Steal My Soul

01 | asia

Asia

Pale Thorn Cove was even smaller than I remember.

I asked the Uber driver to roll the windows down so I could see the bright orange and brown leaves scatter to the floor. I rest my chin on my hand and sigh. Maybe I shouldn't have ditched my social worker at the station.

But this was something I had to do for myself. I hadn't been back here for four years. Yet the only thing I thought about was Ken Roux and our goodbye kiss.

The anxiety of the coming months seems to hit me in the stomach. We pull into the driveway and the wind whips my braids into my face. The massive three-story mansion sits on an acre of a perfectly green lawn.

I hopped out of the silver sedan and thanked the driver. I looked at the house in awe. In my memories, it had always seemed much smaller.

Now it loomed over me, reminding me of all the things I lost. I missed my parents so much and now I was spending my first Thanksgiving without them. Sighing, I slowly walked to the front door, dragging my suitcases behind me.

"Hey, you dropped this." A deep voice calls after me.

I turned around. A pair of the lightest blue eyes meet mine. I jump back when I notice his face.

He was tall with broad shoulders. He had a sharp jawline and his eyebrows were coolly arched, one of them with shaved gaps. His lips were light pink and he was wearing a black winter coat.

He waved my bright yellow underwear in my face but I couldn't stop staring. "Do you want this back or can I keep it?"

He had multiple scars running all over his face. They were thick and jagged. A fresh one stood out on his chin that was red and inflamed.

I gasped. "What happened to your face?"

He gave me a stern look and my throat tightened.

"I didn't mean that."

He shrugs his shoulders and begins to shove my underwear in his pocket but I snatch it away from him. "Hey!"

"Shh!" He puts his finger to my lips.

I raise an eyebrow at him. Who the hell does he think he is? Trying to steal my lingerie and now trying to seduce me?

I mean come on! Was I that easy? Okay maybe I was... but he didn't have to know that!

"Do you hear something?"

I shake my head then freeze. I spot them a few feet away. Three tall figures dressed in black and wearing purple masks.

They all carried a sledgehammer in their left hands.

"Please tell me you know these guys?"

He stares at them, his eyes hard and narrowed. "I do."

"And they're just coming over here to say hi right?"

"Not exactly."

He takes my hand and we start running towards my house. I fumbled with the keys and dropped them on the ground. He kicks the door open with his foot and drags me inside.

I stare at him in astonishment.

"Who are you?"

He looks around trying to find a good place to hide. I take his hand and lead him up the stairs taking them two at a time.

"If you're going to take me to your bedroom you don't have to worry. I'll make sure I'm quick."

"Shut up."