Page 64 of Villainous Mind

“I told you I was the red dragon. I never lied to you.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“I know it’s a lot to take in. But I’m still the same person,” I tried to explain.

“Where is Bryn?” she cried. “Where are the other girls?”

“You have to believe me. I didn’t take them. I don’t know how the backpack got in here.”

“You’re a fucking monster.”

“I may look like a monster, but I’m not a kidnapper. It’s me. I’m still me. Navy, you have to believe me.”

The rain was coming down harder. “We have to get out of here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I need to get you out of here,” I shouted. “The mine floods in the rain. It’s not safe.”

“Nothing is safe,” she cried. “I trusted you. You made me trust you. Did you do the same to Bryn?”

“We need to get out of here,” I repeated.

She stood up slowly. “Don’t touch me, and don’t follow me.”

I held my hands up. “I promise I won’t.”

She grabbed the backpack and headed over to the entrance. A small river of mud already ran down the narrow slope. She picked up the rope and slowly started to make her way up, slipping to her knees every few steps. The river was increasing in size as more water poured through the entrance. Tears streamed down her face, and it tore at my soul, watching her struggle.

“You need to hurry, Navy. It’s only going to get worse.”

She tripped and accidentally let go of the rope, sliding all the way down and looking back at me desperately. I stood back, respecting her space as she tried again. This time, she made it halfway up before the water coming down with such force knocked her off her feet.

The storm raged outside, and I couldn’t watch any longer. We were running out of time.

“Please,” she whispered through her tears. “I don’t want to die.”

“You’re not going to die,” I said, picking her up. She flinched at my touch as I carried her up the slope and set her on the ground outside. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to follow you.”

“Why?” she asked. “Why did you do this?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

She ran off into the storm.

I didn’t go after her.

There would be no point.

I took a risk loving her and thinking she could love me back. But I was a monster, and I would always be one. It was my curse.

I screamed from the top of my lungs, falling to my knees as my heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

Standing up, I looked around me. The Dearg Due was out here somewhere.

“Where are you?” I shouted into the downpour. “Show yourself.”

I ran over to the where the bull lay. “Show yourself, god dammit.”