Sleep Paralysis - Josh Franchesci, You Me At Six AU (COMPLETED)

2.2

R O S E ' S P O V

Once again, as soon as I blinked Josh and I stood in a new environment.

A dark chapel, or at least what I perceived to be a chapel, with an unsettling atmosphere was where we had relocated to. The walls and floors were constructed of grey, weathered brick with red furniture and decor accenting the room. The room was lit up by candles of varying sizes, shapes and brightness. Josh and I stood at the end of the alter in front of who, or what, I assumed was the minister: a being donned in a black cloak that covered its whole body standing tall, significantly taller than Josh. We held each other's hands and gazed at each other. Josh smiled joyfully at me, admiring me.

"Today we bring together Joshua Franceschi and Rose Evans to join as one by becoming husband and wife, an eternal bond under spiritual conditions," its voice echoed throughout the chapel as Josh and I stood in deafening silence. The minister droned on, discussing the significance and aspects of a spiritual world marriage to a non-existent audience. The only place I could look at was a gleeful Josh, who didn't dare to move his piercing gaze from me. But soon enough, our choice came. Not like I had one.

"Do you, Joshua Franceschi, take Rose as your wife and vow to love, protect and care for her?" The words were simple but logical. There wasn't a need for anything else in an eternal marriage. There weren't any mortal or earthly necessities. Josh smirked softly at me, waiting to say the two words for God knows how long.

"I do," he answered proudly. I felt something appear in my hand and lifted my right hand upwards, opening my palm. Josh's wedding ring sat there, a simple, silver band with a line of red running around the centre. With a tense grip and wobbling hand, I slid the band onto his finger, watching his hand twitch slightly and his fist clench gently before he held my hand once more. The minister then repeated the phrase once more with my name. I breathed in shakily as it finally hit me that I was about to hand my life over. Josh gazed at me longingly, a slight tremble in his hands as he awaited my response.

"I do," I whispered, not wanting to say the words, let alone hear them come from my mouth. Elation spread across Josh's face, blinded by the moment. He presented his palm and we both watched as my wedding ring, identical to his, formed in his palm. He daintily lifted my left hand upwards and aligned the ring with my ring finger. As he slipped the wedding ring onto my finger, I let out a noise of pain. It felt like the metal was being welded to my skin. I looked up at him with teary eyes, which prompted him to caress my cheek gently.

"I know, but it's okay," he sickly soothed, filling me with discomfort as I regained my composure.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Josh didn't wait a moment before he kissed me passionately, holding my face with his hands. The kiss felt like fire and stood out against other instances. It paralleled our wedding rings like the kiss was binding us together. He broke after a few moments and he beamed with happiness. Entwining our hands once more, Josh guided me down the aisle as the minister disappeared without warning. We reached the doors at the end of the church and Josh pushed them open with his free hand.

We stepped into what I perceived to be the home we now resided in, my first look outside the bedroom. The open space contained the foyer, living room and kitchen, the interior made of smooth sandstone walls and oak hardwood floors. Looking out the enormous window that engulfed the main wall of the living room, I saw an isolated, tropical setting characterised by a natural beach, a vast ocean and an overflow of flora. Our surroundings felt so familiar yet so foreign, and I felt a confusion cloud over me.

I was pulled away from my thoughts as Josh stood in front of me, pulling me close as he lifted my hand and compared our now covered ring fingers. He smiled in admiration and flickered his focus to me.

"All mine..." Josh mused, sending a shiver down my spine. It was like he was in a trance. I had never seen him like this before. All I had seen with Josh was passion, anger and intensity. His emotions manifested physically and he wasn't afraid to get violent to prove himself to me. But now he was gentle and softened his behaviour. My confusion only intensified.

In a quick movement, Josh swept me up into a bridal hold, inspiring a squeak of surprise. He strode into our bedroom and gently set me down onto my feet, and I felt the paranoia begin to set in. We just got married - is this going to lead where I think it's going to lead? I didn't want to think about it, but I had no choice, especially after Josh began to pull his blazer from his shoulders and loosen his tie.

"All this time and I finally get something I've wanted so long," Josh whispered as he tossed the tie to the side and I found myself leaning against one of the bed's posts. He made his way towards me and gazed at my entire body, returning to my eyes as he mumbled a soft compliment. He entered my proximity and gently spun me around. He unclasped my necklace and carefully pulled it from my neck, removing the rest of my jewellery before tenderly undoing my hair. This moment was probably my only good interaction with him, and admittedly my favourite. It was a weird atmosphere, but I couldn't help but fall into a sense of comfort as his fingers grazed against my skin and hair. Although he was a vile and cruel man, I knew that his love for me was genuine. You couldn't fake the look in his eyes.

Once he finished, his hand unzipped the lace dress. It cascaded down my body into a small pool at my feet and left me only in my underdress. I turned to face him once more and felt my heart beating against my rib cage at this point, my hands trembling at my sides. He guided me to lay down on the bed, and I shimmied my way up as he knelt onto the mattress and made his way towards me.

I was quickly underneath him and observed in silent panic as he unbuttoned his shirt. Now shirtless, he eliminated the space between us I longed for and placed his lips against my neck, kissing my exposed skin as his hands cupped the underside of my thighs. I reluctantly draped my arms around his neck after one hand gripped the sheets next to me, interpreting it as a silent command. As my breaths increased in pace, Josh's momentum also seemed to. He stripped the rest of himself down to his tented boxers which only worsened my alarm. He kissed me with need, his hands shaking as he stripped me of the underdress and left me in my lingerie. I felt tears threatening to pour from my eyes as Josh paused to drink in my appearance. He returned to his touching, his mouth hovering over my collarbones.

"I can't wait to taste you," he growled softly as he grabbed my hips.

"Josh-" the tears were unstoppable at this point, and I couldn't even hide the crack in my voice. It was clear and stuck out. Josh immediately stopped, cradling my sobbing face.

"Hey, hey. What's wrong?" he lulled. "Are you nervous? It's completely normal to be scared for your first time," he continued, looking at me with a furrowed brow. Apart from that vision long ago, I then saw a rare glimpse at what Josh was like as a human. Surprisingly, he was a caring individual. I shook my head as the tears continued to fall.

"I can't. I'm not ready yet," I begged, my legs trembling with fear. "Please don't hurt me." Josh's gaze softened and he placed space between us. He slid his hand into mine.

"I'm a monster, Rose, but I'd never go that far. I'll get you something a bit more decent." Josh got off of me, allowing me to breathe freely. After a few minutes I spent to collect myself, he returned with a baby-blue, silk nightie. I sat up took the fabric from his hands, thanking him with a mumble. I shakily left the bed and entered the en suite, changing into the pyjamas. I returned shortly after, Josh already in bed. He turned to me as I entered the sheets and nestled my face once more.

"I am so sorry," he appeased. I barely processed his shocking words, only nodding softly in response and lying down with my back facing him. I didn't want to process the fact that he had apologised to me, despite all that he had done before. I just wanted to be ignorant for a few hours. The lights dimmed and his arm wrapped around my waist.

I drifted off into sleep, questioning whether my sacrifice was worth what I had now gotten myself into.