Finally, Lilith and the others managed to escape the attention and find a peaceful seat in a quieter corner of the event.
The night air was crisp, and the glow of lights reflected on the lake.
Lilith crossed her legs, tilting her head slightly as she gazed at the lake.
Many n in the crowd stole glances at her–so subtly, others boldly but Lilith didn’t even spare them a look.
She was entirely unbothered, lost in her own world.
anwhile, Ethan was up to sothing.
With his phone in hand, he snapped pictures from the mont Lilith and Rose stepped down from the stage.
His grin widened with each shot.
Oh, his dear cousin was going to love this.
••••••
Alexander sat on the edge of his hotel bed, his muscles tensed as his eyes scanned through the pictures Ethan had just sent.
His grip on the phone tightened.
Each swipe of his finger revealed another angle of Lilith standing under the soft event lighting.
Her silver dress clung to her figure perfectly, the silky fabric flowing elegantly as she moved.
His breath grew heavy.
But it wasn’t just her ethereal beauty that had his blood boiling—
It was the way other n were looking at her.
So were stealing glances, their eyes lingering too long.
Others? Outright staring.
His jaw clenched.
His Lilith.
A dark glint flickered in his cold gaze.
Without hesitation, his fingers moved swiftly over the screen, typing a ssage.
[Alexander: You didn’t tell you were going to the lake event.]
A few seconds passed before a response ca.
[Lilith: You didn’t ask, human doll.]
His lips pressed into a thin line.
[Alexander: And you let other n look at you like that?]
Another pause. Then—
[Lilith: Let them? Are you blaming for being too beautiful, Human Doll? That’s not my fault.]
He exhaled sharply.
Damn it.
She knew exactly how to drive him crazy.
He ran a hand through his hair, tossing his phone onto the bed before leaning back against the headboard.
His chest rose and fell in slow, controlled breaths.
That woman was going to be the death of him.
Just as he closed his eyes, his phone vibrated again.
[Ethan: HAHAHAHA BRO YOU SHOULD SEE HOW MANY GUYS ARE DROOLING OVER YOUR LILITH. IF YOU WERE HE RE, YOU’D BE THROWING PUNCHES LEFT AND RIGHT. ( 10 more pics, 3 videos)]
Alexander snapped upright, his fingers moving quickly to download everything.
His phone screen was instantly filled with new pictures.
His Lilith, looking absolutely breathtaking.
And then—
Blurred figures of n in the background, all looking in her direction.
His jaw tightened.
His teeth gritted.
If he had been there in person, he would have broken a few jaws already.
With deliberate slowness, he opened the first video.
The screen ca alive with shaky footage of Lilith, playing the piano and singing.
Her voice, sultry and srizing, rang through the background noise.
The cara shook violently at tis, and he groaned in frustration.
Could Ethan not hold his damn phone steady?!
Annoyed, he skipped to the second video.
This one made his heart lt.
Lilith was whispering sothing softly to Rose, her expression filled with warmth as she played the piano.
He could see Rose’s eyes light up, the way she clung to Lilith’s presence for comfort.
Alexander exhaled, his frustration montarily replaced by sothing softer.
He couldn’t wait to see her again.
But before that—
When he finally appeared in front of her, he would be perfect.
Not a ntally ill man with fractured pieces of himself, but soone who could stand beside her without weakness.
His fingers hovered over the screen as a strange feeling settled in his chest.
After therapy... he hadn’t heard anything from Gray.
The usual voice that would linger in his head, trying to talk to him... was gone.
His heart suddenly felt empty.
****
After returning late, Lilith took a hot bath, letting the warmth ease the exhaustion in her muscles.
She slipped into her comfortable nightwear, applied her skincare routine, and finally crawled into bed.
Her fingers lazily scrolled through her phone as she checked her website, DevilsPlay.
Hm.
Subscription revenue had dropped, but her traffic had increased slightly, bringing in so ad revenue.
She sighed.
It was expected. The buzz from her past drama with Ryan had completely died down.
Closing her phone, she turned off the lights and fell into a deep sleep.
***
The darkness was suffocating.
Lilith stood alone in the vast emptiness, her bare feet touching cold, unfamiliar ground.
Everything around her was black–no walls, no doors, no way out.
A sense of unease crept into her bones.
Then, suddenly, a single spotlight flashed on, casting a glow in the distance.
It flickered for a mont before fully lighting up, revealing a figure standing still in the shadows.
Her breath hitched.
Her Human Doll.
But sothing was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Ray stood there, his usually playful eyes red-rimd and filled with tears.
His face was pale, his body trembling like a child lost in a storm.
His lips quivered as he looked at her, pleading.
"Miss Mystery..."
His voice cracked, raw with desperation.
"Can you save , Miss Mystery? Can you save ...?"
Lilith felt her chest tighten.
A sharp, painful squeeze that made it hard to breathe.
She took a step forward, then another, her pulse hamring in her ears.
"Human Doll!" She called, her voice trembling.
She reached him, grabbing his shoulders, shaking him.
"Tell how! How do I save you?!"
His grip on her wrists was weak, as if he was fading away.
"... save ... save ... SAVE !"
Ray’s voice rose into a scream, his whole body shaking violently.
Tears streaked down his face as he clung to her, burying his face against her neck like a terrified child.
"I don’t want to disappear!"
The words shattered her.
A horrifying chill ran down her spine.
Sothing was pulling him away.
His fingers slipped from her grasp...
"NO!" Lilith scread, reaching out, but he was vanishing, his body flickered like a dying light.
His eyes, once so full of mischief and warmth, now overflowed with fear.
His lips trembled as he whispered..
"I just wanted to live too..."
And then he was gone.
The darkness swallowed him whole.
Reviews
All reviews (0)