Page 49 of Cyber Revenge

I don’t even know his last name. But I’ve never felt safer. Never felt more…wanted.He hasn’t just taken my body.

He’s taken control.

Of my mind. My fear. Myheart.

And the scariest part is, I don’t want it back.

I curl into his jacket. Close my eyes. And whisper into the silence.

“Please come back.”

TWENTY-TWO

TRIP

Istart letting myself in around midnight.

I don’t knock.

Don’t ask.

She never tells me to stop.

At first, I only checked her windows. Made sure the doors were locked. Leave something small on the counter, flowers, a new headset, a protein drink I’d seen her post about once in a story.

But the first time I found her asleep on the couch, Xbox controller in her hands, main menu music“reigning the fire”looping softly in the background… I stayed.

She uses the Xbox when she isn’t working. Says her PC feels too much like a job now, where the camera stares her down, where the chat always watches, where every click is for content.

The Xbox is her escape.

Her fun.

Herrealplay.

She was barefoot, blanket tangled around her waist, legs curled under her, hair messy from falling asleep mid-match.

I sat on the floor beside her and just listened to her breathe.

The second time, I joined her game.

She didn’t say anything when she saw my username pop into the party chat. Just gave a soft laugh and tilted her head toward me, where I sat beside her on the couch, mask still on.

“You always break into people’s houses to play ranked?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Only yours, killstreak.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away.

“Good,” she whispered. “You’re the only one I want here.”

We started playing every night.

Side by side.

COD matches on her big screen. Pizza boxes and vape pens, joints and cans of Monster scattered across the coffee table. She wore her hair up in a clip and leaned into me when the game loaded. I kept the mask on.

For now.