Chapter2:The call
1239 Words
Mara
I woke up gasping for breath…
For a second, I didn't know where I was, till the ceiling cracks came into focus. The one that looks like a lightning bolt. The other is like a river.
My dorm. My bed. 6:17 AM.
I immediately lifted my shirt and looked at my shoulder.
The scratches are gone.
Not healed, just gone. Like they were never there.
Just three faint pink lines, already fading.
What the hell?
I touched my skin, and it was as smooth as silk. No pain, just nothing.
Or have I dreamed about it?
The blood on my sheets says otherwise.
I stripped the bed as fast as I could, and shoved the blanket in my laundry bag. I had to do this as fast as I could so my roommate wont notice a thing when she's up.
I just stood there, staring at my shoulder in the mirror, again and again.
How?
I didn't even have the answer.
So I do what I always do. I shove it down. Put on a hoodie, and go to the track.
After the track I went to have Lunch.
I grabbed a tray and stood in line. Two guys behind me were talking.
"Did you hear? Another student went missing last year. Same time. Same moon."
"My dad says it's just rumors."
"My dad says the school is covering something up."
I grabbed an apple and walked away. Missing students? I'd never heard that.
Damien text then came in
Come over tonight. Miss you.
Imagine. Empty words. No "please." No "I love you." Just Come Over.
I just stared at the screen.
Why? I typed back.
Because I said so.
Then a laughing emoji followed like it was a joke.
I didn't see it as a joke, in fact I was furious.
I didn’t reply, I just put my phone away.
“Who knows, maybe he wants to apologise,” I said to myself as class ended and I walked over to his dormitory.
His room is exactly how I remember it. It's been a while since I was there though.
Messy, Expensive and a football trophy on the dresser, with a crestwood hoodie thrown over the chair.
He was sitting on the bed when I walked in, giving me that loving smile though I wasn't feeling it at all.
"Hey, baby girl" he said as he walked over to me and held my waist.
"Hey."I answered nonchalantly.
“Why the squeezed face baby”, he asked me as he caressed my lips with his fingers.
He knew how my body reacted when he did that, I didn't know when I found myself smiling though I was trying my best to guide his hand away from my lower back,, the place where I saw that mark earlier.
"Why did you want me to come over?", I then asked him
"Because I miss you." He said as he tilted his head. "Is that a crime?"
“Yes, I think. When you're lying to me.”, I shot back at him.
But I sat down anyway. Because I'm weak. Because I kept hoping the old Damien was in there somewhere.
His hand suddenly found mine, but I immediately noticed his thumbs rubbed circles on my knuckles.
"I'm sorry I've been distant," he says. "The company stuff is really getting to me."
"You keep saying that.", I said, with so much sadness on my face.
"Because it's true, baby.", he said, looking straight into my eyes.
His phone suddenly buzzed on the nightstand, but he didn’t look at it, though he felt so uneasy for a while.
"Are you going to get that?" I asked him.
"Nah." He pulls me closer. "It can wait."
He pulled me closer, and his lips found mine.
Not gently. Not like before. Like he was claiming something.
I should have pulled away. But his hand was already on my waist, fingers pressing into my skin, and my body – stupid, traitorous body – leaned into him.
His kiss deepened. His tongue brushed my lower lip. A shiver ran down my spine.
No, I told myself. You're supposed to be angry.
But his other hand slid up my back, and I forgot why I was mad.
He pulled back just enough to look at me. His eyes were dark. Heavy. "I've missed this," he whispered.
I didn't answer. I couldn't.
He kissed my neck. Soft at first. Then harder. My breath caught.
I felt his teeth graze my skin, and for a second – just a second – I wanted him to bite. Hard. Leave a mark.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He laid me back on the bed. His body was warm. Heavy. His hands knew exactly where to go – my hips, my thighs, the small of my back.
I should have stopped him. I should have pushed him off.
But his mouth found my collarbone, and I arched into him instead.
"That's my girl," he murmured against my skin.
I hated how much I liked hearing that.
The s*x is just wrong.
I don't know how to explain it. His hands are in the right places. His mouth did the job and he said all the right things, but I just wasn't just feeling anything..
I just closed my eyes and pretended I was loving it, but I knew it was all thrash.
After a while, he rolled off and grabbed his phone, his thumbs moving fast.
I just lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Two years, I think. How did I not see this sooner?
"Everything okay?" he asked as he noticed my mood, still not looking away from his screen.
"Yeah. I’m good.", I said as I just stood up and got dressed.
"Good."
He didn’t even kiss me, didn't even touch me after he was done, more like he just used me to satisfy whatever he was feeling.
"Are you leaving?" he asked me with shock as he saw me walking out
"It's late. I have classes tomorrow", I said without even turning back.
"Okay." He said, giving me that fake smile.
Smile number two – the one that doesn't mean a thing.
"I'll see you tomorrow. They meet, right?", he said.
"Right.", I said as I just walked out without even closing the door.
“I should go back to my dorm.” I said, but I don't know why I was kinda scared. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep.
A walk won't be a bad idea
I said as I walked across campus.
I passed the library again. The lights were off. But someone was inside. A silhouette against the window. Ezra.
Still here this late?
He was staring out at the moon.
I ducked my head and kept walking. None of my business.
My shoulder didn’t hurt anymore. But something felt... different.
My skin was prickling, and my ears felt weird – like I could hear everything, the wind, a door closing three buildings over, even down to people whispering.
You're tired, I told myself again.
I just need to go to bed.
I suddenly heard a familiar voice, though it was kinda far off.
I turned around and I saw Damien and he was not smiling.
"Yeah," I could hear him clearly. "Tomorrow. After the meet."
My blood grew cold.
"She'll be alone. I'll make sure of it."
- Writer
