What Lurks at Night

4

My eyes shot open, as the light crept through the window in this room. I squirmed using my feet as leverage forcing myself up the mattress, as I placed my head back against the wall, and used my feet to kick up, the mattress serving as grip as I managed to sit myself up. I just sat here... looking around the room, old dusty dark wood floors, and old wooden walls, scattered furniture, a nightstand sat by the door, in front of me to the left... and to the far left of my corner, was the arched glass cracked window. And the hideous leather chair in the center of the room.

I never should have listened to Josh...I wouldn't be in this situation if I just stayed home. My roommate would be pissed by now... and my life was just me- I didn't have a biological family. I went from foster home, to foster home, the name Valora Balan, was just a random name given to me when I was born... Balan being a Romanian last name. But that's all I knew, most of the foster homes I grew up in were kind people... I know there are stories out there that foster homes are bad, greedy, and selfish. They are not, there are good people who just do bad things... and good people who do good things. I was fortunate enough to be with good people who did good things.

And now, as I sit in this quiet, old dusty room. I can't help but feel that my life is no longer mine...but rather belongs to the men downstairs, my heart dropped and my eyebrows sunk, it was a sad realization, and a hard pill to swallow. I was not one to think 'oh I can fight a man' I was not that cocky, let alone fight two men. If one could call them that- The chances of people surviving serial killers were slim, they had experience most people dared not practice in that being... murder. As dark as it sounds murder is a skill, the more you do it, the better you get at it like Ted Bundy, or Jeffrey Dahmer. Of course, they only got caught because they made simple mistakes... and that's what most call karma.

Snapping back to reality the door swinging open, as Alec came back in closing the door as it clicked behind him. I sat there quietly, my heart beating, as my breath was caught in my chest. Silence, deafening silence, like being in the forests, everything went silent when a predator was spotted. Alec was a predator.

"Your heartbeat sounds delicious, Val." Eyes locked on her, like she'd vanish at any moment. Strutting towards her... I lean down grabbing her by the wrists and picking her up to her feet. "I don't think I've ever said what I wanted to do to you, have I?" My voice came out gravely. Placing my hands firmly on her shoulders to keep her from walking off or anything.

An ache started deep in my stomach, as a sickening taste popped into my mouth at his words. "...no, you haven't." I didn't make eye contact, looking past him at the wall behind. It took every ounce of control in me to not struggle, to not panic, to not- give, satisfaction of fear. Even if he could hear my heart beating in my chest, pounding like a hammer.

Lips parting, all sharp teeth showing. I move my hand up, clutching her face forcing her to look at me. "It's rude to not make eye contact." I said curtly. Pushing her up against the wall behind her instead, keeping that grip on her face, closing the space between us. "I have half a mind to rape you." Bluntly stating.

"I am not a kind person, which you've probably known since that night at the docks. You're absolutely vile, you know... making me feel these feelings of lust, and possessiveness. If this was the time of Salem during the witch trials, you'd be hung as a witch. For making me feel this way, these filthy emotions. These urges and desires, I have half a mind to spoil you, and treat you like a queen. And your throne would be the world, my gift would be anything you desire, ask it and you shall receive. The stars? I will make them dust in a glass globe, down to a simple thing that would be in your favorite color...gift wrapped in a box." Letting go of the chains around her wrists I reach up, placing my hand against the wall, keeping forceful eye contact with those almond shaped brown eyes. Brown- a very bland color, but the brown in her eyes made me think of sand... warm, sand after the sun hits it. "Vile little creature. With brown eyes that demand my dead heart's attention. Holding it captive much like I hold you captive."

My eyebrows raised at his words. Surprising that a murderer made my heart flutter if only for a single second. I gathered myself, "...I just want to live. That's all I want, and need." Speaking ever so softly, voice trembling, I was on the verge of breaking down and just going numb. A constant war. But in all seriousness my request was what I wanted. I wanted to live. I still needed to figure out how to gain their trust...his hand had let go of my face, now caressing.

"...You'll live then. It'd be boring to let you die this early, my brother would agree on that- as sadistic as he is. But I won't let you die, my flower. It'd be pitiful to see your corpse rot before I even had my chance at corrupting you!" His tone was way more enthusiastic than it should be...his teeth still on display of a grin. "What is your favorite color?"

My brain felt like a car pumping on breaks in the middle of a thunderstorm. My favorite color? Did I even have one? That's a question kids would ask when they actually knew. But mine changed periodically. "...yellow. Cream Yellow."

His hand against my cheek, felt safe yet terrible. With one drag of his claws I could be disfigured. A terrible realization that my brain so utterly brought to my attention. Moving my eyes to the side, his hand changed-... the shadowy smoke fading...but still clung around the air- pale skin, it looked like the color you'd see on a corpse after pulling it out of the water...but it wasn't bloated. Cold- pale, sharp black nails. But humanly shaped nonetheless. "...your hand-..." my eyes wide, with mild shock.

"...I can look human- this is just how it is."

"So, you're not a ghost?"

"Why would you think I was a ghost? I radiate and make black shadowy smoke that clings to my figure like a tightly laced corset." His voice was laced with sarcastic humor.

"...I-...I don't know. So, if I touch you, like on the chest, or face, it somewhat goes away and reveals more of your physical form?" Curiosity ran through my brain like mites in hair.

With a snort, "yes, flower... it would. But that's not important. I'll be back later, my brother and I will be going out. Do not try and escape- we always find those who do. And if you're a really good girl for me, I'll remove those chains. Are we clear?" Ever so serious, there was no room to argue no point in it either. I wasn't about to risk my life on a whim.

"...yes sir." His hand moved from face and gently lay on top of my head giving a few pats. "Good, girl." And with that, he left. The door behind him clicking when it closed.