Jonah had executed the plan flawlessly, disposing of the body and assuming the identity of the reclusive owner. He intended to stay at the manor for a short while, just long enough to set up his next move and secure his escape. Everything was going according to plan until an unexpected visitor arrived at the manor.Guinevere Ray as she introduced herself, appeared seemingly out of nowhere. She was a complication Jonah hadn't foreseen. His first instinct was to eliminate her, to silence any potential witness who could jeopardize him. He'd made up his mind to kill her, even planning to do it while she was in the bath. It would have been simple, quick, and clean. But when he saw her face, everything changed.She was beautiful, stunningly so, but it wasn't just her looks that captivated him. There was something about her, an aura of vulnerability mixed with a quiet strength that stirred something deep within Jonah. It was as if a switch had flipped inside him. He felt a powerful, almost primal urge to possess her, to make her his in every sense. It was an obsession, an all-consuming desire that twisted his insides and clouded his judgment.As Gini stepped out of the bathroom, startled by the noise Jonah had accidentally made in the hallway, he was struck by a mix of panic and fascination. He had tried to hide, but his heavy breathing betrayed him. She found him crouched behind a corner, his eyes wide with a strange, fevered intensity. And then the screaming happened.Jonah quickly spun a tale, claiming to be the owner of the manor and accusing Gini of trespassing. It was a flimsy story, hastily concocted, but Jonah was skilled at reading people. He saw the wariness in her eyes, the way she measured her responses. She was scared, but she was also thinking, assessing the situation. He needed to keep her off balance, to prevent her from piecing together the truth.So he played a game. He pretended to be clumsy, a harmless eccentric living in a grand old house. He stumbled over his words, made jokes, and did everything he could to make her feel safe. It was all an act, of course, a carefully constructed facade. He needed her to trust him, to let her guard down. It wasn't long before he felt he had her where he wanted. She seemed to relax, even showing signs of affection towards him. Jonah savored those moments, feeling a twisted sense of triumph each time she smiled at him or laughed at one of his jokes.But Jonah was also terrified. He was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were high. He couldn't let her leave, couldn't risk her finding out the truth. The thought of her running away, of losing her, filled him with a dark, consuming fear. This fear turned to anger when Gini tried to escape during the storm. She had run out of the manor, desperate and fed up, and Jonah had chased after her, his heart pounding with a mixture of rage and fear. When he found her, shivering, he was furious. Not just at her, but at himself for letting things spiral out of control.Well his consequent injury and Gini's compassion did play out in his favor. But it wasn't enough.How could he make sure she never tried to leave again? How could he keep her with him, forever? He was desperate, frantic, and his mind went to dark places. He needed to break her, to make her depend on him entirely. The phone call from Mark, the company employee, was a tipping point. Gini had looked at him with such fear and disgust, and he knew that she had begun to see the truth about him. Panic surged through him at the thought of losing her, of her slipping through his fingers.In a moment of desperate clarity, he decided to chain her up. It was a drastic measure, but he saw no other choice. He couldn't risk her leaving, couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He was doing it for himself, to satisfy his own twisted needs.After chaining her in his room, he made sure to cut off all her communication with the outside world. He couldn't afford any loose ends. Mark, the employee who had called Gini, was a problem. Jonah knew he had to deal with him, to make sure no one else found out about the manor's strange happenings. He lured Mark to the manor under Guinevere's name. It was almost too easy. Mark came willingly, trying to be a hero to the damsel. It just took a few texts filled distress and asking for help to drag him there. Once Mark was inside, Jonah struck. He was methodical, efficient. The killing was quick, and Jonah felt a cold detachment as he watched the life drain from Mark's eyes.With Mark's lifeless body at his feet, Jonah felt a strange calm settle over him. The immediate threat was gone, and Gini was safely locked away. He looked down at his blood-covered hands, feeling a flicker of something—excitement, perhaps, or just a fleeting sense of disgust. But it was quickly overshadowed by his thoughts of Gini. He needed to clean up, to wash away the blood before seeing her again. She wouldn't like seeing him like this, he told himself. She might be frightened, and he couldn't have that.Jonah dragged Mark's body to the hidden basement of the manor. He doused the body in gasoline and set it alight, watching the flames consume the evidence of his crime. As the fire crackled and the smell of burning flesh filled the air, Jonah felt a cold satisfaction. It was done. There were no loose ends, no one to threaten his plans.He cleaned himself up, scrubbing the blood from his hands and changing into fresh clothes. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he felt a strange sense of normalcy. Jonah returned to the room where Gini was kept, her presence a constant, silent accusation. She was lying on the bed, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. She looked so fragile, so broken. She needed him, even if she didn't realize it yet. He was her protector, her savior. Without him, she would be lost.Jonah watched as Gini's spirit seemed to wither. The vibrant, defiant girl he had first met was fading, replaced by a hollow shell. She barely spoke, barely moved. Jonah found himself doing everything for her—feeding her, bathing her, even reading to her. A part of him reveled in her dependency. She needed him, and that gave him a perverse sense of satisfaction.One night, as Jonah was leaving after his usual inspection, something unexpected happened. Gini reached out and grabbed his hand, her grip weak but insistent. Jonah turned, surprised by the sudden contact. Her eyes, once full of fire, were now dull and lifeless, but there was a spark of something there—desperation, perhaps, or a flicker of her former self."What is it, Shortcake?" he asked, using the nickname he had given her."Stay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's lonely."Jonah felt a strange mix of emotions at her request. It was the first time she had shown any desire for his presence, even if it was born out of desperation. He sat down beside her, his heart racing. Her hand was cold in his, and he could feel the slight tremor in her fingers. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, his voice soft.Gini's eyes searched his face, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Jonah thought she might ask for her freedom, for a chance to escape. But instead, she asked a question that caught him off guard."Why did you kill him?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "The owner of Goodwills. What did he do to you? What is your real name?"Jonah's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected this, hadn't prepared for it. He stared at her, struggling to find the right words. She wasn't ready to hear it, and he wasn't ready to let go of the control he had over her."I'll tell you one day," he finally said, his voice steady."Why not now?" Gini's voice was sharp, angry. Jonah could see the frustration in her eyes, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. She was fighting against the numbness that had settled over her, struggling to hold onto some semblance of control."You're not ready yet," Jonah replied, his voice firm.Gini's reaction was immediate and violent. She sat up, her eyes blazing with anger. Before Jonah could react, she slapped him across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and for a moment, Jonah was stunned. He hadn't expected her to fight back, hadn't thought she had the strength left in her. But as he looked into her eyes, he saw something that thrilled and excited him. It was defiance, a spark of the girl she used to be. "Just kill me, won't you?" she pleaded, her voice trembling. "You know I can't, Shortcake..." Jonah replied, his voice soft and almost tender."Don't call me that!" Gini screamed. He just stared at her, his expression calm and unreadable. He knew he should be angry, should feel something, but all he felt was love for this adorable girl."You shouldn't get angry," he said quietly, his voice devoid of anger. It was a command, a warning. He needed to keep her under control, to maintain the fragile balance of their relationship."Go," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Just go away."Jonah stood up slowly, feeling the weight of her words. He looked down at her, lying on the bed, her body curled in on itself. She looked so small, so fragile. "Good night," he said softly, before turning and leaving the room.