CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
???
Oh Anya, isn’t it fascinating how things turn out? All those self-defense classes, all that training you thought would make you stronger, make you safe—what a waste. You’ve always been so na?ve, thinking you could protect yourself from the inevitable. But look at where you are now. Your precious Nana is gone, and that pathetic excuse for a protector, Jacob’s mother, is gone too. You think you can outrun fate? You think you can escape me? You’re more foolish than I ever imagined.
But let’s get one thing straight, Anya—you have no one to blame but yourself. I tried to be patient. I tried to give you time, to let you see that we were meant to be together. But no, you kept resisting, kept running to everyone else but me. You forced my hand, Anya. You pushed me to this. I warned you, didn’t I? I told you that you were mine, that nothing and no one could stand between us. But you didn’t listen. You never listened.
And now, look at the consequences of your stubbornness. Your Nana, always meddling, always in the way—she’s gone. And Jacob’s mother, always filling your head with lies, always telling you that you’re safe—she’s gone too. All because of you. Every time you talked about Jacob, every time you clung to his letters, it drove me mad. You left me no choice but to take matters into my own hands. And now, you’ve ruined everything. Jacob will hate you for this, for destroying his life.
You see, Anya, I had to seek help. You made me do it. You forced me to show you what I’m capable of, to prove to you that I always get what I want. And what I want is you. You belong to me, and no one else. Not Jacob, not your Nana, not anyone. They were obstacles, and now they’re gone. You saw what I did, you witnessed what happens to those who get in my way. Do you understand now? Do you finally see how futile your resistance is?
Our time is drawing near, Anya. You can feel it, can’t you? That creeping sense of dread, that certainty that you can’t escape me. You’re right to be afraid. I’m always watching, always waiting. I know where you are, what you’re doing, who you’re with. And I won’t stop until you’re mine, completely and utterly mine. You can try to hide, you can try to fight, but it won’t make any difference. You belong to me, and I always get what I want. One way or another.
So go ahead, run, hide, try to escape. But remember, every step you take, every breath you draw, I’m right behind you. You’ll never be free of me. I’ll be in your thoughts, in your dreams, in every shadow you see. And when the time is right, I’ll come for you. And there will be no one left to save you.
Just you wait Anya, soon you’ll be where you were always meant to be—with me.