He gripped the iron chain tightly in one hand, pulling off his tie with the other. Briony''s scalp prickled with terror.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in her ankle, she clenched her jaw and scrambled desperately toward the far side of the bed.
Stewart''s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. He let go of the chain, watching her crawl frantically away.
Briony finally reached the edge of the bed, but in the next instant, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.
"Aah-!"
Stewart yanked the chain, dragging her back. Briony clung desperately to the bedframe.
Her ankle felt like it was being crushed. In a panic, her eyes darted to the nightstand, to themp perched on top.
Stewart shrugged off his jacket with one hand, then started unbuttoning his shirt.
One button. Two. Three.
Briony nced over her shoulder and burst into tears, her voice breaking, "Stewart, please I''m begging you, let me go..."
But Stewart seemed deaf to her pleas. His eyes were empty, bottomless, as if all warmth had been drained from him.
He tossed his shirt to the floor, gripped the chain with both hands, and gave it a violent pull.
Briony''s hands lost their hold on the bed. In an instant, she was dragged across the mattress.
At thest second, her fingers closed around themp.
Crash!
Themp smashed into Stewart''s head. White ss shattered, spraying shards across the room.
With a strangled groan, Stewart clutched his head and copsed onto the floor, his tall frame slumping heavily.
Briony scrambled up, snatched a jagged piece of ss, and pressed it against her own throat.
Bright red blood trickled down Stewart''s forehead.
One drop. Two drops.
Suddenly, his empty gaze snapped into focus. His pupils contracted as he jerked his head up to stare at Briony.
"Stay back!" she screamed.
She gripped the ss so tightly her knuckles went white, the sharp edge pressed against her carotid artery.
Tears streamed down her face, terror etched deep in her eyes.
"Stewart, if youe any closer-I swear I''ll do it! I''ll end it right here!"
Her voice shook, but her resolve was unmistakable.
Stewart froze, his breath caught in his throat.
Blood from his forehead seeped into one eye, staining it red. For a moment, confusion flickered in his other eye, as if he was suddenly waking from a nightmare.
What had he just done to Briony?
Tears slid down her trembling chin, one by one.
Each glistening drop seemed to burn into Stewart''s chest, as if acid was eating away at his heart.
He dropped his gaze, slumping in defeat, using one hand to push himself unsteadily off the floor.
As he moved, Briony recoiled like a wounded animal, screaming, "Don''te near me!"
Stewart flinched. Seeing how terrified she was, he quickly took a step back.
"Bryn, please, don''t be scared. I—I''m
noting any closer. Just put
ss
the
okay? You could really
yourself..."
His voice was hoarse, gentle, tinged with regret.
Briony eyed him warily, still trembling. "Let me go, Stewart. I''m begging you-
please, just let me leave..."
Stewart closed his eyes.
"I''m sorry. That''s the one thing I can''t do."
He turned away, keeping his voice low. "I''ll have someonee take care of you. Try to get some rest."
The door opened, then clicked shut behind him.
Stewart was gone.
Briony stared at the closed door for several long minutes before her rigid body finally began to rx.
She slid the piece of ss under her pillow and lifted the hem of her dress.
A dark,
left angry bruise encircled her
into
bet
where the chain had bitten
her skin. The flesh was raw and
bleeding.
She gingerly twisted her foot. A fresh wave of pain shot through her, leaving her
even paler than before.