Though she had promised, Mel hadn't visited me since her first day back at the Drew residence. The morning after, I had received a text from Mel, informing me that she won't be visiting me unless necessary.

The day after, David had called, asking why I had not come over to visit Mel as promised. I had given the usual, most believable excuse. I had told him that I had back-to-back surgeries scheduled. I had given him the impression that I probably wouldn't be able to make it till the weekend.

My answer seemed to have put him at ease. He had not bothered asking about anything else.

Whatever it was that was bothering Mel, she had continued hiding it from me. "You are imagining things, Alex." She had said a few times that I had called her. Then she had gone on to tell me how David had started joining them during mealtimes, where he had played the part of a doting father to perfection. He had sternly instructed the kids not to bother me multiple times. Other than that, however, David had kept to himself. He hadn't left the house even once during that time.

"I think he is waiting for something, Alex, but I don't know what it is." She had said in a low, hopeless voice. But when I had asked if I should come over, she had refused.

To say that I was surprised to receive a text from her at eight in the morning would be an understatement. My fingers tremble as I unlock my phone.

'We need to talk. Meet me at home in ten.' The message reads. Without wasting a second, I set out for the Drew residence.

When the door opens, a knowing smile greets me. I reciprocate it, but before I can rejoice, the electric blue eyes turn cold, and the smile morphs into a smirk. I instantly realize that the woman in front of me is not my Mel, but Janice.

Was it wrong for me to presume that Janice had left Mel alone?

A part of me wants to give Janice the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe Janice taking over her body had something to do with David and what he knew about her.

"Good morning, Janice." I greet her to keep up appearances.

"Drop it. No one's around." The woman in front of me says, gesturing me to follow her.

When we are in her room, she hands me a file. "I suppose this should be enough to put David behind bars." She pulls out her phone. "And this should be enough to get him out of Mrs. Drew's life."

My phone beeps.

"Check it later." She stops me from checking my phone. "My work here is done. Doctor, I need you to get me out of here. Now." She points to the bags she has kept ready at the foot of the bed.

"Janice, what are you talking about? Did something happen?" I ask. She nods. "Doctor, I promised to help you implicate him, and I have done that. But knowing what I know about him, I can't afford to risk my life any further."

Janice purses her lips. "It's time for you to keep your end of the deal."

"Wait. Please." I plead. "I..can Mel hear us?" I ask; Janice nods. "Rest assured, Janice. I am not the kind that breaks my promise."

Janice nods. "I know. That's why I helped you."

As the implications of what Janice was saying becomes clear, my heart plummets. "Janice, can I... Will you..." I stutter. I feel wetness on my cheeks as I try to find words to convince Janice to allow me to speak with Mel one last time, but before I voice my request, Janice sighs. "Fine. You have five minutes." She closes her eyes, and when she opens them, it's Mel.

Mel throws her arms around me and breaks down. "Alex, David is a monster. He killed my parents. Alex, how could I have fallen in love with him?"

I return the embrace. "Don't blame yourself, Mel. It was not your fault." I stroke her hair and cup her face. "Mel," Now that she was right in front of me, I don't know where to begin. "I wipe her tears. I will try my best to save you, Mel. I will never give up."

Mel nods. "I know. But just in case you can't, know that I don't blame you." She brings our foreheads together. "Alex, I have no one but you. Please take care of Sid and Sandy for me." She pleads.

"Mel, please, don't," I beg.

Tears roll down her cheeks. She steps away and strokes my brow. "This might be my last chance to tell you this, Alex." Her blue eyes glimmer as the light of the rising sun pours through the window. "Alex..." She whispers.

"Mn?"

"Alex..." She calls my name again. It is softer and full of warmth. "Thank you." Her brows knit, "And sorry."

I don't ask her why she had thanked me and why she had apologized. The way she had called my name was enough for me to know that she had seen my heart.

I nod. "There is no need for sorry or thank-you between us."

Sun rays dance across her face. It makes her look like an angel. I knew it was now or never. As I cradle her face between my palms, every reservation, every fear that I have ever had, leaves me, and I finally open my heart to her, "Mel, I love you. I always have. Nothing will ever change that."

She nods. A small smile plays on her lips.

She knows. She understands. What more could I want?

"Goodbye, Alex." She whispers and steps away.

"Goodbye-"

The door creeks open. It's David. 

 "Look at what we have here," He walks in armed with his usual smirk and 9mm gun directed at me.

He sighs. "Reed, my man, my heart hurts for you. Really. I swear. I have never met a man as pathetic and clingy as you."

Fear engulfs me. I pull Janice behind me. "David, lower your gun."

"And why the fuck should I do that, hum?" He sneers and takes a step towards us.

"Because you don't want to use it," I reply, and he throws his head back and laughs. "What makes you think that? Have you read the file I gave her? Reed, you don't know what I am capable of." He puts his and out. "Give me the file. Now." He commands. His eyes blaze with anger.

"No!" Mel replies, stepping in front of me.

David shakes his head and strokes his brow. "You know what I don't understand," He titles his head. "I don't understand how you pulled this off." He gawks at his lips. "Is there a medical procedure that I don't know about, or did you resort to witchcraft?"

Mel stops dead in her tracks. She clenches her fists.

"Well. Well. Well, color me surprised." He chuckles mirthlessly. "My dear Mellisa, I did not think you had it in you to seduce me like that. If you would have been half the woman you were when you were pretending to be Janice, maybe I would have taken a shine to you."

"You bastard! You killed my parents!" Melissa bites out, taking a step towards him.

"Someone finally grew a spine, I see. Maybe it's because of this body you seem to be possessing."

"David, please, I am begging you. Lower your gun before you do something you will regret." I try again, but he ignores me and continues, "I wonder what will happen if your heart stops beating." Walking over to the bed, he places the front sight of the gun between her brows.

"David, get away from her. You want the file, right? Take it." I hold the file out to him.

"Alex, don't." Mel protests, but I ignore her.

He angles his body. "Your phones, too, please." He adds in a sugary sweet voice.

"Fine. We will do what you want." I slowly fish my phone out of my pocket and glance at Mel. I urge her with my eyes to do the same.

She shakes her head. "Go ahead and kill me. I won't hand it over!"

"What!?" David quirks his brow. "You stupid bitch, are you really looking forward to dying that much?"

All of a sudden, Mel clutches her chest and closes her eyes. "Don't, please. Let me stay. You can't let him get away. Noooooooooo!" She yells and flings herself towards David.

He dogges her and pulls the gun on her. "This is your last chance." He threatens. 

I wrap my arms around her. Her back collides with my chest. "Stop it, Mel. You said it yourself. He is a monster. Don't provoke him. I can't lose you. Please."

She turns her face towards me and crushes our lips together. She cups the back of my head and smiles into the kiss. Then, turning in my arms, she pushes me to the floor. "Sorry, babe, but I can't let you interfere." She says, thrusting her hand in her pocket. She pulls out a black metallic object.

Is that a gun? No, that's impossible!

"You bitch!" David exclaims, and a split second later, a loud bang revibrates through the room, and Janice's body hits the floor.