No Turning Back

The club was a blur of neon lights and pulsing beats. Maya's heart raced as Vic dragged her through the throngs of people, his hand like a vice on her wrist. She barely registered the pounding music, her mind too focused on what was about to happen.

"This is your moment, Maya," Vic hissed, his grin wicked and triumphant. "Everyone's watching."

Maya tried to wrench free, but Vic only tightened his grip. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the world around her was closing in. She spotted Eddie across the room, leaning heavily against the bar, his face flushed from alcohol. Zeke was by his side, chatting with a couple of guys, but Eddie's gaze was distant, lost. It made her chest ache.

"Eddie doesn't belong here," Vic said, his voice low and spiteful. "He's just another pawn. And you? You're mine. You always will be."

Maya swallowed hard, her eyes locking on Eddie's. She wanted to go to him, to pull him away from this nightmare, but Vic had already pulled her to the center of the crowd, forcing her into the spotlight.

Maya's pulse raced. She knew what was coming. This wasn't going to end well.

Vic shoved a microphone into her trembling hand. "Tell them. Tell them the truth. About how Eddie was just a bet to you. A distraction."

Her throat tightened, and she could feel the words clawing at her chest, but they wouldn't come. She couldn't do it. Not to Eddie. Not like this.

But Vic wasn't giving her a choice. He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. "Tell them, Maya. Tell them how you used him to pass the time after your breakup. How he was nothing more than a toy for you. Don't make me say it for you."

Her heart hammered in her chest, her mind screaming at her to refuse, to fight back, but Vic's hand on her wrist was unyielding. She had no choice. If she didn't do this, he would ruin them both.

The words spilled out, barely audible but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Eddie was just a bet," Maya forced herself to say, her voice shaking with the weight of the lie. "I was bored. He was… nothing more than a distraction."

The silence that followed felt like a punch to the gut. Maya's entire body trembled as the words echoed in her mind, each syllable slicing deeper. The room seemed to blur, the faces in the crowd melting into shadows. She couldn't see Eddie, but she knew he was watching.

Vic's voice cut through her haze. "See? That's all he was to her. Just something to fill the void. Now that she's bored, she's done with him."

Her legs gave way, and she stumbled back toward the edge of the stage, her stomach churning. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. The weight of what she had just said crushed her from all sides.

But there was no escape. Vic's cold laugh echoed in her ears as he pulled her away from the stage. "You're mine now, Maya. You're going to play by my rules."

Maya's eyes darted around the room, searching for Eddie. But before she could make a move, she saw him—his face pale, his expression hollow, like a shell of the person he used to be. Jackie and Zeke were pushing him out of the club, his legs unsteady beneath him. He was barely conscious, barely walking.

Maya felt a jolt of panic. "Eddie!" she cried, trying to push through the crowd, but Vic held her back, keeping her locked in place. His grip on her wrist was bruising, but she didn't care. All she could think about was getting to Eddie.

Jackie's voice cut through the noise, laced with disdain. "Maya, you've ruined him. Do you really think he'll ever look at you the same way again?"

Maya's breath hitched. "Let me go, Jackie. I need to get to him. Now."

Jackie's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Too bad. You had your chance. It's over."

Desperation clawed at Maya's insides as she yanked away from Vic, pushing past the crowd. She had to get to him. She couldn't let him leave like this. Not after what she had done.

By the time she reached the exit, Eddie was already in the back seat of the car, barely able to sit up. His body was limp, his face blank, and Maya's heart shattered all over again. She slid into the driver's seat, trying to steady her breath.

She looked at him through the rearview mirror, but he didn't move, didn't acknowledge her. Her chest ached. What have I done?

"Eddie," she said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Please, talk to me."

But he didn't respond. His eyes were glassy, unfocused, lost in a sea of alcohol and confusion. She wanted to scream, to shake him awake, but instead, she focused on driving, her hands trembling on the wheel.

The drive to his house felt like hours, each second dragging on in agony. When they pulled into the driveway, Maya was already crying, tears streaking down her face, but she didn't care. She didn't know what to do. She had pushed him away, and now she was left with nothing.

"Eddie," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, just say something."

When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with pain, barely audible. "Do you know what the most fucked up part is, Maya?"

Her heart stopped in her chest, and she turned to him, her hands shaking on the steering wheel.

"I heard drinking helps you forget," Eddie continued, his words slurring, "but every damn drink reminds me of you. How could I forget you when every drink makes me feel more of you?"

Maya's breath caught in her throat. She had hurt him so deeply, and now he was drowning in the very thing that was supposed to numb him. She wanted to reach out, to hold him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Not after everything.

Without saying another word, she helped him out of the car and into his house, where he collapsed onto the couch. Maya stood there, watching him, her heart breaking with every passing second.

But there was nothing left to say. She had shattered him, just like she had shattered herself.

As she turned to leave, she looked back one last time. "I'm sorry, Eddie," she whispered, but the words didn't even begin to cover the depth of what she had done. She had ruined him. She had ruined them both.

Maya returned to her own house later that night, her mind a whirlwind of guilt and confusion. She couldn't stay here. Not now. Not after what she'd done.

Her mother was waiting by the door, her expression one of quiet concern. "Maya? What's going on?"

Maya paused, her heart heavy in her chest. She couldn't do this anymore. She couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. The lies. The pain. It was too much.

"I'm leaving," Maya said, her voice hollow. "It's better if I go. Just a small advice for you in the future if you will have other kids , don't blame them for your mistakes.You failed me as a mother . Take care of yourself ".

Her mother's face fell, but Maya didn't have the strength to explain. She couldn't stay here. Not with Vic. Not with everything falling apart.

With one last look at the house, Maya grabbed her bag and walked out into the night, feeling the weight of her decisions pressing down on her.

What was certain now was that she had lost everything. In order to win this game, she had to embrace the fact that there was nothing left to lose. If she was going to fight Vic, she had to use his own ruthless tactics against him,and she was sure where to start .

Your time is up, Victor.