When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

Kayla seemed to hate the rusty trailer I was in, finishing her call and not lingering a moment longer before she stormed out the door.

The place reeked of mold, and the excessive rocks littered everywhere didn't help, covering the place in dust. I wasn't a geologist, but I could tell something was off about them.

Struggling to keep myself upright, I finally succumbed to sleep with a rock as my pillow. But before falling into a deep slumber, I heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside.

Kayla and the delivery guy, each grabbing one of my arms, hoisted me up, with Kayla pressing a switchblade against my lower back.

She turned to the delivery guy. "You head to the car and block them off. Bear it in mind. You won't see a dime if I get caught."

Still seemingly groggy, the guy nodded and dashed outside with a clenched jaw.

Kayla swiftly popped two pills into her mouth and swallowed hard.

I eyed her suspiciously, but she gave me a wry smile. "Life-saver. You won't be needing these. But how did you notify Clyde? Why would he come looking for you?" Her gaze fell on my necklace, and she snatched it away. "Damn! You've been wearing this necklace forever. When did you fit this with..."

When Kayla handed the necklace to me, I noticed something black embedded in the diamond for the first time. Kayla smashed the necklace on the ground, and a tiny black device dropped. No wonder I felt the necklace was heavier. Was it a GPS tracker?

The realization that Clyde had been tracking me stirred anger and relief. Was he keeping tabs on me? Yet, that very action may have just saved my life.

Suddenly, gunshots rang out from

outside, and acting on instinct, Kayla pulled me closer, pressing the blade against my throat. "Melanie, bcan't run anymore."

She glanced around. There was only one door, swarmed with cops.

Kayla chuckled. "Melanie, let's make a bet, shall we?"

I asked in confusion. "On what?"

Kayla smirked. "Whether he loves you or not."

There was a hint of sorrow in her tone, but it quickly turned into laughter. "Melanie, he doesn't love you. Otherwise, how couldn't he

notice your cancer? But he doe

you. To investigate your dad's death, he sometimes went days without sleeping. All these years, he kept digging. That's devotion."

My heart skipped a beat, a complex feeling washing over me. Clyde had been investigating my family's issues. Then why hadn't he told me?

I looked curiously at Kayla. "Why tell me all this? Trying to move me, hoping I'd reconcile with him?"

"Yeah, I told you it was a bet. So, does he love you or not?" Her expression twisted, showing a mix of ferocity and determination.

"I bet Clyde won't realize he lovesCòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I

you until you're dead!" She then drifted her gaze to the stones nearby, bursting into laughter. "Mel, lots of these rocks in the abandoned quarry are radioactive. The pills I took were anti-radiation. While planning your kidnapping, I thought of bringing you here. I hoped you'd get cancer, and look, God did hear my prayers!" Her voice grew more cheerful. "You've relapsed twice already, and with this radiation, isn't a third time inevitable? Melanie, you're going to die! Isn't that just fantastic? I'll be watching from heaven as you two are forever separated. Thinking about it, it's blissful, isn't it?"