Chapter 10
Chapter ten
Haelyn
When I reached the last step, my heels clicked slowly and steadily against the concrete.
The area didn’t even look like a basement anymore.
I had stripped it down completely. Boards covered the windows, every tool and sharp object had been removed, and anything heavy enough to be used as a weapon was long gone.
In the corner was a thin mattress beside a bucket, a half-empty water bottle, and a folded blanket that looked more insulting than comforting.
Above us, the single light bulb buzzed softly, swinging from its chain every few seconds.
“Well, well,” I teased lightly, fanning my hand in front of my nose. “Somebody smells ripe. You need a bath, girl.”
Talia sat on the mattress groggily, wrists zip-tied in front of her now instead of behind her back. I’d loosened them the day before after realizing circulation mattered if I planned to keep her alive for a while.
And yes… that was intentional.
Killing Talia would’ve been easier, but after thinking through every angle, I realized eliminating her too soon would’ve possibly created more problems. Talia was beneficial to me…
in many ways. Her identity was the key to me getting close to Jace again.
Her background was clean, she fit the surrogate criteria perfectly, and most importantly, she didn’t have many people closely tied to her.
No real support system.
No job.
No family constantly checking in.
So, for the time being, nobody was looking for her. As far as the outside world knew, Talia was still living her normal life somewhere.
Talia’s cracked lips trembled apart. “Haelyn, why are you doing this?” she rasped.
“I’ve been nothing but nice to you since the day we met in foster care.
Even when you randomly show back up years later, I let you into my home without hesitation.
I trusted you like we were still sisters after all this time. ”
I cocked my head slightly, almost understanding.
“And that was your mistake,” I shrugged, completely unmoved by her tears.
“People love believing history makes somebody safe. Sorry… it doesn’t.
Time changes people. Pain changes people.
Life changes people. You can’t keep opening your door just because someone once shared a room, a secret, or a childhood with you. ”
Her breathing grew unsteady as I crouched in front of her.
“Sometimes the most dangerous person in your life is the one whose face still feels familiar.”
Talia stared at me with a mixture of heartbreak and visible bewilderment. Tears gathered in her eyes like she no longer recognized the person standing in front of her.
Truth was… I wasn’t the same teenage girl she remembered from all those years ago.
Some days, I barely recognized myself too.
Being locked inside a psych ward changes people.
The constant medication numbing your emotions, the padded walls making every day feel the same, the forced routines designed to control every move you make, and the voices in your head growing louder and louder until sometimes you can’t even hear your own thoughts clearly anymore…
eventually, something inside you starts to shifts or breaks.
I sighed lightly, then added, “But I will say this… thank you. Really. You’ve always treated me kindly when most people wouldn’t have. Hence… that’s one of the reasons you’re still breathing. But we’ll talk more about ‘why I’m doing this’ a little later.”
I slipped a hand into my purse and slowly pulled out the gun tucked inside. I twirled it lazily around my finger with a calmness that probably should’ve worried her even more.
“I’m gonna let you shower today, okay?” I offered pleasantly. “But listen carefully—no screaming, no trying to run away, and absolutely no dumb ideas. Let’s keep things peaceful.”
Talia nodded quickly, her eyes wide and fearful, a silent agreement hanging in the air.
“Now say thank you! Good hospitality is rare these days, and I think I’ve actually been pretty accommodating considering the circumstances.”
Talia stared at me for a second like she couldn’t believe I was serious.
“Thank you,” she muttered reluctantly through clenched teeth.
My smile widened a little too far. “See? Cooperation looks cute on you… even if it almost killed you to say it.”
Before she could give me any lip, I walked over, grabbed her roughly by the arm, and yanked her up from the mattress.
“Let’s go! And remember, don’t try anything stupid,” I warned, tightening my grip on her arm slightly. “Because contrary to what you may think, I’m already showing you a whole lotta mercy right now.”
Talia’s face twisted with fury, like she wanted to lunge at me, but apparently survival instincts were finally starting to kick in.
We moved upstairs slowly.
Halfway down the hallway, Talia shot me a cautious glance. “Are you even taking your meds?” she ventured, hesitance lacing her voice.
I stopped in my tracks.
My smile vanished, replaced by a dark intensity as I turned to face her, my eyes narrowing ominously. In a swift, violent motion, I struck Talia across the face with the side of the gun, the sharp crack echoing off the walls.
“Don’t ever talk to me like you know me! Now walk!” I commanded, venom coating every word.
The sound of water cascading from the shower soon filled the silence as Talia stood beneath it, her eyes cast down.
The lingering sting of my blow marked her cheek with a darkening bruise.
Every few moments, she would sneak a glance toward the bathroom doorway where I stood vigil, the gun resting against my thigh, a silent reminder of my power in this delicate dance.
After her bath, I offered her food, an unexpected gesture of care, and I brushed through her damp hair with slow, distracted strokes, my mind wandering even as I tried to act as if everything was normal.
“See? I’m not a monster,” I smiled. “I’m just doing what’s necessary.”
Her brows pulled together painfully. “I… I still don’t understand why I’m down here.”
I blew out a breath full of annoyance.
“Talia, do I really have to spell this out for you?” I snapped, crouching down in front of her. “You were about to carry my man’s child… my life… my future.”
“Your man’s child? Girl, what the hell are you talking about?!”
Talia’s confusion only heightened my anger.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” I laughed quietly, shaking my head. “Merge belongs to me. He came back because he was always supposed to come back!”
My smile widened slightly.
“I always knew he would,” I murmured, my voice slipping into a dreamy nostalgic tone. “I never intended to hurt him back then,” I added, a hint of regret coloring my words. “Or her. Well…” I shrugged lightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing my face. “Maybe her."
Talia stared at me in stunned disbelief, looking torn between praying for my sanity or trying to figure out the fastest way to escape me.
“Haelyn, are you confusing Merge with your ex Jace?”
Shit.
I’m talking too much.
Talia can’t know I’m really talking about Jace… not yet, anyway.
Then again, maybe I should just tell her. She’s probably going to die in this basement, anyway, so who could she repeat it? The most she could do is call me crazy, and that accusation has already been thoroughly documented. Besides, I needed somebody to talk to about this.
Voices, what should I do?
Right on cue, the voices rushed to my rescue, throwing out suggestions like panicked lawyers trying to save a guilty client.
Don’t tell her the truth!
Stall!
Change the subject!
Tell her it was another man!
Not Jace, though! Anybody but Jace!
“No, silly,” I finally replied. “Jace wasn’t the only man I ever loved. There are other fish in the sea.” I waved a hand dismissively. “Actually, there was another guy before him. His name was…”
I waited for the voices to help.
Quick! Make up a name!
Marcus!
Too common!
Demetrius!
You don’t know a Demetrius!
She doesn’t know that!
“Demetrius,” I announced confidently. “I was talking about Demetrius.”
Talia stared at me skeptically.
“He cheated on me, so naturally, I fought him and the girl. I didn’t kill either one of them, though.” I paused to think about it. “At least, nobody ever accused me of it. So, technically, that relationship ended pretty peacefully.”
Her stare only deepened.
“Honestly, I don’t think I killed Jace or his little bitch either.
But if I ever find out that man is still alive, we’re definitely gon’ have a conversation.
I spent ten years in an institution trying to heal from a death while he may have been outside somewhere breathing, eating good, and building a whole new life. ”
I sucked my teeth.
“That’s extremely inconsiderate. The least he could’ve done was send a postcard. But enough talk about Merge.”
I took a seat on the edge of the rusted table, swinging one leg lightly.
“On a better note,” I added cheerfully, “the interview went amazing, by the way. I think we got the job.”
Talia’s eyes narrowed instantly. “What job?”
I sighed, almost theatrically. Then I quickly remembered that Talia was clueless as hell as to why she was even down there.
“Oh, right—I never told you! Silly me!” I giggled. “So, after I sedated you, I went through your phone,” I explained matter-of-factly. “But can I just say, you made it way too easy. No password, no Face ID, nothing. Girl, at that point you weren’t protecting your privacy, you were donating it.”
Talia’s entire face hardened with disgust and alarm.
“Anyway, I found the messages between you and Zonnique and all the interview details.”
My eyes widened excitedly as I continued.
“You should have seen me yesterday morning! I looked good, girl! I wore your clothes, copied your makeup, and even practiced your little facial expressions in the mirror! I wasn’t sure if you two talked over the phone, so I worked on your voice too.
I almost didn’t get that right, though. That part irritated me a little… but eventually, I nailed it.”
A devious grin stretched across my face.