House Arrest

Chapter 3

     After throwing my full suitcase into the closet and hiding my bathroom essentials under the sink, I took a seat on the bed. Dust floated in the rays of sun and i knew this room hadn't been used in a while. I felt myself slowly sinking into the bed and realization of how tired I was hit me like a truck. Guilt has gracefully distracted my sleep the past few days.

    With a yawn, I stood up and walked out of the room closing the door behind me. I wasn't sure I'd be able to find it again. I retraced the steps I had taken with Alex earlier and found myself back in the living room. Maybe it wasn't too hard to find your way around. However, I was completely lost in terms of finding Alex. Every room was filled with a deep silence that screamed loneliness.

      I wandered up and down the halls until finally I came across stairs that led to what I assumed was the basement. There was a light shining at the bottom that I followed like a moth to flame. I turned the corner and was met by the muscled back of Alex Knight. He was doing pull-ups without a shirt and I couldn't help but stare before gasping in surprise.

He dropped down from the bar and turned to face me, a look of surprise on his face, "Oh you're done. Okay. Uh, let's go upstairs."
I nodded vigorously and turned up the stairs, a blush flaming across my cheeks without permission. I heard him rustle for a second before following me. By the time we were both at the top, a black shirt was back to cover his toned upper body.

"So, I understand that this house might feel like a luxury, but if you abuse it I'll have no choice but to turn you back in to my precinct to reconsider your house arrest."

I nodded slowly, "I understand."

He looked at me with a blank stare for a second before proceeding, "You can't leave the house unless I say so, and even that will be rarely. You don't have to eat meals with me, unless you really want to I guess. You have to ask me before you use stuff like the hot tub."

"You have a hot tub?" I interjected accidentally.

His eyes widened in surprise that I'd said something, "Yeah it's out back. Anyway, you need to be up by like 8, later on weekends I guess. In your room by 10 pm, but I don't feel like that'll be an issue. I'll probably have you do a lot of things around the house." He rambled.

"Of course, I'll do anything you need." I replied seriously.

"Okay. Also uh. I'm here for you Yknow. If you need to talk or anything." He seemed to be struggling to get the words out and I wondered what past events haunted him.

"Thank you Officer."

He cringed, "Please for the love of god call me Alex or anything but Officer."

"Okay Alex. Thank you. If there isn't anything else I think I'm going to go to sleep." I yawned out. The sun was barely setting, but the day had felt like the most draining day of my life.
He seemed to glance outside too, noticing the time with a worried aura, "Alright. Depending on when you wake up, I might be out on a run. Just check the kitchen counter for notes. The alarm system will be on while I'm gone just in case."

"Okay. I'm not planning on sneaking out anyway. Have a nice night."

He nodded and I turned my back on him to head up the stairs. I heard his exhale and it made me flinch.

When I was safe in the closed comfort of my new bedroom, a numbness came crashing down on me. In one single day I had moved out of my rubbish home into this mansion, attended my ex boyfriends funeral as the cause of death, and been convicted of killing someone. I wondered how Jacobs family was feeling. I wondered how my dad was celebrating my absence. I wondered whether or not anyone cared about what happened to me.