“I… I said, don’t touch me. Thanks for taking care of me when I passed out, but I’m fine now. I don’t need help,” Elliot said nervously, shaking off any daze as he looked up at Leon.

  The two had just exited Rowan’s house and gone down the elevator at that point. Now they stood besides one another on a dimly lit path, in front of a series of towering apartment buildings, in the middle of the cold, nebulous night.

  Leon did not speak. He only grasped tighter onto Elliot’s shoulder. Elliot swallowed hard, twisting and attempting to extricate himself, but it didn’t work—it just left his arm feeling sore.

  “Leon…?” His voice was apprehensive as he bit down his bottom lip, and his shoes made a scratching noise as they scuffed against the ground.

  "I told you no, you bastard, let go!”

  But Leon continued on expressionlessly, dragging Elliot with him as he kept walking, his eyes scanning ahead, and avoiding eye contact. He steered them towards the road. Towards a rge communal parking lot, with rows of empty cars.

  His free hand reached down into his coat pocket. There was a click. Elliot’s eyes widened as an automobile responded— it lit up, unlocking in front of them.

  It was a sophisticated, expensive car. Large, midnight bck, and powerful. And the closer he looked at it, the more it uncannily seemed to resemble a hearse. Elliot started struggling harder, his breath hitching and his heart racing faster as he prepared to scream—

  “Shhh.”

  A rge, cold hand tightly grasped around his mouth, muzzling him as if he were a wild animal. Another hand gripped onto the chains around both his wrists, rendering resistance futile. Elliot’s voice died in the back of his throat.

  Leon paused. His jaw stiffened, and his eyes softened, before his hand finally loosened around Elliot’s lips, gently stroking him instead.

  But each stroke felt sharp and cold, digging into his skin like a scalpel. Like a needle piercing and drawing blood.

  With all the strength he could muster, Elliot shoved him away.

  He stumbled, taking a deep breath, steadying himself as his vision blurred with the threat of tears. Trying to ignore Leon’s hot gaze creeping along his skin, the hurt in his eyes.

  Damn it. He’d been trying to keep it in, trying not to cause trouble for as long as he could. Hoping if he ignored it, it would go away. But he couldn’t take it anymore. Elliot’s expression colpsed, a complete mess mixed between sadness and fear and confusion.

  “I already told you!” He sobbed, “I don’t like you back.”

  “In fact, I despise you.” His voice cracked, “And I don’t want to see your deranged face ever again.”

  “So don’t call me, don’t look at me...” His voice rose, “Let. Me. Go!”

  He was panting when he finished, staring at his captor with vicious anger in his eyes. His arms, still tied together, went limp as they lost strength. Without realizing, he’d also chewed through his bottom lip. Only now did he notice the sting it left.

  Leon did not immediately react. He faltered, hair disheveled from the wind, and his eyes shifted away.

  “But I—” he murmured, words failing him.

  “I don’t care.” Elliot spat.

  “You… don’t care.” Leon repeated slowly.

  Yes, he didn’t care. And yes, he wanted him gone. Elliot hadn’t realized how frustrated he was, how angry he was until now. Until this moment, when he’d screamed it all in Leon’s face.

  Weeks of negative feelings seemed to wash away, leaving him refreshed after venting. Elliot nodded hard, his expression filled with certainty and solemn determination.

  “You want me to stop.” Leon’s voice was calm, “You… want me to stop…”

  Wait. Something felt wrong.

  Elliot paused, feeling a chill go up his spine. He shivered, trying to ignore the feeling of the cold wind sharply kissing his forehead, burning his cheeks cherry red.

  Leon looked directly at him, his eyes cold. Vacant. Dangerous.

  “You hate me.”

  Elliot’s throat constricted. He averted his gaze cautiously, searching around his surroundings for an escape. His instinct was screaming at him, as if he was facing a wild beast incapable of reason.

  Perhaps he was just trying to avoid reality. Trying to avoid the truth.

  Leon reached out, about to grab onto his face, but Elliot shrank away.

  And a single thought permeated his head. Run.

  He did so. Taking the chance he’d been given, he started sprinting, heart feeling like it was going to beat out of his chest.

  Every step seemed to drag into the pavement, every breath seemed poisoned by the callous, inky air. His body was burning up, even as the night snatched all sembnce of warmth away from his skin.

  Frantic footsteps pounded behind him. Elliot wheezed desperately, scrambling for the safety of distance, his eyes reflecting the light from the nearest streetmp as he made a sharp turn, about to get away—

  A hand pulled his shirt back.

  A shadow loomed over him. Elliot’s body smacked into the pavement, his legs and arms weakly thrashing, pain crashing down onto his entire body. Leonard’s hands reached for the handcuffs tying Elliot’s hands together, ignoring his muffled cries. Ignoring his tears.

  The st thing Elliot could recall was Leonard caressing his hair, of something warm and bitter brushing against his lips.

  And then everything turned bck.

  StoneInky