Safer With A Ghost | Simon "Ghost" Riley

Chapter 21

Walking outside, she spotted the soldier she grew closest to, slowly building a trusting friendship with him while on the daily walks he accompanied her on. Konig was a man of few words with Ivy doing most of the talking though it didn't bother him. Today was no different. Ivy excitedly told Konig about the book she was reading, Under the Dome by Stephen King, only detailing a few plots and characters. "Sound very interesting, ma'am." He smiled under his sniper hood. His thick German accent was difficult to understand at first, but the more they spoke the more Ivy grew to understand him. "Maybe once I'm done with it, you can read it." Ivy's face was bright, hoping he'd agree to taking an interest in something she liked. "If only I had time for such things." He jerked his head slightly, diminishing her small hope of spreading her interests.

As they walked quietly, Ivy bent down to pick up a few rocks. Looking down at her, Konig noticed fresh bruising on her lower back as her shirt lifted, exposing the purple and blue hues that spread over her skin. His body tensed with growing anger and struggled to bite his tongue. Though he hesitated at first, he couldn't keep in the frustration building in his chest. "er kann das nicht weiter machen. New bruises ma'am?" Though she didn't know exactly what he said, his tone told her it wasn't good. Forgetting the fresh wounds from this morning's incident, she attempted to make up yet another excuse for Phillip but couldn't think of one. "N-No Ko-Konig, I-I'm fine, really." Her face bared an embarrassed and shy smile, her eyes begging for him to drop it. Her chest filled with panic, "Ma'am I-" "Konig, I said I'm fine." Ivy cut him off before he could talk about it any further. Konig slightly shook his head in disapproval, "Ich mache mir nur Sorgen um dich." Growing frustrated with him, Ivy snapped her head towards him as she stood up, "Konig, you know I can't understand German!" As her tone reached her ears, she was overcome with regret, sighing heavily, "I'm sorry..." Konig put a hand up, easing her stress. "It's alright ma'am. I just said I worry about you." He rested his hand back on the gun across his chest. "I'm alright, I can handle him and myself. I appreciate the concern though." Nodding slightly, Kong gestured her to move forward. "Time's almost up, Mein Schatz." Smiling as she understood the sweet nickname he had called her when Phillip wasn't around, she walked forward as she placed a black, oval-shaped rock that had small red stripes across it in her pocket.

Arriving back at the house, Ivy waltz into the kitchen to begin preparing dinner for Phillip. It was Thursday, and every Thursday he requested his favorite that she made for him, spaghetti and homemade meatballs. As she finished dinner, she made up his plate, full of noodles and meatballs covered in sauce and cheese, setting it in his place at the table. Setting the plate down, she heard the front door open, and as she looked towards it, she saw Phillip walking in with no emotions to show on his face. Approaching her, his face didn't change, making Ivy uncomfortable and scared. "H-Hi Phillip, dinner is ready." She tried to cover her anxiety by smiling at him, but Phillip noticed, and it angered him. "No happy to see me, Ivy?" He brought his face closer to hers, she could smell whiskey on his breath, sending shivers down her spine. Ivy knew if he had whiskey, it meant a long night for Ivy. "Of course I'm happy to see you." She wrapped her arms around his waist, attempting to put his anger at ease. "You don't," he tilted his head, "seem happy to see me." His eyebrows scrunched at the top of his nose at her, his eyes dark with anger. He shoved her roughly, sending her to the ground with a loud thud and a whimper escaped her. Getting to her knees quickly, her voice trembled with fear, "I'm sorry, I'm just tired from m-my wa-walk and dinner t-took longer t-than usu-al." She looked up at him, with tears building slowly in her eyes. Without responded, he kneeled to put his face in hers once more, "Get up, and go." He pointed in the direction of the room of the house she feared the most, the garage. Her eyes fluttered as tears flowed from the fear, "No Phillip please! I don't- I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" "Ivy..." he spoke low, and uncomfortably smooth as he picked up the full plate and sent it across the room into the wall, sending the meal and glass shards from the plate in every direction. His eyes burned into hers, "NOW!" he shouted as he lifted her by her hair.