e a pile of shattered wreckage. He let out another cou
arely audible. "Kayla... she's really gone." His eyes were
that moment. His face twisted, the mas
e roared, his voice bouncing off the concrete walls. "You think
d ribs. Jaron whimpered, curling into a tigh
your own future," Elliot spat, "let's see if y
gers. Make sure he
ng out a phanto
futile shout that di
ands, his li
r beyond anything I could have ever im
ning away with every act of vio
d immediately by another, e
and piercing, as if they wer
omething precious bei
ldn't look away. My eyes were forc
ssion unreadable, standing like
a taunt in his voice. "Does it hurt now? Does it hurt enou
ging deep into my chest. He was mocking
ble and elegant, were n
tural angles, dark red blood
ere all trampled to dust
sharply. This wasn't the Elliot I knew. Th
monster forged from d
ked out again. "Kayla... s
g a hand dismissively
lous lie." He paced for a moment, his jaw tig
a heavy door in the corner o
ut, dragging a small, f
ion bl
't be. It cou
o hoarse no sound came out; i
ar
let out a raspy cry from the floo
ale, her silver hair disheveled, as
ous, her head lo
d across the face, roughly pul
ainst the glaring light, and then her e
voice hitched, tearin
weak body trembling. Her gaze landed on Jaron's
n?" she screamed at Elliot, her voice f
eered, his face
ng out to roughly grab her ch
? Do you remember baking me apple pies? Look at you now,
ecious daughter is, and all of this en
ining table, laughing along with Mom as she
respectful, so ge
garbage, as if she were merely a
heeks, her eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow. "My Kayla is go
s naked, heart
s remained cold a
me!" he roared, sho
lapsing to her kn
l? Kayla would never do
re she is, or your son will suffer even more." He ge
re returning to Elliot, her face
es rolled back into her head, and she colla
flash of irritation in his ey
r away. Keep Jaron locked up here. Until Kayla shows her face, he do
, his pho
softened, standing in jarring contrast to t
voice dripping with tenderness. "Yes, I'm still ha
lessly switching between a brut
sgust washed
tion, or perhaps, he was
ill lingering in his eyes swept over my family's b
ated tale of love and betrayal, while my famil
etching itself deep into t
ke? Three years ago, maybe
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