Underground Legends: The Hunt (BWWM)

Chapter 13 - Abella

Abella Sterling (Female P.O.V)

October 15, 2074

Softly groaning, I flopped onto my back and watched the rotating blades of my ceiling fan. Maybe they could help me fall asleep because nothing else had so far.

I glanced at my bedside table, and the blazing red numbers of my alarm clock stared back at me.

2:15.

A frustrated growl built in my throat as I blindly reached for my spare pillow. Just as the tormented sounds burst past my lips, I mashed the soft fabric over my face letting it capture them all. For over two hours since getting into bed, all I had done was toss and turn.

At this point, I should give up on the idea of sleep, but there was still one thing I hadn't tried- exercising.

If I ran on my treadmill for a while, that would surely burn off my excess energy and allow me some much-needed sleep.

Excited to put my sure-fire plan into action, I got out of bed, grabbed my sneakers from underneath and headed to the door.

Just as I went to open it, a sudden realization hit me. The machine was in my spare bedroom. The very same one that Saint currently occupied.

I sharply inhaled as a scintillating image of him popped into my head. It was only for a few seconds, but it was enough to leave me breathless.

His large body lay in the center of the queen size bed, looking warm and inviting amongst the sheets. The thick white cotton rode low on his narrow hips, leaving his torso bare. Every muscle rippled as he brought his arm up and rested it behind his head, further disheveling his dark locks. With a smile toying on his lips, he stared straight ahead.

Much to my dismay, the image stopped there, but it didn't dissipate. The visual branded itself on the back of my eyelids, and with each blink, it enticed me into going anyway.

Saint being in my apartment, meters away and still way out of reach, was dangerous. Dangerous for my sanity, my heart, and my hormones.

After taking a few calming breaths, I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

Knowing my brother was in the adjacent room kept my feet moving towards the kitchen. Far away from the temptation that was Saint.

My footsteps slowed upon seeing the light emanating from the kitchen. It seemed I wasn't the only one awake at this time. I stopped in the doorway, seeing Saint hunched over his laptop.

When the screen darkened, he saw my reflection and turned around.

"Can't sleep?" He asked, removing an earbud from his ear.

"Nope. What about you?"

"Nah," he said, shaking his head. "So I figured I would watch the game footage to see what else the killer has in store."

"I did the same after Quinton told me the news." I softly confessed, remembering the endless hours I played the five deaths that took place in the game on a loop. That's it, only the deaths instead of the entire gameplay. It was torture, and only half a bottle of wine had allowed me to sleep through the night. "I tried not to, but my curiosity got the best of me."

Secretly, I was hoping and praying the cops were wrong about this being a serial killing. Even though my gut told me they weren't.

One death was a coincidence. Three was a guarantee.

"It seems we both like to torture ourselves with what's to come."

"It seems so," I muttered, going to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water from inside. Glancing over my shoulder, I held it up silently, asking if he wanted one.