Viscious

Unfair.

           "I would. Is there a problem?"

           "N-no! No. I was just telling mom how far you would go for me."

           "I would kill for you." He states, confirming my earlier statement. Chills roll up my spine. Mom is wary as she looks at him. I rise to my feet and approach him, subtly placing myself between he and mom.

           "I'm glad my daughter has found someone so dedicated. I'd kill for her too." She retorts.

           "I'm glad we are on the same page." He says flatly. "I'm going to borrow Alina for the evening, I'll have plenty of food and drink for you shortly." He pulls me from the room and into the living room. I'm a bit alarmed at the change in scenery, but I sit beside him on the couch.

           He gestures me closer, and I sit flush against him, his arm over my shoulder as he fumbles with the television remote. He goes into his settings and back into the news segment he recorded. He pushes play, and the leggy teller appears on the screen.

          "Police are now reporting on the disappearance of Kristen Dayberry. Kristen was last seen leaving shift at the bank, around 5pm..." I try to tune everything out for a few minutes to gain my composure.

         "We urge you if you see Kristen or have any leads to contact authorities as soon as possible." Dallas. Dallas seen Kristen here. Would he call if he seen this and tip them off? Will somebody call looking for mom? What does this mean for mom and I?

           "This isn't good..." I whisper. I'm not certain what to say, or what will trigger a meltdown. In my mind, I can hear his heart quicken and his teeth grind.

            "We thrive under pressure. We'll be fine, but things can get worse before they get better. I have locked the doors, and I have the keys. I'm going to trust you to go stand by your mother's door while I do some tidying in the kitchen and refill your mother's water bottles. I'll be watching that way for you, don't test me today. I'm in a foul mood already." His eyes are dark and cold again.

          He kisses my head and makes me stand, shoving me off in the direction of the first floor bedrooms. I find mom's room and dutifully park myself by the door. I shiver in dread and rub my arms to make the hair stay down. I wonder why he wouldn't take me with him to the kitchen, but I figure it's some sort of test. There's always a catch or some test, I've learned now. I could see his pistol earlier, and the murderous look on his face. I was not about to fuck with him. The chain, the whip, the hot nightmarish barn, the hunger and nudity, my mother's possible death. Too much to risk. I stand there, not even looking in another direction until I hear him. He hugs me from behind and leans around me to work the lock.

           "We are back." I call to mom as the door opens. She smiles at me and we enter to bring her water bottles to her. We haven't ever been mushy with one another, mom a little stern and not a fan of things like 'I love yous' and hugs. I hug her anyways though and tell her I love her. I sit across from her on the bed while we talk and try to ignore the 'elephant ' in the room that is Kellan. After about an hour, Kellan dismisses us to leave her room.

          As promised, we spend the evening together. We start outside, where one wrist is tied with rope and attached to his belt. It gives me enough leeway to stand back about five or six feet from him. He had bought a window at some point and we ride over in his truck to haul the new window and replace the broken one on my house. I stand awkwardly at his side as I wait for him to finish the installation.

         We walk the woods together, after taking the truck 'home. He shows me little caves and hide ways that he found or created in case of emergency. I secretly study the ground, paranoid I'll spot remains. I have no idea where he took everything and everyone, but I have a sneaking suspicion they are out here somewhere. Everytime a squirrel crunches a leaf or moves along a limb, I pray that it's Creature. That he's well and out here somewhere waiting to be found.