When he sees me, his eyes go wide.
"Selene! Thank God. I'm getting you out of here."
"David, you need to leave."
"Look at you!" He tries to lunge forward, but security holds him. "Look what they've done to you! That thing around your neck—is that a collar? Like you're some kind of animal?"
"It's none of your business?—"
"I'm calling the police. This place, these people, they're sick. They've brainwashed you?—"
"Enough." Cassius' voice cuts through the chaos.
He steps forward, and David actually cowers. "You have two choices. Leave now and never return, never speak of this place or her again. Or?—"
"Or what?" David tries to sound brave, but his voice cracks. "You'll kill me?"
Cassius smiles, and it's terrifying. "Yes."
The simple confirmation makes David pale.
He looks at me desperately. "Selene, we can leave right now. Just come with me?—"
"No."
I step between them, facing David.
This pathetic man who thought he could save me, fix me, make me normal.
"I'm exactly where I want to be, David. I’m with who I want to be with."
"This isn't you?—"
"This is exactly me. The me I've always been, just hidden under therapy and grief and your suffocating nice guy routine." I move closer, letting him see the collar clearly, letting him see the bruises that peek above the dress collar. "I chose this. I want this. I am exactly where I belong."
Cassius moves beside me, his hand on my lower back possessive and threatening.
"The choice, David. Make it now."
David looks between us, and I see the moment he breaks.
But then his face hardens with desperate courage. "I'm going to expose this place. All of it. The police will?—"
"No." The word comes from me, strong and clear.
I turn to Cassius. "Don't kill him."
Cassius goes completely still. "Excuse me?"
"He's nothing. He's nobody. Don't waste your time killing him. He's not worth it."
The temperature in the room drops.
I can feel Cassius's rage like a physical thing, but I hold my ground.
"Let him go. He won't say anything because he's a coward. Look at him—he's already pissing himself. He'll run home and pretend this never happened."
"You're giving me orders?" Cassius's voice is deadly quiet.
