Desperation and Darkness

The man's eyes seemed to bore into Ashley's soul as he took a step closer to her, his movements deliberate and menacing. Ashley's heart was racing, her mind reeling with fear as she struggled against the ropes that bound her to the chair. She knew she had to keep him talking, to try and stall for time, but her voice caught in her throat as she tried to speak. The man's gaze seemed to flicker, and for a moment, Ashley saw a glimmer of something else in his eyes - a hint of sadness, perhaps, or regret. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a cold, hard determination. "I don't know what you're talking about," Ashley lied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't know anything." The man's face twisted into a cruel smile. "Don't play dumb with me," he sneered. "I know all about you, Ashley. I know all about your little boyfriend, Ryan." Ashley's heart skipped a beat as the man's words cut through her like a knife. "What about Ryan?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking. The man's smile grew wider. "Ryan is no longer a problem," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "He's dead." Ashley's world went dark. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. "No," she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears. "Please, no." The man's eyes seemed to gleam with satisfaction as he watched her react. "You should have thought of that before you got involved in this," he said, his voice cold and detached. "You should have stayed out of it." Ashley's vision blurred as tears streamed down her face. "I know nothing," she pleaded, her voice shaking with fear. "He never said what he did. Please, don't hurt my baby." The man's expression didn't change, but for a moment, Ashley thought she saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Your baby?" he repeated, his voice low and menacing. Ashley's heart was racing as she realized she'd made a mistake. She didn't know what the man wanted, but she knew she had to try and protect herself, and... and Ryan's memory. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I mean, I don't have a baby," she said quickly, trying to cover. "I was just... just talking about someone else." The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze boring into hers. Ashley knew she was playing with fire, but she had to try and keep him talking. She had to try and stay alive.