any sign of defiance or fear.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to show anything in my eyes. Please, don't kill me," Alisha pleaded desperately, her words barely a whisper.

She couldn't die—not now, not like this. She was too young, too full of life to face death. She hadn't even finished college yet, and here he was, ready to snuff out her existence without a second thought.

It wasn't just a threat; she could see it in him. She knew he was capable of it—just like he had done to her dog. She refused to take his words lightly.

She wouldn't, and she couldn't.

As Alisha's plea hung in the air, the tension in the room thickened, suffocating her.

She held her breath, waiting for Alice's response, her heart hammering against her chest.

For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the sound of their ragged breathing. Alice's expression remained inscrutable, unreadable.

Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he approached her, each step echoing loudly in the quiet room. Alisha's pulse quickened, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.

But before she could react, he stopped in front of her, his gaze piercing into her soul. She flinched, feeling exposed under his intense scrutiny.

Then, to her surprise, he reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"You're lucky, Angel," he said softly, his voice sending shivers down her spine. "I'm feeling generous today."

Relief flooded through Alisha, washing away the fear that had consumed her moments before. But she knew better than to let her guard down.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude.

Alice released her chin and took a step back, his expression returning to its usual stoic mask.

"But remember," he added, his tone turning cold once again, "this is your only warning. Cross me again, and there won't be a second chance."

With that ominous warning hanging in the air, he turned and left the room, leaving Alisha alone with her racing thoughts and a newfound sense of dread.

Alisha quickly made her way to the couch, sinking into its cushions with a mixture of confusion and relief. She couldn't fathom how Alice had suddenly shifted gears and decided to forgive her.

His anger had been palpable moments ago, so she hadn't dared to hope for forgiveness. Yet, he had abruptly left, seemingly letting her off the hook.

However, despite her gratitude, she couldn't bring herself to trust his sudden change of heart. The fear lingered, a nagging voice in the back of her mind, warning her of what might come next.

She remained on edge, constantly vigilant, wary of when Alice's demeanour might once again match the chilling words he had spoken.

"What if he comes back? What if he's planning something else?" Alisha's mind raced with worry as she closed her eyes, attempting to steady herself.

The sight of his blood, the feeling of it dried on her neck and feet, his piercing gaze, his simmering anger—it all weighed heavily on her mind, threatening to overwhelm her. It felt as though her head might explode from the sheer intensity of it all.

‘Don't worry, everything will be okay. Just try to get some sleep,’ the voice in her head whispered, attempting to offer reassurance.

On the other side:

Alice took deep breaths, his gaze fixed on his hand now stained with dried blood, a stark reminder of the events that had unfolded in the room.

He couldn't understand what had come over him, why he had suddenly decided to forgive her.

The words had spilled from his mouth before he even had a chance to think.

It felt as though someone else, some unseen force, had taken control of his body and uttered those words. It didn't feel like him speaking at all.

He had been so intent on punishing her, on instilling fear in her that would render her unable to even look at anyone else but him.

Yet, inexplicably, everything had changed when he uttered those words of forgiveness.

Normally, he didn't forgive. Of course, he wouldn't even consider harming her; she was too precious to him for that.

But punishment was another matter entirely.

He had been ready to teach her a lesson she wouldn't soon forget, yet his words had spared her from that fate.

“What just happened?” he asked himself aloud, the question hanging in the air as he struggled to make sense of the inexplicable turn of events.

It was like someone else had taken control of his body, forcing him to utter those words. Or perhaps it was just a part of him, a hidden corner of his heart, that had compelled him to speak.

With Alisha, it was always different. He found himself doing things he wouldn't dream of doing for anyone else. She had a way of drawing out a side of him that he didn't even know existed.

He sighed, not wanting to dwell on it any longer.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. He had already forgiven her, or at least spoken the words of forgiveness.

He couldn't backtrack now, whether it was intentional or not.

He shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering doubts. Dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. What's done is done.

But even as he tried to push the thoughts aside, they continued to gnaw at him, like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch. Why had he softened towards her when he had been so determined to punish her moments before?

He made his way towards the team responsible for the project, seeking to occupy his mind with work. Keeping busy would hopefully prevent him from dwelling too much on the sudden shift in his demeanour.