Desperation

Ethan's thoughts churned, a storm of emotions raging inside him. But suddenly, he felt the girl move.

Sensing his subtle movements, she instinctively held onto him more firmly, her fingers grasping his side as if unwilling to let go. Ethan stiffened, unsure of what to do. His body tensed, heat creeping up his neck. He didn't want to wake her, yet her unconscious grip made it impossible to ignore her presence.

Then, she shifted again—this time snuggling even closer, pressing her face deeper into his chest. A soft, content sigh escaped her lips.

Ethan swallowed. His pulse quickened, pounding so loudly in his ears that he wondered if she could hear it. A strange urge gripped him, an irresistible pull—he wanted to see her face.

He hesitated. Was it wrong? He had already done something unforgivable, and yet…

Slowly, cautiously, he reached out. His left hand trembled slightly as he brushed his fingers through her messy purple hair, pushing aside the strands that obscured her features. As her face was finally revealed, his breath hitched.

She was beautiful.

Her expression was soft, peaceful, her long lashes resting against her fair skin. Her lips, slightly parted, curved faintly into a smile as if savoring his touch. Ethan's chest tightened.

"She's... cute."

That thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it, and he immediately berated himself. How could he think that after what happened? His heart felt unbearably heavy, weighed down by emotions he couldn't untangle.

But as he gazed at her, something stirred in his mind—memories that didn't belong to him.

The original Ethan's memories surfaced. In them, this girl was fiery, headstrong, a tempest of confidence and dominance. That was what had drawn the original Ethan to her—her untouchable, commanding presence. He had wanted to conquer her, to make her his, and that desire had consumed him.

Ethan winced as a sharp headache struck him, the remnants of the original's obsession clawing at his mind. That Ethan had gotten what he wanted—almost. But before he could fully indulge in his twisted fantasy, he had died. And now, Ethan had taken his place.

But unlike the original, he felt no triumph. No satisfaction. No elation.

Only helplessness.

His fingers moved absentmindedly, tracing over the girl's temple, brushing over the soft skin of her cheek. He didn't deserve this moment, yet he found himself lingering in it.

Then, her eyelashes fluttered.

A deep foreboding settled in Ethan's gut, a cold dread creeping up his spine. The peace is about to shatter.

The girl stirred, her brows knitting together as she awoke. She could hear it—a rapid, furiously pounding heartbeat, though she wasn't sure if it was hers or his.

What is that? she thought groggily. As consciousness returned to her, so did the memories.

Her eyes snapped open.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Their gazes locked—hers wide with realization, his frozen with guilt. The silence between them stretched, thick and suffocating, filled with emotions too tangled to name.

And then—

She jolted back, scrambling to the edge of the bed, her breath sharp and uneven.

Ethan flinched.

Her hands clutched the sheets to her chest as panic flickered across her face. But a second later, her expression hardened, and when she glared at him, her golden eyes burned with fury.

Ethan quickly averted his gaze, his face heating up. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

The girl's brow furrowed at his reaction, but then—she looked down.

Her breath hitched. Her entire body tensed.

She wasn't wearing anything.

Her eyes went wide, and in an instant, she yanked the sheets tighter around her body and leapt from the bed, nearly stumbling in her haste.

Ethan panicked as well, scrambling backward. He realized—he wasn't wearing anything either.

His eyes darted around. Where—?

His pants. They were close. He lunged for them, shoving them on as quickly as possible before cautiously peeking out from behind the bed, trying to say something—anything—to defuse the situation.

But the moment his head emerged, a flower vase came hurtling toward him.

"Shit!" Ethan ducked just in time as it smashed against the wall behind him, shards scattering across the floor.

"I—I'm sorry!" he shouted, keeping his head down.

The girl's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "Sorry? Sorry for what?"

Ethan hesitated. His throat tightened. "For what I did," he admitted, his voice low, filled with remorse.

The girl let out a hollow laugh—cold, bitter. "That's it?" Her golden eyes gleamed with unrestrained fury. "You think that's going to be enough for what you did to me?"

Ethan's breath caught. "I… I—" He stammered, searching for the right words, but nothing felt right.

She wasn't interested in his excuses.

She took a step closer, her presence suffocating. "You think that's enough?" she spat.

Ethan swallowed. "Then… then what do you want?"

Her eyes flashed with venom. "I want your life."

Ethan's heart stopped. His eyes widened as the sheer weight of her words crashed down on him.

She's serious.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple. He cursed inwardly. Why the hell did I untie her?!

His mind raced. He could call for help, but—no. That was useless. This room was soundproofed by magic.

His only option—the door.

If he could make it to the hallway, the guards would intervene. He just had to—

Ethan bolted.

But before he could reach the door, a searing fireball exploded in front of him, blocking his path. The intense heat licked at his skin, forcing him to stumble back.

His breath came in ragged pants as he turned, only to see her standing there, her hands wreathed in crimson flames.

She grinned, but it wasn't a smile—it was a warning. "Trying to escape now?"

Ethan swallowed hard. "Are you crazy?! If you throw fire like that, the whole room could catch fire!"

She tilted her head, her expression dripping with malice. "Don't worry." Her voice was sickeningly sweet. "My fire only burns what I want it to burn. And right now—" Her flames flared higher, casting eerie shadows across the walls. "—the only thing I want to burn is you."

Ethan's stomach twisted in terror. His back hit the wall. He was trapped.

The girl took slow, deliberate steps toward him, her golden eyes locked onto his, drinking in his fear.

And then he saw it.

The satisfaction in her expression.

She was enjoying this.

This is what she felt last night.

Fear.

Desperation.

Horror, knowing what was about to happen.

Ethan's breaths came in short gasps. His mind screamed for a way out, but his body refused to move.

She raised a hand, the flames dancing hungrily in her palm.

And Ethan realized—

He might actually die here.

------------------

Whoa you finished reading the chapter already.

Your a Ducking Beast bro....😲

I'll cut you a deal.

Add this book to your library for free and that's a great price...😎