The Devil In Disguise

Silent Night

Gianina and Marcus are lying in bed on Christmas Eve. The only light in the room comes from the streetlamp outside, casting faint shadows across the walls. Marcus is lying on his back, his arm reaching out toward Gianina, while she sits upright, her eyes distant as she gazes at the ceiling. She's been quiet all evening, her thoughts consumed by the events of the past few days, the weight of Rufus's loss, and the haunting memories of her own parents' deaths creeping back into her mind.

Marcus reaches out, brushing his fingers along her arm. "You've barely spoken all night," he says softly, trying to pull her closer. "I thought we could, you know, spend some time together. Just us."

Gianina looks at him, feeling the ache of both her exhaustion and the unspoken grief lodged in her chest. "I'm sorry, Marcus. I just... I can't tonight."

He sighs, dropping his hand back to his side, clearly disappointed. "Is it something I did? Because it feels like you've been pulling away."

She shakes her head, biting her lip as she tries to find the right words. "It's not you. It's just... with Rufus's mom, it brought up a lot about my parents. Losing them... it's still so raw sometimes. I thought I'd moved past it, but being around all this loss—it's like it's all rushing back. And I can't... I don't feel right being close to anyone right now."

Marcus lets out a slow breath, his frustration melting into understanding. He sits up beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "I didn't realize it was that hard for you," he murmurs, brushing his thumb over her shoulder. "I get it, GG. I'll wait until you're ready. I just miss you."

She leans into him, finding comfort in his warmth. "Thank you, Marcus. I just need a bit of time." She pauses, glancing down at the bracelet on her wrist, a memento from her parents. "Sometimes, it's hard to shake the memories, especially on nights like this."

He presses a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand rubbing her back gently. "I'm here for you, GG. Whatever you need."

They sit in silence for a few minutes, the quiet settling between them until she begins to relax. Her shoulders soften as she leans into him, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. Eventually, they both lie down, Marcus wrapping his arm protectively around her as they drift off to sleep, the warmth of their embrace a silent promise that they're in this together.

But the peace doesn't last. In the depth of night, Gianina stirs, her dreams fragmented and haunting. Shadows flicker through her mind, blurring memories and fears together. She hears whispers, faint and sinister, weaving in and out of her consciousness. She tries to shake them off, but the murmur grows louder, colder. Her body tenses, and she jolts awake, her breath catching in her throat.

The room is dark, silent. She glances over, expecting to see Marcus beside her, but the space is empty. Confused, she sits up, rubbing her eyes as she tries to steady her breathing. A chill runs through her, and she pulls the blanket up around her shoulders, glancing around the room.

That's when she sees it—a figure looming at the foot of the bed, cloaked in darkness. The familiar red devil mask stares back at her, the polished black suit catching the faint light filtering in from the window. Her blood runs cold, and she tries to scream, but no sound escapes her lips. She's paralyzed, terror seizing her body as she stares at the figure before her.

He tilts his head, a gloved finger pressing to his lips as though instructing her to remain silent. "Shhh, GG," he whispers, his voice smooth and dark, dripping with mock affection. "We wouldn't want to wake anyone, would we?"

Her heart pounds in her chest, every instinct screaming at her to run, to scream, to fight, but she's frozen in place. He steps closer, his gaze piercing through the mask as though he can see straight into her soul.

"W-What do you want?" she manages to stammer, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with fear.

He chuckles softly, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "It's not what I want, GG, It's what you wanted. You wanted the truth and tonight you get it. " He steps closer, his gloved hand reaching out, brushing along her cheek in a disturbingly gentle caress. "...you're all mine."

Before she can react, he presses a cloth over her mouth, the faint, bitter scent filling her senses. She struggles, panic flooding her as she tries to push him away, but her strength fades quickly, her vision blurring as darkness closes in around her. The last thing she sees is the glint of his mask, the cold, twisted gaze locked onto hers as everything goes black.

The room falls silent once more, her unconscious body lying still as the figure steps back, watching her with a satisfaction that borders on obsession.