The Mark Of The Beast

5. And Down The Rabbit Hole... POV: Shannon Alexis Chandler

I stretched my arms and legs but didn't bother opening my eyes. I didn't want to open them. I rolled over on my side in an effort to doze back off. The bed was too comfortable and the head felt heavy with grogginess. My neck felt a little stiff Iike I slept wrong. I didn't want to get out of bed as much as I wanted to drift back to sleep.

Unfortunately dozing off wasn't about to happen my still half-asleep brain suddenly flipped on a switch and flooded my mind. Remembering the event's now replaying of right before I felt a stinging stabbing pain in my neck then it all slowly and peaceful faded to black.

Playing nice was suppose to be the smart way to go along with this whole ordeal. Not that I think I had much choice, but I was hoping to avoid any kidnapping efforts. I know the whole situation looks and sound's like I'm a stark raving lunatic. I said yeah I'll go wherever Hotness wants to go chat. After all, this can't be really happening it's so f*****g crazy and people don't have glowing eyes. I'm hallucinating or something. He just so happens to be mouth-watering delicious looking on top of everything else. He has to be a figment of my imagination. It's not like I have anything else better I'd rather do anyway. James will be wanting to deal with me in the real near future I figure. Burning to death didn't sound great either.

Beside's the fact that I more than likely set the fire at Spectator's, when I burst into flames real freaky like, I needed to get the hell out of here, real quick like in a hurry.

I know I don't know this guy or the guy's that must be his friend's, flunkies, goons, or whatever he refers to that sss and the dude's that came creeping from the shadow's after everyone panicked and ran screaming fire.

I don't know why It appears to be that I'm stuck in this circle on the floor. I've never seen perfect white powdery looking circle's on the floor here ever before or ran into the invisible walls either.

I can't step a foot out of the circle. Every time I try there is some kind of invisible wall, barrier, something I can't see blocking me from crossing over the line in a perfect circle around my feet invisibly trapping me from all directions.

He seems to know something I don't tho. I know there has to be confusion and a lack of understanding written all over my face. I understood the only option was cooperating even if for all I know this is a merry band of human traffickers or some kind of Charles Manson cult or gang. Looking like some kind of brotherhood by the way they are they are color coordinated, everyone had on something black or all black and they all looked rough and ready for action and whatever obstacles arise throughout their course.

They eye me cautiously, Standing farther back from me behind the guy with the blue eyes in silent defensive stances and ready to quick draw or make a sudden mad dash for any reason, just give'em any reason.

He promised most assured that he only wanted to "talk" for now, about something in question to do with his grand scheme of things no doubt. I don't know what on this earth he could possibly want to talk to me about. He doesn't look like we have a lot in common.

I wonder if this is extortion or blackmail. I doubt I qualify as a hostage and I don't know if this will turn out to be a ransom, I really don't think that is where this is going.

They have "no reason to harm me nor anything to gain by putting me in harm's way." To quote how he put it and I took the initiative to read between the lines and take it as 'there is no reason to not cooperate'.

His eye's never give anything thing away about what he could be thinking. Only a sneak peek's that thoughts are processing.

The gear's in his mind working but blank of intent. He pointed out the lack of reason to harm me so matter of factly stated. I didn't sense any distruth hidden in his words.

He kept his eye's on me, looking me up and down. We mostly just held eye contact for what seemed like the longest time. It was hard to look anywhere but in his eyes. They were so entrancing, mystifying, intense...deeply intense. Beautiful, electrified. Blue I wanted just to swim in the baby blues.

Disregard the fact I've never seen eye's like his ever before. The glow could be like some irresistibly tempting-looking radiation. I mean it's like any and all things are possible in a delusional world. Hallucinations can make the unreal suddenly very real, right?...in the mind of a crazy, that is..right?

I searched him in his eyes for hints for hidden or blatant deceit. I considered the fact that maybe I don't find seeds of deception because he might not want me to find what bad intentions are covered by lies for the moment. The thought floated to the back of my mind as quickly as it occurred to me. Lost in the blue glowing orb's and taking note of the intense way his eye's studied me like my soul is bare, it feels like he can see into it or something I've never felt anything like this before.

They say eyes are windows to the soul.

Without actually speaking the words, His eyes spoke to me somehow. They said, "Trust Me." I had this feeling inside me. I didn't feel unsafe or untrusting against my better judgment It was too easy to agree to accept without question, as the Q&A would be held after we leave Spectators and get to a safer secured more private...Oh God how so in danger delusional does it sound.

Q&A will be held at point B once we get there is pretty much the gist. I didn't waste much time Declaring "Fine. Deal." I deadpanned. He looked taken aback for a second before he replaced that look with a smirk and took a couple of steps toward me and leaned his face close to mine, the tip of our noses nearly touching. He inhaled a long deep breath with his eyes closed. I think I'm being sniffed again. What is with this guy?

He let out a groan of a growl that made my eyes go wide at hearing the sound that caused me to shiver and I felt my cheeks go red the heat spread quickly through me reaching my core between my legs. "Good Girl". He whispered in my ear. Sounding a little breathy. His eye's opened and just peered right in mine. I could do nothing but peer back for those brief moments before he sweetly said "Sweet dreams baby girl." his tone was so soft, a tone of voice so low it was almost a whisper.

Out of nowhere, I'm Immobilized by the sting sticking in the side of my neck. I cry out "Ouch!" was all I managed. Then nothing hurt. Everything got fuzzy and started to dim. My whole body turned to jello and without resisting not even a little. I just welcomed the darkness seeping slowly in my fuzzy vision till it swallowed me and I was out.

Now My eye's shot open. Holy s**t! Still laying on my side in a king-size bed with caramel-colored satin sheets and a black and gray and white comforter with matching pillowcases. Facing bigger than normal sliding glass doors with open blinds from the top of the glass door on the floor. There is a balcony and what looks like a big green grass field-sized clearing that stretched to a very thick tree line entering miles and miles of woods. The balcony overlooked a beautiful breathtaking therapeutic forest scenery. There outdoor lounging furniture on the balcony. It looked like a nice day to lounge out there. I took it easy as I sat up and dangled my leg's off the bedside. I don't have on my black fur bear paws anymore. Huh? I fan my face with my hand it started feeling a little warm in this hoodie so maybe it's a good thing someone took off my winter boot's when they put me in this bed, How nice of them. All sarcasm intended. I unzipped my hoodie. The air felt cool to my skin as I remembered I don't have on a bra, I'm wearing a piece of a t-shirt that drapes over one shoulder and cover's my cleavage area like a tube top that isn't skin tight because it t-shirt cropped with a pair of scissor's to expose everything but my breast without leaving anything to the imagination. Note's to self: Thank God for perky boobs. Damn, I'm thirsty as f**k.

I didn't realize that it didn't cross my mind to look to see if I was alone or not since I woke on my own and it was too quiet. I didn't hear movement or sounds of there being another person who was around or close to me. Imagine my surprise and chest pain when I heard a deep yet huffy man voice from somewhere behind me, Stating the obvious to startle me.

"Look's like Sunshine finally decided to rise and shine." I jumped straight up off the bed covering my chest with my hands. Trying to restrain my heart from jumping out of my chest and me jumping out of my skin all at once. I turned to scan the room behind me to see where he was. "I yelled out instinctively "s**t! Give me a f*****g heart attack why, don't you!" My voice went scratchy at the end of the sentence. Damn my mouth and throat are dry. I'd drink a whole glass of water in one gulp right about now.

My eye's finally landed on his tall not so dark but tanned and handsome frame standing with his arms crossed and leaning his right shoulder against the door frame leading to what looks like a bathroom.

After seeing my startled reaction he smirked and rolled his at the same time. Really Bro? He huffed out a sigh but followed up with "I did not mean to give you a start. I don't want to make you jumpy or anything." Pausing to take inhale deeply like he was taking a big sniff of something in the air. "My bad Babygirl." His face turning apologetic and his sharp impatient tone going completely smooth. His eye's still intense The blue electric glow of his eyes was more subtle in a room with plenty of daylight compared to how they glowed in a nightclub atmosphere. I don't know why he looks at me so intensely like there's something he's trying to figure out. Quickly enough my breathing settled back to normal like a force of self-explanatory habit I blurted out "Oh, It's ok I didn't know anybody other than me was here...I just woke up so I thought I was the only one in the room at the moment..." I trailed off as I was saying. WTF? WTG Miss manners.

I looked at him so confused. I felt my eyebrows wrinkle from me narrowing my eye's when It comes to my mind finally. "Who the hell are you anyway?" I deadpanned more calmly rather than loudly.

He cut his eyes like he was looking past me out of the sliding glass doors, His lips curved in half-smile, half-smirk. His expression say's he's debating how to answer me. Finally, he did.

"I could ask you the same thing " He cut his eyes back to mine as he smoothly stated the obvious yet again. Yes, Captain Obvious you could ask me the same.

I immediately interjected with my counterargument, "Man I asked you first." I deadpanned without saying another word, I firm that I am not conversing any further without him giving me some answer like a name, his name would work just fine.

He averted his eyes and nodded his head twice then cut his eyes back to my unwavering gaze.

"I'm Khyzer Sparks."

I saw a movie once with Reese Witherspoon in it. The family dog's name was Kieser. I repeated the name "Khyzer." only once, giving a nod with my head before my eyes roam over him.

"The woman that birthed me is eccentric and love's to be unique. There is no passion for life in the ordinary. So my name isn't spelled from the English language. It's K.H.Y.Z.E.R.if I remember correctly Khyzer is Arabic or something. It translates to "powerful ruler" in most languages. I'm the Khyzer Sparks."

I attempt to swallow but I have cottonmouth so bad. I rub the back of my neck nervously. "Well then Khyzer Sparks, Nice to meet you I hope."

I quickly averted my eye's downward to the bed. Feeling a little self-conscious for some reason deciding to mind my manner's now and introduce myself. "I'm Shannon..." His expression turns amused. His eye's still intensely studying me closely. He didn't give me a chance to get my own name out of my mouth. There were sounds of non-threatening growls masking small chuckles. He thinks something is funny!? Did he just growl at me?

"I know." with a smirk and inhaling deeply, taking a sniff again. He says with a slow breathy exhale, "I know who you are little miss Chandler. The pleasure has certainly been all mine." It was the sexiest sound fine of voice I ever heard regardless. Got my hormones racing at the speed of light.

Knowing my expression is looking as puzzled and confused as ever tho. I pressed on. "Oh-Kaay?" I drug the simple word ok out like it was a 2 syllable word. "...So then what are you and how do you already know my name? But don't know that my mother is Mrs. Chandler? I prefer to just go by my name and before you try to bullshit me like your a normal human being, Dont even! Your eyes are anything but human and growling sound's like you got 4 legs instead of 2."

I put my hands on my hips and looked as mean as possible like I meant what I just said and am in such a position to be the bossy one here. A devilish look came to his eye's still smirking. He straightened from leaning against the frame of the bathroom doorway. He kept his arms crossed taking steps toward me but being stopped in his tracks by the king-size bed taking up all the room between us.

He halted there at that side of the bed. He didn't walk around or climb over, Idk why I was a little surprised that stayed over there. It's not like I know what to expect from him.

He looked intensely in my eye's giving away nothing as to what he has on his mind. Still smoother than an operator and out loud as if it's normal as saying sunny out today instead of the bazaar and Corney's declaration said in all ais seriousness. His eyes lit up in a real neon glow before darkening to a deeper shade of blue. His smirk was trying to hold back his evil-looking smile. He said and I quote him: "Because. I am the Big Bad Wolf, BabyGirl."

To be continued...