The Alluring Darkness

Chapter 6

Silence. It consumed the car, leaving both Zak and Kate drowning in it. Kate hadn't even taken her eyes away from the road ahead, her breathing was slow as her eyes remained glazed over as if a part of her was in a trance, replaying the nightmare she had just endured. Zak didn't press the matter, he wanted to give her time to deal with whatever she had saw at the hospital. Occasionally he would glance her way or give her hand a reassuring squeeze, but after two attempts and receiving nothing in return, he simply gave up.
He pulled up to his house, and turned the engine off as he turned towards his girlfriend. She still hadn't looked at him, "Kate?" he reached forward hesitantly to stroke her reddened cheeks, a sigh leaving his lips as he felt the wetness from her fallen tears.
"I'm sorry" her voice was hoarse and quiet, so quiet that Zak was sure that he wouldn't have heard her if they weren't alone and silent. He frowned "for what?" she turned as her eyes were filled with a deep sea of sadness, it broke his heart to see her so defeated and upset. She reached towards his bruised nose and eye tentatively, he could see the guilt she felt as she stared at the marks she had left him with. He smiled softly "it's okay, at least you showed Aaron that you can indeed kick our arses" it was a weak attempt at cheering her up and yet a small smile broke on her face. He was sure that the guilt of hurting him had affected her more than whatever it was she had seen. She sighed as she shakily took his hand "I want to tell you about it. I want you to understand that I wasnt aware that it was you trying to reach out for me outside the hospital. I wasnt fighting you, I was fighting the thing that was haunting me. I need you to have an open mind and understand that I am a good person" her eyes held fear and desperation as she spoke, she seemed more serious in this moment than he had ever seen her be.
He nodded as she smiled sadly and gestured for him to follow her inside. She led him to the bedroom, it confused him for a moment why she chose to go to the bedroom rather than the living room, that was until he realised that she felt safe in there.
She sat silently for a few moments as Zak sat beside her waiting patiently for her to explain. He could see how hard this was for her, he didn't want to make it any harder by rushing her through whatever she was tackling mentally.
"It was everything I imagined a demon to be. It was dark and pure evil. It was taunting me and calling me a murderer. It felt like a trance that I couldn't escape no matter how hard I fought it" she met his eyes as she spoke, a shiver running through her body as the image flashed in her mind once again. He listened intently, not daring to interrupt her. "I could feel it, i could feel the entity roaming my mind. It knew my darkest secret and tried to use that against me in order to break me down. When it tried to grip me, I screamed and fought it. Obviously I wasnt aware that you were also trying to reach out for me in concern and you got hurt. I'm sorry for that but I promise you that I was fighting the dark entity and would never intentionally hurt you". He smiled softly in sympathy and shock, this had truly shook her to her very core. He frowned as a thought occured to him "you said it knew your darkest secret?" a tear fell down her cheek as she sighed sadly, making him instantly regret pressing the matter. "There was this guy, he was the first and only other guy I've ever loved other than you. We dated in high school, he was amazing for the most part. Always had a way of making me smile, always making me feel beautiful even if I looked awful" a sad smile planted itself on her soft features as she stared off to the wall at the side of them. He could see that she still held love for this man, and although he didn't know what had happened for the relationship to end, it filled him with a little jealousy that another man had stole her heart before he had. She sighed as she met Zaks brown eyes "we dated for two years before he changed. He started taking prescription drugs that weren't his, he would become paranoid and angry over the littlest things. Finally I gave up fighting for the man I had fallen in love with so I told him we were over and that I was moving out. He threatened to kill himself if I left, and in my angered and hurt state, I left and told him I didn't care". By now Kate had crumbled into a sobbing mess, Zak had taken to cradling her in his lap as he leaned his back against the headboard. He stroked her hair as she continued, he could tell she needed to talk about this, no matter how much it hurt her, so he tried to allow her this. "I didn't think he would actually do it. I thought he would wake up and realise what he was losing and maybe he would change and become the man I had fallen in love with again. But when I returned the next morning for my things.. he was.. he-" she sobbed harder as she pulled Zak closer. He frowned feeling more love and sympathy for her in this moment, it was clear that she blamed herself. He didn't blame her for the man's suicide, nor did he see her any differently than the beautiful, strong woman she had always been to him. "Kate, it wasnt your fault. You shouldn't be blaming yourself, you weren't to know that he was serious when people always say things like that in an argument to blackmail people. He knew you loved him and he loved you. People do stupid shit when they are having a hard time or feeling depressed. He chose to act on the threat, all you did was love him and try your best to help him. That's what you should remember. Remember the good times the two of you shared, not the times you struggled through". He could feel her wiping away her tears as her head rested on his chest "the demon was using your pain and guilt against you, it was manipulating what you already felt to make you succumb to it. Dont let the entity manipulate you or your feelings. Your stronger than that, and I know that you would never intentionally hurt anyone. Your too good a person to even hurt a fly" he smiled as she lifted her head to meet his eyes. She looked exhausted and still very much upset but he hoped his words had brought her some form of comfort and relief.
She leant forward kissing his lips softly, this simple act letting him know how grateful she was for his kind words and love. He smiled as she pulled back and pulled him to lay down with her "thank you. It feels good to talk about it, he wasnt a bad guy. He just struggled a little, but i know he is up there watching over me" Zak smiled, he was glad he had helped her and that she had opened herself up to him about her past love for this other man. It showed him how much she trusted and respected him, it brought the two closer than before.
He could feel her become a little heavier as her soft snores filled the room, his hand continuing to stroke her hair as he felt himself drifting off. One thought remaining in his mind. That demon would pay.