Chapter 16:

Betrayal

My Other Half


------------WARNING MENTION OF SELF-HARM, BLOOD, TOPIC OF SUICIDE------------

Ivaylo was deep in his thoughts, about what had happened. How everything unfolded. That human male must have spied on them for some time or rather on her. What if he was a stalker? No... They seemingly knew each other, that smell said it too... Hmmm...

Ivaylo raised his eyes back to that window of that human male. The lights went off. He got nervous. What are they doing there right now?! I hope nothing indecent! Why am I even thinking about something like that? I shouldn't even care.

He had to get rid of those thoughts. Rather he should sleep now too. Tomorrow awaits him another working day. Maybe she will come back later... Ugh! Why is she still on my mind?! Ivaylo dipped his face into his palm.



In the early morning, when the alarm clock began to ring, Ivaylo opened his tired eyes. He couldn't fall asleep, so most of the night, he stayed awake. Dark circles appeared under his eyes. That damn human male! No breakfast for him today. He left for work soon after.

If Ivaylo thought yesterday was bad, today would be even worse... As he entered the office, his nose picked up a familiar odor. One, which he never wanted to smell ever again. With sparkles in her eyes, she greeted Ivaylo. "Oh My God! Boss, you are here! I was wondering, where you disappeared!" Is this a cruel joke? Does the Chairman hate him so much?

That crooked human woman, who was harassing him at the headquarters appeared. Ivaylo looked past her at the supervisor. He gave him just an apologetic look. The Chairman sent her to do a task here and well... they had to cross their paths again. Ivaylo was more than displeased by this event. Nothing good was coming from those eyes of hers. He didn't say anything and just walked around her.

The whole day, she was trying to make small talk and Ivaylo just did everything to avoid her. He had a secret meeting with the supervisor to deal with this precarious situation. "My hands are tied. I am sorry... The Chairman sent her here. You see, before she was taken to the headquarters, she worked here together with that man, who joined the headquarters..."

This shocking new information was hidden from Ivaylo. Was this a punishment? "She will leave in a few days, so don't worry. Just hold on there! You will be fine..." He patted Ivaylo on the shoulder. Ivaylo just sighed. Will it be?



In the evening, Ivaylo was packing stuff into his bag to go home. That human woman crept on him from behind and she hugged him, wrapping her arms around his torso and pressing her face against his back. He was petrified...

That feeling of disgust made him nauseous and dizzy. His head spun and he just ripped her embrace apart, accidentally pushing her to the ground. The human staff, together with the supervisor rushed out to check on the commotion in the office. The scene they saw...

Ivaylo glared and stood over a poor woman holding to her arm, which got accidentally scratched by his claws in the process. As soon, as she saw other people, she began to cry. This again! Ivaylo stormed out of the office, leaving them all behind without an explanation. Full-on panic mode. He knew they wouldn't believe him. Nobody does...

This might be the end of his own career. He probably will be unemployed, starting tomorrow... That was a betrayal orchestrated by that wretched human woman! Why does his life have to be like this? Why the humans were allowed into the city? Just WHY?!

On the way home, he bought some alcohol. He slowly unlocked the door of the apartment, which was cold and dark. With a slow finger swipe, he turned on the light. It looked the same as he left it. That means she didn't come back. Nevermind...

Nevertheless, he wouldn't want to see her anyway... she is also a human after all. She will betray him for sure. He grabbed a glass and poured himself a drink. One after another, he was emptying it getting quickly drunk since he didn't eat the whole day. He was too stressed out and his stomach shrunk from it.

Now, when he can relax, he is deep in his depression once more. Funnily enough, he can't remember the last time he was in this kind of state. What kept him calm before? What made him suddenly be content in his life? It doesn't matter anymore... Now he was back in the spiral into the deepest and darkest places of his mind.

That intrusive thought came to him back again... to hurt himself... Ivaylo unbuttoned his expensive white shirt, which he always wears to work. Neatly folded he put it aside and sat on top of the kotatsu admiring his own claws. He turned his back to the warmth of the beloved sitting area and rather faced the cold-looking kitchen. How beautifully sharp they are.

With one swift move, he rammed the pointy nails into his shoulder squizzing it. That physical pain finally relieved him from his mental suffering. He continued clawing himself, leaving just a bloody mess all around him and on the floor.

Ivaylo overdid it this time and he was quickly losing a lot of blood making him go in and out of his consciousness. He dropped his bloodied hand and swayed around a little bit. The wound was still pouring out blood, it was too big and too deep. He slightly hunched over and kept his posture in that position.

His mind was playing cruel tricks on him. He began to have hallucinations from the blood loss and alcohol altogether. He could smell that wench again and made him replay, what had transpired from the beginning of the day to the end, when she crept up on him and accused him of sexual assault.

Those judgemental stares from everyone present... His life was losing meaning. If he would die today, he wouldn't mind... Exhaustion was slowly taking over him and his eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. This will be fine. No need to wake up... ever again.

That beautiful, deep red color on the floor. Like petals of roses... Barely, he heard a click of the handle from the entrance door. That lovely, sweet scent touched his nose again. How he missed it! He didn't know, that he so much desired to smell it once more...