Horrible Things

The Door to Paradise (Part 3)

She was still drowsy when she woke up. Her head felt as if a marching band had played a entire concert in her head and then partied until the sun rose. The soft fabric of the duvet convinced her to stay put, as a presence appeared next to her.

"Awake?"The voice asked, it was low and appealing. Full of masculinity yet held enough gentleness to make a heart melt.

Diana rubbed her eyes, how long was she unconscious for?

"Who are you?" She asked. Oddly enough, she did not feel afraid as one would in the presence of a stranger. Something about him put her at ease, as if she knew him a very long time.

She took at good look at him, a young face in his early twenties, clean shaven and eyes as blue as a raven's feather. After all, a raven's feathers only reveal their dark blue shimmer in the presence of the sun. His hair was winter blonde, it was so white that if not for the slight hue of yellow she would have thought he was a fairy.

Unlike Tommy, who commanded attention from all he saw, this man asked for it politely. Maybe even with a cherry on top. His presence was not as suffocating as Tommy's and that made her remember their first meeting.

The beginning of the end.

She was at a ball that her mother was hosting in light of her birthday, she remembered being pushed around and paraded to well, her mother's friends as if she was just anther rock on her finger.

Everything was so ostentatious, too overpriced and not valued enough. She was going to meet the man her mother had found for her, and was rather grumpy about it. Diana did not want to get married. Not to the guy especially. Regardless of whether he was nice or not, the fact that she was going to meet him through her mother was off putting enough.

What if he's a creep??

Diana loved money, but who did not? She was not sure that a price could be put on her heart....

She wondered miserably on the balcony with a single wine glass in her hand. It was her and the moonlight.

She heard footsteps approach. It was a man, but definitely not the one her mother had eyes on.

"Diana." He greeted, his eyes smiling.

"Tommy!" She smiled widely, throwing herself into his warm embrace. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come for you. Let's runaway."

And that was all he had to say to win over her heart. Ran they did, and Diana's mother cut her off after many failed attempts to make her come home. Tommy's family was affluent, they were not far behind her family but the man her mother appointed was way ahead of them. His family had only agreed to the merging of the two companies if Diana married their son.

If you're wondering why a mother would pawn off her daughter like a piece of jewelry, perhaps me saying that she never loved her husband would suffice. After thirty years of a loveless marriage Mrs Hayer sought after nothing but the finest China in the shop or the most expensive tea. It was her way of evaluating her self-worth. And what a pity it was as well.

Tommy was her rollercoaster ride, the high point of her mundane and planned-out life. She was not sure whether that was why she loved him. But for awhile, he was all that mattered.

Until reality came knocking like a bad dream.

"Yes, how long have I been out?"

Bringing us back to the present, Diana was still hungover and in bed with a handsome stranger. He had the eyes of a tiger and the purr of a cat. She couldn't help but feel drawn in by his mannerism.

"A few hours. Here's some soup, room service told me it was their best." He passed it to her carefully, watching her take a sip.

"Gosh, this is so good." She moaned, taking in another mouthful of the soup and not caring whether she spilled.

He chuckled and passed her a napkin, gently dabbing away at the edge of her mouth.

Of course, Tommy saw that all on screen. He was seething.

He pounded on the door maniacally, yelling to be let out. Another screen lit up.

Do you wish to play"Door to Paradise"?

Timmy shouted, "You sick bastards! Let me out! I don't want to play your stupid game!"

The screen turned red.

Do you wish to play "Door to Paradise" or die?

It must be that whore Diana setting this up. He was not going to let her get away with it.

"I'll play." He said, malice lacing good voice. "But when this is over, I'm going to kill you with my own two hands."