Chapter 2

Marcus' s grip on my arm was firm, not unkind, but unyielding.

He guided me away from the chaos surrounding Chloe, away from the flashing cameras and concerned murmurs.

My pleas for a doctor were met with his silence.

The script had him fiercely protective of me, initially. Was this protection, or was he already under Chloe' s spell, the script' s "heroine"?

"Marcus, I' m bleeding," I whispered, the effort making me dizzy. "It' s internal, I think."

He glanced at my side, his expression unreadable.

"Ethan wants you at the guesthouse, Ava. He' s worried about the studio' s image."

"Chloe' s image, you mean," I said, a bitter taste in my mouth.

He didn' t deny it.

The guesthouse was a relic from Hollywood' s golden age, now decaying and dusty.

It stood on a deserted corner of the studio backlot, shrouded by overgrown trees.

He unlocked the door, the rusty hinges groaning.

Inside, the air was stale, thick with the scent of neglect. Faded floral wallpaper peeled from the walls, and cobwebs draped the antique furniture like macabre decorations.

"You' ll be safe here," Marcus said, his voice flat.

Safe, or forgotten?

He led me to a small bedroom with a lumpy mattress and a single, grimy window.

"I need painkillers, Marcus. And a doctor. Please." The pain was a constant, throbbing fire.

He looked at me, a flicker of something – doubt? Pity? – in his eyes.

"Chloe often says you exaggerate to get attention," he said, his voice quiet.

The words, echoing Chloe' s manipulative accusations, hit me harder than the physical pain.

So, the script was already working on him. His loyalty was shifting.

"This isn't an exaggeration, Marcus." My voice broke. "I' m dying."

He hesitated. "I' ll go check on Chloe at the hospital. Make sure she' s really okay. Then I' ll get you something."

He was prioritizing Chloe, just as Ethan did. Just as the script dictated.

Hope, a fragile thing, began to crumble.

He left, the sound of the key turning in the lock echoing in the silent guesthouse.

I was alone, confined, my fate sealed by their indifference.