Haunt

Ch. 5- Eyes

A cool breeze seeps in through an open window, causing me to awaken from an unexpected sleep. A sharp pain shoots through my wrist and I remember suddenly that I was injured. I cradle my arm against my chest, slowly sitting up on the bed.

"Sleep well?" A voice asks, close behind me.

I jump off the bed and turn to see Eric propped up on a reclining chair, watching me with devious eyes. By the way he's sitting, it looks like he's been here a while.

"Were you watching me?" I say, breathlessly.

He shrugs his shoulders while clasping his hands together. Eric kicks down the prop and stands with ease. He comes around the bed and sits just in front of me.

"This is my room. I have the right to do as I please." There is an amused tone to his voice which catches me off guard. Just a few hours ago, he was in complete rage. I shudder at the thought of him hitting me and without thinking, I bring my injured arm up to my face.

The skin is still tender when I run my fingers over it. Eric watches as I twitch from the retreating pain. His eyebrows furrow together like he's confused of my actions.

Like he doesn't remember what he did...

There is a long silence as we stare at one another. I don't know if I'm waiting on him to say something or if I'm trying to figure out what to say to him. The air is suddenly thick with tension, though, and that scares me.

"It's not broken." He finally says, indicating to my wrist which I'm now cradling again.

"Only fractured. If that."

I look down at it and slowly start moving it but it hurts too badly still. My teeth grind together, trying to mask the pain from him.

"I need to go home." It's the only thing I can think of to say and it's exactly what I'm feeling.

The one time I decide to leave the house and do something I'm not supposed to, this happens. Then another thought occurs to me.

Where's Ebony?

"You can't go home now." Eric is still seemingly calm but there is a rising angst in him. I can tell by the way he sets his jaw and how he flexes his fingers back and forth. He's trying to control himself....but it's becoming hard.

I'm frightened that he'll hurt me again so I don't protest.

"Okay."

It's the answer he wants to hear because he immediately relaxes, his hands resting on his thighs. I nervously look around the room, wondering what is to come next.

"Can I wrap my wrist?" I use the voice that I always use on my dad when I want something. The voice he says he can't say no to.

Eric stands. Our bodies now practically touching as he stands over me. He gingerly takes my wrist into his large hand and I flinch back from his touch. His jaw sets again but he reaches out and uses the same gentleness.

"Come here."

He leads me to a small bathroom. All of his things are set out across the counter in a neat manner. I look at each one of them, inspecting to see what different types of things he uses. The first thing that catches my eye, is a bottle of cologne. It's tall, slender and has black liquid inside. I've never seen black cologne before.

Then there are a series of other small items like shaving cream, hair gel, a few different types of razors. All things that a normal person would have...except he's not normal.