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I shouldn't have done this to her.
Every day I keep her locked up is another notch on my death sentence.
No wonder Anders couldn't stay and help me take care of the girl. The whole situation is too messed up for words.
We walk into the living room. I've cleared away all the traces of my day with Pandora, but the fire is still burning in the hearth, and Lily Anna sits in front of the fireplace now, admiring the sparks flying and hitting the glass panel before the logs.
"So beautiful," she mutters. "I like it."
I smile, sitting down next to her and extending my arms. We both warm our palms on the fire before I reach over to the poker in a metal box on the mantel, and stoke the fire. Lily Anna watches the flames burning as we sit there in companionable silence. But for the first time, I'm sure about something - whatever Lily Anna and I had is over. My love for her has faded over the years. I've become jaded by her personality, fooled by her lies one too many times to keep indulging her vindictive personality.
"Lily Anna." My voice fades as I say her name, and she turns her head to look at me. "I've been thinking about leaving."
She cocks her head to the side, a sweet smile lighting up her face. "Oh. Where are we going?"
The way she phrases her question doesn't escape me, and I force myself not to wince as I answer, "I'm leaving this town. Eden Falls is toxic. I want to get the hell out of here."
Her eyes widen. "But where could we possibly go?"
I need to tell her the truth, and I know it's going to hurt.
I reach over for her hands, gathering them in mine. "Lily Anna, I... I'm not leaving with you."
Shock registers in her eyes first, then betrayal. She snatches her hands away from mine, but merely nods in response. "What's going to happen to me, then?"
"Well, you're old enough to do whatever you want," I tell her gently. "Your father-er, Emilian Oakes, he... he can't hurt you, even with his influence. Nobody would let him hurt you anymore, not now that you're of legal age, and everyone knows you're not..."
"Not what?"
"Nothing," I mutter. "Point is, you'd be free. Free to go wherever you wanted."
"But what if I want to come with you?"
I try to take her hands again, but I don't want to upset her, so I run my fingers through my hair again. "Thing is, Lily Anna, I'm not leaving by myself."
Once again, there's shock, then betrayal, then pure resentment. But she doesn't say anything, only nods and looks away. We stare silently at the fire for the next few minutes, me choosing the words that will hurt her the least when I tell her she's on her own from here on out.
"Dex?"
I look up at her, hoping she won't cry or get upset. "Yes?"
"Can you get me a drink?" Her voice is wobbly. "I don't feel so good."
"Alright," I mutter, getting up to grab some water when it hits me - this could be Lily Anna's clever plan to run away from me. To betray me and go straight to the cops. After all, I've been keeping her prisoner for a long time. This could easily play to her advantage - and my downfall.
I turn to face her again, gently asking, "Lily Anna, you don't want to hurt me, do you?"
"No." Her eyes burn with passion as she locks them with mine. "I'd never hurt you, Dexter. I love you."
Her words sting and cut deep, but I somehow manage a nod nonetheless. I set off in the direction of the kitchen, feeling tense as I pour a glass of water for her. Maybe I shouldn't trust her. Maybe this was all she wanted - an opportunity to run away, to stab me where it hurts.
I rush back so fast half of the water in the glass I got sloshes over the rim.
But once I arrive back in the living room, I notice Lily Anna hasn't moved from her spot, and guilt makes nervous beads of sweat break out on my skin.
"Here you go." I offer her the glass, surprised by her steady composure as she takes it from me. "Do you feel better?"
