When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

"Melanie! Hold tight. I'm here. Don't be scared!" Clyde's voice was raspy, filled with urgency felt even through the metal walls of the rusty trailer. Through the window, I saw him running toward me with the police in tow.

Remembering Kayla's earlier threat, I shouted, "Don't come in. Those rocks are radioactive. Stay back..."

"That's enough out of you!" Before I could react, Kayla hit the back of my head hard with the butt of her knife, causing me to stumble and fall. She yanked me back up, waving the knife menacingly in front of my eyes. "Melanie, want Clyde to join you in death? Wouldn't that be romantic? Like Romeo and Juliet, neither of them had a happy ending!"

She laughed in a twisted way and slapped me hard across the face. "Shut it! Say another word, and I'll cut you up piece by piece!"

She dragged me to a corner of the room and shouted out, "Clyde, if you want your wife back, tell the cops to back off! It seems you don't care about her life, calling the cops like that! Everyone back off, or I swear I'll kill her. I really will!"

Kayla's taunts grew louder, a clear sign of her desperation.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Clyde made a few attempts to rush in, but fortunately, the officers held him back.

I believed the place got abandoned for a reason, and if the police records indicated as much, they'd stay out.

As expected, a negotiator's voice called out a few minutes later. "Kayla, you're surrounded. Release the hostage and surrender your weapon. And you might still have a chance! The radiation from those rocks is dangerous, and a hazmat team is on the way. The sooner you come out, the better your chances!"

Kayla scoffed at the police's words. "Melanie, do they think I'm an idiot? Why would I walk out? I'm already a goner. I killed Isla, committed countless crimes, and stole your jewelry. I'm facing a dead end. But don't worry. I won't take you with me. You need to live and wait for the third relapse." Kayla laughed again.

I closed my eyes, knowing she spoke the truth.

The police wouldn't go in because of the radiation risk.

Kayla had prepared her poison, intending to take out me and the unfortunate soul who had helped her.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and Clyde burst in. "Kayla, let her go!"

He pushed aside the rocks blocking the door, and several officers braved the danger to follow. "Mr. Patterson it's too dangerous! Get out, and we'll find a way to save your wife."

Clyde ignored the officers, his focus solely on me.

"Clyde, get out. All of you, get out!" I shouted, desperate to keep him away from the radioactive rocks, but he charged forward regardless.

"Perfect, then we'll all die together!" Kayla raised her knife, aiming straight for my throat.

With every ounce of strength, I struggled to pull away.

Clyde grabbed the blade with his bare hand, and I wasn't sure whose blood splattered on my face.

Bang! A gunshot echoed, and the grip on me loosened, sending me tumbling forward.

"Melanie!" ignoring his bleeding

hand, Clyde pulled me into his arms.

"It's okay now. We're leaving this

place right now. It's all right. I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you, and I meant it!"

I held his hand, tears streaming down my face. Seeing the

dangerous rocks on the ground

pushed him away. "Let's go. There's radiation here!"