The Novel’s Antagonist: I walk the path of a Villain

"Haah… Haah… Hah… Haah…" I panted desperately, yanking Ariana along with me as I sprinted through the winding alleys of the Black Market.

Narrow.

The chances had been dangerously narrow.

We had barely escaped. So close, in fact, that if I had hesitated for even a second longer, I wouldn't have just been trapped—I would've been trapped forever. And Ariana… she would have died.

"Ryan…"

Her voice was weak. Barely there.

We had already reached the exit—I was sure of it. But I didn't stop. I didn't answer her. I just kept pulling her forward, past the threshold, beyond the market, beyond the danger. Only then would I allow myself to feel safe.

Because the only reason I even managed to escape that hell in the first place…

Was because I did the one thing she never expected.

I gave her the Energy she wanted.

No—more than that. I overwhelmed her with it.

How I did it? Hell if I know. Even now, I don't understand it. All I know is that when she tried to siphon my energy, I didn't resist—I gave in. Not just a little, either. I gave her everything.

And the result?

She lost her damn mind.

Convulsing, moaning, completely undone by the sheer force of it. Her eyes rolled back into her skull, drool slipping from her lips as waves of euphoria overtook her. She lost all sense of reality, trapped in whatever high I had forced upon her.

I didn't stick around to watch.

The moment I saw her collapse, I bolted.

And just as I emerged from that suffocating, spatial chamber, I found Ariana—moments away from being pulled into some door.

But I grabbed her, yanked her back to me. And then, we ran.

And now—

Here we were. Just before the wall.

Outside.

Finally.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to catch my bearings. My entire body burned, my lungs ached, but we were out. We were safe. I could finally—

Huh?

I turned, sensing something off.

"A-Ariana?" I muttered.

Something in my gut twisted as I took in the sight before me.

She had pulled away from my grasp.

And she was staring at me.

Not with anger. Not with rage.

But with something worse.

With pain.

A deep, hollow pain that twisted her expression into something unreadable.

"What exactly are we to you?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady. "What am I to you?"

A tear rolled down her cheek, but her face remained impassive—devoid of emotion.

And yet, I could feel it.

I could feel her pain, her hesitation.

I knew Ariana. I knew her better than anyone.

And if there was one thing she hated—hated more than anything in this world—it was the idea of me betraying her.

"Calm down," I said quickly, reaching for her hands.

She stepped back.

My stomach dropped.

"I feel like I'm the only one who actually wants to be with you," she whispered. "Does that mean you don't love me anymore? Am I just… something to you?"

Her voice trembled.

I hated this.

"You know that's not true," I said, shaking my head.

"Do I?" She let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "I thought I did. I really did. But let's be honest, Ryan—you've changed. You're not the same person. You were mine. Mine alone." Her fists clenched, her breathing uneven.

I clenched my fists.

"You're not my Ryan anymore," she continued. "Not the one who was only for me, not the Ryan I remember. I know things are different in this world. That's why I accepted it. That's why I accepted Nelia… even Selena, no matter how much I hate her. But now… it's like it's never enough. Are we not enough for you? Am I not enough?"

She took a deep breath, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"Are you not satisfied with me?"

I grabbed her face between my hands, forcing her to look at me.

Because I knew.

I knew this look.

I knew this side of her.

Back on Earth, before we even started dating, I noticed it.

Ariana had always been… unstable.

She never explained why, but even before we were together, she had this unsettling intensity whenever I spoke to another girl. Maybe it was due to some trauma from her childhood. Maybe something else entirely. I don't know. But whatever it was, it had made her obsess over me. Not in a cute, clingy way—no. In a way that felt like if she let go, she'd break.

She never had female friends. Never wanted them. Her only friend back then had been that psycho, and even now, I could still remember the way she'd looked whenever she thought I was slipping away.

She was obsessive.

Possessive.

A part of me had always known that.

And yet—

I never stopped her.

Because, deep down, I wanted her just as much.

"You have to believe me, Ariana," I said, my grip tightening. "I didn't do anything. I swear."

She stared at me.

And then—

She shook her head.

And walked away.

"Wait—Ariana!"

I reached out, grabbing for her, but—

Whoosh!

She was gone.

She turned the corner, and in an instant—

She vanished.

My breath hitched.

Oh, fuck.

I messed up.

I messed up big time.

I knew she'd been suspicious. I knew she'd been doubting me. But I thought—

No.

I had to find her.

"Ariana!" I sprinted through the alleyways, my voice echoing against the walls. "Ariana!"

I hated this.

I hated seeing her cry.

Damn it!

She could do something reckless. Something dangerous.

I had to—

Wait.

Shit.

She was the one who paid for both of us to come here.

I didn't have money to use the portal.

No.

That meant I had only one option.

I had to run all the way back to the academy.

I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to think.

No, there had to be another way.

I opened my meta-watch, scrolling through my contacts until I found a familiar name.

I clicked it.

A moment later, the call connected.

"Riley?" a voice answered.

"Shelly," I said, exhaling. "I need your help."