Page 20 of Dark Therapy
His expression remained unreadable, his head tilting ever so slightly. “No,” he said smoothly. “Just a coincidence.”
The words didn’t settle right. His eyes lingered on me for a beat too long, like heknewexactly what had been runningthrough my mind, like he could see the terror etched in my face. My pulse hammered in my ears as I forced myself to break the silence.
“Then why are you here?” I managed, searching his gaze for any hint of the truth.
He shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I like a good evening walk, same as you.”
Damien knelt down in front of me, and my breath hitched. His hands moved with deliberate ease, brushing against my legs as he dusted off the dirt from my fall. I forced myself to remain still, but every gentle touch sent a shiver coursing through me, each brush of his fingers igniting a clash of fear and something darker that twisted in my stomach.
“Look at you,” he said, a hint of mockery lacing his tone. “You’re like a little girl, running around without a care in the world.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest as he lifted my foot, resting it on his knee. The intimacy of the moment sent chills down my spine, and I felt the need to pull away, toescape. But my body betrayed me, frozen in place as he reached for the lace of my shoe, his fingers deftly tying the knot.
“You should pay more attention to your surroundings, Millie,” he continued, his voice low and smooth, almost teasing. “Especially at night. There are all sorts of dangers lurking out there.”
I could hardly meet his gaze, a mixture of dread and something unnameable thrumming through me. His touch was light, almost gentle, yet it was impossible to ignore the weight of his presence—the predator hidden behind that charming facade. I fought to focus on anything but the way my heart raced under his scrutiny.
“Are you always this careless?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he finished with the laces, glancing up at me with a smirk. “It could get you into trouble.”
With every word, he held me captive in a way that sent my mind spiraling. I forced my voice to remain steady, challenging the fear coursing through me. “I’m fine,” I managed, but the tremor in my tone betrayed me.
His smile widened, an unsettling mix of amusement and something darker. “I’m sure you are,” he said, standing up smoothly, towering over me once again. “But just remember, trouble can come from anywhere. Even theshadows.”
My heart raced as he stepped back, and I was left grappling with the weight of his words and the lingering warmth of his touch, the memory of his hands on my skin dancing dangerously close to the surface of my mind. The park around us felt suddenly more menacing, the trees closing in, shadows stretching out as if they were alive.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, a casual smile on his lips.
“I, um—” I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to refuse, but I forced myself to push the fear aside. “I was actually just about to finish and head home.”
“Really? I don’t see the harm in a little company,” he insisted, the way he leaned closer making it feel like he was cornering me even in the open air. His confidence wrapped around me, tightening like a noose, and I couldn’t shake the unsettling reminder of my nightmare.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, Damien,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. The thought of him walking alongside me, shadows lurking just out of sight, made my skin crawl.
But his smile never wavered. “Come on, Amelia. It’s dark out here. I’d feel much better knowing you’re not alone.”
I could see the challenge in his gaze, a taunting edge that made my stomach twist. Every fiber of my being wanted to refuse him, to make a break for it and run. But the reality was I didn’t want to be alone either—not after last night’s horrors replaying behind my eyelids, leaving me gasping for air when I woke.
“Fine,” I relented, unable to muster the will to fight him. “But I’m not jogging anymore.”
“Perfect. A nice, leisurely walk then.” He fell into step beside me, and I forced myself not to flinch as the darkness closed in around us.
The atmosphere felt charged, as if the air crackled with electricity, and I struggled to ignore the lingering dread. Each step felt heavier, every shadow seemed to loom larger. I tried tokeep my gaze forward, focused on the path illuminated by the faint streetlights, but I could feel his presence beside me, a constant reminder of the nightmare that had bled into my reality.
“What a lovely night, huh?” he said, his tone casual, almost playful. “Just you, me, and the night.”
“Yeah, lovely,” I murmured, the sarcasm of my own words biting at my throat. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, casting elongated shadows that danced in my peripheral vision, and every time I glanced sideways, I found himwatchingme.
“You seem tense,” he noted, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Is something wrong?”
“Just… tired,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.
As we continued walking, I tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach, but it only intensified when he casually asked, “So, why didn’t you go to work today?”
I tensed at the question, my heart racing as I shot him a sideways glance. “How do you know I didn’t go?”
A smirk crept onto his face, and I could see the glint in his eyes, a mix of amusement and something darker. “Oh, I have my ways,” he said, his tone teasing yet laced with an unsettling undercurrent. “We had a session scheduled today, remember? That got rescheduled.”
“Right.” I swallowed hard, feeling exposed under his gaze. “It was just a long week. I needed a break.”