A Silhouette and Maybe More

Promises

"Okay..." I promised.

His puppy eyes immediately stared into mine completely grateful of my conclusion.

"But on one condition." I emphasised straight away holding my bony finger up at him. He nodded eagerly agreeing to whatever the condition was, he didn't care just as long as I stayed.

"Let me contact my parents and let them know I'm safe."

He was hesitant and I understood, he knew that I couldn't be trusted and that I'd give away my location but I wouldn't. Before he said anything I intervened answering his questions before they were even asked.

"I'll let you hear the conversation, I won't say anything, I promise."

He gave me that uncomfortable look, scanning me making me feel self-conscious and intimidated. After giving in he led me to the nearest phone - which was his - and I dialled my parents. He deliberately cleared his throat reminding me to put the call on speakerphone so he could listen in to everything. I blankly stared at him as I did so, only to stop to speak to my mum.

"Hello?" Her usual timid voice filled the room.

"Mum?" I said feeling relieved to hear her voice once again.

"Amelia? Is it you? Thank goodness, are you okay? Where are you? I've been worried sick! Please come home-"

"Mum, I'm alright, I'm sorry I never got in contact." I paused to make up an excuse.

"I'm at a friends house." I lied and it wasn't very convincing, mum knew I didn't have much friends. "I fell and hurt myself, I'm staying here until I am capable of coming home. Don't worry about me mum, I'm completely safe." I hoped she noticed how I emphasised, she's smart, she knows when somethings wrong.

"Alright, I believe you, come home soon though, we all miss you. I love you honey." her worried voice quietened like she was saying it for the last time, for all I know, she could be. I hung up and glared at Dan acting smug as I proved to him that I could be trusted and that I do keep my promises, he just needs to prove to me that he can be trusted because at the moment my confidence with him is not exactly 100%.

"If you want me to stay, I am not going to be locked in that room all day. Okay?" I demanded.

I could tell how much he hates by living by other people's rules, he pursed his lips and his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes just as piercing as an animal eyeing up it's prey; that's what I was to him, his prey. I made a mental note to myself not to fall into his trap, he knows I give in easily and I had to make sure I didn't. I still kept in mind every torturous thing he's done to me this past week and if I see something I don't like, I'm away.

"I can't guarantee anything, I'm not a therapist." I warned. I noticed the corner of his mouth flicker up into a smile then disappear immediately. I remained timidly sitting on the couch waiting for anything to happen but still, he sat there grumpily.

"So..." I droned. "What do you want me to do?"

He moved nothing but his eyes, his piercing blue eyes that could stab someone within a second of looking, unfortunately for me I had been doing that quite a lot.

"You never answered my question." He stated.

I cast my mind back reminding myself to what his question actually was, then I remembered.

"I didn't want you to kill yourself."

There was plenty more I wanted to say, but for my sake I took it one step at a time. I have never been - or will be - a professional of therapy nor did I have any idea of what therapists do so I simply improvised.

"Why did you spare me? You could've just killed me...but you didn't." I crooked my head trying to read him, he just so unpredictable and might I add; very moody. His answer wasn't to my expectations...

"You remind me of someone I used to know."

Whoever that someone was, whatever their story was, I guessed - being in the circumstances that I was in with him - they're maybe dead, but I was always one quick to judge. I started to think a bit deeper; was this person a past lover? An old friend? I wanted to know more. As messed up as he seems, he intrigues me.

"Was that someone an old friend?" I timidly whispered carefully choosing my words. He nodded, I noticed the tears lining the bottom of his piercing, blue eyes, they had me hypnotized, he had me hypnotized, but I had promised myself not to get absorbed in the whole situation, not going further than what I signed up for. I put myself into a therapist point of view, started to think outside the box; maybe whatever had happened between him and his friend made him the way he is now, maybe that old friend suffered a tragic accident causing grief and guilt. I came to my own conclusion that whatever happened to Dan in the past, this friend played an important part.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" I was definitely pushing my luck with him, asking so many questions being the inquisitive person I am, because this - by far - had been the only exciting thing that has ever happened to me and I had him to thank. He continued to stare at his feet his hands clasped together turning his knuckles white, the quiet tapping of his foot hitting the wood out of anxiety making me paranoid. He was making the whole thing a lot harder than it needed to be.

"Dan, if you want me to stay and help you, you have to tell me so I can help you." I sighed. His head was fully bowed, I couldn't see the features of his face just the individual strands of hair pointing here, there and everywhere.

"Da-"

"Shut up! Just shut up!" He screamed standing up and towering over me in the process. His face had gone red, he'd made himself so upset that the veins by the side of his face where visibly noticeable, his eyes glistened with tears. My heart pounded from the sudden outburst, my hands outstretched in protection caused by reflexes. Before I could do or say anything, he violently swung the door open and made a swift exit leaving nothing but a cool draft to hit my face. He disappeared within seconds.