~ ChApTeR SiX ~

 

             My bag fell to the floor, producing a soft thud. My body was frozen I was in shock as I looked around my room. 

  This can't be real...

            A crimson liquid was covering my bed, staining my sheets and pillows. The walls were also spotted with the red substance, as if someone had thrown it on them with anger.

    Blood!?...

           I didn't need to touch it or get any closer to know it was blood. Its metallic smell filled my nose and I struggled not to vomit. I wasn't a fan of blood, in fact I couldn't stand the sight of it. I gagged over and over again, fighting to keep dinner in my stomach. I covered my mouth and stopped breathing for a moment. I couldn't stand the smell of it any longer. I stared at my bed, the blood on it looked sticky and dry.  

       That was it...  

          I bent over and vomited on the now crimson floor. I cleaned my mouth with the back of my hand as I  closed the door to my bedroom. I couldn't look at or smell it anymore. I just stood there in the hallway in front of the closed door. I was sweating; my heart was pounding slightly faster than normal due to my recent vomiting and the sight of my bedroom. I have never seen that amount of blood in my life. My chest tightened as a thought filled my confused mind. Whose blood was that?  

        "Is it Raven's?" I thought frantically.   I held back tears of fear. It couldn't be her blood...

         There was way too much! I doubt a single human being could have that much blood in their body.

But then whose blood was that?

Why was it in my room?

Who did this?

Was it him?  

Did Madness do this to scare me?

            I ran my hands down my face; taking in a deep breathe. I didn't know what to do. All I do know right now is if I wanted to keep my sanity, I had to get out of my apartment immediately. I ran to the front door, grasped the doorknob and it didn't move. What's going on?   Had I locked the door when I came inside? I couldn't remember, my mind was too cloud with shock and fear to think clearly. My sweaty hands searched for the keys in my pants' pockets. I used the key to get in the door but...  

Nothing...

Where are my keys?...

What did I do with them?...

             I can feel the familiar panic started to rise I am claustrophobic. I had learned to live with that phobia for the most part, even going to therapy for it. I could use an elevator now thanks to my therapist. But this...

            This is a huge new level for me. To be locked in my apartment terrified me more than all the blood that was now staining my once blue room, crimson.

My heart started hammering even more in my chest...

Drops of cold sweat rolled down my face and neck…

My breathing sped up even more...

          "Just breathe," I command myself.

          "Breathe, Angeles. You CAN calm down. You CAN do it." I continue to encourage myself. I am freaking out, I was struggling not to but I was panicking big time.   Just as I was about to start screaming and kicking the door, an idea occurred to me.   I had my phone. I could call someone. They could come and help me. How had I not thought about that sooner?

  Was I becoming stupid?

            Maybe, the events in my life over the last few weeks were killing my brain cells in a slow but steady process. I run to the living room, quickly grab the phone, my heart drops to the floor as I realize the phone's blue screen is off. I searched for the cord to plug it back in to turn it back on but, when I get to the end of the cord it had been cut. Someone had intentionally cut the phones electric cord. My panic and fear levels increased from five to ten in under a second.

  I was trapped...

          The thought made my stomach twist into a knot and my mouth go dry as tears start forming in my eyes.

          "I... can't... breathe," I choked out as I start to hyperventilate. 

          "YES YOU CAN!" softly but, with firmness came my mind's reply. I have to calm down. It was just my apartment. Eventually, someone would come to help me.

  Eventually...

           I honestly doubt I can stay here one minute longer. I had to get out I need to breathe fresh air. The atmosphere in my apartment is...way to dark and scary right now. I feel as if I am being watched. My living room was its normal semi-dark; the only light in the room came from the city lights shining through the balcony's glass doors.

  Air...

          I walk to the glass doors and pull one opened. The cold night breeze hit my skin and sent

my hair flying violently backward. I took a deep breath in, immediately I feeling slightly better... because I felt free. I feel like I can actually breathe now. Resting my hands on the banister as I watch the city in silence. My heart rate starts slowing down as the cool night air fills my lungs, clearing the awful scent of blood from my nose.

          What was happening?   What was I supposed to do?   I wipe the cold sweat off my forehead. I was staring to get cold standing out here. A bright full moon was hovering in the sky with a multitude of stars surrounding it. They looked so small compared to the notorious big moon.   I didn't want to think about the blood in my room or that I was locked inside my apartment and didn't know where my keys were.   I just didn't want to think at all.   I was tired. I haven't had a proper nights sleep since the day Raven went missing.

          Silent tears rolled down my cheeks as I embraced myself. I have never felt so lost and lonely in my life. With her gone I no longer one to count on. Raven was gone.   Jess was my friend but she had her own life and problems to deal with. It felt awful to be alone in the world. If I die, who would come to my funeral? Probably, some people from work and my neighbors but who would come and actually care that I was gone? Who would cry honest tears on my grave? The answers were breaking my heart.

           I knew Jess would cry. She loved me but who else? It was then I realized how alone I really was. Why don't I have more friends? I was old enough to have a group of friends but I've only got Jess. I realized how silly I'd been always pushing people away, scared of getting hurt by them. Since the very first  moment my mother abandoned me, I had created a shield around me. I thought that if I didn't get close to people, I wouldn't get hurt. I thought I was safe.

           How stupid I'd been! I was alone; I was in trouble, in need of a friend and I had no one to call and it was my entire fault. I could stay locked in here for weeks and no one would notice. No one would care. Jess would probably notice in a few days but knowing how relax she was, she wouldn't get too worried about me.   What had I done with my life? The wind dried my tears quickly but more kept coming. My eyes traveled around the city. I observed the Christmas lights even with my sight blurred. I could hear horns honking, car engines and dogs barking everywhere. I'd always thought they were the typical background city noises. I closed my eyes, trying to keep my mind blank. I just didn't want to think anymore, I squeezed the banister tightly.

           "Do it," my eyes opened in shock as I heard a voice behind me "I would love the sight of your dead body on the pavement." He sounded amused. I kept my eyes glued to the building next to mine "Are you going to jump or not? I can push you if you want" fear ran cold through my veins as I realized a little push was all I needed to fall off my balcony. Madness remained in silence for a few moments. It felt so strange to think that was his name.

           "I'm not going to jump," I stated firmly.

           "Why not?" He asked sadly.

           "I don't want to die," was my reply. He let go a long sigh of frustration.

           "This is going to be harder than I thought" I heard him say. I frowned and found the strength to turn around. He was leaning against the frame of the open glass door. His arms folded across his chest dressed all in black. His intense red eyes stared at me in silence, he scanned my face and a big grin appeared on his shadowed face "Good you were crying,"  he said with satisfaction.

             "Did you do it?" I asked him turning around and looked him in the eye.

             "Do what?" He asked innocently. I didn't know what it was but there was something different about him tonight. He looked more... Relaxed?

            "Did you throw blood all over my room? Did you lock my door and cut my phone cord?" I asked  a bit shakily. He tilted his head to the side. 

            "Maybe," he replied, "Why? Did I scare you, Angeles?" The way he said my name sent a chill up my spine. I wasn't going to give him the pleasure of knowing he had actually scared me to the point I freaked out for a little while. His red eyes had a glint I hadn't seen before.

           "There's no point in denying it, I can sense your fear. Never forget that" he pointed out seriously. He straightened up to take advantage of his full height. I took a step back, my ass touched the thin banister behind me. Something inside me told me I should get away from it. It would be so easy for him to throw me over it. I winced at the thought.

            "What do you want from me?" I wanted to walk forward to get away from the banister but that would only mean I would be closer to him and I didn't really want that.

            "What do I want from you?" he asked aloud, holding his chin as if he was deep in thought. He looked so normal... So harmless. He almost looked... human. I knew he wasn't, I knew he could really hurt me and he was a demon.   "You should know what I want from you," he explained casually "It's common sense. Remember, I am a demon,” he said as if he was giving me a hint.  

           "You want my soul?" I asked hesitantly.

           "Maybe," he answered smoothly, his voice was becoming softer, "but that's not the only thing I want from you." He finished smiling widely at me. Did he enjoy showing me his sharp teeth? I swallowed.

           "I have nothing else to give you." I said nervously.

           "That's not true," he said walking towards me. I tried to step aside to get away from the banister but he pushed me roughly against it. My stomach twisted in fear. I had to arch backwards, feeling the empty air behind me. He placed both of his hands on the banister on either side of my hips. My eyes were on his covered broad chest "LOOK AT ME." he ordered. I knew what it would happen if I disobey him. He would hurt me like he did the night before so I looked up meeting his red eyes. He stared down at me, his cold breath brushing my face "I will take everything from you," he said coldly “E V E R Y T H I N G" he emphasized seriously. I tried to escape but his arms had me trapped. 

           "Get away from me," I demanded weakly. He leaned down, burying his face in my neck. I jerked away but he placed his hands firmly on my hips, forcing me to stay where I was.

          "Stay still," he said venomously. His sharp teeth grazed my skin. I began shaking in fear. His hand went up inside my shirt, resting on the bare skin of my waist. His pointed teeth kept grazing my neck, almost scratching it.

          "Don't," I begged on the verge of tears. I could feel him smiling on my skin and I leaned further back.  His red eyes looked right into my blue ones. His gaze was so intense; it held a brightness I'd ever seen before. His eyes were swallowing me. My body relaxed and I felt like all my energy was leaving me. He growled but I couldn't look away. I was trapped in the red sea of his eyes. I was becoming weaker every passing second. What was he doing to me? "What..." I whispered. My knees gave in and I fell forwards.

 

            He caught me easily and lifted me up carrying me bridal style. My eyelids felt so heavy. He started walking into my apartment. I wanted to move, to get away from him but I was so weak. My heart was beating slowly as if there wasn’t enough blood to pump through my veins. He kept walking, I didn't know where we were going but I could see the pale skin of his neck.

           "Sleep," he whispered softly, his jaw moving slowly as he spoke. I fought to keep myself awake. I knew I had to but a wave of dizziness washed over me and I was soon swallowed by darkness.