Red Dahlia

Chapter 18: Eyes of amber and onyx

Hi people.

Qotd: Monsters are real and ghosts are too. They live inside us and sometimes, they win.
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My appointment wasn't until later this week. Rafe had been living with me and Z since I got discharged. It is fun having them both around, but they are always around like literally. Z has been sleeping with me as he fears losing me again. Ironic as he is a very deep sleeper.

Till now, Dave and the others have paid me a visit. I noticed how Rafe tensed when Alexis visited me, it was like his whole demeanor changed drastically. He was the cold bad boy but when he is around us, he is the silly love-struck boy.

"What up dude?" I asked as Alexis leaved my room leaving me and Rafe alone.

"The ceiling." He deadpanned.

"I know the ceiling is up but literally, you've been acting weird around Alexis lately."

"I-i." He cleared his throat and corrected his slouched posture. "I do not act weird."

I raised an eyebrow which surely conveyed the message.

"What?" He paused. "Ok maybe I'm acting weird, you would too if you were in my place. I think I am attracted to her." He admitted.

"You either love her, or don't." His eyes widened at a certain word. He thought about it for a while and bit his lower lip.

"What if I do?" He mumbled.

"Then you tell her." My words and voice both were firm enough to give confidence to him.

He nodded his head. "I will. Soon." He smiled in the end.

***

Today was one of those days when I spend the night with Franny at the Inn. Lying on the couch, I thought about how my life had changed. Also, today was one of those days that I was sleep deprived.

I got up from the comfortable position I was lying in and moved towards the bathroom. I took a warm shower since it was already chilly out and I didn't want to catch a cold otherwise Franny would be super protective over me. Again. As if she already isn't.

The warm shower helped me subside the memories from my dark past. Sirens blared, someone wailed, blood was split around the house. I even saw myself covered in blood, handcuffed, dragged by two bulky police officers.

I blinked, splashing water on my face. Standing under the faucet I ran a hand through my now wet hair draining all the previous memories to start all over again.

I could say I was ready to face the new challenges life brings for me, to forget my past and start again on a clean slate.

Of course, the people that are no longer with me will always stay with me, in my mind and in my heart.

Wearing the same black sweatpants and t-shirt, I walked out the bathroom while drying my hair. I checked the time. 2:36 am.

I guess a past midnight stroll won't hurt me or anyone else. Quickly tying up my ragged converse shoes and grabbing my hoodie that was strewn across the sofa I walked out quietly, careful not to wake Franny up.

The calming night breeze was strong enough to remove my hood a couple times. This time, I didn't bother to cover my head again knowing that the hood will eventually come off.

The good thing about the Inn was that it was near the Felton River bank. The walk wasn't longer than 3 minutes. I made my way towards the dock and jumped besides it. There was a cave under the dock.

I found this place when Kaylee had pushed me from the dock, so currently only Z and I know about this place.

I sat down enjoying the dark beauty of the lake and the night breeze that calmed my insides. It wasn't long that I heard some sniffling. They say curiosity killed the cat, well in this case I was the cat.

I came out of the cave opening and went towards the disembodied sniffles. There on the bank were few rocks and seated on it was a girl. Her features were not clear enough due to the dark.

I went closer trying my best to be silent. I guess I may have made a sound as the figure stopped sniffling and turned to look at me.

Exactly after 13 slow footsteps, I reached to her and got seated beside her on the flat rock while she examined each of my move.

"You know, I can also try to nip your ear with a knife. Just that my target isn't as good." I said looking at the still river as her stare burned holes into my side.

Of course, I did my research. I didn't have anything better to do anyway. That earned me a gentle laugh from her.

"You read it?"

"And watched it too." I replied.

"You're alive."

"Is there any doubt?"

She broke down and hugged me tightly as her tears soaked both, my hoodie and t-shirt.

"I thought you died."

"I wouldn't want to stop annoying you so soon. Would I?" I wiped a few stray tears that had stained Dahlia's delicate face causing her mascara to smear.

I took out a tissue out of my pocket and wiped her eyes removing the black stains that lessened her beauty.

Her brown coffee orbs looked into mine. And I couldn't explain how beautiful they were. People say that blue eyes are pretty, they compare them to the sea but right now I was seeing this pair of beautiful brown orbs that looked like made up of amber and onyx.

Blue eyes may hold the dept of the ocean, but her eyes, her eyes held the magnitude of a black hole. The same black hole that I am falling in. Her eyes carry a weight too heavy for even the ocean to sweep away into its abyss. Her eyes were anything but ordinary.

I felt her leaning in, closing the distance between us. I couldn't feel her presence but I could feel her scent getting closer to me, her breath fanning across my lips.

Sudden images of my not so pleasant past flashed across my mind and I pushed her away.

"I-i'm sorry. I can't do this." I stammer.

"Wha- Tobias, it's ok-" she tried to rest her hand on my cheek but I swatted it away.

"Stay away from me." My voice hardened.

"You don't tell me what to do, you're not the boss of me." She took a step close again.

"I'M A MURDERER, DAHLIA! I have killed people, heck I killed my own family. How do you know I'm not gonna hurt you? Why don't you understand y-you need to stay away from me Dahlia? It's for your own good." I try to stay strong but my voice breaks.

"You won't hurt me, I know you won't, how can a guy who feels sorry for dogs which are mistreated even when drunk hurt anyone?" her soft voice comes out confidently.

This girl never fails to take my words away. I am not good for her, I am scarred for life and she, she needs to live her life to the fullest right now. I don't want to hold her back from her future. I look down, not being able to make eye contact with her.

"You don't know Dahlia. YOU DON'T FUCKING KNOW ANYTHING." I growled even though I felt bad for doing so, but she needs to stay away from me.

"Then tell me. I'm willing to know, I'm willing to help you because I really think that I have started to fall for you."

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That's it for today. Consider this chapter in celebration of Red Dahlia being #1 in the breakingstereotypes tag. Also the prologue is heree. Congratulations, you have read half of the book now. Also it's currently 5:30 am right now where I live.

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