Emergence ~ Split

Chapter Three

Casey watched the door as she sat on the edge of the bed, her room driving her made. It must have been late in the day, maybe even the next day, she considered. Her empty stomach being all to go off.

She was startled when she finally heard the dead bolt slide open and the door swung to reveal Dennis standing there, unimpressed.

He carried a sandwich in on a plate with a bottle of water, he stepped towards her as Casey noticed the blistering of his skin. It was bright red from irritation. As his fingers laid out the meal, she could see them shaking.

"What happened" She asked quietly, he withdrew at her voice, stepping back and folding his arms over his chest.

He cleared his throat as he shifted his weight between his legs, "It's just been a long night." He responded, not giving it away.

Casey was too starved to focus on it, she reached forward and starting eating the monotonous sandwich. She looked up to see Dennis watching her, his eyes more in control today.

She wanted to ask him again what had happened, but instead narrowed her questions to what she could appropriately ask. "When will I see the other girls again?"

"I don't know, it's up to the beast now." He said pointedly.

"Who is the beast?" She swallowed thickly, watching as his eyes drifted beyond hers.

"His what Kevin needs." He replied shortly, taking a step back and beginning to turn.

"Who is Kevin?" She asked quickly, putting the sandwich down and sitting up.

Dennis straightened his shoulders before turning and shooting her down with a glare. "He is someone who once needed me."

Dennis watched as she squinted, trying to figure out what was happening. His eyes lingered too long on her lips before she quirked a nervous smile. "Does Kevin need Hedwig?" She figured.

Dennis frowned, "Yes, in a way."

"Patricia, then?" She stood from the bed and stepped towards him, holding him down with a stern look. Dennis nodded briefly, the control draining from his demeanour.

"What does Kevin need you for?" She asked, folding her own arms, mirroring his stance.

Dennis swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he cleared his throat. "Uh, I... Not for much anymore." He sighed emptily, Casey found a weak point in the fence, seeing herself as a deer with the chance to escape. "He only needs the impure, now."

Casey followed him with her eyes, "But who else has managed this all so well." She asked him, moving closer still. He looked at her longingly, his tongue pushing at his teeth to say the words he knew he couldn't. Casey stepped even closer, her feet mere inches away from his own. "I think you're the most important for Kevin." She whispered, moving a hand to rest on his arm as he relaxed into her touch.

"No... I'm only..." He was distracted as he watched her hand lightly trace along his bicep before moving up towards his shoulder and slipping over to hold the collar of his button-up shirt, resting her forearm gently against his muscular chest.

His breathing was deep and unsteady as he stared into her eyes. Her other hand began to mimic her other as he untangle his folded arms and caught her wrist. Her body instantly tensing up as he ran his warm fingers down her arm stepped closer, pulling their chests together.

"What makes someone impure?" She barely whispered, breathing in the heavy smell of his detergent.

His eyes dropped to her lips, before meeting her eyes again. "I- I- can't..." his voice died flatly, as his shoulders shagged. His breaths were heavy as he tried to remain focused, in charge.

"Dennis..." Her voice thin, but effecting Dennis greatly.

"Can't say anything, its the beast who can decided." He grumbled out, frowning and looking away. Casey released her grip on his shirt as she pushed against his hand, wearily stepping out from his hold.

Casey felt a chill up her spine, as he watched her move back with a glare. She was fearful that she had upset him by pestering him with too many questions.

Dennis screwed up his face and ran a frustrated hand along his head. Casey took a large step back, watching him as he groaned angrily. He lifted himself back up to face her, his breath ragged as he neatly removed his glasses and slipped his hands, palm to palm in front of his stomach. His heels drawing in together as he lifted his back in perfect posture, giving her a charmingly lovely smile.

"Oh, my dear. Why would you do that?" He asked, his voice, reminiscent of Patricia's own.

He took a strong step forward, his eyes clear and in control.

"Patricia?" Casey wondered in disbelief as the man continued to advance on her.

"You are to do as you're told. Not trick my poor boys. If it were up to me, all three of you would be ground paste by now. But the beast will need to feed on the purity of such beauty." He mocked, tugging at a strand of her hair.

Casey moved away from the hold he had on her hair, her back hitting the stone. Patricia's watching eyes noticed this, giving her a sneaky smile. "It's not nice to be bullied, is it?" He asked, taking another step forward as her hand gripped the girl's shoulder, pushing her firmly back against the wall.

"I'm sorry, I won't ask again." Casey promised quickly, her skin prickling on edge at the venom in his voice.

"Next. Time... I won't wait for the beast, before tearing into you." He spat, giving her a final violent shove backwards, as she hit the back of her head against the stone wall. She hissed at the sudden pain as Patricia gave her a sweet smile before leaving the room.

She shook her head trying to diffuse the black dots swarming behind her eyes. She tried to not let the pain sooth her into a fatalistic calm. She couldn't let him take her life. Casey knew that she needed to be stronger than him. She pushed herself to stand up and took in deep breaths. She could survive.