44

When Adam yanked on the leash, the collar dug painfully into Alice's neck, pressing against her windpipe. She gasped for air, panic rising as the pressure threatened to choke her. She had no choice but to crawl at his side, her knees scraping against the cold, hard floor with each movement.

Her heart stopped when she saw where he was headed: the front door.

“No,” Alice whispered at first, her voice barely audible. Then, louder: “No, please, Adam, no!”

Adam didn’t even glance back. He walked with purpose, the leash taut in his hand as he dragged her forward like a misbehaving pet.

“Please, don’t do this,” Alice cried, reaching out desperately. Her trembling fingers clutched at the fabric of his trousers, trying to stop him. “Please, Adam, talk to me. What did I do wrong? Why are you doing this?”

Adam halted abruptly, looking down at her with cold fury. The intensity of his glare sent a shiver down her spine. His lip curled in disdain, his anger radiating off him like heat from an open flame.

“Fucking pathetic,” he spat, shaking his head in disgust. “You think you can just say sorry and it’ll all be okay?”

Alice flinched at the venom in his voice, her grip on his trousers slackening. “I don’t understand,” she said, her voice cracking. “Please, Adam. If I did something, tell me. I’ll fix it. I’ll—”

“Shut up,” Adam snapped, jerking the leash. The sudden force made Alice stumble forward, nearly losing her balance. He turned back to the door, his hand on the handle.

Alice’s mind raced. She couldn’t let him take her outside like this. The thought of crawling through the cold night, exposed and vulnerable for anyone to see, filled her with dread. The humiliation would be unbearable.

“Adam,” she pleaded, her voice shaking. “Please don’t do this. Whatever you think I’ve done—do you really think this is okay? To treat someone like this?”

For a moment, Adam froze. His shoulders tensed, and his grip on the leash slackened slightly. Alice’s heart leapt with fragile hope. Maybe he’s listening. Maybe I can get through to him.

“I’m begging you,” she continued, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at him with wide, imploring eyes. “Please, Adam. I’m sorry for whatever it is. I’ll do anything. Just—please don’t make me do this.”

The tension in Adam’s posture shifted. His anger seemed to falter, replaced by something softer. Sadness? Regret? Alice couldn’t tell, but for a fleeting moment, she thought she might have reached him.

But then his expression darkened again, anger flooding back like a storm cloud blotting out the sun.

“Whatever you’ve done?” he repeated bitterly, his voice rising. “You don’t even know, do you? You’re so fucking stupid you don’t even realize what you did!”

Alice recoiled at his words, her sobs choking her attempts to respond. “Adam, I don’t know,” she sobbed. “I don’t know what I did. Please, just tell me. Please…”

Her voice dissolved into incoherent cries as she crumpled on the floor, her hands trembling as she reached for his leg in a final, desperate bid for mercy.

“You’re a stupid fucking bitch,” Adam growled. His voice was low but seething with rage, more venomous than Alice had ever heard it. His whole body seemed coiled with fury, his fists clenched at his sides. For a terrifying moment, she thought he might hit her.

Instead, he threw the leash to the floor, the handle landing inches from her knees with a sharp clack that made her flinch. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, his footsteps pounding angrily down the hallway.

Alice stayed frozen on the floor, her body trembling as sobs wracked her chest. Her mind was a chaotic swirl of fear, confusion, and shame. She didn’t dare move until Adam returned, a crumpled bundle of clothing in his hands.

He threw the clothes at her face with a careless flick of his wrist. “Get out,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. Then he turned and stomped up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door shut behind him.

Alice sat there for a moment, stunned and shaking. Her hands fumbled as she grabbed her clothes, her fingers clumsy and uncooperative as she tried to pull them on. The collar still hung loosely around her neck, the leather chafing against her skin. She reached up and unclasped it with shaking hands, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thud. Kicking it aside, she rubbed at her neck, trying to soothe the raw, stinging skin.

She had just finished dressing when the front door swung open abruptly, slamming into her knee with a sharp thud. Alice winced, clutching her leg as Mike stepped inside, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“What the heck?” he said, his eyes scanning the scene. His gaze landed on Alice, still sitting on the floor, her tear-streaked face flushed with embarrassment.

“What’s going on?” Mike asked, frowning. His eyes narrowed as he seemed to notice something written on her forehead. “Wait, what is that? Did you and Adam have a fight or something?”

Alice didn’t answer right away. She wiped at her face, trying to compose herself. When she finally looked up, she managed a weak, wry smile.

“Who knows?” she said, her voice hollow. She pushed herself to her feet and brushed past him, stepping out into the cold night.

As she walked away, the weight of the evening pressed heavily on her chest. Her fingers brushed against her forehead, smudging whatever cruel words Adam had scrawled there. She didn’t even care what it said. All she wanted was to leave this nightmare behind.

I wish I knew, she thought, her steps faltering as fresh tears blurred her vision. I wish I knew why he hates me so much.