His smile widens, those eyes gleaming with mischief, as though being pushed off a cliff was all part of the plan.
"Missed me?" he asks, water pooling at his feet.
"Do not be foolish. Proceed and strangle me," I said, my face utterly devoid of emotion, my voice flat and measured.
He stared at me, taken aback. "Strangle you?" he echoed, disbelief coloring his tone. "Do you mean to the point of death, or-"
I cut him off with a calm, unwavering reply. "Simply apply pressure to my throat until I am unable to breathe. That will be sufficient to fulfill the requirements for our departure from this place."
With deliberate grace, I lowered myself to sit upon the muddy riverbank, my gaze steady as I looked up at him, silently awaiting his compliance.
He just stared at me, his gaze unblinking, as if he could burn a hole through my resolve with the sheer force of his silence. Then, suddenly, he flinched-a small, involuntary twitch that sent his bangs cascading over his eyes, veiling his face in a curtain of shadow. In that instant, he became unreadable, a closed book with pages I could no longer decipher.
Cillian's voice sliced through the silence, raw and trembling. "That's all? You're just gonna sit there, and say something like strangle you rather than clunching my shirt and tell me what an asshole I've been, or how I just left you there, to get abused and mistreated and just watch how you struggle to even breathe while I just slack off and do whatever shit that crosses my mind. I who thrust you into this marriage, pulled you into the depths of hell when rather you should be sitting in a flowerbed filled with nothing but flowers that give you happiness, solace and peace, but instead, you just sit there, utter not a single complaint and-"
The words tumbled out of him in a torrent, each syllable laced with self-loathing and regret. His hands trembled at his sides, knuckles white, as if he was moments away from tearing the world apart or collapsing into it. His confession was not an apology, not really, but a desperate attempt to make sense of the wreckage he had wrought.
I felt the old anger surge up, hot and bitter, but I refused to let it die down. My voice was sharp, cutting through his words like shattered glass. "Enough of your fucking bullshit, mother fucking assholic bitch. I've got better things to do right now than listen to your fake crap that comes just once in a blue moon and won't ever affect you again." My words hung in the air, brittle and unyielding. "I already have so much on my plate, don't become a part of it. Please." The last word slipped out, soft and pleading, betraying the exhaustion beneath my fury.
He said nothing. He stood motionless, a statue carved from guilt and shame. His face remained hidden behind his hair, an impenetrable mask. I searched for any sign of emotion-a flicker of remorse, a glimmer of hope-but found only emptiness.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I rose, the weight of the moment pressing down on my shoulders. I drew in a deep breath, the air burning in my lungs, and as I exhaled, the dam broke. I screamed-loudly, violently-a primal sound that tore through the silence, echoing off the walls and reverberating through the hollow spaces inside me.
"WHICH MOTHER FUCKER DOES THIS KINDA SHIT TO THEIR OWN WIVES? NEITHER DID YOU TAKE MY FUCKING CONSENT BEFORE MARRYING ME, NOR DID YOU EVEN ASK ME HOW I'VE BEEN DOING. ALL YOU DO IS KILL PEOPLE LIKE YOU'RE THE ONLY KILLING MACHINE IN HISTORY, AND YOU DON'T EVEN BOTHER ASKING PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS OR THOUGHTS, YOU THINK AM SOME SORTA OBJECT WHICH YOU CAN USE AND THROW AWAY? AND SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHY THE HELL DID YOU ENGRAVE THAT FUCKING MARK ON MY ARM STATING I'M YOUR LOCK. HEY YOU MOTHER FUCKING FOOL, I'M NOT YOU IN A THOUSAND WAYS, I DON'T DRINK, PUT ON TATTOOS, AND PROBABLY DON'T EVEN DO DRUGS LIKE YOU DO. I MAY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SHOVED AT ME, BUT EVEN I HAVE EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS AND I WOULD WANT A MAN TO KNOW EVERY INCH OF ME AND OFFER ME SOLACE. I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, ABOUT COMMUNICATION, ACTIONS MATTER MORE TO ME. MY PARENTS HATE ME, AND SO DO YOU. BUT BRO, I THOUGHT PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH ABUSE WISH AND PRAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE NOT TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME AND HOPE FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE THEM THE LOVE THEY'VE NEVER RECIEVED, BUT IN REALITY YOU PEOPLE JUST WANNA SHOVE DOWN THE SAME PAIN IN GREATER AMOUNT AND DECLARE YOURSELEVES ROYAL. OKAY, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT ROYALTY, BUT CILLIAN, YOU'RE MY HUSBAND, NOT MY FATHER, NOT MY BROTHER, NOT MY SON, NOT MY NEWPHEW, NOT MY UNCLE, NOT MY COUSIN, NOT MY ANYTHING, EXCEPT FOR MY HUSBAND, MY PROTECTOR, MY DIGNITY, MY RESPECT, MY OTHER HALF, MY OTHER SOUL, MY ONLY FRIEND, MY ONLY LOVER, AND THE ONLY THING YOU KNOW IS TO KILL AND ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE KING AND THE BOSS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH? YOU EXTRACTED MY FLAMES THROUGH THAT MINSAN SHIT, SURE, BRO, GO AHEAD, I DON'T MIND, EVEN I AGREE TO THE FACT THAT MY POWERS ARE COOL AND YOU LIKE EM TOO, AND WANNA USE EM TOOO, AND I EVEN GET THE FACT, AM NOT THE REAL GOOD USER OF IT, I DON'T USE IT TO IT'S POTENTIAL NOR DO I HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT BUT BRO IF YOU'RE USING IT AT LEAST, NOTIFY ME AT THE VERY LEAST OR JUST FIND A SOLUTION TO MY FAINTING CRAP. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I HATE EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD. EVEN THE HOLY SHITTED SERVANTS I DECLARED MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BECAUSE IF THEY WERE TRULY MY FAMILY OR EVEN FRIEND, I DON'T THINK I'D BEEN IN THIS MESS. I UNDERSTOOD FROM THAT DAY WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE IN THE TERRITORIAL WAR WITH THE ANIMALS AND ALL, THAT THEY DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ABOUT ME. THEY CARE AT ALL. I'M JUST A SIDE CHARACTER IN THEIR LIVES, NO NO. I DON'T MEAN IT IN THE SENSE THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE ME FULL ATTENTION AND GIVE ME PRINCESS TREATMENT, I JUST MEAN THEY COULD'VE AT LEAST INFORMED ME, OR AT LEAST MADE A LITTLE MORE EFFORT INTO SHOWCASING THEY WERE SORRY OR- WAIT NO THEY DID TAKE ME OUT N ALL, BUT STILL, MYLA AND MYLO WERE ENJOYING THEIR OWN THING, AND THAT HOLY MOTHER FUCKING FAKE DRAGON VELES, JUST WHAT DOES HE THINK HE IS? ALWAYS FLIRTING WITH ME, LIKE AM HIS GIRLFRIEND OR SOMETHING. LIKE HELLO BRO? I'M MARRIED. MAINTAIN SOME DISTANCE. AND HONESTLY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PARENTS? ARE THEY REALLY JUST BORN NUTS OR HAVE THEY FORCED THEMSELEVES TO BE NUTS, INCLUDING YOU!!!!!!! YOU ACT ALL LOVELY-DOVEY ONE MINUTE AND NEXT YOU'RE KILLING ME. LIKE HELLO? WHAT'S THIS SUDDEN SHIFT OF ATTITUDE? I DON'T LIKE THAT. AND WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN WHEN I WAS IN OSSA GOING THROUGH ABUSE FROM THAT SON OF A BITCH RICHARD AND CUNT MEDEA. AND MY MOTHER TOO, ACTING LIKE SHE'S THAT DEAD CORPSE ALL THE TIME. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HATE THE FACT THAT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE, THOUGH I'M GRATEFUL YOU SHOW UP AT TIMES I NEED YOU, BUT LIKE, WHY THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU ACT SOOOO MYSTERIOUS? SURE, THAT'S COOL. BUT BRO, OPEN YOUR MOUTH SOMETIMES AND TELL ME THE WHAT THE FUCK'S GOING ON! AND THEN, ANOTHER THING, I DON'T WANNA LIVE WITH MY PARENTS OR ANYONE, SURE THE LADY-IN-WAITINGS I CHOSE MYSELF ARE COOL, I WOULD WANT TO LIVE WITH THEM AROUND, BUT NO ONE ELSE. ALSO YOU KNOW WHAT? MY MOTHER'S ELDER ADOPTED BROTHER IS ACTUALLY THAT JOKER, HIS NAME IS JASPER!!!! AND I WANNA LEARN SWORD FIGHTING LIKE YOU! YOU'RE SOO COOL WHEN YOU KILL PEOPLE, NO WAIT. I MEAN YEAH YOU ARE COOL BUT I JUST WANNA LEARN SELF-DEFENSE AND NOT DEPEND ON MY POWERS LIKE MOST OF THE TIME. PLUS, HOW OLD ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? 20? 21? 22? 23? 24? OR- ACTAUALLY IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU HONESTLY AND DEFINITELY LOOK SOO MUCH MORE HANDSOME THAN THE LAST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU. AND I'M NOT FLUSTERED IN ADMITTING REALITY. SO DON'T EXPECT ME TO BLUSH UP OR SOMETHING. YOU'RE HANDSOME, I ADMIT IT. BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN I'VE FORGIVEN YOU FOR ALL THE SHIT YOU'VE MADE ME GO THROUGH!!! AND DON'T YOU EVEN DARE THINK, I TRUST YOU YET, CAUSE I DON'T. YOU'RE ONE OF THE FREAKIEST INHUMAN BEING I'VE EVER SEEN. SO DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO ME. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DEFINITELY DON'T LOOK COOL GIVING THOSE MEANINGLESS PUNCHLINES. YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT. MORE LIKE A DUMBASS. BUT WHATEVER, I'M NEVER EVER EVER GONNA FORGIVE YOU. MARK MY WORDS. AND IF YOU'LL CONTINUE TO THROW ME ASIDE WITH THAT CAPTION THAT SAYS I'M BUSY THEN PLEASE DIVORCE ME, SET ME FREE, FOR I AM IN NO MOOD OF BINDING TO ANYONE'S WILL INCLUDING YOURS. I HATE THE FACT THAT I GOT MARRIED TO A MAN, WHO ALREADY HAD A FIANCEE WAITING ON HIM, BUT WHO IN THIS WORLD EVEN KNOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE CLEARLY AND CLEANLY FINISHED THINGS WITH HER OR NOT, GIVEN YOUR FUCKING PERSONALITY, YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND EMPIRE PROBABLY STILL THINKS, YOU TWO ARE ENGAGED AND IF I SUDDENLY SHOW UP, I'LL BE DISREGARDED AS YOUR MISTRESS AND EVERYONE WILL LOOK ME WITH AN EVIL EYE, WHEN IN REALITY I MYSELF WASN'T CONSENTED BEFORE GETTING MARRIED. AND THE FREAKIN FACT, MAYBE EVEN YOUR PARENTS AREN'T AWARE WE'RE MARRIED, DAMN THAT'S GONNA BE A REAL ISSUE. BUT REGARDLESS, I'M STILL UNSATISFIED WITH WHATEVER'S UP WITH YOU. BUT I'M GLAD YOU STILL HAD A BRAIN CELL THAT CARED ABOUT ME FOR ONCE TODAY AND FOR YOUR KIND INFORMATION, I'M GONNA YAP WHENEVER I GET THE CHANCE TO, NOT TO MENTION HOW I'M GOING TO NAG YOU FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. YEAH BUT DON'T EXPECT ME TO OPEN UP LIKE I'M DOING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE YEAH WHY NOT. AND ALSO, IN THE PAST 3 YEARS, HAVE YOU DATED ANYONE? CAUSE GIVEN YOUR FACE, I DON'T THINK SITTING IDLE WOULD'VE BEEN AN ANSWER. ANYWAYS, AND IF YOU THINK YOU BEING A WALKING RED FLAG MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE SOME SORTA SIGMA APLHA MALE OR WHATEVER, IT DOESN'T. YOU LOOK EXTREMELY PATHETIC. AND MOVING ON, I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE MY RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A HUSBAND SHOULD DO! AND DON'T FORGET, THAT I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU UP, ONCE WE'RE OUTTA THIS PLACE!"
My voice finally gave out, splintering into a ragged sigh. My chest heaved as I bent forward, hands clutching my knees, desperate for air. My gaze dropped, fixating on the mud beneath my feet, the world narrowing to the trembling ground and the pounding of my heart.
For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of my own breathing, harsh and uneven. Then, slowly, I forced myself to look up.
Cillian stood there, frozen. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide with a shock so pure it bordered on comical. He looked utterly lost-confused, overwhelmed, and, for once, completely at my mercy. The silence between us was deafening, a chasm filled with all the words I had finally let loose.
He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just stared, as if seeing me for the very first time.
And to my shock, it was as if Cillian had been holding back a flood behind that stoic, puffed face, his bangs shadowing any hint of what he felt. The tension in the air was palpable, the kind that makes your skin prickle, and I couldn't help but snap, "What?" My words came out sharp, my expression hostile. "You're just gonna stand there and stare at me like I delivered some sort of revelation from God, or something?"
To be Continued...