I didn't kill him...
1354 Words
TESSA
“You want to spend the night with me?” His voice deepened. He leaned in, his face clouding mine. “Are you possessed?”
The room went silent, every eye measuring the heat flickering between us.
“Kyle Maxwell, stop. Don't get dirty thoughts.” I placed my finger against his chest and shoved him back slightly. “I mean I'll stay here tonight and cook for you guys. How about that?”
The corner of his lips curled.
“I'm hungry,” he whispered, his eyes narrowing down on me, as if I was the meal.
Pulling away from his gaze, I entered the kitchen. The refrigerator only had bear cans. “How are you guys even surviving?”
Devis stepped inside, resting his shoulder against the wall. “We eat wherever suits us.”
“Fine,” I relented with a sigh. “Head downstairs, grab the noodle packets, and don't mess with anything else.”
He nodded.
As he stepped out, I arranged the utensils in the kitchen. A few minutes later, Devis appeared with the noodles. He gently put down the packets on the counter and stepped back. “Didn't touch anything.” He raised his hands in the air, clearing his name beforehand.
A tight smile glinted on my lips. The rest of them in the living room, scrolling phones, watching tv, and playing board games. I was alone in the kitchen, making my special noodles. Grandpa taught me when I was in school. The basic survival, delicious kit.
After setting seven plates on the wooden table, I watched them take their seats one by one. Kyle joined them last.
Sky looked up at me, sharp and cold. “I thought you were only good at causing trouble.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Everyone praised… Except for Kyle.
“Where should I sleep?”
He finally stopped eating, lifting his gaze to meet mine. “My room?”
The Reapers were giggling, passing each other a knowing glance. I could see them holding back their smiles, scheming faces.
“Our rooms won't be comfortable for you. Kyle's room is perfect,” Logan said, leaning back on his chair. “His room is big enough for two.”
“No, he's sleeping on the couch.”
Zen coughed on his noodles.
“Tessa, you don't think the couch is too small for him. He's the tallest here.” Zack mumbled, scratching the side of his brow.
My gaze shifted to Kyle. He was calm and composed, enjoying the discussion. Suddenly, he rose to his feet, slowly shortening the space between us. Crashing my personal space was his favorite game.
“Shall we?” He lifted an eyebrow, gesturing toward his bedroom door. I didn't argue. Instead, I followed him inside in silence.
My gaze swept across the room. It was dimly lit, with dark curtains drawn over the glass windows, shutting out almost every trace of daylight. The place felt more like a vampire's lair than a bedroom.
The walls were covered with posters of bikes.
“Since when did you develop such passions for bikes? You were different in school.”
He turned around, closing the wardrobe door, and walked over to me. A black shirt in his hands. “After graduation.”
“Wear this.” He extended the shirt towards me.
“Thank you.” I curled my fingers on his shirt, his scent was still lingering on the fabric.
As he sat on the edge of the bed, I headed inside and changed into his satin shirt. It was loose, big for me, but soft.
When I stepped out, our eyes locked.
There was something in the air that made my muscles tense. He didn’t move. He just watched, his striking blue eyes tracing a slow path down my body, then sliding down the bare skin of my legs.
My heart started pounding against my ribs, but I took a step forward. Then another. The distance between us shrank until I stepped right into his shadow, the dim light swallowing us both. I stopped just inches from his chest, daring him to break the silence.
He looked at me for another long second before snapping out of the silence. “You didn't eat anything. I'll bring you a plate.”
“I already ate when I was at the café.”
“Why didn't you go home tonight? Cooking wasn't the reason, glasses.”
My chest tightened.
The reason? I was terrified after what happened. I didn't want to be alone.
“Is my presence causing you problems?”
“You can stay here as long as you want. It's not like we're always home.”
A part of me was relieved.
He inhaled a deep breath, his eyes sharpening into something dangerous. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, I ran away.”
“Don't worry, he won't disturb you again.”
Deep down, I knew Kyle must've bled him to death. But I didn't have the courage to ask.
“Get some rest.” With that, he stepped back, putting a comfortable distance between us before heading for the door.
The moment I climbed onto the bed, something on the lampstand caught my eye.
A flyer.
Frowning, I reached for it and unfolded the paper. Free Cookies.
My brows shot up. A spark of suspicion ignited in my mind. I immediately yanked open the drawer beside the bed. A dozen identical flyers were neatly stacked inside.
My mouth fell open.
“Kyle Maxwell...”
He paused, his one hand on the handle as he glanced back over his shoulder.
I held up the flyer. “Did you advertise the free cookies?”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Well,” he said lightly, “you've got customers now, don't you?”
“You did!” I crushed the flyer in my fist.
A grin spread across his face.
“You're unbelievable.”
“And yet,” he drawled, opening the door, “my plan worked perfectly.”
I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.
Kyle dodged it, leaving the room with a mischievous smile.
***
KYLE
It was almost midnight when I heard noises coming out of my room. She was still awake. I kept hesitating with the thought whether I should enter or give her space.
In the end, I entered the room.
There she was…
Standing against the glass window, her blonde hair dancing on her shoulders, and a lifeless expression hovering over her face. She was like a quiet doll, watching the moon.
I knew she was scared.
I couldn't forget the fear in her eyes when she hugged me.
Her sleeve was torn. I didn't need to ask her what happened. I just knew I had to break every hand that touched her.
And… So I did.
No, she wasn't special. I would've done the same for any girl in her place.
“Tessa?” I called softly.
No response.
A knot tightened in my stomach. “Why aren't you sleeping yet?”
Slowly, she turned toward me.
The sight made my blood run cold. Her eyes were open, but there was nothing in them. No recognition. No emotion. Just a hollow, distant stare that seemed to look straight through me.
She took a step forward. Then another.
“Tessa...”
She kept coming.
The moonlight spilling through the curtains painted her in pale silver. Every instinct told me something was wrong.
“Tessa, what's wrong?”
She stopped inches away from me. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, without warning, she leaned forward.
Her forehead pressed against my chest, and her arms slid around my waist and tightened.
My heart skipped a beat.
“Tessa?” I whispered.
Nothing. Not a single word. Not a single reaction. Only the rhythm of her breathing against me.
That's when it hit me.
She wasn't awake. Tessa was sleepwalking.
Her eyes looked up at me, tears streaming down them. “Please, I didn't do anything. I didn't want to kill him…”
- Writer
