a known stranger

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

They got back to the cabin. He took her to her room. Placing her on the commode, he started running a bath, soon the bathroom was full of steam. She just sat there where he had put her. He turned and went to her. He started to unzip her coat, she just looked at him in shock, she did not fight him. He removed her clothes, and striped to his shorts. Carrying her, he sat in the bath, cradling her to him.

They sat a while in the rapidly cooling water, he got up and wiped her down mechanically and she just stood there frozen.

He helped her into her clothes, and left her sitting on her bed while he went to dry off and change. He came back and guided her to the kitchen. Sitting her down, he cooked up some eggs, and finally he sat down in front of her.

“Ashley, say something, do something!” he demanded huskily as he shook her shoulders.

She finally looked at him, and sighed, “Darien, I don’t know, will you let me go, please?

I cannot digest this at this time.” She sobbed out dejectedly.

His face paled, and then hardened. He nodded his head, but his eyes, Ashley closed hers as she was unable to take the pain that showed so clearly in his eyes.

Hunched over, covering her face, started crying as the shock downed on her.

He let her cry, he could not bear to watch her, he went and got her clothes packed, he came down with her bag, and heard her washing her face, hiccupping in between.

She came out of the bathroom, and looked at him bleakly.

Her eyes was red and swollen. She sniffed and took a deep breath.

He just carried her suitcase, not checking to see if she was following him, he walked to the car.

She followed him, slowly, looking back to see the cabin, and the woods a last time. She saw the rope he had tied for her. He placed her suitcases into the booth.

She sat in the passenger seat, he drew the seat belt and secured it. He went and sat in the driver’s seat, gunning the engine violently, the car jerked and shot out. He drove fast and furiously. Ashley threw her head against the head rest, bracing against the speed. Her hands dug into the seat sides clinging on for a dear life.

She gasped and looked at Darien, “Please slow down, I’m scared, Darien,” she said pleadingly.

Darien turned to look at her and saw her white face, he immediately shifted his foot off the accelerator, and the car slowed down.

He shifted the gear and they continued at a sedate and moderate speed.

The drive ended too soon. He got down, took out her suitcases, placed them outside her door of her flat. She got out of the car, and walked slowly towards him and he turned to come and get her.

He took out a bunch of keys and placed it in her hands, and said, “Bye Ashley, if you decide what you want to do, tell Sheila to call me…”

He turned away and walked to his car, never turning back to look at her.

She watched him drive away, wincing at the angry way he sped.

She went into her blissfully quiet flat, and flung herself on her bed and had a good cry.

Sheila found her fast asleep on her bed when she got back from work.

“Ashley! What are you doing here?” then she gasped as she took in her swollen and tear streaked face.

“Oh! Honey, what happened?” she sat on the bed pulling her into a hug.

“Sheila, did you know Darien was like you?” was all Ashley asked.

“Oh! Dear, yes Ashley, after kidnapping you, he came to see me and he revealed it to me. He said he will tell you himself….” She broke off half way. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, he just shocked me that’s all,” Ashley said.

She then burst out crying, “Oh! Sheel, I don’t know what to do, I have fallen in love with him and we even made love,” she sobbed hard.

“Oh Ashley,” was all Sheila was capable of saying. Sheila just hugged her and held on to her trying to comfort her.