Craving Charlotte

Chapter 5

           

           

I open my eyes feeling groggy, squinting I realise the sun is shining bright through the window. It takes a few short moments for my eyes to clear from a fuzzy fog and find myself rubbing my head as it throbs. A normal human sense of hunger gurgles in my stomach, I look around the room to realise this is reality and not a dream. Staring down at my blood covered hands confusion sets in before a sickening fear that rises in my throat. I killed someone and drank their blood yet I feel human like it was all just a dream. My eyes widen as I stare at the unfamiliar looking girl in the mirror.
Ethan raped me.

Feeling sore from within I cast my eyes around the room, the door is closed and everything is just as it was. Shakily I bring myself to my feet, wincing at every jolting movement. Carefully I feel my teeth; my fangs have gone almost as if last night was a figment of my imagination. I gaze down at my hands and nails once again, blood stained... a terrifying reminder that this is all too real.

Staring down at my cold body I realise that all I have on me is a top and all there is laying in a heap is the blanket that Ethan had given me. My legs are scarcely blood stained from the vaginal area from the excessive force that Ethan had used, a memory that will never be forgotten. I pick up the blanket and wrap it around my waste in hope to conceal some of the modesty that I have left, it will just have to do for now.

I need to find a way out of here. Hobbling painfully over to the door I attempt to keep my mind focused. Wrapping my fingers around the cold brass nob, I turn the handle. It's locked. My heart sinks... bared windows, locked door... I haven't any hope. I must talk to Ethan. I need answers. He's kidnapped me, changed me into something inhuman and raped me. I hit the door in frustration, a pain shoots across the edge of my palm.

"Ahhhh! Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck!" I shout out clutching my hand and bouncing up and down only to cause myself more pain within all areas of my body.

I slump over to the bed still clutching my throbbing hand but just as I sit down I hear the door unlocking and my eyes light up. It opens however my heart sinks once more as for some unknown reason, I thought it could be someone other than Ethan. I watch him as he enters looking red eyed from tears, his body language is different from before as he slouches forward and looks completely beat. 

"I'm sorry," I whispers sympathetically to build some sort of bridge, in hope that I might somehow be able to soften him up. I eye him cautiously not knowing exactly how to respond, it could be some sort of new game however it could be the only way to get some answers. Deciding quickly, I choose to play along to see where it goes.

"So am I"

My heart misses a beat his face hangs with pure emotion. His skin is beautiful, his emotions flood into the room. He looks like a lost, guilty man; he knows he has done wrong. Instantly I find myself thawing to him.

"Charlotte, I..." words fail him, I think he wants to explain. I feel my insides flutter.

"Ethan...?" I speak softly, I should run, I should fear him, hate him even but this man only seems a shell of a person. He's different from last night, his eyes are an emerald green, he looks lost and sad. For some unknown reason, I feel sorry for him. He looks like a normal human being that could be soft and gentle. I fight urges to run up and hug him, show him forgiveness but the sane part of me keeps me put. Come on Charlotte, wake the hell up! He raped you!

"I lost myself Charlotte, I done something stupid, after I hit you, I instantly regretted it. I saw from the reflection in your beautiful eyes; the monster I have become. And now I've passed on my curse to you. You must get out of here Charlotte, run as far away as you can! For when the night creeps over us once again the evil will crawl under our skin. I never wanted to hurt you and I did, I forced you to do things. It's the lust of evil...." his face hangs with guilt as he steps towards me, he holds out a carrier bag, "here take these clothes and whatever you do, stay away from people!"

He chucks me a bag of clothes then leaves. I'm free? Words fail me as thousands of thoughts run through my head. I stare at the open door, yet instead of running for freedom I stay frozen to the bed as though something is holding me back. My heart races hard inside my chest and my breathing becomes raspy.

"There's hot water for a shower," he appears in the doorway startling me from my thoughts, then disappears again.

Forcing myself to concentrate I pull out the fresh clothes from the bag. Each item has tags on them suggesting that they are newly brought. I inspect each item- dark blue jeans, a simple V neck black top, a black hoody with bright white tassels and size 8 trainers which are exactly my size, in fact all the clothes are my size, for a second I am puzzled until I realise there is something else in the bag. Peering in I finger out a matching bra and knicker set, again feeling puzzled to how he knew my size. I handle them feeling the fabric with my fingers, they feel soft and comforting. They are clean.

I turn my attention back to his words and jump up instantly with my clothes to find the bathroom. I don't think about much as I lock the door. My eyes scan the room feeling cold and once again exposed; the make shift shower consists of a hose pipe with a shower head hook up to the wall and there is a hole in the floor of drainage. I realise there is no sink but the toilet is a box made from logs and a bucket in the middle. I suddenly realise the need to relieve myself after all that time.

I shower and dress quickly before cautiously stepping out the room. This could be a trick. Creeping through the house I note to step carefully in case he changes his mind and hurtles me back into the prison cell. However, all thoughts are diminished as my eyes rest on Ethan sitting in an arm chair with his head hanging in shame. I hesitate for a few seconds perhaps I should speak to him. Frozen I stare at him wide eyed but wave the thought away and head for the door.

Why don't I hate him? Inwardly I hate myself for not hating him. He should be repulsive, but this other side to him interests me. I must go home, my mum and dad are probably frantic with worry, wait!

My mum and dad! An image of them wavers through my mind as I remember them.

As I open the door freedom hits me....

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