My head was covered by the blanket. He couldn't see my face, ashen and drained of every last trace of life.
Blake's brow furrowed. His tone grew more agitated.
"Don't think playing dead will get you out of this. Get up. Now. And apologize to Agatha."
Still nothing.
His anger deepened. He crossed to the edge of my bed.
"Elaine, you think ignoring me means I can't do anything to you?"
"Since when did you learn to play dead? It's disgusting."
I hovered behind him, watching him with cold, empty eyes.
Blake, I'm not playing. I'm just actually dead.
And the dead can't speak.
When I gave no reaction at all, his patience finally snapped. Blake reached out and grabbed the edge of the blanket, ready to rip it away.
A strange flicker of anticipation stirred inside me.
If he pulled it back, he would see my gray, lifeless face. He would know that the woman lying here was nothing more than a cold, silent corpse.
But in the next instant, Agatha threw herself at him, trembling violently, latching onto his arm with both hands.
"Blake, she must be so angry right now. She's hiding under the covers because she doesn't want to see me."
"This is all my fault. My illness is always causing trouble for both of you. Please don't force her. Just let her rest."
Tears streamed down her face, the picture of someone desperately holding herself together through unbearable hurt.
Blake's heart clenched. The rims of his eyes went red.
He released the blanket without a second thought and pulled Agatha into his arms.
"Agatha, you're too good for this world. Unlike some people, who do something this vile and then have the nerve to play dead."
He glanced back at me one last time, the disgust in his eyes naked and unashamed.
"Elaine, since you don't know what's good for you, then stay in here and think about what you've done!"
He called his assistant over, his expression ice-cold.
"Get some people up here. Weld this door shut. Even if she's on her knees begging, don't let her out."
"I want to see just how stubborn she really is, and how long she can hold out."
He scooped Agatha into his arms and walked out of the room without looking back.
I hovered in midair, unable to stop the bitter laugh that escaped me.
Blake, I won't be begging you to let me out.
After all, in this weather, it wouldn't take long for my body to rot.
Blake carried Agatha straight home.