Promiscuous (Who's the slut?)

Chapter Thirty Seven

It had been two full days since I was discharged. I was mending little by little, but for the life of me I couldn't fathom why I felt so uneasy. We were sleeping in different beds, well I insisted. I knew that I hurt him by that admission knowing that we'd been living before like man and wife. But... somehow strangely, I didn't want to accept the fact that Rave was just a fantasy. Nor could I accept also that I'm getting insane again by falling into a pit of illusions.

"I'm going to arrange our passport today so that we could fly to New York by the end of the week." He gave me a peck and started the driveway when he stopped and looked at me from inside the car. "Don't go out. And... darling, don't go down the basement. It's dark and... rustic." I heard the note of warning in his smooth voice. I hugged myself and nodded.

This two-storey wooden house was a good one. Breath taking even. It has an aura of mystery overlooking the lake. Like it kept something from the outside. I heard a muffled scream. I looked about but then the surrounding was quiet. I closed my eyes and rocked myself gently.

God, don't let paranoia get into me again.

I ran upstairs and drink two pills. It was for my sanity. Well, that was what Riel said. Everything was getting blurred. I reached for the railing of the bed and slumped on the carpet slowly. I gripped my head tight. Then I was getting calm again. I slept like the dead.

Later in the evening... it was raining. I opened my eyes slowly but it was all dark. My senses were working overtime. There was no electricity here. Damn. I gulped and tried to find the lamp. Why did Riel have to choose this Godforsaken place... Oh God, I'm sorry for the outburst.

I was fumbling for the drawers for anything that was useful. None. I went into Riel's room, he wasn't home yet. It wasn't locked. I walked blindly, arms outstretched trying to find the drawer. I opened it and fumbled for something... there was the candle and the matchbox. Good.

I lit it up. As I was about to push the drawer back in place my eyes caught something. I gasped. It was my mother's... necklace. The one that had been missing because of that long ago night. No, no, no... that had been a fiction Marie Claire. So why is it in Riel's possession? He's your fiancee, remember?

I heard footfalls behind me and I pushed it back quickly. The door opened suddenly. He was standing there with a candle on hand. "What are you doing here?" He said angrily. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Naaah, there is no electricity. And I panicked I thought you're already here... so I went in." I hoped my voice wasn't quivering with nervousness.

He shook his head and dragged me outside. "I just got home." He brushed his hands on his wet hair. He smiled charmingly at me when he saw the way I was watching him. He closed the distance. My eyes grew wide. His face was an inch away from me.

"I missed us."

I only nodded. He was going to kiss me when we heard a loud bang. It was from downstairs. At the basement. He shrugged. "Must be the wind. I told you the floors creaking down." I frowned. It would creak if someone had stepped on it. Not just by the wind.

"Yeah..."

We ate in silence. "What did you do today?" He looked at me inquiringly.

"I slept all day."

He nodded. I felt the tension in the air. Late that night, he tucked me to bed and kissed me good night. He pulled me tight but I relented him by yawning loudly. "I'm not... in any condition."

He nodded sadly. "Are you... taking your medicine?"

"Yeah." I wet my lips in a thoughtful manner. I hadn't noticed him looking at me with desire on his face. I shivered. Not because I reciprocated his feelings but... I couldn't name it. Dammit.