Faceless Instincts

Tied With A Broken Rope

Gravels rumbled beneath my footsteps as I walked towards my car, there was still no sign of Dorian and I was growing a little anxious.

As I reached for my car handle and opened the door a voice scared me, "You have got quite nice friends."

I almost slipped, "What the, what are you? GOD." I stood there looking at him in disbelief.

He was leaning against the back of the car. He pivoted to look at me and smiled broadly.

I sat in the car and closed the door, "You scared me." I said starting the ignition as he sat in the passenger seat.

"I didn't know you get scared this easily." He snickered.

"When you have had your office broken into and a stranger pounded upon, you do get a little scared by unexpected sounds," I smirked and he pouted.

I was driving slowly down the hill and Dorian was leaning back in his seat with his elbow on the window. "Why didn't you come in front of my friends?"

He didn't look at me, his eyes were fixated on the road ahead, "I didn't feel like I am a fit"

"What does that mean?" I frowned.

He shrugged casually, "you know when you don't belong somewhere but you still try even though you know you are a misfit. I try my best to avoid such situations"

"You think too much, I think they would like you." I was glancing at him, and he suddenly caught my eye.

"A person who is on the verge of going crazy is not a good fit for any place." He said in a grim voice.

That word felt like a wound being touched, "you are not going to go crazy."

"I am not going to get any better either."

"You don't know that"

"Neither do you." His voice was sharp

I opened my mouth to reply but it was of no good and I knew that. We drove the rest of the way in silence, I found him looking at me several times but none of us said anything.

Finally, we came to a stop in front of my office where I was supposed to leave him, "are you okay with going home alone?" I asked looking at his shadowy form as he adjusted his muffler.

He cocked his head and turned towards me, "What a gentleman, but yes I will be fine going home alone." He grinned so wide that

I laughed and rolled my eyes, "I simply asked because I don't mind giving you a ride home."

"I will be fine and it's getting late you should head home too." He started to get out of the car but I stopped him.

"Wait," I said and he looked at me in confusion. "Can you take that muffler off" I had no idea why I did that, but now I had done that?

"Sorry?" He seemed resistant.

However I didn't say anything, just waited and finally, after few seconds, he gave in and gently started to unwrap the muffler. When he took it off my heart came into my mouth.

These were not simple bruises, his neck was blue with blood clots, the 'O' shape mark was not a good sign, while I also noticed cuts. I wasn't sure if he was doing this to himself or someone else was involved.

"How old are these?" I asked.

"Years," he said and wrapped the muffler around his neck, "they get better, but then they come back. I have seen a doctor several times but they can't explain it either."

I nodded, "we'll find out."

"I know" he gave me one of his best smiles and with that, he stepped out and started walking away, I looked at his retreating back. He was tall and had a lean built, his walk was confident and I couldn't stop but keep looking at him.

As if he sensed my eyes on his back, he stopped and turned to look at me, I drove closer to him and lowered the window, he leaned down and grinned, "you know, I realized that I wouldn't mind some extra time with you and a ride home."

I shook my head smiling and opened the door, "not so smooth but hop in" he laughed and got in.

Soon I was navigating my way towards his home, "It's weird, I have lived in this town for so long, and yet I have never been to this site."

"This is indeed an isolated neighbourhood, you will find a lot of empty houses. People moved out of here and started living in the city when it got developed, with everything turning new this section of town was quickly forgotten."

He was looking around with sadness in his eyes.

"I can not imagine how one can leave this place, it's beautiful." I looked around, the streets were adorned with beautiful lamps, cobblestones and on either side were the most gorgeous homes that I have ever seen.
My home started to look like litter in front of these.

"Right there" he pointed towards a house and I stopped my car in front of it.

My jaw dropped at the floor as I took in the exteriors of his home, the all-white Victorian house had a huge garden spread in front of it which was festooned with roses. The white fence was covered in vines and the porch illuminated with golden light, "would you like to come in?"

I hadn't noticed when Dorian climbed out of the car and walked around, "oh, no, it's alright, perhaps next time."

He stood with his hands in his pockets, nodding slightly "When will we meet again?"

I thought for a second, "I'll require some time to analyze my notes, it won't be a hard task but still, so I guess we'll see each other very soon."

He stepped slightly back, "well you know where I live, you are welcome to knock on my door anytime on any day"

"I'll keep that in mind"

He smiled and bowed his head a little, I heard him wince a little but his smile didn't subside. I held his gaze for a while and then he turned away. I watched him walk down the pathway, stepping on the porch and finally vanishing behind the dark oak door.

I stayed there for a while. Everything that has happened had taken a toll on me and I needed a moment to compose myself. I was about to leave when I saw the lights in the main hall come to life, a curtain on the window parted and Dorian looked through it. An involuntary smile played on my face but it soon vanished when I saw Dorian looking at someone in the house and then he pointed towards me, then he shifted slightly to his left as if making space for some to stand beside him, but I didn't see anyone I forced a smile and waved at him and he waved back, with a huge grin.