Moths - Saltburn

Duncan - 04

Viewing the sunset on my way to Oliver gave me a calm feeling. As I pulled in, a tall, thin man with dark hair stood at the door. I hadn't seen anyone but Oliver at Saltburn. I assumed it was Duncan since he fit the description Oliver gave me while expressing his annoyance. It was funny how much he seemingly wanted company yet hated the people who kept Saltburn alive.

More relaxed than my last visit, I was determined to keep my wits about me and not fall asleep again. My weekend was refreshing, so I felt nothing but excitement to be there. As I exited my car, the man greeted me at the entrance with a stern look.

"Good evening", he said without a smile. The brief moment gave me an understanding of Oliver's dissatisfaction. Seeing a smiling face when welcomed into a home would be nice. I gave him a pleasant look despite his lack of emotion.

"Evie, is he bothering you?" I turned to the familiar voice. The man politely walked away, his facial expression unchanging.

"Would I be correct in assuming that was Duncan?" I asked, tilting my head with a slight grin on my face.

"You would; he almost passes for a real human." As he spoke, he embraced me, placing his chin on my head. I took a deep breath, savouring the moment. I found myself not wanting him to let me go. As he pulled away, he kept one arm wrapped around me. Leading me through the massive estate, we settled in the green room.

The ceiling was detailed, much like the decor that adorned the walls. The furniture was beautifully curated, with many chairs and sculptures. Mirrors hung below three large portraits, and the broken piano sat nearby. We rested on the sofa that sat towards the middle of the room. I leaned back, looking at the crystals cascading from the chandelier.

"I don't think I would ever get used to the grandeur," I admitted, turning my head toward Oliver. He intently fixated on me.

"You'd be surprised. It's good to have someone to enjoy it with." He spoke, holding his gaze.

"Did you visit here often growing up?" I asked.

"No, my parents didn't have the best relationship with Nan and Grandad. We stayed in Prescot until their passing."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ollie," I said. We sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke again.

"I'd like to show you the maze when it's light out. You know, it's fun to get lost sometimes." His voice was smooth as it broke the quiet.

"That sounds like fun. Are there strict rules against taking the replica as a map?" I said jokingly in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Not until now. Don't even think about sneaking a picture on your phone." He gave a severe look before breaking into a smirk.

"Well, now that you mention it." I rolled my eyes and gave him a slight nudge.

My mind drifted to my conversation with Gemma and Claire about getting a picture, but it didn't feel right. I didn't want to force anything, and it was too soon. There would be plenty of time later; we were very much in the moment. Neither of us seemed to notice it getting late as we continued talking.

                                         —

I was startled awake by a loud crash. Unsure of my surroundings, I reached for the nearest object. Before I could think or wake up fully, I threw a large vase at the noise. Suddenly, I realised where I was and panicked. Oliver wasn't in the room, but to my horror, Duncan bore the consequence of my grave mistake. The moments slowed as my body froze in shock. Blood pooled and flowed towards me. I tried to cover the large gash on his temple, but it was hopeless.

"Ollie?" I saw him standing in the doorway; tears streamed down my face. I sank onto my knees, looking at my blood-soaked hands.

"Evie, what have you done?"

My heart stopped. He slowly walked towards me while taking his shirt off. Leaning over, he wiped my hands and tossed it to the side. Eyes locked to mine, he sat before me and licked my index finger.

"Without me." He spoke softly.

A heavy silence fell over the room. My heart pounded in my head, and I felt numb, tears still streaming down my face. I was completely shocked; my mind shut down as the horrid scene played before me.

Oliver swirled his hand in the blood that sat a few inches from us. I wiped my tears and watched him for what felt like an eternity. He held up his hand, letting the blood run down his arm.

"You're fucking beautiful."

I let out a breath in disbelief. How could he say that at a time like this?

"Ollie, I didn't mean to. I heard a noise and got scared. I didn't know where I was. Oh my God, what have I done? I'm going to jail, and my friends will never forgive me, my parents. I'll never forgive myself. What have I done?" My eyebrows pressed together as more tears fell. I held up my blood-soaked hands and wanted to scream but couldn't. I didn't even know if my speech was coherent.

"It was an accident. Evie, you're okay. Before I clean this up..." He wiped his thumb across my chin, smearing blood over it. My mouth was slightly open in shock, but I didn't stop him. His confidence made me want his comfort since my body suddenly felt foreign.

He gently held me as he traced over my collarbone, covering me in blood. I shivered under his touch as the thick liquid dripped off of me. I was still in shock as his body pressed against mine.

"You've got a little something there." Reaching for my hair, he pulled my head back and licked blood off my neck. "Come with me." He spoke as he picked me up.

He carried me for a while until we reached a room with a blue coloured tester bed. The walls were glossy red with pictures and a large tapestry. Sunlight was pouring through the large windows, revealing the amount of blood that covered me.

Disoriented due to the incident and confused by the desire for Oliver. I stood for a moment, looking at my blood-stained arms, hands shaking. The room spun. I felt my knees give way as I lost consciousness.

"Evie... Evie. Evie?"

The faint voice grew louder with each word.

"Evie, are you alright?" He asked.

"I don't know." I reached up and rubbed my aching head; I was utterly overwhelmed.

He sat down and cradled my head in his lap. I pulled my knees to my chest and embraced the feeling of the cold, hard floor. Dread and anxiety took over the silence. I wasn't sure how long we stayed there, and I didn't want to know. He brushed my hair from my forehead and looked at me with caring eyes.

"Let's get you cleaned up."

He gently moved to stand up and walked to the bathroom. As my head spun, I closed my eyes and listened to the water fill the bathtub. A moment later, he offered me a hand to stand up and led me to the steaming room.

The large bathtub sat in the middle of the room. As I moved towards it, Oliver left, shutting the door behind him. I submerged myself in the hot water, dropping my head below and closed my eyes again. Assuming he was dealing with the green room, I tried not to think about it.

As I came up for a breath, the clear water, now pink, splashed over the side. I noticed the door handle move, followed by a slight knock, which caught my full attention. Oliver came in, dressed in a robe, blood still stained his skin.

"It's taken care of." He said, staring into my eyes.

"Ollie?" I said hesitantly. He slightly hummed, moving towards me.

"Kiss me?"

A/N Fun fact about me, I love reading slow burn but apparently not writing it. Anyways, I'll see myself out now. Thank you all <3