Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Tara had spent years tiptoeing around Mrs. Ferguson, always thinking that as long as Mrs. Ferguson was on her side—and as long as Dylan stayed single—her chance would come eventually.

She'd never imagined Mrs. Ferguson would cave so quickly, all because Dylan so much as hinted at a threat.

Clutching her phone, Tara kept her tone soft and sweet. "Mrs. Ferguson, I understand. Let's just let this go for now. Honestly, I care about Dylan's health even more than you do, and I'll always love him. If Clara ever hurts him, I won't just sit back and watch. Like you said, I can't just stand by and watch him suffer. There's nothing I want more than for Dylan to be happy, but I need a little time to get my head straight. I'll let you go for now. Please take care of yourself, Mrs. Ferguson."

Her words were careful-every line perfectly placed, every emotion sincere. Mrs. Ferguson was clearly moved.

Why couldn't Dylan have chosen Tara? Life was just too cruel sometimes.

*

When Dylan got back to Palm Bay, a man dressed in black stepped out of the shadows, head lowered, voice rough.

"Mrs. Ferguson threatened to end her life, I..."

"I told you-she's the one you're supposed to protect."

"I..." The man seemed lost, unable to defend himself, just standing there silently.

Dylan pressed his fingers to his forehead, looking even paler than usual. "Let her come back in her own time."

The man nodded and slipped away.

Dylan coughed, climbed the stairs, every step a fight against the pounding pain in his head. His thoughts were a mess, anger and self-loathing swirling just beneath the surface, barely under control.

into a man with a cursed fate,

on his brow as he walked into the master bedroom. The place was spotless. Even the knife had been cleaned and carefully set on

in his hand, almost able to see the ghost of old

knife had been buried deep inside him once. Back then,

he'd seen a

completely heartless, not really. She just hadn't

thinking that way was

was so

him and Clara. He

he really

only stab deeper

only be Dylan. That's all

a doomed fate, whether he chose to believe it

set the knife down and

again. Just then, someone

the hallway, "Mr.

here."

QUMS

grunted in reply and headed to

walked in, still holding an apple he'd grabbed

Fergusons are looking for a

fast; it had only been an hour, and already the whole city seemed to know. Just to