Bright rays of morning sunlight came gently streaming in through the window and kissed my face with their warming glow. The soft coos of mourning doves quietly echoed through the room and filled my soul with a peaceful joy. I smiled and slowly stretched out in the big comfy bed. For the first time in a while, I had finally gotten a great night's sleep and my body felt completely refreshed. My eyes softly fluttered open... and then they suddenly widened in horror!
Oh no! ...No no no!
I quickly sat up and looked around the large sunny antiqued bedroom in terror. I ripped the velvety dark crimson coverlet off of my body and gasped when I saw that I was wearing a large black tee shirt. As I realized where I was, all the memories from last night quickly came flooding back into my mind.
Going to the party, meeting that James guy, that James guy trying to rape me and getting murdered by Ashton, Ashton kidnapping me, being naked in front of Ashton... Oh my god!
I quietly climbed out of the large bed and began to warily tiptoe to the door. It was already open, no doubt so Ashton could keep an eye on me as I slept. I peeked out down the hallway and over to the railing that overlooked the foyer. I knew that I had to sneak out of this place before he realized that I was awake, or else I might just get murdered too. I didn’t see any sign of him, so I very very quietly continued to tiptoe over to the large staircase, not even breathing.
The old floorboards slightly creaked every now and then, causing me to flinch each time. I slowly turned and began stealthily descending down the large curved stairs. My heart was pounding so painfully hard that I thought it might explode in my chest. I could faintly hear Ashton rummaging around in the kitchen as I eyed the front door and gulped.
My foot carefully landed on the last step and I knew that this was it... I had to make a run for it. There was no chance to be stealthy beyond this point, he was defiantly going to see me through the kitchen archway and hear the door regardless. I would have to stay in a dead-on sprint once I got outside if had any chance of escape.
Alright, here goes nothing. Deep breaths... 3...2...1-
“Woof Woof”
Fuck, I’m dead.
Belzar’s large fluffy black body came running out of the kitchen as he happily panted and started jumping up at me. I let out a small scream and flinched away from him in fear. If he were any other dog, I would have easily recognized that he was clearly just happy to see me and begging for affection, but I was terrified of his intimidating wolfy appearance.
“Oh good, you’re awake.” Ashton said with a smile as he came into view from around the corner. He was still wearing only black sweatpants, but his long thick hair was now neatly tied back in a braid.
My face paled and my heart raced as I stood there paralyzed while staring at him with wide eyes like a child who’d just been caught stealing candy. Did he not notice that I was trying to escape?
“Come on.” He put his warm hand gently on my back and started to lead me into the kitchen. “I made breakfast for you.” A perfectly handsome grin flashed across his face.
I hesitantly turned into the kitchen with him. My eyes were still extremely wide and my anxiety was through the roof. The kitchen was very old-looking, as I expected, with peeling light green wallpaper, old appliances, and an original stone floor. The mess on the counter and stovetop suggested that this guy hadn’t cooked a day in his life. Pots and pans were strewn about, every kind of utensil had been used. I was suspicious that he had been trying to flip eggs with a butter knife. Hell, I wouldn’t have been shocked to find a shoe in the oven...
However, in the corner of the room, next to a large paned window, was a picture-perfect breakfast set up neatly on a beautiful wooden table. There were scrambled eggs, homefries, roasted veggies, toast, and even a fruit bowl. The morning sun shone gently in over the scene making it look welcoming and quaint. A vase of freshly picked wildflowers rested beautifully in the center of the table, completing the charming look.
“I hope you like it.” He said while shuffling me over to the table.
“Wow, um.. thank you.” I sat down on one of the cute wooden chairs.
I glanced out the window where I could see a small sparkling lake in the distance. It was beautifully draped in a blanket of thin mist, and hidden just beyond the large oaks and yellowing birches that lined the edge of the huge overgrown yard. A large jagged mountain range towered off in the distance as thick mist gently tumbled down its slopes, making the view rather scenic.
There was also a young maple tree a bit closer to the house. Within its branches, I could see the puffed-out grey chests of the little doves I’d heard while waking up. They were still happily cooing and basking in the misty rays of sunshine that gleamed down from in between the crimson changing leaves. It was both a beautiful and tranquil sight.
“Did you sleep well?” Ashton’s deep voice pulled me out of my nature gazing trance.
“Um... Yeah, I did, actually.” I eyed him warily as he placed a fancy plate on the table and began serving me some food.
“Good, I’m glad.” He warmly smiled and turned to grab something from the cabinet.
“I noticed that you have some unique taste in furniture.” I stated as I slid my finger nervously along the edge of the antique table while trying not to gawk at his perfect figure when he wasn’t looking.
“Not really. Actually, all this stuff was already here when I found the place. I just commandeered it, that’s all.” He laughed a little as he poured some hot water into a large floral printed teacup. “Here, have some tea. You like this kind don’t you?” He handed me the teacup with an oddly endearing look on his face.
“Yeah, I do.” I gave him a suspicious look back as I reluctantly took it from him and gave it a sniff.
It was earl grey, the same type of tea that’s used in London fogs. I could help but wonder if he’d somehow known I had been drinking that kind at the cafe. The thought unsettled me a bit, but I gave it a little sip anyways. He turned around and I quickly took a bite of food to distract myself from leering at him again.
“Oh my gosh! This is delicious!” I exclaimed with surprise and began gobbling it down. It honestly was downright scrumptious and I suddenly realized that I was absolutely starving. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I felt like I was eating a gourmet meal.
“Thank you.” He smiled and sat down next to me with his own cup of tea. “I’m glad you like it. Nourishment is good for the human body after all.” He stated nonchalantly.
I thought that was kind of a weird thing to say... but he is a weird guy, I guess. He watched in satisfaction as I continued to stuff my face.
As my gluttonizing slowed down, I began to notice how his tattoo looked up close, and in the sunlight. It really did look just like black ink had been injected straight into his veins. It webbed out from a solid jagged black spot on his shoulder, down his arm a bit, slightly onto his chest and back, and crept up the side of his neck some. It was very intricate and different looking than any other tattoo I’d ever seen before.
The sound of pitter-pattering large paws echoed across the room as Belzar walked over to us. He circled around a few times and then laid down on the floor next to the table while letting out a cute puppy dog whine. I’m a big dog lover, bully breeds and all, but I still couldn’t help feeling a bit intimidated by him. Perhaps it was because I feared his owner so much.
“What kind of dog is he?” I asked with genuine curiosity as I looked at his big yellow eyes and fluffy black fur. “He kinda looks like a wolf.”
“He’s a bit of an exotic breed.” He shrugged and didn’t elaborate.
Okay... So yeah, he’s probably a wolf...
An awkward silent moment stretched on between us as I apathetically stabbed at a floppy piece of cooked spinach with my tarnished silver fork. Ashton’s intense psychotic gaze never wavered from me as he quietly sipped at his tea. A smile was on his lips but something devious lingered in his eyes, making me feel rather nervous.
“So, um.. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you planning to do with me?” I asked while trying to seem nonchalant... I wasn’t.
“Well, obviously I’m going to take you home.” He laughed and took another sip of tea. “Why? What did you think I was planning to do?” He raised a curious brow at me.
“Oh, well I don’t know, chop me up into pieces or maybe lock me away in your secret sex dungeon? I did just witness you murder a guy after all. Plus, you kidnapped me!” I probably shouldn’t have said that...
A wicked grin slowly stretched across his face the moment I mentioned a secret sex dungeon.
“How do you know that I’m not going straight to the police after this!?” Okay, I really shouldn’t have said that...
“Oh, you won’t be going to the police.” He sounded quite sure of himself and amusement twinkled in his golden eyes.
“And what exactly makes you so sure of that?” I quickly stuffed a piece of fruit in my mouth to keep myself from saying anything else that might dig me into a deeper hole than I already was in.
“Well, because that would be rather foolish of you.” I eyed him curiously with my cheeks now stuffed full of fruit as he continued to elaborate. “How do you think the police would respond if they found out that you had led that roach up to the bedroom, where I was waiting to murder him, and then fled the scene with me? It seems more likely that this was a two-person job. Don’t you agree?” He devilishly smirked at me. “Plus, we were seen together earlier that day in the cafe, and witnesses were made well aware that it wasn’t a romantic kind of meeting... Perhaps we were plotting to kill someone?”
I painfully swallowed the last chunk of fruit in my mouth. “Wait? Are you blackmailing me!? That’s not what happened at all! I’m completely innocent and you know it!” I furiously huffed but knew that there was nothing I could actually do to clear my name. “Besides, what’s your grand plan gonna be when they start to investigate the crime scene?”
He joyously snickered. “There is no crime scene. I took care of it and I assure you, no one will ever find any trace of that lecherous scum.” He sipped his tea casually like we had been talking about the weather or something. “Don’t worry though, you have nothing to be fearful of.” He smiled and reached over to gently pat my hand.
Fear began flooding my veins like liquid ice. Not just from his words, but at how nonchalant he was about killing a guy. He really didn’t have a single shred of remorse. I was casually having breakfast with a true psychopath!
“So, I guess it’s settled then. We’re now officially partners in crime.” He waved his cup upwards and gave me a mischievous smile.
I can’t fucking believe this guy...
I wanted nothing more than to go straight to the police and turn this mental case in. But what if he was right about them assuming that I was an accomplice? Would he claim that story to them if I did? Could I really risk that even though I was totally innocent? ...No, definitely not. It just wasn’t worth possibly going to prison for life.
“Okay..partner.. so now what should we do?” I nervously asked while looking down at my empty plate.
“Well... I think that we should go on a date.” He smugly grinned at me.
“Um, no.” I flatly replied almost a little too quickly.
“Oh, and why not? I think that we’re very well suited for each other.” He raised a brow with a devilish look in his eyes.
“Very well suited? How can you claim that when you don’t even know me? You don’t know my favorite color or anything else about me!” I waved my hands at him in exasperation.
He tilted his head to the side as if he were closely inspecting me. “Is your favorite color red?” He inquisitively asked.
I pushed my lips into an annoyed straight line for a second. “That was just a lucky guess. Plus, judging by the way you dress, I could easily guess that yours is black.” I taunted.
Another wide grin stretched across his face. “You’re correct. You see, we are well suited for each other after all. Besides, maybe I’d like the chance to get to know you better.” His eyes lustfully trailed up and down my body.
“Yeah well, I don’t date blackmailing murderous kidnappers. So please, just take me home already.” I demanded with a huff.
“Alright, as you wish.” He sighed with a slightly disappointed look on his face and stood up. “I’ll go put a shirt on, then we’ll leave.” He smiled at me.
I looked down at myself and realized that I was still wearing only his shirt. “Um, where are my clothes?” I asked before he could slip out of the room.
“They’re on the table next to the front door. Unfortunately, they didn’t dry very well and they’re still rather filthy. You’re free to keep the shirt you have on though.”
“But, I don’t have anything on under this...” A defeated look found its way onto my face, as I look down at the tee-shirt.
“Yes, I’m very aware of that... I’ll get you something.” He winked while snickering and walked away.
The sound of his heavy footsteps ascending up the stairs echoed through the old house. I stood there and awkwardly waited for his return while watching a small spider crawl around a dusty cobweb in the corner. It really did seem like this was just some random old abandoned house that he had whooshed me away to in order to murder me.
Once he reappeared with a shirt on, he handed me a pair of large black boxer briefs with an amused look on his face. I swiped them out of his hand with a scowl.
“These better be clean..” I grumbled and slipped them on once he re-exited the room. They were rather big on me so I had to roll them up at the base a few times, and even still they were a bit loose.
The whole agonizing car ride home was filled with me shooting down his never-ending flirtatious advancements. Joy bloomed in my heart when we finally pulled into my driveway. I tried to give him the slip and frantically jump out of the car as quickly as I could, but he swiftly grabbed my arm, keeping me in place.
“Remember, we’re partners in crime now, so I’m here for you if you ever need anything.” He said while looking into my eyes with his mesmerizing golden gaze.
“Right...” I shifted my gaze away from his.
“Really, I mean it. You can trust me with anything... I want you to trust me.” He leaned over, lightly kissed me on the forehead, and let go of my arm. “I’ll see you soon.” He smiled at me with the type of smile that one would expect from a loving husband.
“Well, uh.. g-goodbye.” I stuttered while blushing terribly. That kiss had really caught me off guard.
“Goodbye, Buttercup.” He winked.
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