Shayla
She’s sitting on the couch, her hands shaking as she clutches her phone. For the past few days, she’s been slowly putting the pieces together. Renzo’s manipulation, the strange things happening to her mind, the hallucinations—it all points to him. Now, she’s made up her mind. She has to call her mother and tell her everything. She needs help.
Her fingers hover over the phone screen as she tries to steady her breathing. She presses the call button, and the phone rings. Her heart races.
Renzo
He enters the room just as Shayla holds the phone to her ear. His face instantly changes from calm curiosity to icy fury when he realizes who she’s calling.
He snarling. "What the hell do you think you’re doing, Shayla?"
He strides across the room in two quick steps. Evelyn’s heart drops as she sees the look on his face, a mix of rage and betrayal. She fumbles with the phone, trying to hide it, but it’s too late. Nick rips it from her hand, ending the call just before anyone answers.
"Renzo, please… I wasn’t doing anything! I just—I just wanted to talk to my mom!" she said desperately
Renzo's grip tightens around the phone, his knuckles white. His face contorts with anger, but behind that rage, there’s a flicker of panic. He knows she’s starting to see through him, and that terrifies him.
"Talk to your mom? Are you kidding me? What are you going to tell her, Evelyn? That I’m the problem? That I’m the one making you lose your mind? You think she’s going to believe you?" his voice is furious
He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"You’re just paranoid. I’ve been trying to help you, and this is how you repay me? Calling your mother behind my back?" he said coldly
Shayla steps back, her body trembling, but her eyes flash with defiance for the first time. The manipulation, the gaslighting, the way Renzo has twisted her mind for months—it’s all crashing down on her, and she’s done being silent.
"Yes, Renzo! I’m calling my mom because I’m done with your lies! You’ve been manipulating me—twisting everything to make me feel like I’m losing my mind! But I know now. I know it’s you!"  her voice shaking, but determined
Renzo’s eyes narrow, his jaw clenching as he processes her words. His obsessive need to control her flares up in full force. The calm, collected mask he wears slips, and underneath it, a possessive, furious man emerges.
Renzo's eyes glinted with a cold fire, his voice a low growl that sent shivers through the room.
"You think you know, Shyla? You don’t know anything," he snarled, his tone sharp as a blade. "You wouldn’t last a day without me."
Shayla’s breath caught in her throat, but she stood her ground, her fingers twitching by her side as she braced for the next blow—not physical, but the words he wielded so viciously.
"I’ve been keeping you safe," Renzo continued, stepping toward her, his voice rising with each word. "Protecting you from yourself. Everything you’ve been seeing, everything you’ve been feeling—it’s because you’re weak."
He steps toward her, his voice rising with each word.
"And now you think your mother is going to save you? She can’t help you. No one can. Only I can."
Shayla backs away until her shoulders hit the wall. Her heart is pounding, but she refuses to back down, even as fear grips her chest.
"I’m not weak, Renzo. You’ve been making me feel that way. You want to control me, to keep me dependent on you, but I see you for what you really are now. You’re obsessed. You’re sick!" she said firmly
Her words slice through the air, and for a moment, Renzo is silent. His chest rises and falls with his heavy breathing as his anger simmers beneath the surface.
"Obsessed? Sick? You’ve got it all wrong, Shyla. You need me. You’ve always needed me. Without me, you’re nothing." He said in a low, dangerous voice
He throws the phone across the room, and it crashes against the wall with a sharp, shattering sound. Shyla flinches but holds her ground. The room is filled with tense, suffocating silence as they stare each other down.
"I’m not nothing! And I’m not yours to control! I’ll get out of here, Renzo, and I’ll tell my mom everything! You can’t stop me," her voice rising, refusing to give in
"Is that what you think? That you can just walk away? You’re mine, Shyla. You’ve always been mine. And I won’t let you ruin everything we’ve built together." His voice dripping with venom
He lunges toward her, grabbing her wrist with bruising force, his face inches from hers, his voice low and dangerous. "You can try to run, but you’ll come crawling back. You need me." He whispering menacingly
Shyla winces in pain but looks him straight in the eyes, her fear mixing with anger and defiance.
She gritting her teeth. "I don’t need you, Renzo. Not anymore."
Renzo’s grip tightens, but Shyla’s defiance only grows. In that moment, she knows she has to escape—now. She pulls her wrist free with all her strength and shoves him back, catching him off guard. Renzo stumbles, fury flashing in his eyes.
"How, Shyla? How can you say I’ve been manipulating you? What twisted idea got into your head?" he said emphatically until he looked at her intently
Shyla stands her ground, though her hands tremble at her sides. She can feel the storm brewing in Renzo, but she’s done being scared. She knows she has to speak the truth.
"It’s everything, Renzo. The way you’ve always made me doubt myself. Every time I tried to stand up for myself, you twisted my words—made me feel like I was imagining things, like I was losing my mind!" her voice steady, but emotional
Renzo scoffs, his expression a mix of disbelief and frustration, as if her words are some grand insults. "Imagining things? Shyla, you’ve been losing your mind. That’s the whole problem. I’ve been the one trying to help you. And now you’re blaming me?"
He takes a step closer, his voice dropping, trying to regain his grip on her. "I’m the only one who’s been here for you, when no one else cared. Your so-called ‘friends’? They abandoned you. Your family? Barely around. And now you think I’m the villain?" he’s calm, but manipulative
Shyla shakes her head, biting back tears. His words, though laced with manipulation, no longer have the same power over her. She’s beginning to see through the facade.
"You are the villain, Renzo. You’ve been controlling me—gaslighting me—since the beginning! Every time I questioned something, you made me feel crazy. You even drugged me, didn’t you? That’s why I’ve been hallucinating! I trusted you, and you made me think I was broken!" she said, firmly
Renzo’s face tightens. For a moment, his mask slips, and a flash of guilt crosses his features. But just as quickly, it’s replaced by cold anger. "That’s ridiculous. You’re being paranoid again. Evelyn, listen to yourself. You’re spiraling, and now you’re looking for someone to blame!" his voice sharp
Shyla steps forward, closing the distance between them, her voice filled with both hurt and fury.
He looked angrily at Renzo. "I’m not spiraling, Renzo! I see it all now—the way you’ve isolated me, made me depend on you. You made me feel like I couldn’t trust anyone but you. And for what? Because you couldn’t stand the thought of me having control over my own life!"
Renzo clenches his jaw, his eyes flashing with rage. He isn’t used to Shyla talking back like this. The more she stands up to him, the more his grip on her seems to slip, and it terrifies him.
"I’ve given you everything! You needed me! You still need me, Shyla! Without me, you’d fall apart!" Renzo’s voice rising, almost desperate
Shyla meets his gaze, her voice breaking but determined. "No, Renzo. I’m falling apart because of you." She’s quiet, but firm
The room falls into a tense silence. Renzo’s chest rises and falls with barely contained fury, his mind racing. He wants to pull her back under his control, to make her doubt herself again, but Shayla’s strength is growing, and she’s no longer the broken girl he could manipulate so easily.
She looked at her coldly, "You think you’re so strong now, don’t you? But you’ll see, Shyla. You’ll come back. You always come back."
Shyla swallows hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She knows this is a turning point—a moment of no return. But despite her fear, she’s ready to leave the cage Renzo has built around her. “Not this time." She said softly, but with resolve
"Where do you think you’re going?!" he shouting
Shyla doesn’t look back. She runs toward the door, her heart racing, her mind spinning. She doesn’t know how she’s going to escape him, but she knows she has to try. Renzo’s obsession has become a dangerous cage, and she refuses to stay trapped any longer.
Shyla
Her breath comes in ragged gasps as she bolts toward her car. The pounding of her heartbeat fills her ears, drowning out everything else. She doesn’t dare look back, knowing that if she does, she might hesitate—and hesitation is the last thing she can afford. Her mind is racing, trying to make sense of the chaos, but one thought rings clear: I have to get out. I have to be free.
She fumbles with her keys, her hands trembling, but finally, the car door swings open, and she throws herself inside. Her fingers shake as she jams the key into the ignition, the engine roaring to life.
Renzo
Behind her, Renzo’s voice cuts through the night like a knife. "Shyla! Get back here!" his shouting, furious
He rushes after her, his footsteps echoing across the gravel as he tries to close the distance. His obsession, his need for control, burns in his eyes. He can’t let her leave—he won’t. He reaches out to grab her, his hand brushing the back of her jacket, but Shyla twists away at the last second, turning to face him, her eyes blazing with defiance.
"Stay away from me, Renzo!" she’s yelling, desperate
In a sudden burst of strength, Shyla shoves Renzo with all her might. The force catches him off guard, and he stumbles backward, tripping over his feet and crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Pain shoots through his body, but it’s his pride that stings the most.
He groaning and furious, "Shyla!"
But Shyla isn’t listening. She slams the car door shut and floors the gas pedal. The tires screech against the gravel as the car surges forward, speeding down the driveway and away from the villa. The headlights slice through the darkness, guiding her toward freedom.
Renzo
He watches her car disappear into the night, rage and desperation swirling inside him. He grits his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain radiating through his body. His jaw clenches as he wipes the blood from his split lip—courtesy of Shyla’s blow.
Renzo’s muttering to himself, determined. "You think you can just run from me?"
Without wasting another second, Renzo limps toward his own car. The engine roars to life as he starts it, tires screeching as he floors the accelerator. His eyes are locked on the taillights of Shyla’s car in the distance. He’s not going to let her go—not like this. His mind races with obsessive thoughts as he speeds after her, the road ahead dark and treacherous.
Shyla
Inside her car, Shayla grips the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white. Her heart is still pounding, but there’s a glimmer of hope burning inside her now. She’s done being controlled, done living in Renzo’s shadow. The villa, with all its luxury and grandeur, had become a prison—one she had to escape, no matter the cost.
But as she glances in the rearview mirror, her heart sinks. Renzo’s headlights are growing closer, cutting through the darkness like the blade of a knife.
Shyla (whispering to herself, panicked):
"Come on, come on…"
She presses harder on the gas pedal, the speedometer climbing, but the narrow, winding roads make it hard to go any faster. Her hands tremble on the steering wheel as she tries to stay focused, the fear gnawing at her gut.
Renzo's knuckles whiten as he grips the steering wheel, his eyes locked on the taillights of Shyla’s car in the distance. Every fiber of his being is consumed by the chase, the need to close the gap between them. The roar of the engine echoes his growing obsession.
"You can’t run from me, Shyla. Not now… not ever."
His voice is low, sinister, as if saying it aloud gives the words power. He knows these roads like the back of his hand—every twist, every turn. They’ve driven this path together once, back when things were different, back when Shyla still trusted him. Now, that trust is shattered, but Renzo doesn’t care. Not anymore.
His phone rings, cutting through the intensity of the moment. The shrill sound grates against his nerves. He glances at the screen—Victoria. The irritation rises instantly, but he knows better than to ignore her.
With a frustrated growl, he snatches the phone and answers, still keeping one hand on the wheel and his eyes fixed on the car ahead.
"Hello?" His tone is clipped.
"Renzo, where are you? Where’s Shyla?" Victoria’s voice is laced with worry, but he doesn’t have time for this.
Renzo’s jaw tightens as he weaves through another sharp turn, his car hugging the curves of the road effortlessly. The last thing he needs is a lecture from his sister. He snaps, his voice sharp with impatience.
"Victoria, can you please? Not now. I’m chasing after Shyla!" There’s a stunned silence on the other end. He knows his sister is trying to piece together what he just said. Her concern deepens, but Renzo doesn’t care—his mind is on Shyla, and the burning need to catch up with her.
"What? Chasing after who? Where are you? Renzo, this is crazy! Stop it. Dad’s worried about you! Leave Shyla alone!"
Her words hit him like dull thuds, barely registering. He tightens his grip on the wheel, eyes narrowing as Shyla’s car comes into clearer view. She can’t escape him now. Not when he’s this close. His sister’s voice fades into the background, drowned out by the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.
"Renzo, listen to me! Stop this! You need to come home, now! You can’t keep doing this to her."
Renzo knows she’s right, somewhere deep down, but that voice—the voice of reason—is buried under layers of obsession, anger, and fear of losing control. He’s already gone too far. He can’t turn back now. He won’t.
"Victoria, I said not now!" His voice is a growl, his teeth clenched. "I’m not letting her get away."
Without another word, he cuts off the call and throws the phone onto the passenger seat. He’s done listening. His pulse quickens as he speeds up, pushing his car harder, faster, the distance between him and Shyla shrinking by the second. The road becomes more treacherous, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing does.
"She belongs to me," he whispers, his voice low and menacing, eyes locked on her car.
His eyes are locked on Shyla’s car, a twisted determination driving him forward. He knows every curve of these roads—he has the advantage. As he closes in on her, a cruel smile spreads across his face.
"You can’t run from me, Shyla. Not now… not ever."
Shyla
With her heart racing and her mind spinning, Shyla takes a sharp turn onto a narrow, unfamiliar road, her only thought to lose Renzo before it’s too late. But she knows this chase is far from over. The headlights in her rearview mirror are relentless, and Renzo’s obsession has driven him to madness. Her breath comes in short, shallow gasps as she watches Renzo stride toward her car, his eyes locked on hers, filled with cold determination. Every instinct tells her to run, to get out of the car, but her body won’t move. She feels trapped, like a deer caught in the headlights.
Renzo
Without hesitation, Renzo yanks open the driver’s side door, his movements sharp and aggressive.
His face is a mask of fury and obsession as he reaches in, grabbing Shyla’s arm with a vice-like grip. His fingers dig into her skin painfully, pulling her toward him. "Get out, Shyla. I’m done playing games." His voice low, dangerous):
Shyla’s eyes widen as she tries to resist, her body trembling under the weight of his grip. Her heart is pounding so loudly she can barely think straight. She tugs her arm back, but his hold is too strong.
"Renzo, please… let go of me!" her voice shaking, panicked
Renzo tightens his grip, his eyes burning with intensity. He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. "You think you can just run from me? After everything I’ve done for you?"
Shyla winces at the pain shooting up her arm, tears stinging her eyes. She’s terrified, but she knows she can’t let him pull her back into his control. With all the strength she can muster, she twists her body, trying to pry herself free from his grasp.
Shyla desperate, her voice rising. "I don’t belong to you, Renzo! Please… Let me go!"
Her words seem to infuriate him even more. Renzo’s eyes flash with a dangerous mix of anger and hurt. He pulls harder, trying to drag her out of the car, his voice shaking with frustration.
But Renzo furiously. "I’m not letting you go! You’re mine, Shyla. You’ve always been mine!"
In a surge of panic and desperation, Shyla uses her free hand to push against Renzo’s chest with all her strength. His chest heaves with rage, his eyes wild as he slams Shyla against the concrete barrier. The cold, jagged surface digs into her back, and beyond it, the dark, gaping abyss of the cliff looms. Renzo’s face is twisted with a mix of anger and desperation, his fingers digging into Shyla’s arms, holding her against the barrier with a ferocity born of obsession.
Renzo’s said furiously, his voice cracking "You said you love me, Shyla? Why you do this to me?!"
Shyla's eyes are wide with terror, tears streaming down her face as she grips the edge of the barrier, trying to push herself away from Renzo’s crushing hold. She can feel the cold wind rushing up from the cliff below, and her heart pounds with fear.
She’s sobbing, pleading. 'Renzo, enough… please, let me go. I’m hurting, let me go!'"
Her voice shakes, and she struggles to free herself from his grip, but Renzo is relentless, consumed by his need to control her. His hands tighten around her wrists as he leans in closer, his eyes flickering with something unhinged.
"No! You said I’m the one! You said you’d never leave me!"
Shyla gasps for air, her body trembling as she feels herself teetering on the edge. She uses every bit of strength she has left to pull away from him, her hand slipping against the slick, cold concrete of the barrier. Her fingers grasp desperately for anything to hold onto.
She’s frantic and crying "Please, Renzo… just let me go!"
In her desperation, she jerks her arm free, but the sudden movement causes her to lose her balance. Time seems to slow down as her foot slips, her body pitching backward toward the abyss. Her eyes widen in terror as she feels the ground give way beneath her.
"N-no—!"
Renzo’s eyes widen in horror as Shyla tumbles over the edge. His hands reach out too late, grasping at empty air as her body disappears into the darkness below. The sound of her scream fades into the night, swallowed by the vast emptiness of the cliff.
For a moment, Renzo is frozen, his mind unable to process what just happened. His chest tightens, his heart hammering as he stumbles toward the edge of the cliff, his hands trembling. He peers down into the darkness, but it’s too deep, too dark. He can’t see her. He can’t see anything.
"Sh-Shyla…?" Renzo’s whispering, voice breaking
His voice cracks, barely a whisper, as the realization crashes over him like a wave. His breath comes in ragged gasps, and his hands grip the edge of the barrier, shaking uncontrollably. The anger that had consumed him moments ago is gone, replaced by a sickening sense of dread.
Renzo’s panicking, voice shaky. "Shyla…!"
He steps back, his legs feeling weak as he stumbles away from the edge, his mind spinning in disbelief. His heart pounds in his chest, and the cold reality of what he’s done starts to settle in, suffocating him. He collapses to his knees, staring blankly into the void.
END FLASHBACK