When The Puppet Falls For The Puppeteer

He Doesn't Save Me. He Keeps Me.

Myra

"Hey babe, can we talk?" I asked Ash as she pulled up in front of my house.

"Yeah, sure," she said, fixing her lipstick in the rearview mirror. "But first—do I look cute enough for my boy? Dan and I are partnering for that biology project, and we're meeting to 'study'"—she added finger quotes with a mischievous wink.

I laughed, despite everything weighing on my chest. "Of course. You always do."

She squealed, leaning over to hug me. For a second, her warmth made everything feel a little less heavy.

"Okay, now serious face. What's up?" she asked, instantly catching the shift in my expression.

"It's about..." I hesitated, suddenly unsure how to say it. "Just—don't freak out. And definitely don't lash out, alright?"

Ash narrowed her eyes. "You're scaring me. What is it?"

"It's about Marcus."

Her entire body tensed. "What about him?"

"What happened today in the cafeteria... I know he gets under your skin. But please, Ash—stop provoking him. I'm scared he'll hurt you." My voice dropped, barely a whisper. "And I don't want to lose you."

Her head snapped toward me. "Wait—lose me? Are you saying you'd choose him over me?"

"What? No! God, no. Of course not." I reached out instinctively, needing her to believe that. "It's not about choosing. It's just... complicated."

She stared at me for a moment, brows furrowed. "Complicated how?"

I swallowed hard. "I just don't want you getting dragged into something dark. He's... dangerous, Ash. And he means what he says."

"So why the hell are you letting him treat you like this?" she demanded. "Tell him to fuck off."

"It's not that easy."

"It is, Myra."

"No, it's not," I whispered. "He's done things for me—things you don't know. And I can't just walk away. Please, for me, don't challenge him again. Promise me?"

Ash exhaled, clearly biting back a million things she wanted to say. "Fine. But only if you promise me something too."

"What?"

"That if he hurts you—really hurts you—you'll tell me. No more lies, no more hiding."

I nodded. "I promise."

She leaned in and hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes, letting myself feel safe for just one more moment.

"Thanks for the drop," I whispered as I pulled away.

"Anytime," she said, her voice quiet but fierce.

I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, eyes closed, heart thudding.

Ash's words echoed in my mind. Why do you let him treat you this way?
Because I don't know how not to.
Because walking away from Marcus feels like trying to escape a shadow stitched into my skin.

I made her promise not to challenge him, but deep down, I hated myself for it. I was protecting her, yes—but I was also betraying her. Hiding things. Making excuses. Letting fear shape my choices.

What scared me most wasn't just what Marcus could do to Ash...
It was what he could do to me—and how, somehow, a part of me still couldn't look away from him.

I sank onto the sofa just as the door opened and Lillie burst in, crying.

"Hey, pumpkin. What's wrong?" I asked, pulling her into my arms.