Split- The Company She Keeps

Chapter 19- The Protected

The hand that was holding her face released some of it's pressure. His thumb ran over Casey's cheekbone, feeling the wetness of her tears. Her lip trembled as those words, letting out a quiet whimper. Protected. She was protected. Her hand that was still holding his arm moved along it to his neck, feeling his pulse which had slowed somewhat. His skin seemed cooler in temperature and his breathing had become repetitive, even if the breaths were still heavy. The teens toes were still curled and refused to relax, natural instincts still keeping her on edge. She could feel his breath on her neck, raising goosebumps as it brushed over her scars there. He was so so close. Her hand then slid to the nape of his neck, holding it gently, carefully.

 Her captor suffered. Every day. His whole world was a room full of people he could not leave. And in the dark corner of that room as a monstrous creature who was always waiting, constantly ready to attack. Casey couldn't even imagine.

Casey could feel what she assumed was the blood from his mouth dripping on her neck, it ran down over her collarbone and onto her tank top. But she dared not move her head to look. Not for a second. The teen still wasn't safe. Her eyes widened when she felt his mouth against her neck, taking in a shaky breath.
"Protected..." He whispered, lips dancing over her skin as he spoke. Casey knew that voice. Almost as low as the Beast, just with that Boston accent. Dennis. She stroked the back of his neck before he brought his head up and looked at her, eyes roaming over Casey's sorry state, a teary mess laced in his blood from the change into the Beast. His pupils still lay large in his eyes despite the Beast leaving him. "You... Are Protected." He said, face so close to hers she swore she could hear his pulse. Casey nodded to him, keeping his gaze.

This man was fighting every other alter to protect Casey, when he could be the most dangerous one himself. But the teen wasn't thinking about that. She was busy taking in the fact that Dennis had fought back everyone, even fighting the will of the Beast to get to her. And there he was, just millimeters away, looking at her with an expression she could not explain. And then that feeling. That something in the atmosphere that shouldn't be there. How could it be there? Casey had just been running at full speed from this creature that was ready to tear her apart with its teeth and just moments later she wanted to be as close as possible close to him. There was an attraction to the rawness of him. He was dangerous and real and wanted her in a way he shouldn't. That should terrify Casey. She was just a young girl and he had taken her. He had stolen her and hidden her from the world to keep for a sacrifice. The teen didn't know what he had done to the other girls. And yet there she was just seconds from her own demise and she was staring into the eyes of what was almost her killer with a twisted need to be closer. To have more. To become more. Casey wanted more. And she could see he wanted more too.

Dennis closed the last of the gap between them, meeting her quivering lips with his bloodied ones as if he could read her mind. Everytime they kissed it felt dangerous and scary but it gave Casey a power she had never felt. She felt she had the slightest bit of control for just that moment. They were equal in their moment of twisted bliss. His hand went from her face down to her bare waist, circling around it. He pulled her into him, holding her still shaking body close. Casey allowed it to happen, fresh tears falling down her cheeks as her arms reached for Dennis to have him closer to her. She needed to feel safe. To feel loved. And she actually felt guilty. Casey felt guilt for trying to run, for trying to leave someone who needed her as desperately as she needed him. She kissed Dennis back with that feeling as he picked her up from the floor, lifting her into his arms as they embraced. Her arms found their way around his neck, fingers holding the muscular shoulders of her keeper, lips parting slightly to let out a sigh against his lips. After that came the sudden taste of his blood, raising her heartbeat further at the sensation. When their embrace broke, Dennis looked down to see the aftermath of their kiss on her lips. Casey looked back at him and licked the corner the corner of her mouth to taste his blood again. Dennis's eyes widened slightly, blinking without his glasses, letting out a shuddering breath. The teen said nothing and just laid her head on his shoulder, eyes falling on the barred door that no longer locked her in. Rather, it kept everyone else out.

Dennis then moved to carry Casey back down the corridor, not saying a word. She just stared as the exit to her prison got further and further away until they turned the corner and it was out of sight.

 Once back to the room, Dennis set Casey down on the bed. He looked at her torn top, rubbing his hand over his head.
"I uh... I have to get you something to wear. Just... Just wait." Dennis walked to the door, putting his hand on the knob. He hesitated before starting to close the door.
"Don't-" Casey said, gripping onto the edge of the bed. "I'm not... I'm not going to run." Dennis looked at her, searching for the lie perhaps? But there was none. She wasn't going anywhere and she knew it. What was the point of running to a locked door? What was the point in escaping back to the hell she came from? He nodded and let his hand fall from the knob, walking into the next room to find his glasses. Casey sat on the bed touching her lips, tasting the blood of her keeper just as he had done before.

//Hello again. So I'm going to see where this goes from here. Please let me know what you think, as you know feedback is my everything, good and bad. Thank you for sticking with me, it's lovely to see some friendly URL's in the comments from a whole year ago! It feels so good to be back. Watch this space. See you in the next one!//