Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

said them sent a chill through my bodyso terrifying, that I nearly passed out.

“I don’tunderstand, why do you want me dead?” I asked, now crying.

He steppedtoward the island bench, hatred and pain rolling off him in waves.“Because he fucking loves you, that’s why!”

“And you lovehim, don’t you?” I stuttered.

He closed hiseyes for the slightest of seconds. “Yes.”

“So why do youwant to hurt him by killing me? Surely you know that if you killme, it will kill him.”

“He’ll getover you,” he said quickly, while grabbing the bridge of his nose.“It’s me who he will mourn the most.”

Stupidly, Iopened my mouth again. “Why would he mourn you, Scott?” I asked,confused and not understanding why he would mourn Scott if I werethe one dead.

His eyes shotup and locked on mine, pure loathing coursing out of them andcutting right through me like a knife. Shit! I didn’t mean itlike that. Shut up, Alexis, just shut up. No, keep talking, it’sbuying you time.

“Because whenI fucking kill us both, he will be devastated.”

Oh, God. He’scompletely lost control.

“Scott, youdon’t have to do this—”

“Yes, I do. IfI can’t have him, neither will you.”

“But Scott,I’m pregnant with his child,” I pleaded.

“It didn’tmatter last time and it won’t matter this time,” he said, as helaughed to himself in a manner that suggested he was disappointed.“I should’ve fucking pushed you harder, or better still, tossed youover the railing.” He let out long-winded breath. “That doesn’tmatter, though; I will not make the same mistake twice.”

My knees wentweak and my body trembled profusely. I’d subconsciously known hewas to blame for my fall all along, but hearing it aloud horrifiedme beyond belief, causing bile to rise in my throat and the suddenurge to vomit wash over me.

He startedtapping the lighter on the bench, tauntingly, forcing me to watchit slowly and take in its every detail.

Hearing thetap of the plastic hitting the bench top over and over momentarilyremoved my mind from the present torture, and an idea materializedin my head, an idea that could quite possibly buy me more time andinevitably make Bryce aware of my current situation.

“Scott, whydon’t you ring him, talk to him?”

He stoppedtapping the lighter. “I would like to hear his voice again—just onemore time.”

“I’m sure he’dlike to hear yours as well,” I said, with a faux smile, lying andgrasping the only lifeline I could.

He pulled aphone out from his pocket, pressed a button and put it up to hisear. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched his face change frompsychotic vengeance to enlightened sadness as he listened toBryce’s voice on the other end.

“If only thatwere true, Bryce. I’m where I always am, right under yournose.”

As he spokeinto the phone his posture slumped, indicating he was exhausted anddeflated. He was sad, and I couldn’t doubt that as delusional as itwas, Scott really did think that he loved Bryce and that Bryce washis.

“I’m pasttalking,” he murmured disappointedly.

His bodylanguage and words were quickly demonstrating that he was going togo through with his plan and blow up the room with both of us init.

I wanted torun, to flee, or at least get out of the kitchen. If I could manageto get out into the lounge area surely it would give me more of achance of survival, being a more open plan room and lessconcentrated in gas fumes. I made a small step toward the door.

“I don’tfucking want Samantha, Bryce. I want you. I’ve always wanted you,”he screamed down the phone, forcing me to a halt once again.

Scott startedto sob painfully and his hand began to shake and rotate thelighter. “I’m ending it and I’m taking her with me.”

His preciseconformation propelled me to cry out and say my goodbyes. “Bryce, Ilove you. I’ll always love you. Tell the kids I love—”

Scott cut meoff. “Shut up, bitch. You don’t get to say goodbye.”

I cried out,petrified, now realising I was going to die and never see my kidsagain, never see Bryce, my family and friends. Then Scott pausedfor a second, as if he were deliberating something Bryce had said,giving me just the tiniest glimmer of hope.

I held mybreath.

“No. You’relying. I can see how much you love her.”

I closed myeyes and slowly let out the breath. It was no use.

“No, youdon’t. Goodbye, Bryce.”

Scott laughedpainfully. “You won’t have to.”

He pushed abutton, gently set the phone down on the bench top and tilted hishead to the side. “You fucking brainwashed him. You ruinedhim.”

I felt sick,my nausea at its peak, and I soon realised it was partly due tofear and partly due to the gas I was inhaling. I could also see thefumes having an effect on Scott as he kept grabbing the bridge ofhis nose and shaking his head.

My sightdrifted past his face, finding the many photos stuck to the fridge.I focused in on the one of Bryce and me at Uluru, then to the photoof Bryce and the kids sitting next to the Ronald McDonald statue,and the one of all four of us taken the night of my birthday.

Drinking themin, I filled myself with the vision of the stilled memories, thehappiness that was captured when they were taken and the people whowere in them. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I didn’t want to die,and as I cemented those thoughts within my head, something cameover me. Call it strength, will power, the uncontrollable urge tosurvive. Whatever it was, it made me realise I had to do something.I had to change my tact. It was my only chance.

“Gareth, Iknow you are in there, I know you can hear me. Fight him, show himonce and for all you are in control—”

“Shut the fuckup!” Scott growled, grabbing his nose again.

I continued,not knowing what else to do. “Gareth, fight him! Do it for you. Doit for Bryce. Do it for Lauchie. Don’t let Scott ruin your life,” Ibegged.

“Argh!” hemoaned, pushing his hands into his forehead. “Fuck!”

“Gareth,please,” I screamed in desperation.

He wasclenching his head so aggressively; his eyes closed so tight.

“Alexis, I’msorry,” he groaned, his tone noticeably different.

“Gareth isthat you?”

“Argh! Alexisrun!”

It was him, itwas working. My heart started beating faster and my adrenalinpicked