Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace (Dexter) novel Chapter 419

"Phoebe!" Colin's voice roared, trying to reach me, but Finn had him by the legs, dragging him back.

Dragging the axe Bran had left on the floor, I stepped forward, feeling the wooden floorboards under my feet.

Somehow, I knew which board was safe, no traps beneath it.

If you looked closely, where the Jenga tower had fallen, that's where the trap was.

Reaching the middle, I looked up at the projector hanging above and, in a fury, smashed it to pieces.

The hologram flickered and blurred, the little girl's image distorting and then vanishing.

But soon, another projector on the right brought her back. "Phoebe, congratulations, you've learned anger."

She was mocking me.

Trying to provoke me.

I shattered projector after projector until I was out of strength, collapsing to the floor.

As the last projector broke, the gruesome holographic head on the floor also faded away.

It wasn't real... it wasn't Stella's head, just an AI-generated illusion.

But I'll admit, they had succeeded in angering me.

I stood up, hacking at the floor, desperately prying at the floorboards with my hands covered in blood, tears dropping to the floor. "Stella..."

"Stella..."

I cried out her name, frantically clawing at the floorboards.

Come out...

Don't die.

Colin pushed past Finn, following the path I had taken. He tried to stop me, but I pushed him away.

My tears numbly fell.

Through the cracks, I could see Stella below, barely alive, as if about to drown in a pool of blood.

But I couldn't save her.

"Phoebe... do you feel despair? Suffocating?" That voice echoed again. "You're human, and humans have emotions, desires, loves, hates..."

Is this despair?

Is this what despair feels like?

I pounded the floorboards, again and again.

Colin wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me tight.

I watched helplessly as Stella was swallowed by the crimson blood below.