Bound To You (The Grabber FanFiction)

Another One Missing

Albert
"Abigail," I called out with a wide grin as she walked past my house, heading towards town. "Where are you headed? Do you need a ride?"

Glancing back at the van I had just polished, I realized it had remained spotless, untouched by my usual activities. My time had been consumed by Abigail, and in her presence, I had no desire to indulge my darker impulses.

"O-oh," she stuttered, glancing nervously around before crossing the road to my side. "That's not necessary. I'm babysitting tonight," she explained, checking her sterling silver watch. "And I know what happens if I get in that van," she added with a smirk.

Her words triggered a chilling image in my mind: Abigail's unconscious, bloody body lying in the back of the van, her silver watch the only remnant of her life. It was a stark reminder of the grim reality behind the facade of our romantic escapades. The image haunted me briefly before I pushed it away, shuddering at the thought of Abigail meeting such a fate..

"You didn't deny it," she giggled, her laughter so innocent and clear. Leaning in, she added, "You just want a repeat of last weekend at the drive-in," rolling her eyes playfully.

I nodded absentmindedly, the words floating around in my head without finding a response.

"Well, I have to go," she said sweetly. "The high school is getting out soon, and I promised Mr. Blake I wouldn't be late. You know Mr. Blake, right? Well, it doesn't matter anyway," she shrugged, her words tumbling out in rapid succession. "I'll talk to you later, Albert."

Abigail's chatter was incessant as she began to move away from my property line. Reacting impulsively, I lunged forward and grabbed her arm.

"Wait, do you need a ride to the school? I'll drive you," I blurted out desperately.

Abigail glanced down at my hand on her forearm, and I quickly loosened my grip. Her blush deepened as she looked up at me, her gaze always softening when I was near.

She shook her head. "No, Finney is going to meet me back at the house. The school gets out in thirty," she glanced at her watch again. "It's nice out today, and it's never nice in Galesburg. I'm gonna walk," she reassured me with a smile.

She mentioned the Blakes before. I knew their names, but that was the extent of it. Finney Blake was the boy she babysat, a job she'd had since she was sixteen. I remembered that detail because it surprised me; the spoiled rich girl actually worked during high school summers. But Abigail wasn't sixteen anymore, and if she never wanted to lift a finger again, I would make sure of it. I didn't want her to go, but off she was.

***

When I heard the knocking at the door, I considered letting them wait. Let them wait so long that they gave up altogether. Samon sat at the door, barking relentlessly. Once he got going, there was little that could stop him. Between his barking and the incessant ringing of that phone in the basement, my head was spinning. The constant sound of the ringing phone taunted me, threatening to drive me insane.

"Samson," I shouted, commanding the barking to cease. The ringing persisted, but when I opened the door and saw Abigail standing there, something shifted. The black phone didn't quite stop, but it quieted down, even if just a little. That was enough for me. She seemed like the key to my cure, a faint light in my dark world. Abigail stood there, teary-eyed. I knew what this was about. It was selfish what I did, taking Finney Blake, knowing Abigail would come running to me for comfort. When she practically collapsed in my arms, I didn't care about the selfishness of it. As I stroked her hair and wiped her tears, holding her on my couch, I realized that every horrible thing that ever happened in her life was my fault. We made each other, in a way. Or perhaps I made her. I created this scared little mouse, so it only made sense that I be the one to protect her. No one better to protect the fallen angel than the devil himself.