31: Breath

Quinn was tipsy, to say the least; she went to a bar close by and hung out with some friends. She was disappointed she couldn’t pick a guy to sleep with the night. There were a couple of men that caught her interest, but some of them weren’t interested. Some guys were, but Quinn wasn’t physically attracted to them, so she thought it was best to leave. Luckily, her apartment was a ten-minute walk, and many people were around. As she was walking toward her apartment, Quinn couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

It felt as if someone was watching her. Quinn would look at her surroundings to see if someone was eyeing her. She feared it was one of the men she rejected at the bar. After looking and finding no one paying her attention, Quinn continued. Fewer people were getting closer to her apartment since it was closer to Yale University, but there were some students here and there.

Quinn was getting closer to her apartment, but the feeling of being watched didn’t go away.“Maybe it’s because I’m drunk,”she thought. In front of the door, she unlocked, entered, closed, and locked the door again. The lights in the living room were turned on, and Quinn thought it was best to shower. She slowly took off her clothes, including her bra and underwear, threw them on the sofa, and then went to the bathroom to shower.

Turning on the warm water, Quinn groaned as the warm water hit her body, relaxing her. While showering, she couldn’t help but still feel upset that she couldn’t get a guy to release her from her urges. “I guess I need to help myself.” Quinn slowly touched her body sensually to begin stimulating her.

Her hands first trailed onto her breasts and then played with her nipples. She gently squeezed them, making her shiver in excitement. Then, she trailed down to her stomach until reaching her slightly hairy opening. Quinn massaged her entrance to try to entice herself. Imagining a hot man that she constantly desired came to mind. It frustrated her that the men she wanted didn’t want her. They would want sex but nothing else.

Quinn didn’t like to admit her hypocrisy since she would use men she wasn’t fully attracted to but believed she was in the right since she had the beauty many men would want. Her fingers slowly entered her and began to move them in an upward and downward movement, making her groan in pleasure.

It wasn’t the same as a man’s cock, but it would do for her since she was giving herself the pleasure. While doing so, a low thud came from the living room. Quinn stopped what she was doing and listened intently to hear the noise. When there was nothing, she assumed it was probably her upstairs neighbors. However, Quinn was no longer in the mood to please herself and thought it best to stop and get ready for bed.

While getting out of the shower, the feeling of dread overwhelmed her. “What the hell is wrong with me? Damn, the alcohol got to me this time.” She opened the door and walked into her bedroom, which was slightly in disarray since there was dirty laundry, empty soda cans, and pizza boxes on the floor. Quinn went to one of her drawers to get her pajamas, not realizing that her closet doors were quietly opened. On the other side was a tall figure wearing black clothing, gloves, and a ski mask.

The tall figure held a thick rope; he slowly walked behind Quinn, who got her pajamas. The rope was immediately wrapped around her neck and was tightly tightened. In shock, Quinn didn’t have a chance to scream as the figure’s hand covered her mouth and forcibly motioned her to the bed. Her back faced the perpetrator.

The figure’s weight was too much for Quinn, who was terrified. His hand muffled her screams. “Shut it. If you make noise, I promise I will make your death slow and painful. I have questions.” Fear overwhelmed her, and Quinn nodded while tears dripped from her eyes; her body trembled uncontrollably. “Do you know where Alexandria Graham is? I will let you talk but one scream and I will kill you. Got it?” Quinn nodded.

Alexandria.

Many questions went through her mind. Why did the intruder want to know about Alexandria? Was it possible that Alexandria got herself into illegal activity? She didn’t know and didn’t care. Quinn wanted to stay alive. Her mouth was freed, but the hand was still close to her. “I-I-I d-don’t know where she is. A-All I know that police w-were searching her place. That’s all I know!” Her mouth was covered again.

“So I assume you’re not close with her. Do you know who? Again, if you scream, I will kill you.”

Quinn’s mouth was freed, and she was thinking about who else could tell him about Alexandria. Then she remembered: “T-Talk to her two friends, J-Jenny and M-Max. They are her best friends. I think they live at Jenny’s parents’ house, which they rent.”

“Are they students at the University?”

“Y-Yes. That is all I know. I swear!”

The figure noticed that Quinn was nude, but the towel covered her body. He was full of anger and stress, and he needed some form of release. “I couldn’t help but hear you pleasing yourself. Are you that desperate for a man?” He felt her flinch but felt her slight excitement. The towel was taken off from her, exposing her naked back and body. The figure then got his bulge and humped her ass, making Quinn gasp in shock and pleasure. “You want my cock do you?”

“I-I-I-”

The masked intruder put his covered face behind her ear, and his hot breath was felt. “A real man has never dominated you, have you? No matter how much you hide it, you want this. You want a man to overpower you, to please you.” He felt her bottom slowly move onto his bulge and got his answer. “I will give you what you want.” The intruder undid his pants and took out his erect cock, using the tip to tease Quinn’s entrance.

She widened her legs, giving him more access. “Put it in me,” Quinn said desperately. Never in her life had she felt such excitement and fear. She read many erotic books and always wondered how it would have felt being in the female character’s position. Quinn felt the man’s cock slowly enter her; he was big and felt her walls clenching onto him. A moan escaped her lips.

The man bucked his hips forward; he groaned while feeling Quinn’s walls clenching onto him. A quick fuck was what he needed. He continued on his rampage as he took Quinn beneath him. Pleasure slowly overwhelmed him, but it wasn’t the same since it wasn’t Alexandria beneath him. He imagined Alexandria being the one he was fucking. The image of Alexandria moaning and begging him to do more to her, to destroy her.

He was too busy to realize that Quinn moaned loudly and that she eyed him with desire and interest. Quinn wanted to know who made her fantasy a reality; she removed his mask. All her pleasurable feelings went away when realizing who it was. “Y-Your that Professor Elliot suspected of murder!”

Elliot got out of his daze and realized his mask was taken off. He got his cock out of her as his rage overcame him. “You damn bitch.”

Quinn screamed, but her screams were immediately covered; Elliot used his other free hand to pull on the rope that was tied to her neck. Quinn tried to get out of his grip, but he was too strong. Elliot stood up with the top in hand and used both hands while he put his heavy foot on top of her head as he was taking the life out of her.

The screams dissipated as Quinn was losing breath and consciousness. She tried to grip the rope, but she was losing strength. It was becoming dark, and tears dripped from her eyes.“Alexandria was right, I always had a horrible taste in men…”

Elliot continued pulling onto the rope until her skin turned blue. Quinn eventually stopped moving, but after another ten minutes, Elliot stopped and checked her pulse.

She was dead.

“Finally, damn bitch.” Elliot then put his penis back into his pants. He got the information he needed and knew his next step was to find Alexandria’s friends. They had to know where she was. For now, he had to handle Quinn’s body.

32: Together

It was almost midnight. Jenny and Max had arrived home after visiting Jenny’s parents. The couple was in their room, where the bed creaked loudly, and loud groans and moans echoed. Max lay on the bed as he arched his head back while his girlfriend was on top, riding him. Jenny groaned loudly as she roughly rode her boyfriend, feeling his cock impale her with every movement she made with her hips. 

The feeling of Max filling her made her feel complete and ecstasy. “Oh Max! Max!”

Max held onto Jenny’s hips, and he motioned his hips and cock deeper into her. Her walls clenched onto him tightly. His sweat formed throughout his body, and he felt his girlfriend’s sweat drip onto him; it excited him. Seeing Jenny’s breasts bounce with every movement she made made Max thrust into her faster.

Both came together, letting out a loud moan. Max came inside her, but he didn’t need to worry since Jenny was on birth control. Jenny got his cock out of her and lay beside him; she kissed him. “Damn, you really were into it.” Max put his arm around Jenny and looked at her; she was thoughtful. He knew why. “Thinking about Alex?”

Jenny sighed. “Yeah, I can’t help it. I would’ve never thought Alex would be in that kind of situation. I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry, Jenny. That bastard will get caught and everything will return to normal.”

“I hope. The thing is, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread. Like, something bad is going to happen.”

Max knew that Jenny was always worried about Alexandria and other things beyond her control. “No matter what happens, everything will turn out alright. Besides, you have me.” The couple looked at one another and were about to kiss, but the lights turned off, making Jenny squeal. “Damn it. The lights must have turned off.”

Jenny got out of bed and looked out the window, noticing that the rest of the neighborhood had their lights. “That’s odd. Our neighbors got their lights. I’m sure we paid the light bill for this month.”

“I’m going to go to the basement. There’s a possibility that one of the wires malfunctioned or that there are rats. I’ve been hearing some weird noises lately.” Max also got out of bed and put on his boxers and sweats. He got his cell phone, turned on the flashlight, and left the room to go to the basement.

Jenny sighed as she got her cell phone and turned on the flashlight. She wanted to shower but didn’t feel comfortable doing so in the dark. She was wearing her pajamas and dressed to help Max when a loud thud echoed below. The sound made her violently flinch, and she became nervous. “Max?” There was no response, and she became concerned that Max might get hurt. Jenny walked out of the room with her cell phone flashlight in hand.

Once she did so, a feeling of dread overwhelmed her. The feeling was new to her, and Jenny was afraid that Max may have been electrocuted or fallen the wrong way. She slowly went to the basement; the door was connected to the kitchen. The dread never went away, causing her to fear more for Max. Getting to the kitchen, Max was called again, and there was still no response. Before taking her first step down, her body became still with fear.“What is going on with me? Why can’t I move?”

The basement was darker than the rest of the house because the curtains were not dark enough to keep the moonlight away. A cold chill hit Jenny, and she hesitated to proceed. She called out, “Max, are you okay!? Are you hurt!?”

Max again didn’t respond, and Jenny didn’t feel safe going down the basement. Her gut told her she shouldn’t, so she called the police. It was better to be safe than sorry. While dialing her phone, Jenny didn’t realize that one of the guest room doors slowly and quietly opened; Elliot walked out with a bat in hand.

He padded toward Jenny and noticed that she had dialed 911. Elliot took action. He swung the bat, which struck Jenny on the waist. Surprised by the impact, she yelped and fell to the floor. Elliot knew it was only a matter of time before police were sent since Jenny could be charged with making a false report.

The call was hung up, and the phone was violently thrown on the floor, breaking it.

Jenny was having difficulty breathing due to the impact, and she then felt the pain. A flashlight flashed on her, making her flinch. When taking a peek, she noticed Elliot’s face. Her eyes widened. “Y-You’re th-that Professor!”

“Bravo, it should be obvious since Alexandria must have told you about me and the fact that I am probably all over the news. Now, let s get to the point. Where is Alexandria?”

Jenny couldn’t believe that Elliot would be looking for her best friend. She thought that he would make a run for it. “Wh-Why do y-you want her? Y-You’re a w-wanted man!” She coughed since it was difficult to breathe; Jenny believed that her rib was broken.

“What I want is my concern. Your main concern is your life, woman. I killed your little boyfriend and lies dead in the basement.”

“M-M-Max!?” Her boyfriend was dead, killed. Tears dripped from her eyes; Elliot killed the love of her life, and now he was after Alexandria. “YOU MONSTER! FUCK YOU! I WILL NEVER TELL YOU WHERE SHE IS!”

Elliot motioned out his ba,t where the tip had bits of Max’s blood. “Well, that is a pity. Even the most stubborn spirits have their limits. If you don’t do it, I must get the information the hard way. Without warning, Elliot swung the bat on Jenny’s legs, making her scream in pain; a cracking sound echoed upon impact. The bat was swung again on her legs, but harder than before. Jenny’s pained screams were music to his ears; the power it made him feel was beyond words.

He then swung onto her waist, where he first hit her, making Jenny scream again and making her have a difficult time breathing; the pain was too much. “OKAY! OKAY! A-ALL I-I-I KNOW IS THAT SHE IS STAYING WITH ANOTHER PROFESSOR!”

“Another Professor?” Elliot then remembered Alexandria mentioning another Professor, and it hit him: “Would this Professor be Richard Hart?”

“Y-Yes! But Alexandria didn’t tell us where she was staying at! I swear!”

Alexandria was intelligent not to tell her friends where the location she was staying at. However, getting confirmation that she was staying with Richard was what he needed. Elliot could find the address by digging deeper. “Well, thank you for your cooperation.” He then motioned the bat high, making Jenny eye him with horror. “Now, you can be with your boyfriend forever.” With one brutal swing, he hit her on the head, cracking parts of her skull open; blood spilled.

Elliot immediately got out of the house with his weapon, leaving his victims for dead.

33: Call

“ALEXANDRIA!”

Alexandria woke up from her sleep and looked at her surroundings. “What was that? Who was calling me?” She sat up from her bed and looked at her phone; it was over 9 am. “Damn, I overslept.” The young woman got out of bed, changed, and cooked breakfast in the kitchen.

While cooking, she remembered Richard’s plan. He also spoke with Detective Rose about their plans to pressure Elliot. His picture and his crimes would be all over the news. It brought her some relief, but Alexandria had some doubts. Elliot had gotten away with certain things throughout his career, and there were possibilities he might trick law enforcement. “I can’t think negatively; even the most arrogant pricks can always make a mistake.”

As she finished cooking pancakes, the living room door opened. Richard entered and noticed Alexandria. “Good morning. I see that you’re finally up.”

A blush threatened to appear on her face, but Alexandria put the food on plates. “Yeah, I guess I had a difficult time sleeping; I slept very late.”

“Understandable, the news and plans were a lot to take in. I’m happy that you at least got some rest.” He was motioned to sit at the table to eat breakfast. Richard didn’t have a chance to eat since he was busy. “I made calls and had an emergency meeting with the Department Head and University President regarding the situation with Elliot. The Detective also got in contact with them yesterday.”

Alexandria served him a plate of food; she couldn’t help but notice the scene. She felt like a wife giving her husband food. “I-I imagined that they weren’t happy.”

“Believe me, they weren’t. Since the news of Elliot’s crimes have made it to the news, the University will be put under pressure. If they keep the University opened, then it would make the public believe that the students’ safety are of no concern.”

“That would make sense. I know Yale care a lot about money, especially from the rich families. Yale was responsible hiring him in the first place.” Alexandria grabbed her plate and sat close to Richard. “No parent would want to send their children to a place that could risk of them getting hurt or killed.”

“Indeed. The University President will send out an email to all students and will post the news of the University being closed for a month.”

“Only a month!?′

Richard nodded while sighing. He took a bite of his pancake, which was delicious and moist. He had to admit that Alexandria was exceptionally a good cook. Looking at her, Richard couldn’t forget that she served him food. It made it seem as if they were a couple. Deep down, Richard wanted a serious relationship; being single and looking for a good woman to settle down with was tiring. He never imagined dating a student, but Alexandria was mature and strong for her.

Alexandria was a survivor who wanted to do good for her community.

“Hey Richard, I was wondering if I could go visit my friends. It can get tiring staying in this place.”

“I understand, but it would be best not to go out anywhere for now until we receive news.” Richard knew Alexandria wasn’t happy to hear his statement. It was torturous for her to stay hidden, but he didn’t want to risk her safety.

“Can I at least call them. I need to talk with some friends, please.”

“Alright, but it must be kept short. Got it?”

The two continued eating their breakfast until they finished. Once the dishes were cleaned, Alexandria got her phone and dialed Jenny’s number. The phone rang continuously, but there was no answer. “Huh, that’s bizarre. She’s not answering. Let me try to call Max. Hopefully, she’ll not be sick.”

Richard was putting the plates away as he looked at her. “Do your friends work?”

“They do, but they both work at bars at night, and today is their day off.” She then dialed Max’s phone, which was the same as Jenny’s. “Well, I guess they went out somewhere.” Alexandria was about to hang up until an answer was on the other end. “Max, it’s about time! Whe-”

“Who is this?”asked in a masculine voice.

It was an unrecognizable voice that didn’t sound like Max’s. Alexandria looked confused; Richard noticed. He stopped washing the dishes and slowly walked to Alexandria.

“Uh, Max?”

It was silent on the other end, but there was a response.“Hello, this is Officer Hutson from the Manchester Police Department. Unfortunately, the owner of this phone cannot answer.”There seemed to be a slight hesitation in the officer’s voice.“There was an unfortunate accident.”

Richard flinched and saw Alexandria’s eyes widen in horror. She trembled. “A-A-accident!? Wh-what happened!? Is Jenny okay? Where is Jenny!?” Richard wanted to take the phone away, but she moved it away and ran to the living room.

“How are you related to the victims?”

“Victims!? VICTIMS!? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? THEY’RE MY FRIENDS!”

Alexandria’s distress made Richard go to her and immediately took the phone. She tried to get the phone back, but he moved it away. “Hello, the one you spoke to is a good friend to Jenny and Max. Please tell us what happened.”

“Sir, all I can tell you is this. 911 was called around midnight and we were dispatched. When arriving to the house, we found the bodies of a couple. Unfortunately, both are deceased.”

Deceased. The word echoed in Alexandria’s mind. Her friends were dead. Dead. “NNOOOOOO! THEY CAN’T BE DEAD! JENNY! MAX!” Alexandria screamed in terror as she fell to the floor.

Richard thanked the officer, hung up, and hugged her tightly. It was too much of a coincidence that two of her friends were dead, and he had a theory of who was the culprit. Richard feared that they were following Elliot’s list.

34: Move

Detective Rose was in her office looking at her laptop; it was all over the news. Elliot was now on the Most Wanted List due to his killing of his wife. Since he was a former Professor at Yale, it was in the top headlines. She smiled while watching the news of Elliot being exposed as a suspected killer and that he was wanted.

She then used other tabs to research Yale University news: The campus was to be closed for a month. Looking at Yale’s social media profile, students raved about the news. Many students shared their horrific experiences with Elliot, saying how sadistic he was while teaching and how much he enjoyed seeing students fail.

Everything was going perfectly. Since Elliot was in hiding, he might have been watching the news. Rose informed law enforcement in nearby states to keep an eye on the situation since it was possible that Elliot would try to leave the state. Rose also commanded her team to contact airports in Connecticut to look for Elliot and ensure that his picture was shown along with his information.

It was going to be difficult for him to escape the state.

“His pride and selfishness were his own downfall; it will only be a matter of time until he-” Her phone rang, making her snap out of her attention to the news. When looking at her phone, she saw that it was Maxwell. “Hey Maxwell, any leads?”

Maxwell was silent, and Rose knew something was wrong.“Rose, my unit was called to Miss Graham’s apartment.”

Rose stood up from her seat, believing the possibility that Elliot had returned to the apartment to try to gather evidence to destroy. The Detective ensured that she and her team took everything they needed to use against Elliot. “What happened?”

“Last night, someone from the apartment heard noise from a neighbor from the floor where Mrs. Graham’s apartment room was located.”

The information was unexpected, to say the least. Rose didn’t want to sound inconsiderate but was disappointed it wasn’t about Elliot. “Okay, so then what happened?”

“From some eyewitnesses, the victim knew Miss. Graham, where she would speak and visit occasionally amd-”

“Wait, did you say, ‘victim’? Does that mean…?”

“We were asked to check out if the neighbor was okay, but when the door was knocked on, there was no answer. The manager opened the door, and well…the body was found hanging in the room.”

The Detectives were silent; Rose was processing the information. If the neighbor was known to know Alexandria, there was the possibility that the death was no accident. It was too much of a coincidence. Since Maxwell mentioned the deceased neighbor as a victim, then he thought about what she was thinking about. “What was the name of the victim?”

“From some identification, her name was Quinn Kanes. We interviewed many of the students who lived in the apartment, and many stated that Quinn was a student at Yale. Some said that Quinn and Miss. Graham knew each other since they were children. Others said that the two young women were students of…”

“Elliot! Of course! It is too much of a coincidence. Elliot must have discovered that this Quinn knew Alexandria and wanted to see if she had any information.”

“I agree. Unfortunately, the victim was found hanging, but I hypothesize that Elliot wanted to make it look like a suicide. Anyway, the parents will be called; I found out that the victim came from wealth so the pressure on finding Elliot will be on the rise.”

Rose sighed but viewed it as a good opportunity since Quinn’s parents could help them find Elliot since they would want justice. “Alright, call the parents and start asking them questions, and be honest that Elliot is being suspected of killing her. I am sure they will call the news to put pressure on finding Elliot.”

The two hung up.

Rose didn’t want to feel surprised, but she couldn’t have imagined that innocent civilians would be involved in Elliot’s rampage. One thing was clear: Elliot was still after Alexandria.

Her phone rang again, and the number was recognizable from the caller ID. She answered, “Hello, Mr. Hart.” Before she could speak, Alexandria was wailing at the other end. Rose immediately feared the worst. “What happened?”

Richard sighed and said, “We received word that Alexandria’s friends were killed. I think we all know who was responsible.”

The news was worse than Rose imagined. At first, she wondered why Quinn was killed, and the more she thought about it, the possibility of her mentioning Alexandria’s friends came to mind. Rose grew even more concerned. “Elliot. I can’t believe it has come to this. My partner had called me a moment ago telling me that Alexandria’s neighbor was found dead. It looked like a suicide but we know better. She was one of Elliot’s former students; it’s too much of a coincidence.”

Richard was momentarily silent; Alexandria’s cries were heard farther away. He moved farther away so she wouldn’t hear their conversation. ”From what I could get from Alexandria, she told her friends that she was staying with me. I don’t know if her friends told her that bit of information, but either way, we’re in danger.”

“I agree. If Elliot found out where Alexandria’s friends live, then it would be only a matter of time when he finds you two. I will try to get you into a safe house. I need to make a few calls to get yo both in. Wait for the call, understand?”

“Understood.”

The two hung up, and Rose immediately went to work, calling many safe houses. She couldn’t help but feel that something was going to go wrong.

……………………..

Elliot was sitting in his car outside his hiding spot, looking at the news. His picture was online and in the news. Rose made her move and ensured that nearby states had his information. Escaping the state would be difficult, but Elliot believed he was more intelligent than that. There were always ways to escape the law. He ensured to make orders from the dark web for a realistic-looking mask along with a fake ID and passport for himself.

It would take three days to get what he needed since he put the address at another secret location.

He decided to pursue Alexandria. The information Jenny provided revealed more about Richard. Although he had two properties, Elliot believed Richard had Alexandria in one of them. The former Professor knew which property they were in.

The duo must have heard the news about Jenny and Max, and it would only be a matter of time before they would try to leave.

Elliot smirked. “It will be time to move; tonight, Alexandria will be in my grasp.

35: Kidnapping

It was 9 pm; Richard packed some things he and Alexandria may need. However, it took longer than expected since Alexandria was in shock. She was also overwhelmed with guilt, believing it was her fault that they were dead.

Richard let her rest as he did the packing and informed her that Detective Rose would find them a safe house they could stay in. She eventually called thirty minutes ago that a safe house was free close to the police station since law enforcement would be sent to keep watch. With everything packed, Richard then sat beside Alexandria, who sat motionless on one of the sofas.

He knew that she needed alone time to come to terms with her loss, but there wasn’t much time to mourn since they were in danger. Still, it didn’t mean Richard couldn’t try his best to console her in her time of need. He slowly put an arm around her shoulder while gently holding one of her hands. “Alexandria…”

Alexandria’s head slumped as she continuously stared on the floor. Her face was tear-stricken and pink from all the crying and wailing. She looked emotionally and physically exhausted; there was no life in her eyes. Richard felt terrible seeing her in such a state. He was about to call her again, but she interrupted him. “They’re dead because of me…”

“Alexandria, you have no fault in anything. You-”

“I was the cause of…Elliot’s obsession. If I switched out of his class, if I didn’t defy him, Elliot wouldn’t have become obsessed and-”

“You have to stop stop this, Alexandria!” Richard spoke firmly, feeling her slightly flinch. He felt slightly guilty for his tone, but Alexandria was overwhelmed with guilt. She believed it was her fault Elliot killed her friends, but it wasn’t. Alexandria needed to be convinced of the reality of Elliot’s insanity. “You and no one would have imagined how truly dangerous Elliot was. Everything that he has done was due to his own decisions! Elliot also had a choice not to obsess over you, but he chose his arrogance and pride! He could have divorced his wife but killed her because it was HIS choice! You did nothing to show your interest in him; he couldn’t accept the fact that there is someone who would dare challenge him!” Richard forced Alexandria to look at him. “HE. IS. AT. FAULT. Not you or anyone else. Do you understand me?”

His words sounded very sincere and understanding. Alexandria knew that he was right, but her shock and trauma got the best of her. “I-I know you mean well, but I just can’t help it. How will their parents react when they hear the reason why they were killed? No matter what, they will blame me.”

Richard didn’t think about their parents, who would be distraught about their children’s deaths. Parents who lose their children will often, at times, blame others since they can’t think properly. Seeing reason was complicated when one lost a loved one, especially in murder. “You are right, your friends’ parents will pin the blame on you. However, when all of this is over, it would be best not to tell them the whole truth.”

“Wh-What!? You’re telling me to-!”

“Lie? Yes.”

“How could you even think of me doing such a thing!? They deserve to know the truth!” Alexandria got away from Richard’s grip.

Her reaction was justified, but Richard was a realist and accepted what could happen. “What will you gain if you tell them the truth? A sense of relief, but that is only temporary; you will live with hatred and guilt for the rest of your life. Since you seem to be prideful of not wanting to take therapy, your life will spiral out of control. Will you be able to live the rest of your life in comfort, knowing that you will be hated for the rest of your life? Judging by your past and personality, you will not be able to fathom not living with their forgiveness; you will try to prove that you are sorry for something that wasn’t your fault.”

“You think you know me!? You-”

“Your actions and words already told me how you are. I can read you more better than you can read yourself. Sometimes, the truth will not always set you free; it could lead to more misery. What can you live with? Telling them the truth and always living with the guilt, their hatred toward you, and what you will have for yourself? Or letting them believe that Elliot killed for revenge and that his being put behind bars can give them a sense of justice and peace?”

His questions made her think, and she couldn’t help but hate how Richard could read her so well. He was upfront and didn’t beat around the bush. What was admirable was that Alexandria couldn’t live with her friends’ parents hating her. Parents would try to find the most straightforward reason to be angry and hate. Alexandria grew up in an environment of violence and manipulation, making her want to feel appreciated, loved, and respected. Richard made sense that the truth wasn’t always the wisest choice. “How-?”

A knock on the door kept them both still. Richard immediately stood up and walked toward the door. He looked through the peephole to see who it was. It was a delivery worker. “May I help you?”

“H-Hello, sir. I have a package for you for which I need a signature.”

“Oh, I didn’t order anything.”

The delivery worker looked at the box. “It says it is from Hugh Manson.”

The name was familiar to one of his friends, whom Richard visits yearly. He found it odd that his friend would send him a package. The door was unlocked, and the door was forcibly opened. Before Richard could respond, something was thrown inside that exploded; smoke was released into the air.

The smoke immediately spread. With one sniff, Richard lost consciousness. Before Alexandria could scream, she saw the delivery fall to the floor. She wasn’t fast enough to prevent smelling the gas; her head got dizzy. Before fainting, she saw a tall figure entering with a gas mask covering his face. “YYYYYYOOOOUUUU…..”

Alexandria fainted, making the intruder enter. The gas cleared, and he went to Alexandria and checked her pulse. “The gas worked wonders. It’s time we make our leave, Alexandria.” The young woman was carried out of the building.

36: Dread

Rose was driving to Richard’s place, as he had texted her the address. Having not had a good night’s sleep, she massaged her eyes momentarily. It would have been not easy to do so, as her motivation to put Elliot behind bars was stronger. The navigation system told her to make a right on a specific street, and when she did so, a dreadful feeling slowly overcame the Detective. Rose tightened her grip on the wheel.

The destination was three minutes away, and the dread wouldn’t go away, making Rose feel that something was wrong. She stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate until she arrived at Richard’s place. Once the car was parked, Rose got her phone and called Richard to inform him of her arrival.

There was no response.

“He knew that I was coming. He and Alexandria wouldn’t go off without telling me unless…” Rose immediately ran toward Richard’s place, and from afar, she noticed what looked like feet. The more she noticed that someone was lying on the floor. When getting to the person, Rose noticed it was a delivery person. “What in the-!?”

“Hey, what’s the fuss!?” One of the neighbors opened their door; it was an older man. “There’s a lot of noise going around, and I can’t watch my show! I-” Rose bumped into the older neighbor, who immediately went to Richard’s condo. When seeing everything, the neighbor was shocked.

Other neighbors began to open their doors to take a peek and see what was happening. Rose ignored the watchful eyes and looked inside Richard’s condo. Inside, Richard was seen lying on the floor unconscious. Before entering, there was a faint scent; it was a smell Rose was familiar with. “Does anyone have a face mask? Anything!?”

Another neighbor went inside his condo and came out moments later with a face mask, which he gave to the Detective while seeing the unconscious men. Rose got her phone and phoned Maxwell. Before he could respond, Rose ordered him to get law enforcement to Richard’s place and to keep a lookout for any suspicious activity.

The call ended, and Rose texted him Richard’s directions and then got out her gun, not knowing if there was someone else in the condo. She slowly entered his room and looked around to ensure there was no one else. While looking around, Rose noticed that Alexandria wasn’t seen. Her eyes widened; her heart beat rapidly.

“Hnnnmmmm, Alexandria…?”

Rose immediately looked at Richard, went and knelt beside him. “Richard!? Are you Richard Hart!?”

Richard slowly woke up as he lifted himself. Once fully awake, he felt dizzy. “What…?”

“You and the delivery driver were unconscious. Where is Alexandria!?”

The mention of Alexandria made Richard alert. “Alexandria!? She’s not here!?” Richard tried to get up, but the dizziness made it difficult.

Rose got up and noticed something at the corner of her eye: a smoke bomb. She went and grabbed it while analyzing it. Smoke bombs could be used for many things; SWAT and other law enforcement would use them to deter riots and difficult perpetrators. However, if Richard and the delivery man were unconscious, then there was another type of substance. Smoke bombs that can render people unconscious were illegal, and the only places that they could be purchased were…“I see. So he got this thing from that place!” She went to Richard and helped him stand. “Richard, I’m Detective Rose, the one you spoke with. I’m sorry I must tell you this, but Alexandria is gone.”

“What!? Damn it! I can’t believe I got fooled!” Richard punched the floor; he noticed the delivery man was still unconscious, but some of his neighbors stood by. “I shouldn’t have-”

“There is no use to think what one could have done. It is obvious that Elliot did this and that he has Alexandria.”

Richard pounded on the floor, horrified and foolish for letting everything happen. He feared for Alexandria and what would happen to her. “Damn it! What the hell are we going to do!? Elliot killed her friends and neighbor! He is going-!”

“Calm down, Richard. I called for backup.” She then instructed the neighbors to leave the building since law enforcement had been called. Many were reluctant, but Rose threatened to arrest them for disobeying law enforcement. People eventually listened, and they began to leave.

Rose then knelt beside the delivery man and felt for a pulse; he was still breathing but barely.

“So what are we going to do next? Elliot could be anywhere!”

“Relax! He left a clue for us.” The smoke bomb was motioned out. “These type of smoke bombs are illegal and are not easy to find. The only place one can buy these are from the dark web.”

Richard looked at the smoke bomb and remembered that when smelling the smoke knocked him unconscious. It would have made sense if something powerful was not legally sold. “Okay, so how will this help us?”

“If this was bought from the dark web, then Elliot must have an account with them. One of my coworkers has an account to catch criminals and watch people were are after. I ensured to block of any chance for him to escape. If I were Elliot, I would try to trick law enforcement by getting a new identity; an easy way it to go to the dark web since many sites illegal things.”

“So the only way to find him is to keep an eye on his account? How do we know if he will use his account?”

“He will. We found a lot of paperwork and we found some information regarding his purchases. Once my coworker arrives, we will get to work.”

37: Confession

*Drip*

*Drip*

“Hmmmnnggh…” Water dripped on Alexandria’s face, making her slowly wake up. When opening her eyes, there was nothing but darkness with a hint of light from afar. Her eyesight was fuzzy, but she eventually regained it back. There was a slight stench of trash, which made her flinch, and when Alexandria made some movement, she felt something around herselfTryingng to get up wasn’t easy since Alexandria couldn’t use her arms, hands, and legs. She realized that the rope was tied around her. “What the…?”

“So you’re finally awake,” said a deep masculine voice.

Alexandria recognized the voice all too well; it was a voice that she hoped she wouldn’t have to hear. Although it was difficult to see, she noticed a figure sitting in the farther corner of the building. Then, a flashlight was turned on, and she saw Elliot’s face; the light gave him a terrifying appearance.

He looked like a demon from hell.

“Y-You!!”

Elliot smirked as he kept the flashlight beam on himself; he wanted her to see him. Seeing her in a vulnerable state made him feel…happy and powerful. He only had the opportunity to be alone with her in class, or at that moment, he danced with her.

The situation changed, and he could finally be alone with Alexandria, who made him do heinous things. The one who believed was the cause of his misery. Initially, Elliot wanted to tame and control her, to feel her. After his crimes were caught, he wanted to kill her since she was the reason for his killing his wife. Now that Alexandria was before him, those feelings evaporated. Elliot finally took Alexandria for himself. “After all this time, I would have never imagined that you were beneath me. Ever since you became my student, you have always eyed me with defiance. You thought you were better than me. Now look at you; pride went away.”

“Y-YOU’RE FUCKING INSANE! DEFY YOU!? YOU DELIGHTED IN MAKING ALL OF US MISERABLE BECAUSE YOU WERE! WHY WOULD I FEAR A COWARD!?”

Elliot sat silently as her words echoed in his mind; she called him a coward. He knew he was no coward; he never hid who he was. “Call me what you want; I am no coward. If you didn’t defy me, none of this would’ve happened. Your defiance made me notice you and want to know you.” The former Professor stood from his seat and slowly walked toward her with the flashlight. Alexandria wanted to move away from him, but the ropes refrained her. He stopped a couple of inches away, looking at her. “You were the first to defy me, to face me. No one has ever done what you did. It motivated me to understand why I wanted to be on top. When I finally realized that you would never give up, it made wme ant to know you. You made me feel something I never felt for a woman: need and desire.”

Alexandria felt horrified hearing her former Professor speak the way he did. His reasoning was beyond insane, and his pride couldn’t comprehend how someone would go against him. However, Elliot’s pride became a sick obsession. “Y-You’re sick! You are mentally unstable, whose pride and arrogance as a lawyer made you think you can do or have whatever you want!”

“I can have whatever I want. People who believe they can’t are nothing but weaklings who give up too easily.” Elliot knelt before her; Alexandria tried to crawl away, but it was vain.

The young woman tried to act strong, but deep down, she was terrified. Elliot was a dangerous criminal who had no hesitation to kill those he deemed a threat. “And you don’t think you’re weak!? Ha! Your sick mind so blinds you with the fact that you are nothing more than a man-child who couldn’t accept no because of your misconception of you being perfect!” Alexandria chuckled due to her fear and the fact she found his reasoning funny. “If you were perfect, then you wouldn’t have been caught for murder! Your narcissism made you slip up! IDIOT!” Alexandria laughed and couldn’t help it. All her mixed emotions came together, and she couldn’t help herself.

Alexandria wanted to let it out; she also laughed due to exhaustion.

Elliot watched her laugh at him. He wanted to see her afraid, to regain his control and power. She was still defying him, trying to edge him on, but he would not let her win.

No.

Even the strongest souls had their weaknesses, and he knew how to destroy her spirit. “Yes, keep on laughing. It was laughable seeing your friends’ agonizing faces when I took their lives.” The laughs slowly died down; Elliot smirked. He knew that he had her attention. “When I smashed their heads to a blood pulp. That friend, Max, was the easy one as he died instantly when I hit his head with the bat. That woman, Jenny, told me of who you were hiding with. She was strong at first, but while I was breaking her legs, she finally gave in. You friend betrayed you and I ensured she knew it when I hit the final blow.”

Tears dripped from Alexandria’s eyes as she heard about her friends’ murder. “WHY!? WHY ME!? YOU COULD OF PLANNED TO HAVE ME EXPELLED OR RUIN MY REPUTATION! WHY THIS!?”

“I told you before, you defied me. Your defiance brought a fire in me that no woman ever did. Your defiance and beauty made me think for you constantly, making me desire you. Making me want to…” Elliot slowly touched Alexandria’s leg, making her violently flinch away from him. “…touch you. Make you realize who truly is superior. You made me kill my worthless wife, your neighbor, and your friends.”

“Y-You killed Quinn!?”

Alexandria was ignored as Elliot continued, “I had to have you and I eventually will.” He slowly stood up.

“YOU SICK BASTARD! YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS! I AM NOTHING MORE THAN WEIGHT THAT WILL CREATE TROUBLE FOR YOU!”

“I know, but I await specific orders to escape this forsaken state. Before I leave and have everything that I need, I will finally have you and destroy that defiance that made me crazed. I will enjoy seeing your suffering and defeat. Once I am done, my lust and power will be repelnnished and there will be no more use for you.”

“Wh-What…?”

“Now get your rest and take advantage of living your life to the fullest before I take it away.”

Alexandria trembled as tears dripped more. Elliot wanted to kill her after he was done using her. She looked at the closed window but felt so far away; the moon was bright.“Richard, please help!”

38: Choice

It was the third day since Alexandria had been kidnapped, and although he tried to remain calm, it wasn’t easy. He was worried about how much suffering Alexandria was under the hands of Elliot. What also tore him apart was that he promised Alexandria that he would always be there to protect her but failed to do so. After the kidnapping, Richard met with Maxwell, who had worked with Rose for a couple of years and was knowledgeable about technology and dangerous websites like the dark and deep webs. 

On the day of the kidnapping, Rose commanded law enforcement and other forensic teams to analyze the smoke bomb immediately. On the second day, they got their results of the ingredients, and Rose’s theory was confirmed: the substances that made the smoke were illegal. Maxwell knew precisely where to find such products; he had a fake dark web account where he posed as a fake customer and tried not to act suspicious since people on the dark web were skilled in technology. Maxwell considered himself a pro since he was once a hacker and used to serve in the technology department of the US military. He found many things the US was doing that he disagreed with and left.

However, Maxwell still wanted to help his community and became a Detective.

Although he tried to pose as a potential customer, Maxwell also created websites on the dark web that sold illegal substances and fake identities. Dangerous criminals were often caught trying to take a new identity; it was Maxwell’s pride. When looking into some of the accounts he created, a purchase was noticed by a particular username:tormentisinlege.Piecing it together, the user used Latin to create his username; it meant, torture in law.” Maxwell had confidence that it was Elliot, especially the paperwork found, who had many purchases on the dark web to control and destroy his victims. What was difficult was that Elliot often changed his username so that suspicions wouldn’t be on him.

Maxwell thought it was clever, but the former Professor didn’t think things through. The order was confirmed, and he agreed to the meeting spot to drop off the identification. Rose was informed, d and relieved that Elliot was yet again careless.

With Alexandria in his grasp, stopping him would be difficult and risky, as Elliot would do anything to avoid prison.

Maxwell and Rose made plans to stop Elliot once and for all. Richard was informed and reassured that they would get to Alexandria safely. However, it wasn’t enough for Richard to volunteer to go. The two Detectives were against the idea and tried to convince him to stay away, but Richard believed it was best for him to go. He explained that everything Elliot did was out of pride, and if Richard were present, it would deter Elliot from making a mistake.

After much deliberation, the detectives agreed and planned to bring Alexandria back to safety.

When Elliot placed his order, he instructed what he thought was an ordinary seller to drop it off at a particular time and location. The location was an abandoned factory in the middle of nowhere. Elliot wanted to ensure that he and Alexandria wouldn’t be seen.

………………………….

It was the third day since the order, and Elliot was in his car with Alexandria in the back, tied and gagged. However, she was filled with blood and bruises. For the last two days, Elliot would emotionally and verbally abuse her, reminding her that it was her fault for his situation and that he killed her friends to find her.

Alexandria would scream that he was never perfect, that he could have divorced and kept everything, and that it was his fault for believing he was perfect. She knew that he was trying to destroy her self-esteem and spirit; it would have worked, but she remembered her father. All the moments he destroyed her mother and tried to destroy her, Alexandria was experiencing the same thing over and over again.

She was tired of trying to be destroyed by people who wanted to know their imperfections. Alexandria fought back but reminded him of his imperfections that, due to them, he was hiding like the dog he was afraid to admit he was.

Elliot slapped her, leading her into shock. The slap was painful, but not as much as knowing that Elliot killed Quinn, her friends, and his wife. She felt it was her fault that everything went to hell, but if she was going to die, then it was not going to happen without a fight. Whenever the former Professor tried blaming and reminding her of her lost loved ones, Alexandria would always answer with the same thing.

Instead of a slap, Alexandria got beaten. Elliot wasn’t merciful when he did so and wanted to ensure she would suffer. The beatings were painful, but Alexandria endured it, refusing to show weakness. When the time arrived where, Elliot got confirmation that his order was ready, and with a picture as proof, he got Alexandria and beat her again so she wouldn’t make the drive difficult.

In front of the abandoned building with no one in sight, Elliot drove closer until he got to the entrance. He made her promise that he would use her and then get rid of her, but she still had the strength to defy him.

It was 10 p.m., two hours since the delivery; Elliot got his bag where a gun was held. He exited his car, put an injured Alexandria over his shoulder, and walked toward the abandoned building.

Alexandria was half-awake since before leaving, Elliot gave her another beating. She lost count of how many beatings she had received. The young woman’s eyesight was blurry, but she realized it was dark and they were headed to a building.“I’m heading towards the ending….”

Elliot was able to enter through a window and threw Alexandria inside, making her yelp since her body was in pain. He entered and put her on his shoulder again; he got his cell phone and turned on the flashlight to find a switch, which was eventually found.

The lights were turned on, giving light to the deteriorating factory. Elliot then dropped Alexandria as he turned off his flashlight and looked at his order confirmation to see where he could find the documents he ordered. Alexandria watched him walk around the factory until he stopped at a particular spot. There was an envelope, and he opened it. “Good.” He then walked back to Alexandria, who was lying on the floor. “I made you a promise, remember?” When there was no response, Elliot continued, “I wanted finally take control and dispose of you, but yet you still have the strength to defy me. I don’t want you to die knowing that you have strength, which is why I am willing to give you a choice.”

“A choice?” Alexandria asked weakly.

“I will let you live, but you will come with me without a fuss and will give yourself to me whenever I want to. Or, I will have my way with you and die. What is your choice?”

Being given a choice was unexpected, but it would lead Alexandria to be SA’d. If she chose to go with Elliot, she would forced to give herself every moment he wanted. He would have the power over her, but she would have the chance to escape. Although, Elliot would kill her instantly. If she refused him, then he would assault her and then kill her. The image of her friends, her mother, and all her classmates who suffered from Elliot’s torture came to mind. The memory of viewing her with admiration and respect reminded her of why they felt that way about her. It was because she was Alexandria.

A tear formed and dripped onto the dirty floor.

“Kill me and be done with it, you coward.”

Elliot raised an eyebrow. He expected her answer but believed she would change her mind. He was enraged that she refused his kindness and mercy and found it ridiculous that she preferred her dignity. He smirked because he believed what he was about to do would restore his superiority. Elliot then put the documents down while slowly removing his jacket and undoing his belt.

Alexandria forced herself to be strong while watching him take off his belt. She closed her eyes and slowly accepted her fate:“Max, Jenny, Quinn, everyone, I’m sorry! I will see you all soon.”Elliot undid the ropes from her legs, and Alexandria tried to kick him, but he punched her in the stomach, making her cough. He pulled her closer to him, where her legs were around his waist.

Elliot grabbed her pants and unbuttoned them. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

A loud bang was heard, and the doors to the factory were forcibly opened, where law enforcement entered with weapons on hand. Rose and Maxwell entered with their weapons; Richard was behind them.

Elliot and Alexandria were surrounded.

39: Bullet

Guns pointed at Elliot as he was surrounded; the shock was relentless. Rose and Maxwell walked forward with their guns in hand. “Hello, Elliot, surprise,” Rose said triumphantly. It was noticeable that Elliot was trying to comprehend what was happening, and the sight made her proud. “Surprised that you were found? Well, it was all thanks to you.”

“H-H-How is this possible?” Elliot’s shock was overcome with rage. “How did you find us!?”

“As I always said, even the most arrogant and prideful people always have their flaws. When you ran away, we thoroughly looked throughout your house and found the safe that contained important documents. Recpiets were also found especially your purchases from the dark web.”

Maxwell said, “I am an expert in the dark web since that is how we find criminals like yourself. You were foolish enough to fall for the website I created. It was pure luck that you chose it. However, you were slightly clever in constantly changing your username, but you changed it into something that represented on what you used to do.”

Elliot couldn’t believe he had been caught and outsmarted. His desperation to escape overwhelmed him, so he didn’t carefully examine the website he had purchased for his new identity. Meanwhile, Alexandria fully opened her eyes and saw everyone around her. Seeing Rose and Richard made her overjoyed, and she wanted to scream with relief and happiness. The pain and fear she felt disappeared. “R-Richard!?”

Richard stood behind Maxwell and Rose, and he walked beside Rose, who motioned not to get too close. “Alexandria! We’re here!”

Seeing Alexandria having hope that someone was going to take him from his grasp made him enraged even more. Her strong will returned, and she would no longer fear. The chance to overpower and destroy the strength she thought she had was coming to an end. Looking at Richard, he couldn’t believe how handsome he was. Elliot always considered himself handsome and perfect; women flocked toward him. His looks weren’t even enough to get Alexandria’s attention.

He then remembered that Alexandria stayed with Richard; if that was true, then the thought of them touching each other made him even more enraged than he already was. Elliot felt that he should have been the one to have Alexandria and be on top and in power. What outraged him the most was that she would have willingly let another man have power and control over her. Something he couldn’t achieve. Noticing that law enforcement was closing on him, it would be only a matter of time before the world would see him in cuffs.

All the people he destroyed would see him destroyed.

Elliot bit his lower lip. He looked at Rose, who looked triumphant. A woman was going to take all the glory. The image of his wife, Amanda, appeared before him, causing his eyes to widen. “A-Amanda, how is this possible??” Everyone, including Alexandria, looked confused.

The image of Amanda smiled, but it was not a soft smile she would give him whenever he returned to work; it was a sadistic smile. ”Look at you, Elliot. Look at what you have become. I can’t believe I blinded myself from seeing who you truly were. I can’t believe I was willing to sacrifice more of myself for a weak man like you.”

“Weak? Weak!? You whore! You left everything and everyone for me because you were stupid enough to believe me!” Elliot smirked sadistically. “Look at what your stupidity got you. Your parents will always know that they will never see their daughter again. That their daughter was nothing more than a whore who broke her marriage for a man like me! It only goes to show how easily you were manipulated!”

“Yet, look at you now. People will never know how and who I truly was. Yet, people will know who Elliot Landon is and always was; a coward. A coward who killed his wife and people who were not at fault due to his pride and obsession. A coward who spied and desired to control a woman who never wanted him no matter how much good looks and money he had.”The image of Amanda looked at Richard, and her sadistic smile widened as she looked at her husband. ”A coward who couldn’t accept the fact that there was another man who his obsession desired. Look around you and where you have fallen, a fitting end for a dog.”

Her words echoed in his mind; Elliot felt he lost his mind. He didn’t want to live knowing about his tarnished reputation nor that he was never to regain his power in Alexandria. Without warning, he grabbed Alexandria, making everyone stop around him. Elliot got his gun while holding a frightened Alexandria, who tried to move away from him. The gun was put on her head, making her stop.

“Elliot, put the weapon down. You-” Rose was interrupted as Elliot laughed.

His laughs echoed throughout the building, concerning everyone. Richard watched helplessly as he couldn’t do anything to save Alexandria.

“YOU ALL THINK YOU HAVE WON! NO! I AM ELLIOT LANDON AND I ALWAYS WILL WIN!” Elliot then put his face next to Alexandria’s; their faces touched. Alexandria looked at him with widened eyes as he glared at her. “You haven’t won, Alexandria. If I can’t have you in this life then I will in death.” He put the gun onto the side of his head.

“NO! DON’T!” Richard screamed as he went to run toward them.

It was too late; the gun was fired.

Everyone watched in horror at the scene before them. Richard fell to his knees as he saw the pool of blood. “ALEXANDRIA!”

40: New Beginning

Eight months have passed ever since that fateful day. Richard could still remember it so vividly. Elliot never got to face justice as many may have wanted. He killed himself, and the bullet killed him instantly.

Nothing could have been done to bring him back. Rose and Maxwell were angry that, in the end, Elliot took his own life instead of facing the consequences of his actions. It almost amazed the Detectives that he would have instead ended his life than knowing that his reputation was ruined.

Elliot was the true definition of a sociopathic narcissist who thought himself to be perfect and unstoppable. He believed that taking his own life would mean that he won and that he would keep his reputation. Richard believed it to be pathetic since everyone knew what he had done.

Rose released the state of Elliot’s death and the reason for his killings. However, she lied in certain areas due to Richard’s insistence since he didn’t want Alexandria to be blamed for the deaths of Jenny, Max, and Quinn. When explaining his reasoning to her, Rose understood and agreed. She told interviewers and other news companies that Elliot hated his wife and marriage and killed her.

He became paranoid and was afraid that he would be caught and believed some students suspected or were investigating what truly happened; henceforth, the murders.

People were outraged that Elliot would commit heinous crimes and never get to face justice. The parents of the victims were also anguished and enraged that their children’s killer took his own life. They were distraught that their children became victims of Elliot’s lunacy.

Yale University received considerable scrutiny, and the public felt they were to blame for hiring Elliot. Students came forward to describe the unfairness and abuse they endured at the hands of their Professors. Rose believed that Professors and other University officials didn’t know how dangerous Elliot was, but when he used blackmail against them, they hesitated. Richard and Rose were angered that Professors and officials preferred to keep their wrongdoings a secret rather than protect their students.

The truth about what happened to Professors and University officials was exposed, causing more public outrage. Many Professors and higher-ups were either fired or resigned.

Richard decided to remain a Professor at Yale University because he wanted his students to have faith in the law system, to learn to be better, and to help protect deserving people.

He drove to a downtown building where a few people were coming in and out. Once parked, Richard walked inside the clean building, where there were many motivational posters on the wall, among other information. Going to the front desk, Richard went forward and said, “Hello, I am here to visit Alexandria Graham.”

“Oh, hello, Mr. Hart, Miss. Graham was expecting you.”

Richard nodded, went to the elevator, and pushed a button that led to the third floor.

Although Elliot died, Alexandria miraculously survived. The bullet did go through her head, but it didn’t entirely make a full impact on her brain. Just as Elliot pulled the trigger, Alexandria moved forward, and the bullet hit the visual cortex, which was located on the end part of the brain. She was immediately losing blood, and there were two times when she was declared dead, but she pulled through.

Alexandria survived the gunshot, but it didn’t come without a price. She lost her eyesight and became officially blind. Richard remembered how distraught she was, but he, Rose, and Maxwell assured her she would be okay and supported.

Rose knew a place to help the visually impaired where they took her in. Alexandria healed after three months, and it was difficult for her to accept that she was blind, but Richard was by her side. He never left her side and took her to where she was being trained to learn Braille. Richard also wanted to learn so he could assist Alexandria. She would cry and scream in frustration, wishing that she would have died than live with such a fate.

Richard wouldn’t have any of it and reminded her of their promise; they would get to know more of each other.

To go out with one another.

Alexandria was surprised that he would still want to be with her. However, the more he hung out with her, the more he fell for her.

Richard arrived on the third floor and went to the first door. He knocked on the door and opened it. Inside, he saw a braille instructor sitting next to Alexandria.

Alexandria no longer had long hair, but a short pixie cut, and a scar was on the back of her head. She had lost weight due to the slight depression she suffered after finding out about her blindness but was slowly gaining more weight. Her eyes looked hollow, but Alexandria looked concentrated. Hearing the door open, she raised her head and faced it. “Richard, is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” Richard and the instructor smiled as he sat with them. “How are your lessons?”

“Good, I’m finally heading toward the third level. It was frustrating but I’m slowly getting used to it. Rose came by to visit and she is on another case.”

“Rose has always been busy. I wanted to tell you that once you fully learn Braille, you will be able to return to Yale. We will have all the accommodations for you and I will be able to take you to school and you will have a driver as well when I am unable to do so.”

Alexandria smiled as she felt Richard touching her hand. She lost her eyesight and almost died. She lost her friends and still had to live with that burden. However, her friends’ parents visited her and were supportive, although they didn’t know the whole truth. Alexandria still needed to tell the truth but believed losing her eyesight was her sense of justice for those who died because of her.

Still, Alexandria had her life to live, and her blindness was one of the many obstacles that she would have to live with the rest of her life. She wanted to change her major from law to business since she wanted to make her organization to help victims of stalking and domestic violence. Not only that, Alexandria wanted to bring more awareness to narcissists and to motivate those who are diagnosed to get help. Also, to spread awareness of the warning signs of identifying one to protect oneself.

“I was hoping that after your lesson, I wanted you to meet my friends for lunch. Afterward, we could have a small date at the beach.”

The young woman smiled as she held onto his hand. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The End…