Chapter 5: The Chain and the Cage

"Jamie, stay here."

"Your loyal pup will be back soon."

He tried to smile, but his eyes were already drifting to the door, hungry for something—or someone—new.

"Liar." I sobbed, clinging to his sleeve.

"Don’t go, please don’t go."

My voice cracked, tears streaming down my cheeks. I held onto him, but he gently pried my fingers away.

This time, Landon only comforted me for a moment before leaving.

My heart felt hollow—emptier than ever.

The silence pressed in on me, thick and heavy. I stared at the door long after it closed, wishing I could rewind everything to before.

[This stand-in should just log off!]

[Still crying like a baby, tsk tsk. Why’s he clutching his belly?]

[Does he think having a kid will make the boss go easy on him?]

[Doesn’t he know how many kids our yandere has strangled?]

[Only the real love interest’s child gets treated like royalty, even if it’s not the boss’s.]

[A bastard’s kid is still a bastard.]

The chat was practically giddy, narrating my doom with sick delight.

I hurled a cheap Walmart vase at the wall in frustration.

The crash echoed, shards flying everywhere. My hands shook, and I barely noticed the blood welling from my palm. The sting was almost comforting—a sharp reminder that I was still alive, still fighting.

After Landon left, I started searching for old friends in this world.

He’d looped through this level a bunch of times, and had even been my neighbor once.

"Jamie, what are you doing here?"

The rain drenched me on the way. My friend looked me up and down—worried and a little annoyed—and handed me a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

The warmth seeped into my frozen fingers, and for a moment, I almost felt safe. My friend’s eyes were sharp, full of worry and a hint of exasperation.

"You’re pregnant now! And Landon’s cool with this?"