Chapter 142: 38| Phantom-2

Even with his back to me, the blond hair dancing in the breeze gave his identity away. It really was him. Pocketing my hands, I took a deep breath and approached him, keeping my anxiety concealed. Almost as if he sensed my presence, he spun around to face me. My steps slowed, but I kept moving cautiously. He chuckled softly, "Dante Rossi. In the flesh, hmm?" Rolling my tongue along the inside of my cheek, I glanced at the lake again as a gust of wind blew past us. "Ethan Morales," I mocked, "in the flesh." His brows shot up in mock amusement. "You know my name," he said, "I'm impressed." I let out a small scoff, "With the things you've been doing, the whole world should know your name, Ethan." "Is that a compliment or an insult to my profession, Mr Rossi?" "It's whatever you want it to be," I said, coming to a halt before him. He grinned, a light dimple indenting his left cheek. "Charming," he mused, glancing at his feet as he shifted his stance. "I see why she loves you. Anastasia. I didn't think you'd be able to leave her alone." "She's a strong woman; she can take care of herself," I replied confidently. I was counting on Anastasia's strength and Ethan's inability to hurt her both. He lifted a brow at me in question. I lifted one in return. "Am I wrong, Ethan? Would you hurt her?" A twitch in his jaw. "If I wanted to hurt Anastasia, I would have done it already." "Really?" I mused, my lip twitching. "Really," he nodded, taking a step forward. "You'd be surprised how many chances I've had. At the galleries, at your office… even in her own home." I looked ahead at the lake. "Sounds a little stalker-ish, don't you think?" "I'm not ashamed of it," he replied nonchalantly. "She's gorgeous." "I can't deny that," I mumbled under my breath, turning to face him. "Won't you ask?" he questioned. "The typical bullshit. 'What do you want?' 'Why are you doing this?' Blah, blah, blah," his words trailed off into laughter. I responded, "You asked me to meet you. I'm sure you won't disappoint me by sending me back empty-handed." "You're putting a lot of faith in the enemy, Mr Rossi," he smiled. I paused for a second, staring at him. He looked perfectly fine. Nothing about him was alarming. His smile was warm and welcoming with a boyish charm to it. He was definitely younger than me. "How old are you, Ethan?" I sighed. "Twenty-seven," he answered. Two years younger than me. "A little early to head to the death row," I said. "I'd rather you kill me. If you must," he shrugged in response. "Me?" I asked. "Mm-hmm," he nodded, "you. Not Anastasia, not Marshall, not anybody else. Just you. I'd rather Anastasia not see me like that." "How would you rather Anastasia see you? There's only one way she can see you if you don't stop, Ethan. A murderer. Just like your father." His jaw clenched as he rested his arms over the railing, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists. "Is it all for him?" I asked. He scoffed, "Fuck, no. I wouldn't do a thing for that bastard." I paused in confusion as he turned to me. "You're not the only one bearing scars, Mr Rossi. For a few weeks, you lived through the hell my life was for several years." It hit me. "He beat you?" "Like a dog," he muttered. I took a breath. "Why are you doing it then?" "Does she like them?" he asked instead. I thought for a beat. "Your paintings?" "Hmm," he hummed in response. "Does she? I tried my best to paint her the way I see her, but I don't have half the skills I wish I did," he chuckled dryly. My breath hitched briefly in my throat. "Are you in love with her?" I questioned. He clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Love doesn't begin to describe it. It's not the right word. She bewitched me. I am… enchanted by her. She is my… my…" "Muse," I finished for him. "Yet you're not killing for her. Why do it at all if it isn't for love, Ethan?" He faced me with a puzzled look on his face. "Why are you killing people?" I asked bluntly. Groaning in frustration, he scratched the back of his head roughly. "I don't know how…" he hesitated. Huffing loudly, he turned around and took a few steps away before returning to face me. "It's always loud up here," he mumbled, tapping the side of his head, "he won't shut up. He keeps telling me to do it. He keeps telling me to kill her. I don't want to do it, Dante. The bastard doesn't shut up unless there's blood on my hands like there was blood on his." I watched him as his movements gradually grew more erratic. "Do you hear his voice in your head? Isaiah's?" I asked calmly. He ran a hand over his mouth before nodding reluctantly. "I don't know how else to make it stop," he sighed. Exhaustion was written all over him like he was being forced to do this. "He's a fucking phantom that haunts my mind and body. Do you know what he said to me before you killed him? It was the last time I ever saw him. The day before you did it. He said he wished he'd killed her with her sister. He said she was the reason he got caught." "Was she?" I questioned. He paused, a hint of embarrassment radiating from him. "Was she the reason you let us out?" I asked. "She was even smaller than I was," he said quietly, "I didn't understand how my father could hurt her like that." The longer I stayed and talked to him, the more he unraveled before my eyes. The guard he had up began to crumble down as he began telling me about how his father treated him and the monster he grew up watching. It was evident that he was mentally disturbed. The phantom of his father's monstrosity haunted him. He was terrified that he would give in and hurt Anastasia; he was even scared he'd end up hurting me. But he kept repeating the same thing. He didn't want to do it. He laughed humorlessly as a tremor shot through his fingers. "You should go," he said, "she'll wake up if she realizes you're gone." My jaw ticked. I couldn't figure him out. Was he being honest? Or was it just an act? "I won't run away, Mr Rossi, don't worry. Don't come looking for me. I'll find you when the time is right." Pocketing his shaky hands, he began to walk backward, away from me. I huffed, "Ethan-" He smiled again, "It was nice to finally meet you, Dante Rossi." With a quick wink, he spun around and walked off. . . . . . Chapter 38 :) :p