II

"Kristoff's Hotel, may I help you?" I asked, my voice was polite but, automatic.

"Yes, I'd like to make a reservation." a young voice said on the other end of the line. I listened to it then hung up after typing the requests into the computer I was standing in front of. Being a receptionist was not an arduous job; I found it quite of simple and boring. I only needed to welcome the guests and answer the phone to make reservations when it rang. It was manageable for $9.32 per hour, plus the benefits and extra hour’s payment. I barely finished high school, never went to college so I was grateful with Mr. Kristoff for giving me this job. It wasn’t much but it paid the bills.

I stared absently at the hotel's lobby. It was like any other lobby, there were different employees everywhere, smiling politely at the guests. I admired the way they could put on those fake smiles. I had worked here for the past two years and still couldn't manage to get that fake smile on my face. The elevator's golden doors opened and a happy couple came out grinning and laughing. I wondered what it would feel like to be in love like that. I'd never had a boyfriend; I'd never been on more than two dates in my entire life. Was that pathetic? I guess it was but, I just didn’t have the time to waste on a man.

My eyes traveled to the red painted walls, they had a thin golden line crossing them. The floor was marbled; its dark spots transmitted an elegant appearance. How many times had I stared at these same walls and this floor? Why did I always wonder who had decorated this lobby? They were ugly decorations for such expensive hotel.

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the high ceiling. It had wonderful paintings of angels. There was a small angel naked holding a flower, he was offering the flower to a bigger angel. The painting made me feel weird for a moment.

"Ann," someone called me, breaking into my staring moment. I lowered my head to look at the source of that voice and I found a frowning Jessica. She was leaning on the counter in front of me. Her voluminous boobs were pressing against the surface, menacing to jump out of her shirt any second.

"God! Jess, you're going to punch in the eyes with your boobs," I complained. Jessica chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"You're just jealous," she replied, grinning at me.

"Right, like I would want two massive things like those to be hanging off me," I shot back.

"Whatever," she said, leaning back "listen, I was thinking about going to the movies tonight." She stared at me while waiting for my reaction.

"Jess, I don't think that's a good idea," I said frankly. Raven had disappeared two weeks ago. I could barely manage to come to work. I only came because being alone at home only made me sadder.

"You need some kind of distraction, Ann." Jess stated, her dark green eyes held so much concern. "You need to get some fresh air."

"I really don't want to go," I paused, staring at the picture next to the phone on the counter. It was a picture of Raven and I when I turned sixteen. She was smiling, wrapping one of her arms around my shoulders. We were sitting in front of my birthday cake. I was getting ready to blow out the candles; my cheeks were filled with air that I'd been holding to do it making me look like a chipmunk.

"Ann? Please, do it for me. Just try, ok? I know it's hard but it won't hurt you to try," she pleaded with a puppy look. I sighed, giving up.

"Fine, I'll go." I said with a sigh. Jess' grin grew bigger and she pinched my nose.

"You won't regret it!" She was pretty excited about this. She blew me a kiss and left.

Jess was Mr. Kristoff’s assistant; it was thanks to her that I got the job in the first place. We met in high school and became really good friends. Six months after we finished high school, she helped me get this job to pay my rent and other living expenses. I really couldn't have asked Raven to provide for me forever. Now, I was a twenty year old, lonely virgin. Sighing, I shook my head at my pathetic excuse for a life.

"Did it hurt?" He asked, dragging me out my thoughts. I looked towards the counter and saw him standing there, a big smirk on his face. Drake Kristoff—son of James Kristoff, and my boss’ son—was standing in front of my counter. His shining blonde hair was combed perfectly to the side. He had a square face with strong cheekbones and a very pointed nose. Green eyes were shining under his blonde eyebrows. His full lips were forming a heart-stopping, breathtaking smirk. His perfect skin showed years of excellent nutrition.  He was handsome—scratch that— he was hot... incredibly hot.

"What?" I finally asked not remembering what his question was.

"Did it hurt?" He repeated.

"Did what hurt?" I asked with a frown.

"When you fell from heaven," he said. It was then I got it.

"Really, Drake? That was the best line you could use on me?" I shook my head in disapproval.

"What? Since your name is Angeles, I thought It’d fit," he said, faking innocence.  I raised an eyebrow at him but I couldn't help a little smile crossing my lips at his crazy logic.

"Get lost," I said while gesturing him to leave. Of course, this just made him lean towards the counter instead.

"Sorry, I don't do players," I snapped at him while giving him a closed mouth smile. He faked shock and put his hand over his heart.

"You are always hurting my feelings, Ann," he said with a fake wounded look. I narrowed my eyes, smiling at him while shaking my head.

"Your father was asking about you a few hours ago," I informed him, remembering Mr. Kristoff yelling and cussing around the lobby. He was a man with a temper. Drake's smirk vanished.

"He's probably going to yell at me for being late again." he sighed dramatically while placing a hand on his forehead.

"You're always late," I reminded him seriously. Drake wasn't the responsible type. He was a player in all his glory, partying like there was no tomorrow while hitting on anything with a vagina.

"So, what about dinner tonight?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"No, sorry I have plans." which was the truth.

"That's a lie and you know it. You should at least change your excuses to reject me every day," he explained casually again with a smirk.

"I don't need to." I replied truthfully, "I can give you whatever excuse I want to." He sighed defeated, knowing he still wasn't getting anywhere with me.

"You're impossible, Ann." he said while walking away. I stared at his back and broad shoulders, my eyes finally landed on his athletic legs and ass. God, he was hot, but I didn't want to go out with him.

After leaving the hotel, I decided to walk home. The December's cold, crisp air received me. I placed my hands inside my jacket's pockets. The streets looked so alive, Christmas' songs were heard everywhere, no need to mention the decorations and people that were all hurrying to someplace. It was getting dark; snow had fallen the night before infecting the streets with its whiteness. I passed a few stores and houses, observing the kids playing inside. Everyone was getting ready for dinner with their families. I smiled sadly at them. A real family was something I never had and never would have. My only family, who was Raven, went missing under the strangest circumstances. I still didn't want to think about that night, about the man at my door and then his dark silhouette on my balcony. The memories of him scare me whenever they came to mind.

When I got to my building, I quickly head to the elevator, stepped inside and rested my back against the doors after they closed. I saw my reflection on the mirror in front of me. I looked terrible which made me wonder why Drake would be interested in me. My blonde hair was disheveled; dark bags were under my blue eyes making me look like a zombie. My make-up had disappeared, leaving just a trace of slight pink on my lips from the lipstick I put on earlier. I was going to make sure to get a nap in before going to the movies with Jess. I still couldn't believe I had agreed to go out with her.

Suddenly, the lights went out and the elevator came to an abrupt stop. Really? I was stuck here, tired and hungry. It was not the first time this happened to me, living in a low-class building held some serious disadvantages. I pressed the emergency button but it produced no sound. Ok, this is weird. I pushed the button harder until it seemed to sink beyond the panel but it still no sound came out of the elevator.

“What the hell," I exclaimed, confused and angry. That button was supposed to produce a pretty disturbing sound so people would know I was trapped in the elevator. I tried the button over and over again until I slammed the panel frustrated "Fuck!"

"Language, Angeles," I froze when I heard that voice, "Did your mother teach you not to cuss? If she did not, I would gladly do it." A chill ran down my spine as I started freaking out. It was the voice... The same smooth voice I had heard through the door the night my sister disappeared, “But I must warn you, my punishments are not mild,” I turned around slowly trying to see in the dark but found nothing. I moved my hands around to confirm the elevator was empty. "Do not be scared." his voice got softer, almost having a calming effect on me, key word here... almost.

"Where are you?" I managed to slur out even though my throat was dry, I tried to swallow but it didn't help. Sweat began rolling down my forehead and the back of my neck.

"Here," he whispered. I looked back at the mirror again and gasped, seeing the dark figure there.

"Oh my God!" I jumped backwards, my back crashing into the elevator doors. I covered my mouth with my shaking hand, "This can't be happening!" I exclaimed shakily. It was impossible. It looked like he was inside the mirror.  It had to be a joke, a very cruel TV prank. I really hoped a guy was going to appear out of nowhere and tell me I'd been fooled. Then, he was going to laugh at my scared face and apologize, though I had a gut feeling that was not going to happen. That wasn't a prank; there was actually a dark figure in the mirror. I wanted to scream and run away but, no sound left my lips and there was nowhere to go. That fact that there was no way to escape frightened me even more.

"I am not going to hurt you," he promised softly, "at least not yet." My heart skipped a beat at his remark.

"So many questions, it is a shame I have no time to answer them." he said tenderly "Come here,"

"No," I replied firmly. There was no way I was going to get any closer to him.  

"I really do not want to do this the hard way," he stated. I watched in horror as his figure flowed out of the mirror, his crimson eyes shining in the dark. I gasped for air, pressing my back against the elevator doors, terrified. I did not realize tears were rolling down my cheeks; while my legs shook so bad I thought for sure they'd give away and I'd fall.

"Oh God..." I exclaimed as he came closer.

"Angeles Fairwell," he said my name and grinned at me. His white, sharp, pointed teeth were visible in the darkness, "Cooperate with me or this can be really painful." He stated in that same calm tone.

"Stay away from me!" I yelled and turned around to start slamming my fists against the closed doors, "Help! I'm in here! Help! Plea—" a hand covered my mouth while his strong arm was wrapped around my waist. I struggled desperately while kicking the elevator's doors. I could feel the strong figure pressed against my back.

"Shhh," he soothed in my ear, his breath was cold. Not just an ordinary cold, but a freezing cold. I shivered and kept fighting to release myself. My screams were drowning in my throat as they couldn't escape his hand tightly covering my mouth. Despair filled my veins. He was going to kill me. Was I going to die so young? There were so many things I wanted experience. I wanted to fall in love, to have more friends, to save money to travel around the world; heck I hadn't even had sex for God sakes.

His arm loosened around my waist. I thought he was going to let me go but then his frosty hand slid inside my shirt. His cold, icy fingers trailed up my skin; their sharp, pointed nails leaving shallow cuts on the skin leading up to my breasts. I winced as his hand kept going up. It was hurting but, he was going so slowly I barely felt them.

Suddenly, everything changed; he sank his nails deep into the skin between my breasts. I choked on my own scream, it hurt so much. The pain was intolerable. I could feel my skin breaking, my blood starting to roll down my stomach. I couldn't breathe. I was afraid I would pass out. That was it. I was going to die.

"Your fears," his voice was glacial and husky, "Your pain, your life," he paused, his tongue licking my earlobe before finishing his thought, "Are all mine." The elevator doors opened and he pushed me out roughly. I landed on the cold floor, banging my head hard. I let out a scream, but it didn't come out as loud as I'd expected it to be. I was in great pain as I got on my hands and knees. My chest was burning; I took a deep breath trying to completely fill my protesting lungs with air. I couldn't think straight because my mind was chaos. I held my bloody chest, my life giving; warm blood was dripping on the floor. I fought to keep my eyes open but everything hurt so much. My arms gave up and I fell forward, blacking out.