My Possessive Admirer

14. Scheme

Bella's POV

Some say it's better to be loved

For a short time...

Than not finding love

In your whole lifetime…

I learned the veracity of those verses as our lips parted from each other. Even though our first kiss lasted only for a few instants, still it was a memory to possess inside my heart for a lifetime. Nobody knows whom we would end up with in future. I couldn't ensure how long these arms would be able to hold me close either. But at that moment, that very night I realized I didn't want my first kiss to be taken by anybody other than him. Neither anyone from my past nor my future mattered to me anymore. It was only him that I wanted…

"I prayed so that I could hold myself back, Bella. Yet in the end, I'm also just a slave to my desires," He sounded unhappy as he whispered in my ears.

"Ben…" I anxiously opened my eyes but he embraced me before I could see his face.

"Not today Bella, not yet," He pleaded, wearing back his mask.

"Do you not trust me?" I asked, a bit hurt by his action.

"My belief starts and ends with you, Bella," He stated.

"Then why? Why are you concealing yourself behind a disguise?" I demanded to know.

"How do I express my heart

With a face that's not mine?

What will you see

In the eyes of a dead man?"

He recited his reasons alleviating my disappointment. It's absurd, the explanations he gives me against his silly excuses. But I was too deep in love to deny his invitations.

He led me deeper into the woods and I followed, spellbound in his aura until I saw a light.

"How? When did you do all these?" I was amazed to see the trees encircling us were wrapped in yellow fairy lights. It created a charming atmosphere with fallen leaves on the ground. He placed a black disc on a wooden gramophone that was kept aside.

A familiar melody started playing but I couldn't quite recognize it.

"Isabella…" He called me by my name, proposing getting down on his one knee,

"Won't you give me the pleasure of a dance with you, princess?" He advanced one of his hands towards me.

I smiled and held his hand, "It will be my pleasure as well." I placed my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes. The gentle breeze softly soothed my skin while we danced slowly holding each other close.

He smelled like sweet red clover with a hint of mint leaves. It was enough for me to never let him walk away from this loving embrace.

'Wise men say only fools rush in…

But I can't help falling in love with you…'

I recalled the beautiful lyrics as the song progressed and I heard Mr Elvis Presley's wonderful voice. Ben hummed with him while we danced at a gradual pace.

I got lost in the moment so much that I failed to realize when the song ended until Ben spoke again.

"Bella…" His voice conveyed the message of his departure.

"Will I see you again…?" I asked with sadness in my voice, perhaps, he noticed that.

"Very soon…" He caressed my cheeks with his fingers, "Don't be sad now. I love you…" He exhaled deeply as I hugged him one last time and replied, "I love you too…Don't go please."

"I would rather have you for a little time than no time at all. I will remember you perfectly. My memory will touch your skin, your lips. The memory will hurt, but it will be mine," He spoke gently like he was reading me poetry, "Did you forget what you used to say to me? I was born to be yours, Isabella…"

He walked away unhurriedly deeper into the woods, leaving me in a daze. I stared at him, suppressing my grief until he slowly disappeared from my sight.

"I'll pray so I get to see you again. Let it be a favourable situation or worse. But I wish to meet you again in this life…" I whispered.

Ben's POV

I couldn't withstand the agony I felt walking away from her. I wish I could stay a while longer but it would only create more complications for her if she stays gone for too long.

I don't want that to happen...

Still, I'm elated because I got to hold her in my arms once again. It was careless of me to kiss her like that. But do I regret it? No...I don't…It was too dark for her to even catch a glimpse of my face, I know but was it thoughtless? Yes...it was…

I questioned myself countless times why we faced such tragedy in the past that parted our ways? I questioned Him why? Why were we separated when we were madly in love with each other? Why us? Did we not go through enough in the past? Then why? But I made a promise to myself you are mine... I can let go of everything in my life but not you...

How I am existing with all these questions buried deep inside my heart I wonder. This remorse eats me away, every second, every day, slowly...

I desire to meet you again my love cause my heart only yearns for your shelter in this faded life...

Bella's POV

My prom ended a couple of days ago. Winter was here knocking at the door, bringing snowflakes wrapped up in a gift box. It was already snowing here in Transylvania. I waited a long time for this day to come when I'll be starting my university life. Finally, I'll be acquiring higher education. I was looking through these cool universities on the web and getting all excited. I will be able to enjoy my time reading books and dreaming about visiting the enormous libraries of my new institution. I had a library in my high school too but it was excessively tiny for my taste. I want to be around a huge number of books so that I never run out of books to read.

No wonder I was called a 'Nerd' in my school days. The only thing that excited me was reading books. But now… Mr crazy stalker was on that list too.

I felt embarrassed suddenly thinking about him. I grabbed a pillow and hugged it while peeking at my phone's messages.

He texted me a couple of times after our last date but didn't call me once. I was missing him, craving to hear his voice once again impatiently. But I didn't know any valid way to tell him that.

Suddenly my phone beeped. I hurriedly checked my notification bar to see who messaged me, hoping it would be him above all.

"Becky!" I gasped in surprise. Becky texted to talk to me about something.

"Bella, can we meet somewhere? It's urgent. I need to tell you everything…" I read the message aloud being completely speechless.

'Where do you wanna meet?' I texted right back.

'Could you come near the entrance of Hoia Baciu?' She texted back.

Hoia Baciu! I was shocked that she mentioned meeting in a place like that. I could go there but I had to get on a bus. It would approximately take one hour just to reach there.

It's a forest outside Cluj-Napoca, Romania's second city in the depths of Transylvania. The place is, allegedly, very creepy. Many people might come to visit that place on summer days but in winter nobody even thinks about going there.

Why would she want me to come to a place like that? It sounded fishy...

'Becky I can't come there. It's too far! Can't we meet up anywhere closer?'

'I'm already here Bella. I need to show you something that's not possible to explain in a message. Please come here quickly. I'm freezing.'

Becky replied with an image of the place. I was at a loss... What do I do now? Should I go? I was curious to know what she wanted me to see there but at the same time, I was worried about my safety.

After thinking for a few minutes I decided to go and find out…I can't live in fear for the rest of my life. I had to face it and also be prepared to protect myself if danger came.

I texted her that I'm on my way to meet her there. I took my pepper spray and grabbed my pocket knife with me for self-defence.

I changed my t-shirt and wore my full-sleeved white shirt with a black cardigan. I was already wearing my black and white high waisted plaid skirt so just wore my black tights with it. I didn't wanna look like a mess. What if I run into Mr Stalker on the way. It has been days since I last met him.

"Maybe today we'll cross paths again and I wish I catch a glimpse of your face, unlike last time…" I pouted talking to myself, "Will you never show yourself to me, Mr Crazy Stalker?"

I got on a bus from the nearest bus station and reached the place in almost an hour. It started snowing when I was nearby. The whole area was already covered in snow. I walked to the entrance of the forest but saw no sign of Becky. I decided to call her and ask about her whereabouts. But unexpectedly I got a call instead.

"Ben!" I became exceedingly happy that he called me. I guess he was missing me too. I picked up the call and said hello beaming with happiness.

"Where are you?" I heard his troubled voice from the other side.

"Why are you nearby?" I was eager to know if he was near so we could meet.

"Bella get out of there! Why did you go there alone?" He questioned in an aggressive tone.

"Why? What's wrong?" I said nervously, appalled by his sudden change of behaviour.

"Get out of there now!" He ordered, warning regarding the situation.

Before I could say another word a man's hand grabbed me from behind and covered my face with a napkin. A weird smell made me dizzy. I lost my awareness before I could comprehend the situation.