The Devil In Disguise

Confrontations In The Dark

After breakfast Rufus helped Marcus clean the kitchen as Mary hummed quietly to herself, her red hair pulled back as she folded clothes into a suitcase for her family's upcoming trip to Scotland. The air in the house buzzed with the usual holiday excitement, but Gianina's mind was far from festive. She lingered outside Mary's door for a moment, her gaze focused on Cal's figure in the hall. He was leaning casually against the wall, his expression unreadable as he scrolled through his phone.

Now's the time, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to him, her footsteps soft but determined.

"Cal," she whispered, grabbing his arm and giving him a sharp tug. He looked up, surprised, but she didn't wait for his reaction. She pulled him down the hallway, her grip firm as she led him toward an empty, dimly lit room at the back of the house. The room was cold, the light muted, with shadows stretching across the floor.

As soon as they were inside, she released him, closing the door and turning to face him, her back against it. "What do you know?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper but filled with urgency.

Cal's eyebrows raised, a slow smirk forming on his lips. "Not even a 'hi, Cal'? Straight to the point. I like it, GG." He chuckled, but his eyes glinted with something sharper, more intense.

She felt her pulse quicken, and not just from the anger simmering beneath the surface. "Enough games, Cal. I know you're hiding something. You keep... looking at me, like you know something. So tell me—what is it?"

He tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Looking at you? GG, you're the one dragging me into dark rooms. People might start to talk." He stepped closer, his voice dropping, his gaze meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "But then, maybe that's what you wanted."

The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, and Gianina felt her cheeks flush. She shook her head, taking a step back to keep her distance. "I'm not joking, Cal. I'm serious. I can feel it—you're keeping something from me. And last night..."

She stopped herself, but it was too late. The words hung in the air, and Cal's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious, searching expression.

"Last night?" he echoed, his voice softer now, almost curious. He stepped closer again, backing her up until her shoulders were pressed against the wall, his hands braced on either side of her, trapping her in place. "What happened last night, GG?"

Her breath hitched, her mind flashing back to the midnight encounter under the Christmas lights. The masked figure's touch, the whispered words, the locket he'd given her—all of it felt too close, too connected to Cal's presence now. She looked up, meeting his gaze, her heart racing as she tried to keep her voice steady.

"Don't pretend you don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I saw him... the man with the red devil mask. And he... he gave me this." She reached up, her fingers brushing against the locket that hung around her neck, a visible reminder of the night's events.

Cal's gaze flickered to the locket, his eyes darkening as he studied it. For a moment, his expression softened, something unreadable crossing his face before he looked back at her, his smirk returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"GG," he murmured, his voice low, almost intimate. "You make it sound like I'm your stalker. Maybe you're just seeing what you want to see."

She narrowed her eyes, frustration bubbling up within her. "Cal, stop playing games with me. I know there's something you're not telling me, something you've been holding back. I need to know—why do you keep looking at me like that?"

He leaned in, his face inches from hers, his breath warm against her cheek. "Maybe I'm just trying to figure you out, GG. You've always been a mystery... one I'd like to solve."

His words sent a shiver down her spine, a mixture of anger and something more. His gaze dropped to her lips for a brief moment before returning to her eyes, and she felt her resolve waver, her mind torn between pushing him away and wanting to know more. Had he wanted to kiss her? Or was he just thinking about how close he was and that if he wanted to he could?

"Stop it," she whispered, her voice shaky. "This isn't a game, Cal. People have died. I can't... I can't let this keep going. If you know something—"

"Then maybe you shouldn't be here with me, alone, in the dark." His voice dropped to a near whisper, his gaze locked onto hers. "But here you are, GG. And maybe... maybe you don't want to stop."

She swallowed hard, her mind spinning as she tried to process his words. His tone, his touch, the way he seemed to understand her fear and desire in equal measure—it was all too much. She took a shaky breath, her gaze flickering to the door, but he leaned closer, his voice a soft murmur in her ear.

"What is it you're really afraid of, GG?" he whispered, his voice a dark, seductive lure. "Is it the killer... or the fact that you keep ending up here with me?"

Her heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears as she looked up at him, her gaze fierce despite the fear bubbling beneath the surface. "I don't trust you, Cal. And I don't believe you."

His smirk returned, his gaze dropping to the locket around her neck, his fingers brushing against it lightly, sending a jolt through her. "Maybe you shouldn't trust me," he murmured, his eyes meeting hers again. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're here, GG. That you keep coming back."

He moved his hand, letting his fingers trail down her arm, his touch lingering just enough to make her heart race. She felt trapped, a prisoner to his presence, unable to look away even as her mind screamed at her to run.

"Cal, please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Just tell me the truth."

He sighed, his gaze softening for a brief moment before he leaned back, giving her a bit of space. But his eyes remained locked onto hers, dark and unreadable.

"Some truths are better left buried, GG," he said quietly, his tone almost... regretful. "Sometimes, knowing is worse than not knowing. Trust me on that."

Her chest tightened, frustration and confusion warring within her. "That's not good enough," she replied, her voice firmer now. "I need answers, Cal. I deserve that much."

He studied her for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, without warning, he stepped back, putting distance between them, his smirk returning. "Maybe one day, GG," he said, his tone light and almost mocking. "But until then... try not to lose too much sleep."

He turned and walked toward the door, leaving her standing there, her heart pounding as she watched him go. But just before he stepped out, he glanced back, his eyes meeting hers one last time.

"Sweet dreams, GG," he murmured, a glint of something dark and familiar in his gaze. Then he was gone, leaving her alone in the dim room, his words echoing in her mind like a dark promise.

What am I really afraid of?