CHASE

Chapter 2

Hours passed by, I knew that she was going to come. Something told me she would be here. The voices in my head had been on a rampage since I set eyes on her. I didn't know whether I wanted her to come or wanted her to stay away from me. But when the door unlocked, I knew damn well she was here. I sat up on the bed and watched her walk in. Her hair fell over her shoulders like silk, I wanted to touch it. I wanted to cut it.

'Hey again.' Her voice sounded like lavender and velvet. I could listen to her speak all day.

Or you want to kill her.

I don't want to kill her.

She's judging you.

Shut up!

Grabbing my head in my hands, it was throbbing. Just her mere presence was making my blood boil. 'You ok Mr Ashworth?' I could hear her step closer to me, concern evident in her voice. I didn't want her too close. I was afraid I'd hurt her.

Strangle her.

She's going to call the guards.

She's a cop.

She's a lie.

Stop! Stop!

Everything was blurring out, voices filling my head, making my veins come to life as I felt them pulse beneath my skin. I had wanted her to come back and yet here I was, wishing she never stepped foot in this place. I didn't want to hurt her, but I did. I didn't even know her. 'Chase.' She whispered as her delicate fingers touched my skin. The voices in my head vanished, my fevered skin cooled down as she carefully rubbed my arm. My mind eased at her voice calling my name. Something inside me turned and my heart rate steadied. Lifting my head, I looked up at her. There she stood, her soft brown orbs staring into my long lost soul. 'It's ok, calm down.' She smiled, a genuine smile that held a hint of concern. Why would such a human be concerned for me? I didn't understand, maybe it was fake, whatever it was, it worked and I had calmed.

'Bella.' Her name came out rough on my tongue, I didn't know why I kept saying her name but somehow it seemed to be the only thing I managed to say so easily. 'Yes?' She removed her hand from my arm and studied my none existing expression. 'Are you in pain?' She crouched down, clearly I had looked like I was in pain but I wasn't. I felt nothing. I never felt a thing. It was just voices, thoughts, endless amount of thoughts. 'No.' My voice came out empty. I wasn't use to having conversations with people. I didn't like being questioned either.

'Just before, did your head hurt?'

'No.'

'It looked like you were in some sort of pain.'

'No.'

'Is the word no the only word you know?'

'No.'

She giggled at my response, I wasn't sure what she found funny but the sound of her small giggle made my stomach sink. I watched her as she took her bag off and sat down on the floor, her back pressed to the bed. 'Not much of a talker huh?' She lifted her head and looked up at me. 'No.' Was the only word I could reply with, which made her laugh again.

She's laughing at you.

You're a joke.

No!

I growled internally, the voices creeping up again all the while I stared at her. She picked up on my gaze and looked away from me, her laugh faded and she focused on her bag as she fiddled with it. Pulling out a box of what seemed like cupcakes. 'For you.' She held the box out for me to take. I eyed the cupcakes, not sure to take them or to ignore her. 'I wanted to thank you for letting me take a look around yesterday, it meant a lot.' She gestured for me to take the box, when I didn't make any move, she placed it on the bed. 'So you wanted me to come by again today but you don't seem to want to talk.' I could feel the uneasiness she felt, I knew it wasn't easy for her to be here with me. I'm sure she knew I was a murderer. I'm sure she must've been afraid, truth is, I didn't want to talk, I just wanted to watch her, study her.

It'd been about five minutes and we'd sat there in silence, five minutes and I'd already analysed every inch of her. Five minutes and she said 'would you like me to leave?'. 'No.' Once again, the only word I managed to get out. Why couldn't she just sit there and look pretty. Why did she have to talk a lot.

Because she's nervous.

You scare her.

She doesn't like you!

I closed my eyes and inhaled her scent. She smelt sweet, like something I'd want to devour. Fisting my hands by my sides, I pushed away the thoughts that were running wild in my head. 'What happened to her?' My question caught her off guard. She looked even more uncomfortable now, maybe even sad. Clearly the topic of her sister was a sensitive one for her. She glanced at me for a split second and smiled then looked back down at her hands. 'She took her own life.' Her voice was barely a whisper but I heard her, I'm sure she didn't want me to hear her. A part of me wanted to hold her in my arms and tell her it's ok but another part of me didn't care. People die. It happens.

'Would you like me to visit again?' She broke the silence once again, most likely changing the subject too, even though there wasn't much discussed about it. I took my time and thought about her question. I wanted her to visit again. I just didn't understand why. I stayed quiet, maybe her visiting wasn't such a good idea. I mean, she had no purpose here.

She can be your toy.

Make her come back.

Play with her.

I tensed up at her touch again, she rubbed my shoulder this time. Almost as though she could too, hear the voices in my head. A small smile filtered across her features and she stood. 'I'll see you tomorrow Mr Ashworth.' She picked up her bag and walked out of the door. I wanted to tell her to never come back, to stay far away from me but I kept my words to myself. I was here for one reason and one reason only. To finish off what they started. To end it once and for all. A distraction, I could not afford. But a toy to play with? Maybe.

Chapter 3

BELLA

Goosebumps scattered across my skin, my hair damp from the sweat, my eyes fluttered open and the ceiling came into view. I didn't want to close my eyes again, I didn't want to see the nightmare I could no longer remember. I lifted my legs off the bed and stretched, 7:39am. My mind drifted off to the man that I shouldn't be thinking about. He seemed so distant, gone even. There was no sight of life in those brown eyes. It was almost as if he wasn't even there. His silence intrigued me, made me want to question him, to learn about him. I wonder what he thought about when his lips were sealed. Normal people exchange words, have conversations, but he, he was like a brick wall. Of course, he wasn't normal, but somewhere deep inside him was still a human. A human that I wanted to understand. Maybe it's because I spent so long trying to figure out Becca and what was going on in her head, I failed to find out and then she was gone. Maybe this time, I can try again and this time, I'll make it work.

'Good morning.' Luke's voice startled me. My eyes scanned the kitchen, he was stood there, making breakfast. I didn't like the fact he let himself in, he knew I liked to be informed before he dropped by. 'Morning?' I'm sure the frown on my face was more than visible. He turned and leaned against the counter, his grey eyes fixated on me. 'I know. I get it. I showed up unexpectedly.' He studied my movements as I walked towards the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. 'But I'm feeling kind of left out here. You haven't came to see me for days and then I hear from your mum that you've been busy at that loony tune hospital? What's all that about?' I could feel his interrogation rising, I set my bottle down and took a seat on the table. It annoyed me that even after I broke up with him two months ago, he was still acting like we were a couple. 'Luke, that's none of your business.' I had told him to give me my apartment key back and not to come here unless I allow it so. He never listened. I guess I didn't mind him too much, he was violent when we were together but now he was like a friend to me, although I know that, that's not how he felt about our situation but he had agreed to be friends so that's what we were, friends. 'And leave my key here before you leave, thanks.'

'I see how it is.' I could practically see the fumes rising out of him as he threw the key on the table and walked out of the door. I let out a deep breath and rolled my eyes.

After checking on mum and dad, my head was a spinning mess. I hadn't looked into Chase, all I knew was that he was dangerous and a stone cold murderer but looks like my dad did all the researching for me, being the protective father he is, he made sure to scare me good about the guy. I felt sick to my stomach. He'd killed his parents and eight other people. r***d four of the female victims before he murdered them then carved the letter 'C' onto all of his victims faces, excluding his parents. I didn't understand why someone would do such thing? What would make anyone want to go that far. I always thought, even cold hearted murderers have their own reasons. Not that I'd be sticking up for them no, I would never agree to taking away someone life but something must have drove these people into becoming so cold and so deadly.

After debating for about an hour, I headed over to see Chase Ashworth. Why I thought visiting again would be a good idea? Not sure. But something about him pulled me in. Maybe he was just an excuse to be in Becca's room again or maybe Becca was an excuse to see him but either way, I was going. Yes I shouldn't want to see him but even a person as ruthless and f****d up as Chase, needs someone to talk to, someone to hear them out. I just wanted to understand him. I never got the chance to understand Becca.

My heart was almost busting out of my chest as I reached for the doorknob. My nerves were a trembling mess as I stepped inside. I don't know why he made me so nervous or frightened even. I'd dealt with a mental patient for long enough to know their behaviour but Becca was not a murderer, nor a r****t. She was just.. crazy.

I felt a sudden wave of relief hit me as I walked in and found Chase's sleeping form on the bed. Even in his sleep he looked in pain. I debated on walking out and leaving him to his nap but I decided against it. I slowly stepped over to the side of his bed, being careful not to make too much noise. I wasn't sure to wake him up or to wait it out until he woke up so I stood there and studied him. His thick lashes were spilled over his eyes like fur. His lips partly open as he breathed through it. He was shirtless yet again, I wondered why such a beautiful being would become such an ugly creature inside. My eyes fell onto the scar on his eyebrow, it was so long and deep. It was painful to look at, but I wanted to run my finger over it, to feel the rough texture of the healed scar beneath my skin.