Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Katie -

We walked down the curving stairs that lead to an open room.

The house seemed to have a very open layout overall.

Dani: ‘Living room, couches, chairs, the basics. The remote stays on the coffee table, it works the projector, along with the surround sound.’

‘I was going to ask about a TV.’

Dani: ‘There's no need in here. Obviously.’

‘Sorry.’

Dani: ‘Save apologies for when you really screw up. Which you will.’

She kept walking so I just quietly followed, sipping my drink.

Dani: ‘Front door, entrance, small sitting area. Door is locked, don't bother trying.’

She just pointed and kept going, making a turn then nodded towards a unique looking door beside the kitchen.

Dani: ‘You don't even look at that door for more than a second. You can't open it and I will make you regret even trying.’

She spoke sternly and I swallowed loudly as I nodded.

Dani: ‘So this is the kitchen. I'm not exactly fully stocked up on anything but glasses, but I got some stuff at Target. You'll just have to wash what you use. Those cabinets have food, those cabinets and those drawers should have any basic things you need for eating. Stuff to cook with or eat with. Um, the fridge, so the top shelf is mine. You don't want to drink from the little black bottles, and I can tell if you open them, but I got everything on the list, and then some standard stuff. Milk, eggs, vegetables, meat, sandwich stuff, um, there's beer and stuff. We addressed your age, and I obviously don't care. You'll likely want to drink while you adjust. If there's a kind you want just ask, but I have a wide variety. Wine is in the cellar. Just try not to get shit faced, yeah?’

‘Shouldn't be an issue.’

Dani: ‘You smoke?’

‘Tobacco? Sometimes, when I drink or I'm stressed.’

Dani: ‘Grab two beers and meet me on the patio, then. There's bitch beer in there if you prefer the fruity stuff.’

She took my glass, sat it in the sink with hers, and opened a sliding door next to an open doorway leading to another part of the house.

I did as she said and quickly I got her a beer, then something fruity for myself.

I shook a little opening both of them before joining her outside.

There was a nice sitting area on a large cement patio with small solar lights around it.

Part of the area was covered, part wasn't.

There was a chimenea, with two love seats, various chairs, a metal table with chairs around it, two picnic benches, and a large fake mountain with running water collecting in a small pond.

‘Wow.’

Dani: ‘Menthol?’

‘Sure. I saw the bottle opener on the fridge, so I opened this for you.’

Dani: ‘Very good.’

She took the beer and put a cigarette in her mouth, sitting the pack and lighter on the table.

I sat my drink down and picked up the lighter, lighting it and holding it up for her.

She chuckled lowering her cigarette to the flame.

I took one for myself and lit it while she took a long drag.

Dani: ‘You can't see it now, but tomorrow I'll show you part of the property. Before you get any ideas, there's over a hundred acres that's mine, and hundreds more no one comes on.’

She drank from her bottle.

‘Ideas?’

Dani: ‘Are you playing cute? Or did you hit your head that hard?’

‘I-I don't..’

Dani: ‘Let me see that drink.’

I handed it to her and she did that thing again with her thumb and tooth, then put her thumb over the mouth of my drink.

‘What are you....’

Dani: ‘Don't need you having a concussion.’

She handed it back.

‘I don't understand.’

Dani: ‘You will. Just drink.’

I did, confused and stared at the bottle, trying to figure out why it didn't taste like the watermelon I expected.

Dani: ‘You'll get used to it. So like I was saying, there's nothing around here. Nothing to run to.’

‘Ok. Should I be running though?’

Dani: ‘Has the thought not crossed your mind?’

I was quiet.

Dani: ‘Well? I asked you a question, it wasn't because I like the sound of my own voice.’

‘I, I guess I don't want to be rude. Honestly I feel like I should think about it. Like I should be really scared, but...’

Dani: ‘But?’

‘I'm not I'm just confused.’

Dani: ‘Interesting. Well I'll clear up some of that confusion tomorrow. I thought some of it was obvious, but at least there's less to deal with tonight. Drink up.’

We sat in the cold and finished our drinks.

She said we could go to bed and see the rest of the house tomorrow.

It wasn't like I was going to complain.

The drinks were hitting me and I felt mentally and physically exhausted.

We brushed our teeth and she turned a lamp beside the bed on, then turned out the light.

‘I had my purse when you...um.. when we met. Where is it?’

Dani: ‘You don't need your purse, and I don't want you using the perfume and stuff anyways.’

I took the hoodie off and laid on the other side of the bed.

‘My phone? And earbuds? I don't sleep well in beds I'm not familiar with.’

Dani: ‘I'm not used to someone sleeping in my bed. You don't need the phone. Hopefully the drinks will help you get to sleep.’

She got something from the beside table drawer and closed it, then crawled to the foot of the bed.

She pulled something that made a lot of noise up and grabbed my ankle.

Before I knew it I was chained to the bed and she had secured it with a heavy lock.

She just looked at me then resumed her position on the bed getting under the covers and turning out the lamp.

Dani: ‘You can still get to the bathroom, I checked while you were asleep.’

I just hugged the pillow then rolled away from her, totally lost, confused, and fighting tears.

Fighting the tears was a hopeless battle, but I tried to keep quiet.

Half an hour or so passed and she moved.

I held my breath and froze.

Her arm wrapped around me tight and her nose touched my neck as she took a deep breath in through it.