Chapter 010: Abracadabra
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The bullet was merely a metaphor. It was the sight of Christine's eyes fluttering open that caused his grip on the scissors to falter.

"Abracadabra!" the one they thought dead exclaimed, tears welling in her russet-brown eyes.

Damien's eyes widened as the realization dawned upon him. Every moment since waking atop that building replayed in his mind—he had been tied to the chair, and Christine had stood near the edge, gazing down. Everything suddenly made sense.

“Christine?” he called.

Christine wiped her eyes, her expression unreadable before turning to face him. "What is this?" Damien asked, confusion lacing his voice.

"Something’s about to happen," she replied, her voice barely steady.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, struggling to free his hands.

Christine knelt before him, locking eyes with his ocean-blue gaze. Silent tears welled up, and as she closed her eyes, a single tear traced down her cheek as she leaned in closer.

Damien's heart raced, his eyes dilating without his noticing. An unspoken pull drew them closer until their lips met in a brief, tender kiss. Christine then rested her forehead against his, trying to pull herself together.

"Mr. Lane," she murmured, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She straightened, casting one last look at Damien. "I'm so sorry for everything.”

"Please," Damien swallowed hard, causing Christine, who was about to stand, to pause. "Tell me what's going on. I'll listen.”

Christine closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath before she finally confessed—a confession she later relayed to Benedict as well.

“The pattern of his attacks aligns with tonight and this time,” she said. “He needs to be stopped. I accidentally shot the taxi driver from earlier because of trying to run away from that man.”

Damien took a deep breath, trying to piece everything together. “What’s your plan? Why not just coordinate with your fellow agents?”

“I already told you,” Christine said, her voice quivering, “I’m the reason he became like this.”

A shiver ran down Damien’s spine as he recalled the first genuine kiss he had ever received. Unlike the fleeting encounters with other women, this kiss was imbued with a depth he had never known before.

“Why did you…” he asked, struggling to find his voice. “Why did you kiss me?”

Christine stood up and turned away. “What does it mean?” he asked, his voice trembling.

Christine swallowed hard. “It might be my last goodbye.”

“What are you saying?” Damien urged. “Untie me at once. Whatever you’re facing, we’ll face it together!”

"You don't understand," Christine said.

“Christine, whatever your past may be, I don’t care. You’re not the only one with a dark history here. Even if you kept your true self hidden from us, your closest friends, I can still forgive you. Why?” he spoke. “Because I love you, Christine Elyssia Wilson.”

“It’s funny because… I love you too, Mr. Damien Ellis Lane. You’re the only one who truly has my heart, unlike Blake,” she replied.

“Can you untie me now? Let’s get out of here. I know he’ll be hunted by the police soon,” Damien spoke. “Benedict is the best policeman I know. I trust him with this case.”

Christine moved closer and began to loosen the ropes. “This will remain this way, and you should, too,” she explained. “I have a plan. Do you trust me?”

"I trust you," he replied as instructed. "What’s the plan?”

"You'll pretend I’ve taken you hostage," she said, blindfolding him with a handkerchief. "Stay still and don't move or speak, no matter what you hear.”

"What will you do?" Damien asked, his heart racing with unspoken fear.

“By untying you, I trust you’ll allow me to carry out my plan,” she said calmly. “Promise me you trust me, too.”

“I promise,” Damien replied.

At the present moment, Damien's heart leapt with relief as he saw Christine alive. She stood and pinned the serial killer to the floor.

With his head near the blood from Christine’s fake wound, Blake's eyes widened in realization. "Ah... So you faked your death with cornstarch. I should've known you were deceiving me.”

"Police! Freeze!" Sergeant Adelaide Lawtrenchard shouted as her team stormed into the building.

“It’s over now,” Christine said, gazing once more into the green eyes she had not seen in so long.

Blake let out a hollow laugh, his anger mingling with sadness. "Did you ever love me? You left me, didn’t you?”

Christine was aware of Blake's confessions, yet she withheld her own. She left because she couldn't reciprocate his love. She did care for Blake, but it wasn't romantic—it was more an act of empathy.

"You need to pay for what you've done," she whispered, her voice trembling as she fought back tears. "Perhaps then, you'll find the one meant for you.”

Blake fought back, overpowering Christine and pinning her to the floor, reclaiming his dominance. "You're mine," he growled, his fingers tightening around her neck. "You won't escape me this time!”

"You're in love with him instead of me?" Blake sneered, his laughter turning maniacal as he pointed accusingly at Damien.

Christine gasped for breath as Blake's grip loosened, the force of Benedict’s push sending them both tumbling to the side. Though weakened, Benedict managed to knock Blake off balance, freeing Christine from his grasp.

“No!” Damien cried out, his eyes fixed on the weapon in Blake’s hand.

Adelaide moved swiftly, managing to handcuff Blake. But before she could secure him completely, the man pressed the detonator. A small spark flickered from a nearby spot, the life of another innocent victim ended once more.

“I might not get her heart, but I’ll soon have yours, Christine!” he warned, still laughing.

“You’re coming with us,” Adelaide said. As they prepared to guide him to the police car waiting below, he shoved the officer aside and dashed toward the edge of the building.

"Catch me if you can," Blake taunted, casting a final, lingering glance at them, and finally at Christine. "See you soon, my love." With that, he plunged into the void, disappearing from view.

The police rushed to intervene, but their efforts came too late. Peering down from the old building, they watched as Blake’s lifeless body fell, marking his final departure from the world.

Damien dropped the gun and rushed to Christine. He embraced her tightly, his relief palpable, and pressed his lips to hers in another tender kiss.

“Detective Inspector,” Adelaide said, extending her hand to Benedict, who was still struggling to rise. As he grasped it and leaned on her shoulder, a strange beeping sound cut through the moment.

Benedict’s eyes widened in horror. “He planted a bomb here. We need to get out, now!” he urged, struggling to move quickly with Adelaide’s help.

The six of them sprinted, each step a struggle to contain their fear. As they reached a safe distance, a deafening bang erupted, shaking the Whitechapel district. Debris shot through the air as the building exploded in a series of fiery bursts.

"We're safe now. Don't worry," Damien whispered, feeling Christine’s trembling as their hands clasped together.

And finally, after a brief but terrifying reign as a psychopath serial killer—haunting women due to failed relationships with his family and a woman he loved, which drove him to darkness—his terror came to an end. 

As the distant Big Ben struck midnight and chimed once more, silence settled over the city, bringing an end to the terror that had plagued them.

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Author's Note:

The song "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band, with its themes of love and enchantment, echoes the chapter's exploration of Christine's complex relationships with the men around her.

The lyrics, "The situation goes round and round," mirror the chapter’s narrative shifts between the present and past, reflecting on past memories while navigating the current events.

The title "Abracadabra" aligns with the chapter's theme, where the word was associated with magic and illusion. It was all about Christine's plan.

The romantic theme in the chapter, highlighted by the kissing scenes, intensifies the emotional connection between Damien and Christine, echoing the passionate and fiery undertones of the song's lyrics.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖙 𝕿𝖗𝖎𝖔
~ lorainejd ~