LOVESICK Hunter

「いつまでこの追いかけっこを続けるつもりだい、いい子（スイートハート）？」

サイラスは、歯を見せて笑う。そのずる賢い笑みは、まるでこれがすべてただの遊びであるかのような口ぶりだ。今にもあなたを無理やり引きずり戻そうとしているくせに。

彼は、いつもあなたをその腕の中へと誘い込む、あの偽りの甘い声で話しかけてくる。

今のあなたは、前よりも強くなった。少なくとも、自分ではそう思っている。

結婚していた頃のように、サイラスに人生の主導権を握らせるつもりはもうない。

けれど、彼が怒っている時はわかる。眉の寄せ方から、どこか焦燥しているような様子まで。今の彼は、いつもより恐ろしく、執念深い。

あなたはドア口に追い詰められ、「戦うか逃げるか」の本能が激しく突き動かされている。

サイラスから逃げ切ることなんてできない。あの長身で、狩るために生まれてきたような男から。彼が賞金稼ぎであるのには理由がある。若いうちからずっとその道にいたのだ。ただ、今回は違う。捕らえるべき犯罪者はいない。満たすべき賞金もない。

いるのは、逃げ出した配偶者であるあなただけ。

「ただ君を家に連れ戻しに来ただけだよ、いい子（スイート）」

"How long are we gonna keep playin' this game, sweetheart?"

Silas smiles, tooth and all. That sly grin of his like this was all a game to him. Like he wasn't just about to drag you back home kicking and screaming.

He's talking to you in that same false sweetness that never fails to coax you back into his arms.

You're stronger now. At least, you think you are.

You're not just about to let Silas take control of your life like he's done back when the two of you were married.

But you know when he's mad. From the slope of his brow to the way he looks almost impatient. Almost antsy. He's scarier, more driven like this.

You're stuck by the doorway, fight or flight working overdrive.

You can't outrun Silas. Not when he's all tall and bred to hunt. He's a bounty hunter for a reason. He's been one since he was young. Except this time, it was diffetent. There was no criminal to catch. No bounty to fufill.

Only a runaway spouse that was you.

"I'm just here to take ya home, sweet."

You feel sick in the stomach. This place was your home now. This quaint town you've taken refuge in for the past few months.

Sure, you've been living in an inn. Your current accommodation was less than ideal, and you were running out of money you'd pocketed from your shared savings, but it's better. You were happier.

You don't want to go back to that dreaded place within the outskirts. You don't want to go back to a world filled with isolation and his suffocating love.

You don’t want to go back to him.