At The End Of Their Tunnel Vision

Chapter II

After the disastrous first meeting. The Corrupted angel came back exactly at 6 in the morning. At first, she had a hard time understanding his explanation. By her lack of response, and the apparent drowsiness in her hunched figure. It’s been a week when she last fed, so she was running low in her energy reserve. Her lack of sleep last night and the fatigue cost more energy to fuel her, finally taking the toll in her hungry pit.

Her whole body jerked from the nudge on her shoulder. Her eyes frantically moving from left to right, scanning the whole room. While, the ragged breath and throbbing in her neck put her in an alarmed state. As if her heart made a leap through her neck. When her eyes finished scanning the area, she relaxed. After realizing she woke up from completely unfamiliar room.

A silent cursed escaped between her lips. It would definitely take her a long time to adjust to not panicking every time she woke up.

Confusion swirled her nostril when she smelled the familiar scent of tea her mother used to drink to satiate her hunger when she was younger. A cup placed in front of her and she figured out where the scent came from. She stared at the dark angel sat from the opposite end of the table. When he noticed her apprehension, he explained he preferred her to be in a conscious state of mind when they talked, since he didn’t enjoy repeating everything all over again. She gladly drank the tea afterwards. Better accept the temporary relief he offered. It wouldn’t satisfy her hunger for a week, but hopefully her budget was enough to buy a few more suppressors when she got a job to better sustain herself.

The dark angel introduced himself as Elliot Flowright. Apparently, he worked for one of the leading big corporation under the name of Lun&Sol. He didn’t specifically tell her his position, but it was hinted at his neat dress shirts, tie and slacks that his work related with a lot of paper works. A typical office worker job was what she presumed. After the brief introduction, he proceeded on explaining few house rules. Of course, every consequence of disobeying the said house rules was a painful death. Yeah, he emphasized it to her to the point she was cowering in her seat from pure terror again. Jerk. Unfortunately, she can’t leave since she became his new roommate. Just follow the rules, he said, and she would live longer. And what were the rules? First, the house must be kept clean. Second, no other creature was allowed inside the apartment. Third, she must remain alive to come home. Or else he would revive her so he could punish her for dying. Which was totally not cool. He didn’t even consider if she died by accident.

Three rules. She could do that. But the last left her with paranoia. Guess she just had to be extra careful. But why does he want her alive? What was his end goal here?

Her first week had been her most stressful week in her life. The paranoia became constant in her head. She felt like there was a constant ding of notification echoed inside her head. Fear followed her like a shadow, always cautious over the small things like what if her drink were expired or poisoned? A monster under a suppressant became vulnerable like a normal human being. So, yeah, basically she had a higher chance of dying like human does. But she couldn’t stop taking her meds. Her first week became an utter hell for her. When she became stuck into the conundrum of stop taking the medicine.

Her first month was an improvement after she got the waitress job in a decent pub two streets away from her apartment. Yes, she applied in one of the job where she could encounter a lot of drunk men and grabby hands. But the owner reassured her the management kept every employee’s safety their priority. Narelle left with zero options since most of the job openings one bus trip away from her apartment. She accepted the job. Also, within the first month, she learned that Elliot rarely stayed home.

The first year. Whoa! She didn’t notice it was a year already after celebrating her birthday with her coworkers. She was happier than before. And she looked more healthy, even proper looking after taking care of herself. Her black hair even grew longer. Already passing below her shoulders. But the next day after her birthday celebration, the day that stuck to her the most. When she discovered how lonely creature Elliot really was.

It was past noon when she woke up with a banging hangover ungracefully slumped beside the old jukebox of the pub that she remembered it was Elliot’s day off. She didn’t know why his day off even mattered remembering that day since he rarely took a rest.

But when he did, it always aligned with the day she stayed home. In the entirety of her stay with the dark angel’s apartment and having a first casual interaction with her roommate. He surprised her. She didn’t expect him laughing from the sarcastic remarks from one of the series’ protagonist she’s been watching. The series was one of her favorite since the character destroyed the stereotypes of typical blond woman being stupid. And she didn’t expect Elliot liked satire type of humor. When the time for lunch nearing, she ignored him standing up and leaving her alone from re-watching the series.

After the scent of sauteed garlic triggered her sense of smell, she immediately walked towards the kitchen and peeked through the entryway like a cautious doe. Narelle never pegged her roommate could cook.

Soon she always anticipated spending her day off watching some series they found fancy in their taste. Having a pleasant lunch and dinner by whatever Elliot cooked in that day.

Thus, when she checked her phone after washing her face in the pub’s bathroom sink, she could feel her heart sinking. She read all Elliot’s three texts sent in around five in the morning asking for her whereabouts. s**t!

Narelle broke her record of reaching her apartment within 5 minutes, that usually took her 20 minutes in her casual stroll. Upon entering her apartment, she immediately checked the living room. Ignoring the incessant pounding on her forehead, she checked the kitchen next and then the bathroom. But she couldn’t find her dark roommate in those rooms. Her heart felt like in the vice grip clutches while vigorously pumping within the restriction of her bloating lungs. The organs inside her chest were having a hard time after the excruciating exertion past her limits. Her feet trudge towards the door at the end of the short hall. Yet, upon entering the room, she saw nothing. Until she heard a faint whimper. Again she used her magic, amplifying her senses that she managed to see things her normal sight don’t usually perceived. She saw the wisp of cyan trailed from the adjacent bathroom.

Narelle announced herself when she entered the bathroom and saw the shower curtain drawn covering the sight of the tub. Why was he hiding suddenly? Elliot never responded to her call, that she decided to check on him.

Drawing the curtain away, showed her the opposite visage of the dark angel she normally saw. His blue eyes constricted with his pupil slit, glaring at her. Peering between the space of his arms. He was sitting in the tub, clutching his knees up to his chest in a very defensive manner. She even noticed red patches on his white sleeves. His pristine slacks were even dripping with the same liquid stained on his sleeves. He looked dishevelled.

But why does he look at her as if she just betrayed him?

When Elliot didn’t move from his position, she get in with him on the other side of the tub. Even in his hunched position he could easily towered her. She never understood why she joined him in the tub. But somehow a low whispered at the back of her head that nagged her. She shouldn’t leave him alone. And so she remained sitting in the tub. Just staring back at him.

The next thing happened, she woke up in her bed. Confused and still having a splitting headache. She came into the living room and saw Elliot wearing a grey shirt and navy blue sweatpants. He had his grumpy look when he turned his head towards her.

“Are you ok?” she couldn’t help but asked. Still confused if their unofficial staring match really happened.

Before his response, he smiled at her. But it fleeted after she blinked. Blinking few more times, she decided that her headache might be messing with her vision. His head crane back in the direction of the tv screen. “Never been better, pet.”

Hearing the last part of his statement made her fingers stopped from rubbing the side of her forehead. And stared at the dark angel’s relaxed posture. Did she hear him right? Was her hearing failing her after partying last night? She shook her head and dismissing all of her thoughts.

From then on, whenever his day off came, she made sure her schedule was free. Sometimes they would share a conversation about a trivial topic they found comfortable debating with. Sometimes all they did was lazed around the whole day, watching long comedy series. But there was a time he was closed off and silent. Bad days where his corruption induced him into a mania. She guessed it has something to do from the aftermath of his execution. Well, she never knew, since she didn’t want to ask him. She still harbored some fear when he could easily grab her into a choke hold.

They fall into a comfortable pattern after another year’s spent. She knew when he had an attack. She would check every corner of the apartment, even the cupboard. Basically, the places he could fit himself like a damn cat. After finding out, he doesn’t stay in one place. In her mind, she considered it like a treasure hunting. When she found him, she would proceed in making herself comfortable before starting the staring match. Soon he no longer hid in weird places and stayed on the couch hiding under the blanket he grab. She even made a pillow fort around him. Elliot looked awkward in it with his glaring stare, but he enjoys it afterwards. At the end of his attacks, she would always ask him if he’s ok. But it changed recently. Instead, she greeted him. Welcoming him back after the inner turmoils he battled.

Two years and her dark angel learned to smile occasionally. Yet, her worries grew. Because every time she was with him, a warm fluttery feeling thrumming inside her chest.

“Goddamnit! Elliot! For the last time, the f*****g leash isn’t necessary!” she was fuming upon hearing the click on the lock of collar around her neck.

This was supposed to be their bonding day, but he insisted on going for a grocery shopping. Because unfortunately, all she stored inside the fridge was junk food. Even hams and instant noodles were junk food in his floaty orbs.

“Can you blame me, though? The moment we entered the grocery, you ran off somewhere after turning my head around even for a second.” he tugged the offending black leather leash. Beckoning her to stand up.

She was busy trying the laces on her sneakers while crouching. When she felt something circling around her neck. Her body instinctively pulled away, but her roommate was far more agile than her. She slumped on the floor, being a total deadweight.

“Pet.” his voice hit the lower note, sounding as if he was growling at her. He tugged the leash again, commanding her in silence.

She wasn’t putting up with him just because she purposely paged him from the store’s customer service. Besides, why does she have to come with him in grocery shopping.

“Stand up. Narelle. I will not tolerate this petulant attitude of yours.” It was clear he was being serious about leashing her. When his orbs changed into a bluer tone.

Although fear gnawing her defiance, she continued her refusal to stand up. Crossing her arms, she turned her head away from him.

“If this is how you gonna be, then decide. Either I leash you or put a scent mark on you.” Elliot prompted. Narelle whirled her head around to look him in the eyes. Based on his sterner stare, she wouldn’t go into the grocery without choosing either one of the two options presented to her. If she decided to go for the leash cost her humiliation but temporary. But if she chose for the latter she was in for a surprised because basically she didn’t know if Elliot had proper equipment to even extract an essence to stain her to begin with.

But why does he want to want to scent mark her? Even though Elliot was only doing this like some sort of warning. Why does he resorted into that option?

She hummed just to show she was thinking about her option. “How about you do the grocery by yourself this time, fruit loops,” she said then she reached towards her shoes, pulling it off her feet. Keeping herself cool. Elliot was a total gentleman. This was just his way of keeping her mischievous nature in line.

A growl resonated from her roommate’s direction. Which indicated the failure of her attempted escape. The cold leather touched under her chin in a controlled motion. Halted her hands from removing her shoes. His gloved hands guided her face to look at him again. She noticed him kneeling one of his knees, just to loom closer over her.

Elliot's voice was firm, commanding as he spoke. “I will not ask again, pet. Leash or mark?”

Something about his voice, along with his words, stirred in her chest. It had been three years when the last time she felt that spark of sensation. Her mind haywire from the abrupt surged of her repressed memories she kept down buried in the lowest depths of her conscience. Her sight blurred that she applied more pressure on closing her eyelids. But black blotches in her vision made her panic. The blotches began forming like a hand. Multiple hands that slowly creeping closer and closer and CLOSER. Narelle felt herself snapped with a loud scream of utter despair. When she saw the hands grabbed her. Feeling the familiar damp, muggy touch of the hands. And everything went dark.

When Narelle got her consciousness back, and her instinct kicked in. She sat up in an instant. Before her hands automatically reached towards her neck. Fingers trailing, searching for an item that wasn’t there in the first place. She wasn’t there anymore.

Narelle smelled the scent of cigarette. Which made her turned her head from the window. Elliot’s familiar figure eased her panic a bit. The lingering fear from her reoccurring memories she desperately trying to forget.

“Are you ok–now?” Elliot asked.

She began remembering what happened before. And she stared at her roommate with her blurry sight. Both of her hands found its way towards her face, covering her face from shame. As she could feel the continuous leaking of her tears from her eyes and her sobs grew louder. Narelle shook her head. She wasn’t ok. It had been a good ran for two years. She wasn’t supposed to react like that. Like she was scared of her roommate.

“I sincerely apologize for scaring you, Narelle.”

Narelle shook her head. While her breathing kept hitching from her sobbing. She couldn’t stop crying. As the feeling persisted in lingering at her chest.

It wasn’t his fault. Since Elliot didn’t know anything about her past. And after being triggered, she doubted she could even tell him what she experienced from before. Without turning into a crying mess. But she was already in a crying mess. Yet, she restrained the urge to just telling him her past.

For now, she doesn’t want to be alone.

Narelle changed her sitting position while using the end of her oversized shirt as her tissue from wiping her face. She patted the space beside her on the couch. Prompting the dark angel, to sit beside her.

Elliot didn’t waste any second further that he swiftly occupied the vacant space beside her. But she didn’t expect what he did afterwards. When she got bumped and surrounded by the warmth. Her body went rigid from the sudden contact. The recoil of her body responded from the unexpected embrace.

It became painfully obvious how her body awfully rejected the contact as she froze. She wasn’t accepting it, yet her body didn’t jerk or twitched as her body leaned in Elliot’s warm embrace. He held her loosely. Only laying one of his hands on her shoulder while the other was on her waist. Her head stayed on his shoulder.

It took her body a while to finally relax in Elliot’s arms. None of them uttered even a single word. And Elliot remained faithful in his position, cradling her silently.

Before she remembered hating silence. Because it heavily evoked the sense of helplessness and abandonment she encountered in her past. Silence ingrained her mind, all the calls left unanswered. The plea she cried only echoed into a series of disparaged. Silence amplified her torment. It never gave her solace before.

Which differed from the silence Elliot offered. It was warm and calm. A rest after a tiring day. A silence that doesn’t feel disconnected when she knew someone was out there ready to answer her back.

Now she understood why Elliot began seeking out for her companionship when he was high from his mania. She remembered the phrase he used at their first meeting about, ‘asking and you shall receive’. Maybe Elliot experienced the same helplessness she experienced from before. Nobody pulled his reaching hands. Nobody answered his calls.

Narelle was crying for a different reason this time. And this time she was glad for the silence, comforting her chaotic mind.