AkumaQuil

He inches closer, a single finger roaming her heated skin. Breath mingling with breath. 

A loud bang vibrates through the room, so thunderous as if god himself was furious.

Slowly he looks up staring out the large glass windows to the backyard, 

"You have a visitor." His rasps calmly.

"Who?" Rose quickly fires, feigning ignorance. She knew well enough who it was. Her nightly visitor has arrived.

Surprising, He only visits when she is alone.

"One who comes out at night. Lurking in the shadows, in the darkness... just like its intensions."

He looks down still leaning on top her, once more pinning her with his intense gaze.

"Are you afraid?" His voice dead serious, eyes going back to look outside.

And Rose lied, "No." 

But is it a lie when her fear was never really rooting enough to make her run the other way but instead often getting mixed with exhilaration.

"You should be."  

He leaves her staring wide eyed on the sofa and goes to stand before the glass panes.

"It's not happy to see me here. I can see the raging pits of fire in it's gaze. Ready to burn me right where I stand." he chuckled, sounding most sinister, "It definitely wants to rip my innards out."

"You should take off your shirt." He suggests casually.

"Excuse me?"

"Let's see if it riles him up even more to shatter instead of just slamming the windows like a wuss." He rouses under his breath, his excited provocative tone not escaping Rose's attention. 

What the hell is he up to?

"This isn't funny." Rose sputters out, standing up from the couch.

"I'm not trying to be." He faces her again, sporting a deadpan face. 

"Whatever. You think I'm one of your stupid fan girls to take my shirt off just because you want to rile someone up? Besides, there's probably no one outside and you're only making it up to see my boobs like a pervert."

His eyes roams her from top to bottom, there was distaste evident in his gaze.

"When he comes at night and leaves a little something for you, maybe then you take off your clothes for him... like a slut." Rome stared into her eyes with nothing behind those icy orbs to show for a lack of meaning behind his words. Because he means every single thing he says to her.

"Get. Out. Now!" Rose boomed furiously. 

"Whatever, I was leaving anyway. This has become boring." He walks towards her front door.

"Wait. How do you know he comes at night and leaves something?" her eyes narrow.

"Because I've seen it before."

"You saw him? It is a real guy?" Rose wanted to confirm, for some reason she thought otherwise.

"I never said I saw him. I've only seen it happening to someone else." 

"Whom?" 

"You don't need to know." He closes off.

"Then at least tell me what happened to her? Can I meet this person?" 

"You can't." Refusing calmly he was almost out the door when Rose pleads against hope.

"Please."

"You can't because she disappeared." Those were the words that finally did it. Brought her racing heart and buzzing head to a sudden halt. "Never to be seen again." 

 "When he stops visiting, that's when you should be most afraid." His words rang like a siren in the silence of her mind as he left.

Now she felt true fear for the first time.

==

In the embrace of her ancestral town, Rose seeks refuge from the echoes of her past. 

Little does she know, her return to her roots will awaken dormant shadows, shattering ordinary her existence. 

For when the darkness falls over the town, from the pitch black rises a shadowy figure that haunt her nights. 

In the darkness he sweeps her off the ground in terrible fear and the allure of sinister intrigue.

And once the sun comes, a man with a god awful attitude, haunts her in the broad day light. Causing her to swell with pure disdain. 

With each passing night, it draws closer to Rose, casting a chilling spell that both terrifies and exhilarates her.

Thrust into a labyrinth of mysteries can she navigate the treacherous path laid before her, or will her nightly visitor consume her whole?

He Comes At Night

Her and Cruise. Standing by the entrance. Giggling. Whispering. Her head tilted toward him like he was the most fascinating thing on earth.

Get a room, I thought, fighting the urge to roll my eyes so hard they'd pop out of my skull.

As if on cue, Cruise leaned in, his voice dripping with charm.

"The music's too loud out here. Would you like to go up to the balcony? It's quieter there, and the view is great."

She hesitated, biting her lip—classic nervous girl move—before replying, "Sure, I'd like that. How about I join you after a quick restroom break?"

Oh, how precious. She wanted to freshen up before their little balcony rendezvous. How very innocent.

Cruise, the gentleman he pretended to be, offered to escort her. She declined, giggling, "I'll find it on my own, Leo."

Something snapped inside me. Maybe it was the way she said his name, so casual, like they were already an item.

Or maybe it was the way he looked at her, like she was the only thing that mattered. Whatever it was, I wasn't about to let it slide.

They are happy together. She is happy.

Now why does that sound like something that needs a divine intervention?

An idea formed in my head. A stupid, impulsive idea.

It may be cheap but damn would it feel good to ruin her night.

I turned and spotted Ariadne hovering nearby, chatting with one of her brainless friends. Perfect.

Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed her hand. She squealed in surprise but followed without question, babbling something I didn't bother to process.

I didn't care about the curious stares we drew as I dragged her across the room. Let them think whatever they wanted. Their guesses couldn't be too far from the truth, anyway.

Tonight I am that teenager I guess.

We passed Cruise and her on the way to the exit.

I didn't look at them, but I could feel their eyes on me.

Let them wonder. Let them think I'd moved on, that I was taking Ariadne upstairs for... well, whatever their filthy minds conjured up.

The truth? I didn't know what the hell I was doing.

For now, it was enough to feel her hand in mine, to hear the click of Ariadne's heels behind me as I led her toward the destination I decided on.

54. Biting Her Lip