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Apensive expression settled on her face after digesting the shock of seeing me inChicago.Shestood tall and defiant behind the glass of the cascade door, unfazed by my demand.
“Openthe damn door beforeIbreak it down,” like an omen of doom, my voice echoed through the door.Iinhaled deeply, momentarily composing myself. “Wehave discussed this,”Itried to rationalize, sounding calmer than the fury boiling inside me. “Runningis pointless because there is nowhere to hide.Youdon’t have it in you to watch me destroy the people you love.”
Hereyes remained determined, her lips set in a tight line with unwavering resolve. "Iran away becauseIhad to know what was happening.”
Ismirked at the determination in her voice. "Didyou find out what you were looking for,Princess?"
“YouknowIdid,” she whispered. “I’mnot going anywhere with you.”
Thecorners of my mouth curled asIstared atPiyawith serene tranquility.Itwas time to show her all the cards.Ididn’t want to resort to this, but she twisted my arm into it. “Areyou sure about that,Princess?Wenever did get around to openingPoppy’sfolder.Don’tyou want to know whatIlearned about your daughter?”
Piya’seyes were no longer brown and determined but black like the stormy sea.Herfists clenched tightly at her side, arms trembling.Thepressure in her veins seemed ready to burst at any moment.
Mymenacing eyes were unmoved by her unspoken plight to leavePoppyout of this. “Ifyou don’t make things worse,Iwon’t tell the world whatIlearned aboutPoppy,”Igenerously offered. “Justthis once,I’llforget retribution for this step back.You’vehad your little fun.Nowit’s time to go home.Openthis door.”
Afaint glow emanated from her body.Silenceand a calm stillness was in the air.Iknew what it meant.Piyawouldn’t comply with my demand.
Whydo people insist on choosing the difficult route?Shehad to know there was nowhere to run and was only prolonging the inevitable.
Piya’sface turned stoic with an eerie determinationIdidn’t know her to possess. “You’renot going to do anything toPoppy,” she spoke with unwavering confidence.
Iraised my eyebrows as if to say,challenge accepted,Princess.
“Thereis no going back for me,Axel,” she spoke softly. “Cominghome and seeingJay…”Herlips quivered, and she bit her bottom one to stop the trembling.Shespoke again after composing herself. “SeeJayhas reminded me thatI’mnot the same person anymore.I’msorry,Axel.Ican’t go with you.”
Ithrew my fist against the door without thinking.
Fuck.
Leaveit toPiyato break the calmIhad perfected over the years.
Istared at the glass with maniacal intensity, filled with an intense emotion that couldn’t be contained for long.Iwas about to lose control and slip up.Icould feel it coming but couldn’t force it down.Myeyes were wild and unfocused at the idea that she might’ve found a way out of my hold.
No.
No.
Impossible.
Theplan was foolproof.Ihadn’t left anything to chance.
Thenwhy the fuck did she appear serene, as if she had found a way out?
Piyastared at me with eyes pleading for me to understand… as if she had a choice in the matter. “I’msorry,Axel,” she repeated. “I’msorry we missed our shot, but too much has changed for me in the last fourteen years.”
Adark shadow loomed over us at the words.Asly grin crept across my face, allowing me to regain my composure. “Doyou know how longIhave been searching for you?”Iasked mildly. “BecauseIdo;Icounted each day you stayed away from me.That’swhyIfind it amusing when you keep saying it had been fourteen years since we met.”
Theblood drained fromPiya’sface. “W-what are you talking about?”
Istepped forward until we were face to face, separated by nothing but the glass door. “Youkeep purposefully repeating the time frame to instill the number into my subconscious.Isn’tthat right,Piya?”
Piyatried keeping an emotionless expression, but it was too late.Icould sense the fear buried inside and the dread over her deepest secrets being uncovered.
That’sright,Princess,Iwas onto your little game. “Doyou know how long it has actually been since we met again?”
Piya’slips parted as if to reply to the rhetorical question, but instead, she chose to remain silent.
“Thirteenyears, eight months, one week, and four days.”
