The Cannibal Bride *WattyAwards2024

11)Twenty questions with a sociopath

A/N Chapter song: "Toxic" by Yael Naim

Alyssa only became afraid while in Ian's dark Kia on the way to his apartment. He held one hand on the wheel of his car while the other held Alyssa's hand.

It scared her hearing he had an apartment in the same town she lives in. Who needs an apartment in Texas when they work and live in Oklahoma?? What frightened Alyssa more was the thought of Ian having gave up a couple hundred dollars to rent out an entire area of an expensive room where he didn't eat a meal in. On some strange level, he was interested in Alyssa, that much she could tell.

As Ian began lightly responding to the random things Alyssa asked regarding music, she realized this was a very stupid plan of hers. She was being brought to a second location. It wasn't a hotel that had witnesses, this place had no one but Ian. Perhaps Luke and Cory were accurate with their warnings after all; this plan was insane.

Regaining her previous composure; Alyssa realized the plan was still in motion, still perfectly able to pull off smoothly. All she had to do was slip Ian the illegally acquired Rohypnol at his apartment, and then call Cory and Luke over to his place.

"Muse?" said Ian, testing out her favorite songs to each random band he asked. Strangely, he wasn't that difficult to correspond with. It was somewhat entertaining to think about. If Ian Harris wasn't someone Alyssa thought capable of coming from a family that kidnapped and sold teenagers into sex trafficking, he might actually be a pretty decent guy to date.

"Undisclosed desires," Alyssa answered automatically, before realizing the double entendre that came attached to that reveal. Ian seemed to grasp the same thing she was thinking by the crooked grin he wore, but he nodded.

"What's yours?

Ian pondered this for a moment. "Maybe Supermassive black hole, or Uprising."

"Coldplay?" Alyssa questioned, feeling nervous as Ian pulled into a familiar apartment complex. It was the same one she was brought to five years previously.

"That's hard," Ian acknowledged, shutting off his car before getting out. "Maybe Clocks."

Releasing a deep breath as she exited the vehicle; Alyssa found herself incredibly nervous even though she was the one with the devious plan. "Why do you have an apartment here when you don't live in this state?"

"It belongs to a family member. They keep a place in the city when they want to stay in Texas, otherwise, they live in Wisconsin."

This explanation did not satisfy Alyssa. As the pair made their way up to the top floor of the complex; Alyssa felt terrified wondering if there would be some sort of bizarre shrine in the apartment. There was no doubt in her mind Ian carried some sort of torch for her; he knew her all the way back in high school. He knew her the night they slept together, no doubt he knew who Cassi was even when he first taught her class. What if Cassi's disappearance was solely linked to Alyssa?

"You seem really nervous," Ian noted, shutting his apartment door after allowing her inside.

"Last time I was here I was insanely drunk. It gave me a bit more confidence," Alyssa answered honestly, somewhat wishing the roofie was liquid instead of crushed pills. If she had it in a syringe, she could just distract Ian with kissing again and then insert it into his neck.

"You are welcome to the contents of my cousin's fridge, m'lady," Ian grinned mischievously. "Be forewarned; there's only orange juice and beer in there."

"Definitely beer," said Alyssa, thankful for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Ten minutes later however, she still did not see the right opportunity to spike his drink. She couldn't exactly open the bottle up and drop in the crushed pill. It would've been too noticeable. Her plan now was to slip it in the first opportunity he wasn't looking; but Ian didn't provide her with a chance. As he sat on the couch a few feet away from her, his bottle of beer sat opened yet untouched near her lightly sipped bottle.