MELISA

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was holding the knife again, his hand trembling, eyes wild with heartbreak. My pulse thundered in my ears as I froze, unable to process that this was really happening. He was going to hurt himself... because of me.

"Sebastian, please - put that down." My voice cracked as I pleaded, but I forced strength into it, needing him to hear me, really hear me.

"Say it, Melisa," he growled, eyes burning behind that damn mask. "Say you'll stay. Say you love me."

"Sebastian..." I swallowed hard. "It's not that simple. I don't love you - you kidnapped me. You've killed people." I shouted and felt nervous.

"Because I had to!" he shouted, stepping forward. "Because I care! I became this monster to protect you. Every person I destroyed - I did it for you. That's my love, Melisa. Twisted, ugly, maybe - but it's all I have."

"And I never asked you to kill for me!" My voice rose in despair. "That's not love, Sebastian. That's a pain! That's fear!"

"I'll do it again." His voice dropped, trembling. "If anyone dares hurt you, I'll end them. I'd burn the world to keep you safe. But you... you look at me like I'm a demon. And maybe I am." His voice cracked. "You hate me for it. And that hate... it's killing me."

"You don't see what I gave up, what I became. You only ever wanted to run from me." He backed away, the knife lifting again. My breath caught in my throat. "Sebastian, no - please. Come back. Put it down." My eyes blurred with tears. I could see his pain, his desperation, he wasn't just lost. He was drowning in it. "I don't want to live without you, Melisa." His voice was a whisper now, like he was already fading. "You were the only thing that made me human."

"Don't say that, please don't say that!" I cried out. Then he asked it, broken, aching: "Why can't you love me?" That shattered me. I ran to him - no thoughts, no fear, just the raw instinct to save him. Even if I got stabbed. Even if this ended me. I flung myself into his arms, held him as tight as I could. His body went rigid - then soft, trembling. The knife slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor. I grabbed it, threw it across the room. I held his face, palms against his cheeks, against the cold leather of that mask.

"Sebastian..." My voice shook. "Look at me. Please. Don't ever do that again. Please... stay alive. Stay - for me." He didn't say anything. But I felt his breath hitch - sharp, like he was choking on the air he needed to survive. And at that moment, I knew... I had pulled him back from the edge. Just barely.

"Melisa... my Melisa..." His voice was raw now, nothing but shattered emotion. "I'm begging you - accept my love. That's all I have left. I don't know how to give anything else. Not for me - but for you. Please... stay with me. Please, please, please - " His knees almost buckled. "I love you." I held him tighter, arms wrapped around him like a shield. My heart screamed with confusion.

Why am I feeling this?Why wasn't I pulling away? Why wasn't I running? He kidnapped me. He's dangerous. He's killed.

And yet... here I was, holding him like he might fall apart if I let go. I should hate him. I should scream, fight, push him away.But something inside me cracked instead.

God... what's wrong with me? I'm not supposed to feel soft for the man who caged me. But the way he's breaking in my arms... the way he's begging? He's not a monster right now. He's a boy lost in his own madness, and somehow, I'm the only anchor he has left.

"Let's go home... okay?" I whispered, brushing my fingers through his hair, even if part of me hated that it felt natural. He didn't say a word. He just nodded slowly, like a child who had finally worn himself out after a tantrum. I reached for his hand - it was cold, trembling. But he let me take it.

And I led him through the shadows, the silence stretching thick between us. It was strange. I didn't know where home was anymore. But for tonight... Maybe it was wherever I could keep him alive. The car was silent. Heavy. He sat beside me like a statue, unmoving, eyes staring blankly out the window. The shadows from the streetlights cut across his mask like fractured thoughts. He hadn't said a word since we left. "Sebastian?"

I whispered, trying to reach through whatever fog he was drowning in. "Are you okay?" No answer. Not even a glance.

I shifted in my seat, unsure, watching him with a tightening chest. "Do you want to eat something tonight? Or... maybe sleep?" I offered gently. A beat passed before he spoke, voice barely a whisper. "Sleep." That was all. My heart clenched. Why did it hurt like this? His coldness stung deeper than I expected. Like I had been shut out after trying so hard to pull him back.

"Sebastian... I'm sorry." My voice cracked as I looked down, blinking fast as tears welled in my eyes. I didn't even know what I was apologizing for anymore - his pain, my fear, the mess we both became. I bit my lip, trying to stay composed, but my body trembled. Hate. Anxiety. Pity. Nervousness. I didn't even know what emotion was mine anymore - they were all crashing in waves inside me. The moment I broke into soft sobs, he finally turned. His masked face shifted toward mine, and I could feel the weight of his gaze even through the leather and shadows. Then, slowly, he reached out and wiped a tear from my cheek - tenderly, carefully, like he was touching something fragile for the first time. Then, behind that mask, his lips pressed against my skin - kissing away my tears. I gasped softly, frozen in place, as he moved closer. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him, his grip desperate and trembling. He held me like I was all he had left. Like letting go would kill him. So needy. So broken. It made my cheeks flush, my heartbeat stuttered. Why does this feel... good? Why am I reacting like this, feeling warmth from the same hands that once held me captive? His voice cracked into my ear, breath trembling.

"Don't leave me, Melisa. Please... don't leave me."

I didn't answer. Because I didn't know the truth anymore. But I didn't pull away either. And maybe that said more than words ever could. Why can't he leave me? What did I do? He sounds desperate. I let him sleep in his bed, pampering him, trying to calm him down - and now, finally, he's calm. He's ready to sleep, yet he still doesn't say much. His silence makes me feel guilty. I try to walk away, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me back. Suddenly, I'm on top of him. I look into his eyes, those same eyes behind that mask again. "Sebastian? I have to sleep," I said, while he continued to look at me, his hand gently touching my back. I could feel the warmth of his palm against me. "Sleep with me tonight?" he asked. I shook my head. But he didn't listen, he grabbed my waist and gently pushed me down onto his bed. Wow. He definitely doesn't know what boundaries or respect are. He grabbed my legs, wrapped his arms around my waist, and positioned us in a spooning embrace. I could feel his arms tighten around me. He's a maniac, I hated it. Clearly, he doesn't care about what I feel or think. My emotions mean nothing to him. And yet, why am I having butterflies from someone who's trying to harm me? He doesn't care about his life - or mine. He's a psychopath who constantly tries to manipulate everyone around him.

"Sebastian? you're holding me too tight," I gasped, struggling for air as I felt his hard bulge press against my backside. Was he... hard? Every time we get this close, there's this electric pull. And I'm afraid - afraid of falling for my kidnapper, because this isn't right.

He's using his manipulation to keep me from escaping, and now here I am, shamefully enjoying the way his cock brushes against me.

"Don't. Move. Your. Ass. Against my cock," he growled. "Or I will really fuck you, Melisa."

My eyes widened in shock, left speechless by the dark seduction in his voice. I tried to pull away, but his grip was unrelenting. His arm held me in place, and every slight movement made the contact more unbearable - more dangerous. God, why am I soaking wet? I didn't want this - yet I couldn't stop the tingling, the need. I tried to stay still, but it was impossible not to feel everything.

"Sebastian? I can't sleep," I whispered.

He lifted his body to face me, his facemask still covering half his face. Damn, I wanted to see him - really see him. I was desperate to catch a glimpse of those piercing blue eyes.

"I'll make you fall asleep, little bunny," he murmured, his voice low and seductive. His hand slowly slid down to my thigh, fingers tracing a path that made my breath hitch. "If you let me touch you, Melisa?" he said, voice husky, deep, and intoxicating. My thoughts blurred. The hatred I held onto moments ago began to melt away, replaced by a hunger I didn't want to admit. All I could think about now was the way he could make me lose control - make me come undone. What happened to you Melisa you have to fight? My mind is talking right now but my body doesn't listen.