Chapter 6 - Serena
2171 Words
At seven in the evening, Serena was curled up on the sofa, waiting on Ethan. He was due any moment for their date and she still had no clue as to where they were going. She was wearing a big grey, knitted jumper and her black jeans that had a criss-cross lace design down the sides with her trainers. Her hair was in a high ponytail, so it was out of the way.
She was getting a little worried; Ethan was never late for their dates. But he was nearly fifteen minutes late. As she reached for her phone to call him, he knocked on the door and let himself in.
“Hey, I’m sorry I am a little late baby. I forgot to get a few things for our date.” He grinned and pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her.
He kissed her gently, one hand behind her neck, tilting her head back a little. The other stayed around her waist. She melted against him, her arms moved around his neck and she held him close. She never got tired of this man’s kisses. She whimpered a little when he pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Come on. I have a surprise for you.” He took her hand and led her outside. He made sure the house was locked up before they got into his land rover.
She looked out of the window as he drove them through town. He didn’t stop at any of the restaurants they usually went to and he passed the entertainment complex where the cinema and the bowling alley was. Curious she chanced a glance in his direction. She was baffled as to where he was taking her.
“It’s going to get a little bumpy here,” he warned, and then he turned off by the trees heading down a dirt path into the hills.
He wasn’t kidding. The dirt road was full of dips and holes where the ground had worn away through over-usage. She could just make out lots of different trees on either side of the road. They reached high into the sky, almost touching the clouds. She could hear birds chirping high in the branches. There was a hoot from an owl that flew through the trees as it hunted for his dinner.
After twenty minutes of a bumpy road, the ground seemed to level out and they came to a clearing. There was a rock formation to the right on the fringe of the trees. It jutted out of the side of the mountain, a trickling of water falling down the middle into a small lake at the bottom.
He pulled up beside the water and switched off the engine. Then he got out of the car, went around to the back and got something from the boot. He disappeared for a moment and then appeared at her side. He helped her from the land rover and led her to a blanketed area on the grass. There was a basket in the middle and two standing, camp torches on either side of the blanket.
“Wow! Ethan this is incredible,” she breathed as she looked at the beauty of nature all around her. “How did you find this place?”
“It’s where my friends and I would camp. I thought we could have a picnic and watch the stars. There’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight.”
“You’re very romantic.” Serena smiled at him.
They both settled down on the blanket and nibbled at the food and drink Ethan had brought them. He’d brought some sandwiches, cold cuts of meat and cheese. Along with a salad and some small cupcakes. For dessert, he had brought them lots of different fruits to nibble on. However, he had brought her favourite, strawberries and cream.
Once they had finished eating, Ethan cleared up the plates and leftover food and put them into the basket. She couldn't help admiring the scenery around her. It was so peaceful here; she understood why he told her to wrap up though. A breeze rippled through the grass and she shivered. Serena jumped a little when she felt his arm wrap around her and pulled her into his side. When she looked up at him, she smiled and frowned when she noticed he was chuckling.
"You've got a little cream here." He lifted his hand to her cheek and brushed his thumb along her bottom lip. "I'll get it." He leaned in and kissed the corner of her lip, gently he licked along the edge.
Serena's heart skittered and jumped when he did that, a blinding heat coursed through her whole body. She turned her head slightly and kissed him gently on the lips. She felt his momentary pause before he kissed her back. He deepened the kiss but kept it gentle at the same time. Their tongues moving together in a sensual dance. She pulled him closer.
Everything around her seemed to blur and shift. She didn't feel the cold breeze rushing around them, didn't notice the darkness in the sky, or the sounds of the animals in the surrounding trees. It was just this amazing man and her. This man who wanted to be hers. He cared for her and accepted all of her. She knew right then that she loved this man. Her trust in him cemented that feeling within and the idea of not being with this man forever made her heartache. But she couldn't tell him that. That was sure to scare him off - right?
Eventually, they broke apart, both breathless and smiling. They then lay on the blanket, Serena tucked into his side with one of his arms around her waist, the other tucked beneath his head. They watched the stars twinkling down at them. The meteor shower was incredible. Every now and then a shooting star streaked across the sky and they would both point it out and watch in awe as it disappeared from view.
Serena made a silent wish with each shooting star that streaked across the indigo tinted sky; she prayed she would never lose this man.
Unaware of how long they stayed there watching the stars, it could have been five minutes or five hours. She really didn't care, however, her body had other ideas. A yawn escaped and she covered her mouth quickly and stretched in his arms.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise how late it was getting," Ethan said and pulled them both up to a sitting position. "Come on. Let's get you home."
"Thank you." She glanced at her watch. "It's almost midnight. We seem to have a habit of getting carried away on our dates. Remember our first date?" she laughed softly, and folded the blanket up then followed him to the car.
"Of course, I do. We spent hours talking in that Chinese. I still have my fortune from that fortune cookie." He grinned at her, placing the basket and blanket into the boot of the car. "It's the best one I've had.’ Change is happening in your life, hold on tight.' You're the change I'm holding on tight to." He pulled her to him and held her tight.
Serena blushed and moved her arms around her neck.
"I've kept mine too. ’A lifetime of happiness lies ahead of you.' It seemed like it was too good to be true. But I'm beginning to think it was spot on." She smiled shyly and kissed him lightly on the lips, then turned to climb into the car.
Ethan helped her in and then drove her home. The journey back down the side of the mountain seemed to take less time than it did to get up. The car juddered and jolted as the car hit the holes and bumps again.
Much sooner than she wanted, Ethan pulled up outside her home and walked her to the door as was their usual routine. He gave her another panty-dropping kiss, her arms clung to his chest and her heart rate picked up. The urgency in this kiss was insatiable and she wanted more.
She couldn't help feeling disappointed when he pulled away, but she pushed that feeling away and stepped out of his arms.
"Good night Ethan."
"Good night Serena."
She went inside and turned to watch through the window as he drove off before she stepped into the hallway and frowned. There was something off in her home. She couldn't quite put her finger on what alarmed her so, but there was something. Again.
Out of habit she went around the kitchen and living room and checked all the windows were secure and locked.
In the kitchen, her eyes landed on the sink and she spotted dishes she had not used. Or had she? She bit her lip anxiously and shook her head before she washed and dried them and placed them back in the cupboard.
Back in the living room, her eyes fell onto the coffee table and the papers she had marked earlier that morning. They were not as neat as she had left them, but then she'd been that anxious to go for her run she couldn't remember exactly how she had left them anyway. She looked around and then shrugged. "I'm losing it." She muttered to herself and collected the essay's, placed them into a folder and with her bag by the door for Monday morning.
Fatigue hit her at that point, and she yawned hard and rubbed her eyes.
She climbed the spiral stairs, checking the windows as she passed them. Serena reached her room and quickly stripped off and put her cotton short pyjamas and a vest top on. Before she climbed into bed, she placed her phone on to charge on her bedside table.
She lay down in her bed and picked up her book to pick up where she left off in her current romance book.
Only she didn’t get a chance.
The minute her head hit the pillow she was out like a light.
***
He watched from the side of the garage as she checked the house.
He had quite happily made himself at home.
He helped himself to her food.
Since he was kicked from his flat, he'd been on the streets.
Then he realised this w***e owed him.
So, he stayed in her garage.
W ho would know?
She certainly didn't check her garage or her car.
He had no job now thanks to that b***h.
He sparked his lighter and held the flame under his hand.
He felt the rush as the flames licked at his skin.
Tonight, he wanted to scare the life out of her.
He put the lighter away and made his way around to the front...
***
That night her dreams were filled with images of smoky shadows and flames around her. The flames licked at her ankles, burning her skin and the smoky shadows enclosed on her. Ethan was there outside of the smoke, his back to her and she tried to run to him but the faster she ran the further away he seemed to be. From behind hands gripped her arms to stop from reaching him. She shouted for him, screamed for him to help her.
She sat bolt upright, her heart racing and tears streaming down her face. She was disoriented for a moment and clutched her chest as she gasped for air. It felt so real. After a few deep breaths, she steadied herself and wiped her face with the covers.
A loud crash reverberated through the house. Serena gasped and covered her mouth forcing her breathing to be low and steady. Another crash sounded and she jumped out of bed, snatched up her phone, ran to the ensuite bathroom and locked the door behind her.
She dialled the first person she could think of, Ethan.
His line rang three times before he answered.
"Hullo?" His sleepy voice said.
She instantly felt terrible for waking him up.
Then she remembered the reason she called and gulped.
"Ethan?" she whispered into the phone.
"Serena?" He instantly sounded more alert. "What's wrong?"
Before she could answer, a third smash echoed through the house.
"What was that‽," he asked sharply.
"I'm not sure. Ethan, I think someone is in my house." She felt fresh tears on her face and brushed them away quickly. "I'm scared."
"Stay where you are. Do not leave your room. Understand me? Monster and I will be there in five. Call the police," he insisted.
"Okay, please hurry."
She crouched down onto the floor behind the door and dialled 999.
"999 what's your emergency..."
***
He cackled softly at the sound of the glass smashing.
He knew she would hear.
He threw another and heard the crash as he hit the coffee table.
Knowing he would need to hide, he slipped away and back into the garage as if he was never there...
***
- Writer
