Adoration

Chapter Four

Britney Spears plays as we drive through the dark towards my apartment building, the streets lit up by the flickering lamps.

Beau is singing along without a care in the world as everyone in the neighbourhood is sleeping. My building slowly comes into view as we park up. The door has a red light above glowing as if welcoming me back to hell. What if V is a resident here?

"Babes you can always stay at mine if you're scared".

"Not sure your roommate would appreciate that. Anyway as long as I lock my doors and windows , I've had self defense training I should be safe".

We shared a hug before saying goodnight, he watched me walk in and then drove off. I usually would walk up the stairs this late but I feel my best bet is getting upstairs as fast as possible.

My foot steps echo in the abandonded hallway as I edge closer to my door. I pause a few metres away noticing something laying on my welcome matt. My teeth pull at the dry skin on my lip before I step forward.

A black dahlia tied with a ribbon , lays perfectly below the entrance. My phone dings in my pocket, with shaking fingers I unlock my phone.

Nad's
-- I'm sorry xx

Relief showers me. I pick up the flower no longer terrifed of the solo bud. I recall back to mine and Nadia's third date where she asked me to be her girlfriend. We had been friends before so the question wasn't as daunting. She showed up to my house with a bouquet of black dahlias. I must have asked her a million times where she had got them. She never did tell me. Instead she occassionally surprised me with them when I was sad, we had a fight , or when we had a reason to celebrate.

It's been months since I recieved one.

Slipping off my shoes , I sit down on the sofa.

-- I'm sorry too xx

I text back. One at a time I gently pull my pigtails out leaving the ribbons on the coffee table.

My legs ache as I head to the kitchen to make a cup of tea before heading to bed. As the kettle boils I take my clothes off throwing them in the washing machine beneath the counter. It was already filled with my other dirty laundry so I put it on a spin.

My phone rings.
I slightly jump but instantly ease logically thinking its Nadia ringing to talk about our fight or Beau telling me he is home safe.

"Hello" I answer not checking who was ringing.

The other end is silent. The slightest hint of breathing coming through the speaker.

"Beau this is not funny, I'm guessing you are home? " The kettle stops and I fill my blueberry mug up.

"Is that his name? Beau? " A deep voice croaks through the phone.

My breathing hitches and my heart hammers against my ribs like prison bars.

" Who is this?" My voice shakes revealing me fear to the unknown caller.

"Is he your boyfriend Cora?" He sounds like he is smirking.

"Who is this? I will call the police, how do you know my name? " I reach for my home phone dialling the number but not pressing the call button just yet.

"Put the phone down I'm not going to hurt you." He chuckles " Is he your boyfriend or do you just fuck women?"

I look around for a figure or camera not understanding how he knows I grabbed my phone. "Beau... no he is just friend" I shake my head.

"So only women then."

" Well no " I croak ruffling through my things trying to find a recording device.

'Hmm".

The phone abruptly ends before I can learn who the mysterious person is on the other end.

My fingers work fast through my contacts finding Beau's number. It rings for a few minutes before a tired voice says hello.

"Can you please take me to the police station?"