Into The Dark

10.

" Thank you for coming," James said as another set of clients left, again disturbed by the house. At this point, Selassi wasn't sure when she was going to leave so she hit Nina up to let her know that her stay was indefinite for the moment. 

Nina wasn't particularly happy about this, partly because she was worried about Selassi but also because it meant that she had to take on more responsibility at the salon. James plopped down next to Selassi, admiring her beauty once again.

"Don't get any thoughts, James." She said in a disgruntled tone.

" I really don't like how you think so little of me. A simple admiration, a man cannot do now? " James expressed jokingly which caused a little smile to form on her face.

James had been surprisingly helpful to her for the past few weeks as the selling of the house became more and more of an issue.

The house was simply weighing her down with fond memories as well as being an unhealthy reminder of loss for her but James somehow brought a breath of fresh air. She started to feel herself becoming less guarded with as he joked and flirted unsuccessfully with her.

With James being around so much, the thought of Theo only reminded Selassi of betrayal in the worst way.

She should have just avoided opening up to him, look where it had gotten her. His cheating was shocking but honestly, she wasn't really surprised at all.

"Don't worry too much about the house, I'm sure I can get more clients. It's a beautiful home, there is no way it won't sell" He said, seeing that she seemed a bit far away. Deciding to go in for the kill, he touched her hand and wrapped his hand around hers.

Selassi only looked down to see this but for some reason, she didn't feel the need to back away. It felt comforting for her, the need for intimacy was becoming something she craved more than ever, given what had been happening to her recently.

Whatever this eerie force was, it was unrelenting in tormenting her whenever it could and all she knew that source was rooted here in this house. She could feel it wherever she went, the skin-crawling sensation of something breathing, hovering and her stalking her very existence.

She wanted to vent about it but she became weary of who trust especially after Lisa's reading. Knowing that she might be taken of advantage scared her a little because she didn't have a clue who wanted to do it.

The comfortable silence established between her and James made her wonder why she was becoming so cosy with him, his charm may have irked initially but something about his persistence did seem to be an appeal to her bit by bit.

" What do you know about demonic-like beings?" Selassi's eyes focused. But James seemed a little disturbed by the random question, eyeing her with concern.

" Why do you want to know?" he asked tentatively, positioning himself to face her.

" Don't answer my question with a question, I just wanted to know if you knew anything about  it."

" Something you think might be happening is obviously causing you to feel this, that's why I questioned it,"  He said nonchalantly which seemed to trigger Selassi and now she faced him.

"Are you suggesting that I'm imagining what's happening to me?" She asked.

" These things just might be in your head, my sweet." He tapped her nose. All she saw was red as her hand hit his face.

His face contorted in shock at what she had done. 

"I saw what I saw" she left him to go upstairs. 

As she got her room, she flopped down on the bed and her mind started to race with various thoughts. Not hearing the door open, she remained lost in her head as James entered the room and sat next to her.