Looks Can Kill

The Darkest Gaze

Reusa had hidden her motorcycle under a tarp that camouflaged it from any prying eyes. Reusa pulled off the tarp, revealing the motorcycle's beauty to Steve like an angel shedding a cloak of disguise. Steve let out a low whistle at the shiny, dark purple bike. Reusa held back a grin and pulled the bike onto its tires. She slid into the first seat and slipped her keys out of the pocket on the sleeve of her leather jacket. She raised an eyebrow at Steve.

"Are you coming?"

Steve grinned and jumped onto the bike behind Reusa. Reusa waited for him to wrap his arms around her waist. When he didn't, she twisted around and glanced at him.

"You're going to want something to hold on to."

Steve turned slightly pink. "Of course. I just wanted you to give me permission."

Reusa gave an awkward laugh. "Okay. I give you permission."

"Thank you." Steve grinned and wrapped his arms around Reusa's middle. Reusa shook her head and gave a quiet chuckle. Then she fired the motorcycle to life and took off. Steve's arms instantly tightened around her waist as Reusa swerved multiple times to avoid trees. Reusa laughed, suddenly feeling free.

She gunned the bike forward and into town. Reedy Road was relatively easy to find as it was the biggest street in town. Reusa swerved around cars and turns sharply and broke every speed limit she could find. Reusa could feel Steve breathing in quick gasps. For some reason this made her laugh. But her laughter was swallowed by the wind and Reusa saw police cars casing her in the mirrors. Reusa easily outran them on Reedy Road. The road ended in a cul-de-sac with driveway at the furtherest edge of it. The driveway lead to a huge, dark mansion. Reusa parked the motorcycle just off the driveway and jumped off, eyes focused on the house. Steve tumbled off the bike a bit less gracefully and examined the house. Reusa felt her face darken with depression and determination. This would end tonight with two deaths. Ethan's and her own. Reusa glanced down the keys in her hand. She turned to Steve.

"Hey, can you hold on to these for me?"

Steve reached up and took them into his fingers. "Why don't you put them in that handy pocket on your sleeve?"

Reusa forced a smile. "I have something else in there right now. I just want you to keep them for now. I'll take them back later."

"Okay." Steve said slowly and Reusa was thankful he bought her lie. Reusa swallowed a lump in her throat and glanced one last time at her motorcycle, then lead the way toward the back of the mansion.

Even as Reusa walked toward the house, she couldn't help but wonder why the house gave such a horrible chill down her spine. Maybe it was the gaping windows that revealed nothing but empty darkness. Maybe it was the way the mansion's silhouette stood out against the dark sky, giving it an eldritch feel that Reusa couldn't shake. She had been here before, it seemed, and the connotations were not pleasant. Reusa forced herself to keep walking, but Steve noticed her preoccupation with the mansion.

"What is it?" He whispered behind her. Reusa glanced back at him.

"It just looks familiar." She answered as they reached the back door and Reusa reached for the handle. Her hand froze a few centimeters from the doorknob. There was something about the door...

Reusa reached up to a brick at the top right corner of the door. She hesitated again, then reached up and pulled a cord hanging above the door. The cord gave about and inch and Reusa held it in place as she pushed the brick in and slid it up into the brick above it. The brick was only an inch thick and when it slid into place, it revealed a switch. Reusa flipped the switch and the door creaked open to a dark room. Reusa took a step into the room, Steve behind her. Five bulbs lit up as Reusa entered. One for each corner of the room and one in the very middle. The room was bare except for two bowls in the middle of the room and hooks evenly spaced in two rows on the walls.