Jason didn't ask questions anymore.
He accused.
"You've changed," he said one morning, adjusting his cufflinks with slow precision. "And don't insult me by pretending otherwise."
Loraine stood by the window, hands folded so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
"I'm still here," she said carefully.
Jason laughed—soft, humorless.
"That's not what I meant."
He stepped closer. Too close.
"You were never good at hiding things," he continued. "You tremble when you lie. You breathe differently when you plan."
Her heart slammed.
He lifted her chin with two fingers—not roughly, not gently either.
"Who are you talking to, Loraine?"
"No one."
His hand dropped.
The slap came suddenly.
Not hard enough to knock her down—but hard enough to steal her breath.
The room went silent.
Jason stared at his own hand like it betrayed him.
"I—" His voice cracked. "That was a mistake."
She didn't cry.
That frightened him more than tears ever had.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, stepping toward her. "Mine… look at me."
She didn't.
"I won't do it again," he whispered desperately. "You know I wouldn't hurt you on purpose."
But she was already retreating inside herself.
Ethan Moves Closer
Ethan remembered the last time Jason caught him.
The fists.
The warning.
The way Jason leaned close and said, "Next time, I won't stop."
His ribs still ached when it rained.
But when he saw Loraine's signal disappear—when the house went darker than usual—he knew time was running out.
"She's in danger," he told the man beside him. "Not later. Now."
The man frowned. "You sure?"
Ethan nodded. "I've already paid for being right once."
Jason's Grip Tightens
That night, Jason tried to touch her.
Not aggressively.
Tentatively.
She flinched.
"Don't," she whispered.
Something ugly crossed his face.
"You don't want me?"
She shook her head. "I just—can't."
The rejection snapped something.
Jason stood abruptly.
"If you don't want me," he said coldly, "then you don't need comfort."
The door locked.
The light went out.
She stayed there until dawn—hungry, sore, shaking—not because she couldn't leave…
…but because she was meant to feel small.
When he returned in the morning, he knelt in front of her.
Her eyes were dull.
"I didn't mean it," he said hoarsely. "You know I lose control when I'm afraid of losing you."
She said nothing.
The Past Knocks
Later that week, a name slipped from one of the guards.
"Ethan."
Jason froze.
That night, he stood in front of the locked door at the end of the corridor—the one she wasn't allowed to open.
"You remember him," Jason murmured to himself. "Of course you do."
He smiled.
Not kindly.
The Night Everything Breaks
Loraine woke to an empty bed.
The house felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
She followed the sound—down the hall, past the locked door.
It was open.
Just a crack.
Inside—
Jason.
Not human.
His eyes burned red.
Fangs glistened.
Two bodies lay crumpled at his feet, pale and unmoving.
Blood stained his lips.
She screamed silently and ran.
Back to the room.
Under the covers.
Shaking so hard her teeth hurt.
Jason came later.
Calm again. Clean.
He climbed into bed and reached for her.
She sobbed.
"What happened?" he asked softly. "Why are you crying?"
She couldn't speak.
Couldn't breathe.
Jason stilled.
Slowly.
He understood.
The Cage Closes
The next day, she talked again.
Too much.
She asked questions.
About the house.
About the guards.
About the doors.
Jason's patience shattered.
"You don't need answers," he shouted for the first time. "You need obedience!"
Her tears came freely now.
He fell to his knees.
"Don't cry," he begged, gripping his hair. "Your tears hurt me. Please. Please."
She stared at him—this monster who loved like a storm and destroyed like one too.
Escape Attempt
When Jason left the next morning, she tried again.
She made it past the gate.
Barely.
Hands grabbed her from behind.
"You promised," Jason whispered against her ear.
She screamed.
He slammed her against the car—not once, but enough.
"You are mine!" he roared.
Then—silence.
His breathing slowed.
"Oh God," he said, stepping back. "I didn't mean—"
He cradled her face.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry. I love you."
She felt nothing.
Ethan Sees
From across the street, Ethan watched her collapse into Jason's arms.
His fists clenched.
"Not again," he said. "I won't let him break her again."
Questions That Refuse to Sleep
How much longer can Jason pretend love is not control?
Will Ethan survive facing him again?
Now that Loraine has seen the truth—can she ever unsee it?
And when a demon realizes he's been discovered…
does he tighten the cage—or burn it down?