Chapter 2

I didn't look back. I grabbed my battered old suitcase and walked out of this so-called home.

As I closed the door behind me, I could hear Sarah's sugary, delicate voice drifting out from inside.

She said, "Jason, don't be upset. She isn't worth getting worked up over. How about I go with you to pick up a new car tomorrow?"

"Sarah, you're always so thoughtful," Jason said.

My heart felt dead inside.

There wasn't a single light in this world that shone for me.

At least I still had The Abyss.

It might be terrifying, but at least there was Dreadking, who actually blushed when I kissed him.

I was dragging my suitcase around the city, wandering with no real destination.

My phone buzzed, a text from Jason. [Come to Grandview Plaza tomorrow. Sarah's got her eye on a bag. You're footing the bill. Think of it as payback for making her feel bad today.]

Jason's message was so casual, like I was his personal cash machine or something.

He wanted me to use my money to buy a bag for the girl he liked? Yeah, right.

I blocked Jason without hesitation and found a cheap hotel to stay in for the night.

The next day, I headed into The Abyss for work as usual.

Something was different about Ryn today.

There was a bouquet sitting next to his massive throne.

But it was crafted from countless ghostly pale arms and throbbing hearts.

Looking at it felt like my sanity was slipping away.

Was this supposed to be for me? That was a very special taste.

As I stepped closer, Ryn's tentacles fidgeted a bit.

He cleared his throat. "Yesterday, the staff corridor was way too dark. It didn't really fit The Abyss's vibe, so I had my minions put up some lights."

I glanced in the direction he pointed, and saw the once pitch-black corridor now lined with rows of lamps made out of skulls.

Ghostly green flames burned in the skulls' eye sockets, making the whole corridor look like something out of a haunted house.

"Thanks, boss," I said, genuinely grateful.

It was creepier than ever, but at least it was a lot brighter.

Ryn seemed pleased with my reaction, and then poked the "bouquet" with the tip of one of his tentacles.

"Well, the slaughterhouse felt a bit empty, so I threw in some decorations," he said.

I got it.

I walked over, picked up the heavy "bouquet," stood on tiptoe, and planted a kiss on his face, if you could even call that twisted, shadowy thing a face.

"Thanks, boss. I really like it," I said.

Suddenly, all those scarlet eyes turned pink again, in perfect sync.

Ryn was so embarrassed that he curled up into a ball.

So cute.

I felt a warmth in The Abyss like never before, but reality was already scheming to drag me down into a true abyss.

I never went to Grandview Plaza, so Sarah and Jason ended up waiting all day for nothing.

That night, as I climbed out of my game pod, my phone rang. It was Sarah.

Her voice was thick with tears. "Mia, where are you? Jason and I waited for you all day. Are you mad at me?"

"I'm broke," I cut her off.

There was a long silence on the other end, and then Jason's icy voice cut in. "Mia, don't take my kindness for granted.

"Get your ass to Millennium Bridge downtown right now, or I'll make sure you won't be able to show your face in Riverdale ever again."

With that, he hung up.

I stared at my phone, feeling suddenly exhausted.

It was always endless demands, endless threats.

I decided to go. It was time to put an end to this once and for all.

When I got to Millennium Bridge, I saw Sarah leaning into Jason, crying her heart out.

As soon as Jason saw me, he came straight over and grabbed my wrist. "You actually showed up? Sarah's been upset all day because of you."

"So what?" I pulled my hand free and gave him a cold stare. "Jason, we're done. I'll tell Shane that the engagement is off. Don't ever bother me again."

"What did you say?" Jason stared at me like I'd said the most ridiculous thing ever. "Mia, who do you think you are? Without me, you wouldn't last a day."

"Mia, how could you say that?" Sarah came over, looking totally crushed. "I know you don't like me, but you can't treat Jason like this."

As she spoke, out of nowhere, she reached out and shoved me. "Back off from Jason."

I already saw it coming and sidestepped out of the way.

Sarah never expected me to dodge. She lunged at nothing, twisted her ankle, and nearly went crashing to the ground.

Jason swooped in and caught her before she fell, and then gave me a death stare. "Mia, how could you push Sarah?"

His eyes were bloodshot, wild with rage, and he lunged at me like a beast unleashed.

He slammed into me, sending me reeling. My balance was gone, and I toppled backward.

The only thing behind me was the bridge railing.

I felt the icy metal press into my back, and then, suddenly, I lost my balance.

The world spun out of control around me.

A smug grin spread across Sarah's face.

For a split second, I saw panic flash in Jason's eyes, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold indifference.

He even reached out and wiped my blood off Sarah's face.

"Don't be scared. She's some worthless trash." His voice was the last thing I heard in this world.

My body fell into the icy rush of traffic below.

As my consciousness faded, the only thing I thought was that Ryn's slaughterhouse was gonna get messy again.

This time, I might not be able to help him clean it up.

I felt my consciousness float above, suspended in the air.

I was dead.

I watched as my body was mangled beneath the wheels of a speeding truck, torn apart and left in a pool of blood.

I saw Jason drag a shell-shocked Sarah away.

I watched as the bystanders around me screamed in panic and frantically called for help.

Everything unfolded like some absurd, silent film.

So, this was what dying felt like.

There was no pain, just a weird, almost tranquil calm.