Chapter 28: Chapter 28

He slammed me against the wall the minute we got home. He ravished my separated lips with his pernicious mouth. I couldn’t breathe. He pinned my hands over my head and spread my legs, making the dress reap off. I gasped, needing to halt him from getting wild, but he didn’t let me. Instead, he pushed his groin to my delicate portion. He was making my legs wobble, and my internal parts flip. I attempted to pry away my head from him, but he rapidly grabbed my jaw and made me look at him forcefully.

“E-Ethan!” we need to talk. We can’t do it right now. I still needed answers from him. Why did he wager me? Why didn’t he let me know about gambling? Who are those people?

He didn’t listen, as usual. What he wants, he gets. He ultimately annihilated the dress I was wearing at that point, looking down at my nakedness. His eyes shone brightly when the moon reflected his eyes. He was about to savage me when I slapped his face, ceasing him from what he was planning to do. He was taken aback as he caressed his swollen cheeks.

“Ethan! Enough! Why are you doing this to me? Am I a toy to you? Who are those people? Why did you bring me there? Is that your definition of going out? Wagering on me? Imagining to be somebody else? Going berserk?!” I yelled in succession. I pointed my finger at him as I attempted to lock with his sinister eyes. However, his hair secured it, and he looked in the other direction, exposing his sharp jaw.

“Ethan!” I yelled and thrust his bear, but he got my hand and gradually look at my way. His eyes were seething with fire as he took a step forward. I gulped, and my heart pounded so hard and fast as in the case I was running out of oxygen. When he stopped, he didn’t say anything. His deadly gaze just rested on mine. I’m foreseeing he will do something against my will. However, nothing happened. He just stood there, observing me.

My arms shake so terribly that he might do something to me due to fear and uneasiness. I reach up to his face, and fortunately, he let me caress his cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, cautiously grasping me. I tip-toed since he’s taller than me. I didn’t say anything as I tried to process what had just happened. I thought he was aiming to get frantic since I hollered at him. I was even pointing the finger at him, which I know is an insult to each person.

“I love blood. I cherish violence. It makes me calm and collected. It makes me who am I as a person.” he explained. My eyes widen in shock. Is this for real? Or am I just being delusional? He’s clarifying to me what he feels? What is he thinking? I pushed him away and warily held both of his cheeks on my palm.

I listened to him. I motioned for him to say more. To clarify more to me so that I can understand him. However, he dismissed me when he held my hands and let go of them, dropping them on my side. He turned his back away from me, and his eyes were on the ground. He looked so depleted and…tired. As in the case, he wanted to take a break for a moment without anybody violating his personal space.

He left me alone in the living room. I just stood there, dumbfounded and not knowing how to react. The silence is deadly because it crawled in every corner of the hall. I look at the dark bag on the ground then gradually look in the direction where Ethan heads off. I understand his point. He has a past behind me that still frequents him until now. He's trying to adapt and move on, and it's all because of me. He's trying, but he's struggling. I ran up to him, trying to capture him and tell him I understood everything. I wanted to provide him the comfort and consideration he deserved, but the minute I looked around.

“Ethan…” I breathed out his name while looking at the bright full moon above. I heard a howl from afar. I waited for him to come home for minutes, hours, days.

Months…

“Ms. Gomez?”

I raised my hand, indicating that I was here. I stood up and went to the front desk. The woman behind grinned at me and motioned I need to sign a record here. I gestured my head and did what she instructed me. She clarified to me about the center and how she appreciates my generosity.

Months have passed, and I still haven’t seen him. He vanished into thin air without saying goodbye. I don’t know if he’s still alive, but I hope he’s doing fine. He left me the house and the money he won in gambling last time. I don’t know how to manage that kind of money, so rather than impulsive buying nonsense things, I donated them to those who don’t have any parents. In other words, in the orphan.

I looked around the range when I heard shouting coming from the kids. I couldn’t help but grin while observing them from my spot. They look so enthusiastic and cheerful, even though they were here. I always wanted to have a child to bear. The thought of taking care of your own family makes my heart placated. However, that’s not the case here. I’m here to donate, not to adapt. Besides, I’m not yet prepared. My life is still a mess.

“Thank you again, Ms. Gomez.”

“You’re welcome.” I grinned lovingly at the woman and turned around, driving my way to the exit. I was about to open the entryway when a kid bumped into my knee. I looked down and saw a little girl crying. Her plump cheeks are rosy. Her tears were falling endlessly, so I stooped down and helped her.

“I’m sorry, baby.” I caressed her cheeks, and she suddenly stopped crying. She laughed and motioned me to carry her. I was about to, but an older woman ran towards our way and apologized. She was the one who was taking care of the kid. I waved my hand off in dismissal and thanked them. I got out of the center. While walking away, I suddenly remembered Nathan.

I recollected the moment we talked about building a family together. The times we spent together playing with the kids in the park. I wonder, how are they? Are they still waiting for us? I didn’t notice my tears were swelling, ready to stream down. I looked down and wiped them away. Not here. I shouldn’t cry here just because of the Davis twin.

Nathan is dead, and he toyed with my feelings before he passed away. Ethan is nowhere to be found, leaving me confounded with my emotions. What can I say? What am I going to expect from him? He told me those colorful words, but he can’t stand one’s ground what he guaranteed. I grinned bitterly to myself. I don’t want to think any longer. I had enough of a breakdown each night, anticipating for him to come back.

I learned to live with my life without him. I came back to my apartment. Mrs. Johnson was worried, and she asked me how I was. I forgot how caring she is. Somehow or another, my anxiety and depression didn’t get worse because of her. She somehow spared me from falling apart because of what happened to my life. She’s asking about Nathan, which she doesn’t know is already dead, and seeing Ethan instead. They are twins, identical, so she can’t figure out which is which. I just told her he’s busy. She bit the clarification and didn’t ask any further, which was to my relief.

“Today’s news, four-person have been gone missing within this month. Their body was seen floating in the river next to the burger shack. We still haven’t found who the killer is, but there’s a report of a dog that’s seen carrying a body, running into the woods. Can you imagine? Let’s take a look at the viral video.”

I ceased in my tracks and slowly looked at the television before me. I couldn't breathe properly as my stomach's devils fought against my brain. My lips parted, and I dropped what I held, making a boisterous crash and diffusing on the floor. I didn't look at Mrs. Johnson, who surged on my side to see what was happening. My eyes are glued to the news before me.

“I don’t think that’s a dog, Mike. No dog can be that large.”

“You’re right, Caddy. I think that’s a werewolf. Do they even exist? However, police are on their search to find out about the truth.”

I shook my head. This can’t be. They can’t know about him. They can kill him.

“Oh my, that’s a serious situation. It would be best if you didn’t go out at night, Natasha. It’s dangerous.”

I didn’t say anything. I remained in my spot, my eyes widening in terror. My heart was beating so fast.

“E-ethan….”