The Darkness Within

Chapter Eight

And I'm back again! :D Are you guys ready to get a closer look at Mr. Moody Sociopathic Loner? Yeah, I thought so. ;) Enjoy, and please vote if you like it!
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Arie's P.O.V

"Rise and shine, princess. Get your ass up."

A rough hand was shaking me awake, causing me to groan in response. I pushed the hand away, opening my bleary eyes.

"Wow, it usually takes me at least until the first date to make a girl groan like that."

I opened my eyes wide enough to shoot a dark glare at Dax, who was standing over my cot, a smug smirk etched on his lips.

"You're a pervert," I croaked out, my voice thick with sleepiness. Sitting up, I threw off my white sheets.

"Correction, princess. I'm a sociopathic pervert," he replied smartly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Here," he said, throwing me a change of sweats and a white t-shirt. "Take a quick shower and get ready. We're scheduled to 'hang out' in an hour."

I caught the clothes, standing up to stretch my stiff limbs. I closed my eyes and groaned at how good it felt to move my body.

Feeling an unnerving gaze, I opened my eyes to find Dax looking at me intensely, his eyes wavering over the slither of skin showing as my t-shirt rode up.

His heated gaze made me uncomfortable. I cleared my throat, pulling down my shirt. His gaze slowly trailed up from my stomach to my eyes, twinkling with amusement. He knew the effect he had on me.

"I'm just going to go shower now," I said, my voice still raspy and low.

"Have fun, princess," he grinned, as I walked past.

I could still feel his eyes on me as I walked into the bathroom. I shut the door quickly and locked it.

It still didn't stop the feeling of discomfort in my stomach.

The door was just not enough to block me from Dax's unsettling presence.
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"You look like a drowned rat," Dax commented with a sly grin.

I was toweling my damp hair which hung limp around my pale face.

That's what happens when you don't have the luxuries of makeup and a blow dryer.

"You're just a charmer, aren't ya," I retorted sarcastically.

He winked at me.

"Always."

I rolled my eyes, dumping the towel in the hamper and brushing through my tangled strands of hair.

"When do we have to be down there?" I asked.

Dax checked the clock hanging above the door.

"Five minutes. We might as well go down now."

I sighed, not fully awake or ready to face the next three hours alone with Dax.

"C'mon, princess. I don't have all day," he called out, holding the door open to me.

Huffing at his tone, I set down my comb and followed him down the hallway.

After a brief second of silence, I realized an important fact I had skipped over.

"Do they always leave our door unlocked for us to wander around?" I asked Dax, suspicion ringing in my voice.

He cast me a side-long glance.

"Yupp. We're free-range chickens in this place," his voice dripped with sarcasm. He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his sweatpants, eyes narrowed on the path ahead of us.