I Disappeared

Chapter 5

Katerina 

What the hell? 

 I frowned; I was confused. Utterly confused. Sitting in this now clean room, my wool shirt slightly itching my arms, my mouth opening and closing. I didn't know what to do with this information. I wanted to read more entries but the alarm I had set yesterday for my meeting with that mysterious and dangerous boy rang out. Elle was still out, no doubt drinking  and playing games with her guy friends. 

I hurried to dress in a white sundress that fit me perfectly and suited the humid weather up here on this mountain. I put a black cardigan on top of the spaghetti strap dress and I paired it with Air Force 1's. I only took the necessities : my phone and the room key. I stepped out of the room, looking back for a minute before locking the room and exiting Peccatum quietly. As I turned the dark corner, I saw him. He was smoking, smoke billowing and disappearing in the starlit sky. I hadn't a clue where the students smuggled these objects, but I now knew Elle was among the few to help this process. 

I watched as he gazed at the sky, the millions of star decorating the black sky. The cigarette between his index and middle finger evaporating with each of his sucking motions. He looked dangerous but so alluring. I realized that I didn't know him all that well. I knew his name but that didn't really categorize a person. A few words used to call him wouldn't let me inside his head, wouldn't help me figure him out. For all I knew, he could have blackmailed me into coming here so he could kill me. Nobody would ever know. 

I took a step back. The twig underneath my foot cracked, the sound piercing the serene atmosphere he had set and making him turn towards me. He threw the cigarette, only a cigarette butt now, and crushed it under his foot, twisting it to increase the effect.

"Are you going to keep lurking in the corner sweetheart?" His voice held that husky tone. I laughed and maybe it was his playful attitude or the fact that I surprisingly didn't feel all that scared of him but I took a few steps forward. 

"No" I let those words settle in and they meant more than just an answer to his question. It felt like an answer to the question he was no doubt thinking in his head: Are you scared of me? I wasn't scared of him, I was scared of the emotions he made me feel. Was there a difference? 

We looked at each other for a moment and I was the one to break. The intensity in those blue eyes was off the charts. "What are we doing here?", I asked instead of just staring. 

"I thought we could get to know each other." He smiled and his dimples showed but the smile didn't reach his eyes. They were beautiful but something lurked in them, a devastating and a mysterious past. I admit, I wanted to know more about this boy that had all the girls already gossiping about. 

"Sure." I was excited but if I wanted him to open up; I'd have to borrow some of Elle's games.   Never have I ever.

"Let's play Never Have I Ever then", I said afterwards. I gave him a meaningful look to agree to this but he was going to be stubborn. 

"That's a kid's game", he said, "and do I look like a kid?" He followed that question with a tug on my waist, pushing me to his body. No, he most certainly didn't look like a child. He turned me so that my back was flush to his chest and he was breathing in my ear. "But I'm game." His minty breath heated my skin and tickled my ear. I wanted more than ever to let myself relax but my past was proof that me letting myself act my age had consequences. And they weren't good.

I got caught in the moment for a minute, letting his body heat my own. But I wanted to play. I detangled myself away from him and started walking further into the darkness that was slightly illuminated by lanterns and the bright stars. He followed me as planned and I spoke softly. 

"You start", I said and he nodded, reaching for his back pocket. He dragged out a flask similar to my own. 

"Never Have I Ever.... sent someone a naughty pic." I hadn't expected that for his first turn and I flushed pink, looking at him sideways. I hoped he wouldn't be able to see the change of color of my cheeks. I motioned for him to pass me the flask and when he did, I took a small sip. His eyes shone with interest and his mouth quirked to the side. 

What can I say? A long time ago, before I hardened myself and didn't let anyone but Elle get to know the real me, my first boyfriend that got to have all my firsts asked for pictures. He never shared them which I was thankful for but I never did it again. I continued with the game. 

"My turn", I breathed, "Never Have I Ever..... been to a concert." I was brave but I didn't have the courage to ask him a question like the one he'd asked. I genuinely wanted to get to know him. 

"Hmm No I haven't actually. My dad isn't really a big fan of that or anything fun really." He looked at an owl atop a branch for a instant, looking vulnerable before he hardened his expression. We spoke through small questions and sips of the clear vodka and soda in the flask.

 I learned meaningless but still interesting things when we changed up the game and we simply asked each other questions. Favorite color? Black. Favorite song? Flawless by The Neighbourhood. Favorite food? Italian. Biggest fear? Heights. I had a feeling that last one was a lie but I never pushed. 

"Are you okay?" I spoke to the void that was Caden Black. He sucked you in with just a look but he never reciprocated the feeling. We'd been talking and drinking for quite some time, the road leading us deeper into the forest that surrounded Peccatum. The unfamiliar trees surrounding us were a tell that we had gone deeper that I'd excepted. 

"Yep if I were any better, I'd be illegal", he replied.  I knew something was bothering him but I was unable to question him about it because I tripped. I closed my eyes, waiting for my body to crash into the cold hard ground but I suddenly felt his arm pull me towards him and I ended up on top of Caden. His breaths were deep but quick and his hard arm was banded around my  waist, keeping me on top of him. I lay on him, my back to his chest while he lay on the cold floor.  He didn't give me any indication of his discomfort. 

"I didn't know you were clumsy Kat", he finally said. I exhaled thoroughly, my chest rumbling a little with a small laugh and his own chest mimicked my movements. I stayed on him but turned my head to see him. I didn't realize that would put us at a hair's distance of each other's lips. 

His heart beat faster, like drums against his ribcage. He looked right into my eyes and I his. They had softened and I knew this feeling , this need between us was about to burst. And when it did, all was lost but us and this moment. My lips crashed into his, our eyes closing simultaneously. His soft lips caressed mine, softly brushing against mine. The taste of him being graved onto my lips and I knew I'd want more soon but it wasn't over. Not just yet. 

He deepened the kiss, slowly licking my bottom lip and begging me for entrance. And I obliged. His tongue plunged into my waiting mouth, delicately stroking. I knew I would never get enough of that mint taste from the soda that he was leaving in my mouth, on my taste buds that would soon crave him again. I kissed him back, equally as strong. I knotted my hands in his shirt and turned myself over, our hearts beating rhythmically together as our chests collided against each other. 

I never wanted this moment to stop. I wanted to know what was going through his mind but that thought soon vanished as soon as it begun because my mind left my body when his hands tangled in my hair. He turned my head at an angle that dived his tongue deeper into mine, making my body go limp. I was unaware if we spent hours or minutes like this, his body embracing mine and our legs tangled together. It was cut short by a cry. A panicked and manic scream. 

I pulled away from him, my hands falling from the dark strands of his hair to his massive shoulders to stabilize myself until the world wasn't swaying. His lips were wet and red, bruised from my lust, and he was flushed. Just like me. I thought I'd imagined the scream until it came again. It came from everywhere.