Faded love 16

Chapter 16 

“Yes,” 

I said hoarsely. 

“I don’t love you.” 

He froze. 

I pushed him away. 

“The day you signed,” I whispered, 

“I died too. 

What you see now is just a corpse.” 

He laughed- 

a sharp, cruel sound. 

“Then let me see if corpses still cry.” 

I lifted my hand 

and slapped him across the face. 

The air fell silent. 

He didn’t move. 

Didn’t strike back. 

Only his eyes turned to ice. 

“Wendy,” he murmured, 

“if you can still hit me, 

then you’re still alive.” 

My heart trembled violently. 

Tears wouldn’t stop. 

“What do you want from me?” 

“I want you.” 

He spoke each word slowly. 

“Alive or dead.” 

That sentence shattered the last of my reason. 

I ran. 

Out of the building, 

into the street. 

86 

((co 

86 

11:35 Sat, Oct 18 

The wind was knife-cold. 

I ran until my lungs burned, 

until tears blurred my vision. 

I crouched at the corner, 

burying my face in my hands. 

Everything I’d held in- finally broke. 

I thought I could escape. 

That by living as “Thalia,” 

I could start over. 

But I was wrong. 

You can lie to the world, 

but not to yourself. 

My phone vibrated. 

It was Yuanzi. 

“Wendy, where are you?” she cried. 

“Z Group’s people came looking- 

they found your old identity!” 

I went cold. 

“Who?” 

“It was him.” 

The blood roared in my ears. 

I looked up at the Z Group tower in the distance- 

its glass glinting under the sun, 

blinding. 

Rory’s shadow was walking toward me. 

That night, I packed my things. 

The wheels of my suitcase scraped across the floor, 

shrill and desperate. 

I couldn’t stay. 

I had to go. 

11:35 Sat, Oct 18 

The doorbell rang. 

I froze. 

He was at the door. 

Leaning against the frame, 

smiling gently. 

“Going somewhere?” 

My fingers trembled. 

“Move.” 

“You think I’ll let you?” 

He stepped inside, 

closing the door behind him. 

“You can fool the world,” he said, 

“but not me.” 

“I didn’t lie,” 

my voice shook, 

“I just wanted to live.” 

“Then live,” he whispered, 

“live-for me.” 

He grabbed my wrist. 

“Let me go!” 

“You said you were dead.” 

His voice broke, 

“Then let me show you I can die too.” 

“Rory!” 

I lunged forward just as the knife flashed in his hand. “Don’t!” 

The blade clattered to the floor. 

Tears streamed down my face. 

He stared at me-then smiled. 

“So you still know fear.” 

“You’re insane,” I cried, 

Chapter 16 

A 

86 

11:36 Sat, Oct 18 

pushing him away. 

“You’re truly insane!” 

He reached out, 

wiping my tears gently. 

His voice was a whisper. 

“I’m insane because you’re still alive.” 

That was when I finally broke. 

I shoved him back and ran. 

The wind roared. 

Rain poured down again. 

I ran through the streets, 

his voice echoing behind me. 

“Wendy!” 

The sound drowned in the storm. 

I didn’t look back. 

I only knew- 

if I didn’t leave now, 

I would die for real this time. 

I ran until dawn. 

The rain turned the streets to glass. 

Just as I reached the edge of the city, 

my phone rang again. 

Yuanzi’s voice was shaking. 

“Wendy-you’re done. 

You’re all over the news!” 

My breath caught. 

“What news?” 

11:36 Sat, Oct 18 

D