In the Dark

03-J

"Everybody knows if I'm given the night, I might eat you alive"- Marian Hill

Something about her stirred me up.

She was like every other girl in the city. But also not. The moment I laid my eyes on her, I couldn't tear them away. She wasn't that different but some how she was. It confused me to no end.

What was it about her?

It started out as curiosity. Seeing her at a Cafe across the street, sitting in a saleswoman outfit and enjoying her drink. Then seeing her at some store. Then in the nearby garden.

I couldn't help but think she was everywhere I went. Was she sent by some faction to keep an eye on me? Was she a spy?

Asking one of my men to run a background check on her resulted in nothing but me getting to know her sad life story. And her work resume.

Even then, I put one of my men to keep watch on her secretly. It got routine after a while and as I realised she really wasn't dangerous, I stopped keeping an eye on her.

But then she somehow ended up on my door step, asking me to buy from their store and showcasing their new products and offers.

Slowly as time passed by, the curiosity turned into obsession and I couldn't help myself from sneakily watching her or following her for that fact.

Some how it got out of control.

It turned into madness.

She turned into my madness.

Seeing her once everyday did not suffice anymore and I started clicking pictures of her. My phone began filling with pictures of her. At her work place, at the grocery store, in the mall. In her uniform, casual clothes, sports wear.

I wanted her everything.

She gave me dangerous thoughts.

I couldn't help wanting to keep her to myself, locked away from the outside world. But not yet.

She captivated me like no other. Her turqoise eyes pulled me in deeper and deeper each time I looked at her and oh lord. If this was what falling to the depths of hell felt like? I never wanted to turn back. I never will. It's too late anyway.

She was like the ocean. Deep. Serene. Calm but raging inside. The more you try to swim to the surface, the more they pull you in. Getting lost had never felt better.

She tries so hard to seem collected. She tries so hard to keep the mask on but whenever I see her, it keeps slipping. There's more to her than meets the eyes and I love me a challenge.

She reminded of my first Christmas present. Wrapped with so many layers with a nice bow on top. Waiting for me to unwrap. Waiting for me to unravel.

My fingers itched to sink into her light auburn hair, soft and striking like the rising sun everytime they fluttered against the wind. The sun rays cast a golden hue on her light brown skin, making her look like a flower doused in honey.

She was paradise personified but I'd never mistake her for an angel. She was the devils masterpiece. She was temptation itself.

As I was lost in thought, a few knocks on the door to my room brings me back to reality. Sighing, I permit whoever was standing outside to come on in.

Ah. Why am I not surprised?

I see my older brother, Elijah Nicoleson, slip into the room before quietly closing the door behind him. He walks to the couch and plops down on it like a lifeless body.

"El. What're you doing here? Aren't supposed to be meeting with the elders right about now?"

At the mention of the elders, he gives me the stank face. I chuckle, knowing quite well where that reaction is coming from.

With our elders, every second is war. Those grumpy geezers are out to spill blood everytime a meeting is held. Their difference in opinions creates havoc. And their voices. Good god. They must have ingested powerful bass booster systems when they were young.

He let's out a long sigh and sits up to look at me.

"I wanna go out and relax man. I haven't gone to the club since forever. Let's go tonight. How's that sound?"

"That was random. And really? We both have a shit ton of work to do. Focus on that first."

"Ugh. You're no fun boomer."

I stop signing my paperworks and look up to give him a playful glare. But now that he's mentioned the club, it's been a really long time that I've been to any club.

I look up at Elijah and snap my finger to get his attention. Once he's focused on me I say,

"You know what? You're right. These paperworks are driving me crazy and I need a break. Choose a club and let's go tonight."

Elijah lights up at my sudden decision and sits up on the couch. He then gives me a smirk and a thumbs up.

"What?"

Elijah looks at me, smiles wickedly and says,

"I was going to convince you somehow and get you to go but I didn't expect you to readily agree. And I was dead set on going clubbing today so I already booked at the dolphins tonight at 10:30."

I sigh, looking at him accusingly. I pity Julian, Elijah's right hand-to-be, as I envision how Elijah's going to dodge his duties in the future and Julian's going to have to take care of it all.

"Now that we've decided on it and youve relaxed, play time's over. Get your ass back to the meeting room and appease those elders before hell breaks loose."

El groans and reluctantly lifts himself off of the couch, giving me one side eye before slipping out of my office.

I look down at my paperwork and realise that I was zoning out thinking about Nyra for too long. The proof of my crime stares back at me, a huge blue ink smudge that seeped into several sheets of paper underneath the one I was working on.

Sorry Jane. You're going to have to print these again.

I place my pen in the ink pot and relax into my chair. My productivity had decreased ever since that girl had intruded into my life.

Damn you, Nyra.

I close my eyes and my mind drifts into thoughts of going to the club. Clubbing it is.

I really hope it's worth it.