Sunset

Chapter II. Gusion Paxley

I slowly opened my eyes. My neck hurt. Maybe I fell asleep at my desk again after reading books.

"Ah, I had a weird dream last night about a weird man I just met," I mumbled as I massaged my nape.

"It was not a dream, and I am not strange." My whole body and mind suddenly jolted awake. My eyes widened as I saw someone sitting beside me.

"What are you doing inside my car?!"

"Sitting." He simply replied. I can't believe this guy!

I touched my neck. Right. There was blood before I fainted. I opened my phone's camera and checked my neck. It's clean, like it didn't bleed. There's no scar.

"There's supposed to be a cut..."

"I healed it."

"You're kidding me." He didn't answer. "And what are you doing here?" I checked the time, and it was already ten forty-five in the evening. I panicked.

"I have nowhere else to go."

"Melissa's mad at me," I said in a small voice, ignoring this weird guy beside me. She's mad at me for not coming to the family dinner. I bumped my head against the steering wheel. Today is a bad day, and I want to cry. I really want to cry.

"Leave." I said without raising my head.

"No."

"Look, I don't even know you. Why are you doing this to me? Just leave."

"You know who I am. I introduced myself earlier."

"Seriously!" I yelled at him, lifting my head. I couldn't hold my tears any longer. Today had been horrible—Lawrence was pushing me away, men had disrespected me, and Melissa was disappointed in me. Now, there's this strange man in my car.

But I stopped crying when I saw the sharp object in his hand. It was the same one he used to cut my skin earlier. Was that a dagger? He was playing with it like an expert.

"Are you seriously planning to kill me?"

"Not unless you cease crying." He said, while playing with the dagger. It was so sharp that it gleamed beautifully when the light hit it.

"You are really weird..." I couldn't stop my tears. I just wanted to be okay, but when he moved closer and pointed the dagger at my neck again, my tears flowed even more. He was really serious about killing me

"You are bold to defy me, young lady." He is so close to me that I can see his eyes clearly—cold and emotionless.

"I don't know what you're talking about. But let me tell you this, I am afraid of dying. I just can't—ah, why am I even explaining myself to you?"

He didn't move away or answer. I reached out, touching his hand, and slowly moved it away. Without arguing, he eventually distanced himself.

"As I mentioned, I have no place to go."

"Are you lost?" I asked while wiping my tears.

"I am."

"What's your address? I'll take you home. You're strange and dangerous. You keep putting a sharp blade at my neck. My life's precious, you know. There's still so much I need to do. I don't want to die. Not yet."

"You have talked too much."

"Your address."

"Castle Aberleen."

I glanced at him and started the car.

"Castle Aberleen, my foot. Tell me your real address."

"I have already said it."