A Silhouette and Maybe More

Nature At Its Best

Those words rolled out of my mouth like I was saying it for the last time. Dan could now finally relax after hearing my reply. He wrapped his arms around my tiny little figure and held me tight, never wanting to let go. My head hung over his shoulder debating with myself whether I was ready for a commitment, especially one like this. But I've said it now and I can't take those words back and make him forget everything I said, no matter how much I wanted to. Hopefully - for the rest of the remaining time I have being here - I'll convince myself that I won't want to take those words back.

"God, you're freezing. Here." He handed me the top that he had previously pulled off me, I think he forgot that I was embarrassingly sitting in just my bra. I bounced off the table and headed out the kitchen.

"Could I maybe use the shower?" I asked, turning back around to get his permission.

"Of course." He replied, adding a soft smile to his words. Away I went desperate to have a shower, it would help me plan out my life for the next few days...or weeks, or even months, I still wasn't sure how long I would be staying here.

Drying myself with the only towel available, I wrapped it around my body and secured it at my chest. I quickly ran to my room to see a fresh pile of clothes sitting on my bed, again they belonged to Dan. The only other pair of clothes I owned were the ones that I arrived in but they needed washed. I really wanted to go out shopping on my own but as far as I was aware of I couldn't leave the house unless I was leaving Dan forever or I was going out the back door. Dan still hadn't grasped the fact that I wouldn't cough him up or that I would return to him although that's what someone in the right mind wouldn't do if kidnapped, but I didn't consider myself as being kidnapped, not anymore.

I descended back down the stairs once again, passing the living room. The last time I was in there was when Dan had lost the plot after he thought I phoned the police on him. I never did figure out an explanation for that, maybe I wasn't meant to but the curiosity burned my mind.

Entering the kitchen, I saw Dan sitting at the back door step watching the world go by. I took a seat next to him and decided to have another 'therapy session' as I called it.

"How long did you spend searching for that guy before you killed him?"

"Months, maybe even a year. I didn't keep track of date. I was so determined to find this guy that I completely blocked out everyone that I loved; friends, family, co-workers, they couldn't deal with me being in such a hypnotised phase that they got fed up with me, telling me to give up but I refused. I was so ignorant towards them, and rude and selfish, everything that I am now...it's ruined me." He explained not even taking a second to avert his eyes from the scenery in front of us.

"You're not rude or selfish, you're just...misunderstood." I replied. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed, now turning his head to look at me.

"Why couldn't everyone else see that?"

"Because I'm not everyone else and everyone else is not me." I smiled, leaving Dan with a confused look on his face. I stood up and headed back down the path of flattened crops that I had created when I ran off to the trees. I noticed how Dan followed soon after.

I enjoyed the feeling of the morning sun hitting my face turning my cheeks pink, the freshly grown crops running through my hands as I walked alongside them and the peaceful sound of birds twittering in the distance. I peered over my shoulder to see Dan maybe only a couple of metres away, retracing my every step. He kept his eyes on me and his hands tucked deep into his black trouser pockets. The one thing that caught my eye was how his hair furiously blew about in even the tiniest gusts of wind, the look suited him and him only. I turned my head after realising I looked a little creepy after mentally commenting on everything about him. My cheeks flushed at the thought of him, I had to keep my head facing forwards hoping that he won't notice my sudden flush.

I arrived at the trees first, just stopping before heading into the heart of the huddle of branches. I watched a squirrel bounce it's way across the ground right in front of me - nature at its best. I was so lost in the moment I didn't even hear Dan approach me from behind. He gave me a fright when his arms coiled round my waist, beginning to playfully nibble away at the tops of my ear. I gasped and began to immediately unravel myself from my grasp but it wasn't even worth my energy because I knew my strength was no match for Dan's. He playfully growled in my ear, sending a rush of redness to my cheeks. Why did he effect me so much now? I didn't have any feelings towards him the first time we met, so it confused me as to how and why my feelings have progressed towards him. I guess it just backs up the theory of that personality is just as important as appearance. It was plainly obvious to see that we had became comfortable with each other, we had to or things would end up terribly awkward. We practically lived with each other, I might even go to the extreme and say that we liked each other.

He rested his chin upon my shoulder, his arms still coiled around my body. Thinking that he would simply let go I tried to walk away but he immediately pulled me back, making me trip and fall onto him causing our bodies to softly collide.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You're my prey." He whispered into my ear, teasing me of my word choice earlier in the kitchen. I chuckled at his immaturity and stood in front of him as he latched onto me. The red squirrel that passed me earlier bounced it's way back stopping in its path to look at us.

"He's so distracted by your scary face." I mumbled teasing him back, making even myself smirk.

"Excuse me?"