Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 25:Take over

Chapter 25: Take over

3rd Person's POV

Despite feeling uncertain of what to find inside her aunt's house, Alice still wants to go inside. While Lennox just stands there watching Alice, stepping back. But, when he grasps what Alice would do, he became instantly worried—seeing how Alice takes a jumping stance and seeing how risky the fence is, he tried to stop her.

However, he was a second late when Alice successfully made it up the fence.

"What? Stay here if you're afraid." Alice said before jumping down into the property.

Standing, she feels melancholy nonchalant, seeing the run-down house she once becomes home now turned into an abandoned house.

The rose garden she once tends to with Mae and her aunt was now full of a hostile thorn bush, and the swings that witnessed moments of joy and innocent childhood were now creaking in the most haunted way... but, of all these, what terrified Alice most was the house standing in isolation.

As she lifted her head to defy its frail stare, something caught her eye. Confirming her gut that something terrible had already happened long before Mae went missing. Base from the untended yard and shattered, sharp remains of glasses on the ground from her aunt's room's window—threatening her like someone putting a knife at my throat.

"Alice, do you still want to go in?" Right then, Lennox appeared beside her, looking around the backyard's lot.

Alice, who was too caught up with the house's present condition, almost got her heart jumped when she hadn't noticed Lennox had already landed his feet on the ground.

"I don't remember letting you talk." She said, hiding her shock between her teeth.

Lennox just sighs and follows her walk through the overgrown weeds brushing through their legs. And when they finally step on the backyard's porch, Alice sighs heavily, heart pounding fast--

What happened here? Alice continuously thought that this question made her less afraid of the eerie standing house and more curious about what had happened there while she's gone and unaware of things happening on their own.

Opening the door that she knew wasn't locked the moment, she twists its doorknob, revealing the plates and cups that seem to be left unfinished as it still has coffee and rotting bagels on it.

Walking in as their eyes examine every nook and cranny of the room, Alice sees how terrible the once loud and lively kitchen from her childhood has turned into a mess with windows having thick greases on them.

"Aunty…" She uttered, fear crawling beneath her stomach. She began to think of things that could have to force her to leave the house unattended.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to prove his theory, Lennox started walking around, checking every detail left in a seemingly suspicious manner.

Running his fingers on the dusty counter, he then stopped when he saw a mug's bottom mark on it as if someone just moved the cup that was there. He immediately senses that someone must have penetrated the house before they arrived.

At least, it happened yesterday. He thought, examining the cold table and the little dust covering the mug's bottom mark on it.

Speculating everything that has been left untouched to its places, his eyes trail to the mug that he suspects was moved, but he didn't say anything; instead, he continues to follow Alice's behind the moment she decided to go upstairs.

Then, another thing that caught his attention while Alice seems to be in a hurry, he noticed footprints on the stairs steps' carpet.

Size seven…He thought to himself, examining and criticizing the burglar's sloppy work, tracing the footsteps to where it'll lead from his spot that stopped right in front of the coffee table at the living area where wide windows are fixed on its wall.

He stopped and stood there for a moment, contemplating the burglar's intention of going in. Thinking two men guard the house's front gate, Lennox figured it would be strange for someone to barge in without them noticing.

Yet, as he always put Alice first in mind, he decided to go up and follow her, but, just right after, he landed on the second floor and accidentally glanced back down to the living area that's fully visible from where he's standing. He saw something, something that triggers a sense of urgency.

When he noticed the table setting was set on the plain unreasonable sight on the coffee table, Lennox instantly grasps who and the burglar's intention.

"Got you, now." He mumbled before grinning wide, catching the message that the burglar left.

Alice's POV

Cold wind whistling through the open windows, making the curtains dance in and out, with the sunlight moving into an unseen rhythm, flickering across the wall made me all glad that I got here in this time.

If not, I'm sure this melancholy scenery I'm savoring now would be one like those in horror haunted houses. Turning my eyes around the room, a tray of bread and water sat untouched beside the wide wooden nightstand. A rough, worn leather mat, with a balled-up blanket thrown carelessly on top, as if forgotten, sprawled out beneath the window.

Beside the make-shift bed, a broken chunk of brick left a chalky residue that's surrounded by tiny stick forms with wings in the thick dust on the floor. The only indication of life that I could see was the fallen leaves going through the window from the tree branch near the room's window.

Following the leaves flying in, whistling down the floor, I unintentionally saw a phone plugged in a charging socket beneath the window. Making me realized that long before I thought of contacting aunt and Mae, I'm already facing the wall of a dead end.

"F*ck." I muttered, unplugging the overheating phone from the socket, as the screen flashes all my attempted calls, but before I could even unlock its screen, it suddenly shut down.

Damn it, how long has it been since it's been left charged here? What the heck even happened? I thought, looking around until I see a bag full of clothes. Packed in a disordered manner, aunt left in a hurry, packing everything but…seems like she hadn't gone with everything she packed.

I thought, tracing the other clothes lying on the floor.

"Whoa? We're f*cking here?" My heart jumped in shock. I glance back, to Lennox who's now leaning on the door, arms crossed, smiling mischievously.

Coping up with his sudden appearance, I glared back and rolled my eyes in annoyance. Looking back at the opened closet, I looked into it and saw every clothes in an utter mess.

"Alice?" Lennox said, approaching.

"Lennox, please, I'm having enough stress on my table now, so will you just shut—"

"The house has been abandoned long before we got here. And by the looks of it, looks like the owner of this house… won't be coming here anymore." He said, cutting me off, peaking through the curtains, looking down at the two men guarding the house's front façade.

"I know…" I said, admitting the obvious that I don't want to accept.

Mae, auntie, where are you?

If auntie left the house before Mae disappeared—no, base on this phone, she must have left when Mae also disappeared. She must have fled this house because of those same men hunting Mae. But, why? Who the hell are they—I know, they could be that person's men but, somehow, I don't think that person would go this low to keep a close eye on them.

Thoughts running through, I hide behind the wall near the window, sneaking a peek through the curtains to the mean outside, the brawn and the brain—the same people who were banging on Mae's apartment door back then.

"But, do you know what's bugging me off?" I asked as Lennox looks around the room.

"What?" Lennox asked, observing back the men outside when he saw I'm keeping my eyes at them.

"Those hounds, are they waiting for aunt and Mae to come back? If so, shouldn't they hide while waiting?" I said, speculating the situation. Seeing them again now gives me a clear impression that these men are just thugs under black suits.

"Who are they exactly? Could they be just random thugs Mae had messed up with? Or are they just sloppy men of that person?" I added, suspecting their behavior.

"Hmm, well, we won't know unless we asked them, right?" Then, suddenly without any hesitation, Lennox was about to unlock and open the curtains wide. So, to prevent his impulse to put us both in danger, I immediately try to cover his mouth with my hands, pinning his back on the wall.

"What—wait, what are you thinking?" I asked, almost hysterical.

I'm going crazy! I should've known this would have happened—

"Oh? I thought you're curious?" Lennox said, effortlessly putting my hands down.

Damn, this guy's strength—I need to work-out more.

"Oh—hey! They're leaving?" He said, making me glanced back at them through the curtains. And he's right. They're leaving, as they hop on in their black matte car, with its deep dark tinted windows.

"Already?" I thought, confused.

"Why?" I uttered, unable to grasps what's happening.

Why all of a sudden? It's barely past noon—so, why? I thought, checking my phone's clock.

"Hmm, don't you think we're focusing too much on small fries?" Then, Lennox, who doesn't care about hiding anymore, moves the curtain aside—as what he just said got my attention.

"What?" I asked, pertaining to 'small fries' he just mentioned.

"Don't you think going straight for the head wouldn't help you paralyzed its limbs?" He said, looking outside the house.

"What are you talking about? Do you mean—confronting that person?" I asked, getting the gist of what he means by the head and limbs. Head being that person, limbs, being that person's men.

"Mhmm, come on? Don't you want to get ahead of the game?" He said, turning back his sharp gazes with his sly smile coming up to his eyes.

Without pretensions, I looked at him with contempt.

"Game…I don't like how you put these things together as a mere entertainment," I said before turning around, walking away from him as I just feel like getting cornered again.

I have to walk away before he sets up the mood—

"So, speaking of that person…" In a cold, bothering tone, he said that pique and stopped me from taking another step away from him.

Turning around, looking at the face he's making. There he is, moving the curtains closed-back from how it was, while his face turns lighter, looking at me.

And somehow, I wouldn't say I like it, so far, he only shows this expression when he's about to drop something—dreadful.

"Heh." He uttered, giggling as anxiousness came knocking harder on my chest.

Now now, what's he up to?

"What did you do?" I asked, glaring at him.

"Secret." He said, smiling with his eyes, looking innocent.

"Lennox, I don't have time to play this kind of chase. So stop beating around the bush and tell me, what have you done?" I asked firmly. Then, he chuckled louder. Walking closely, he stopped right in front of me. Not budging an inch from my spot, I decided to stand firm and face him unfazed.

"Heh, I have a project for you. I'm sure you'll love it." He said, brushing his finger through my hair on my side, sliding its ends, while he leans down to smell the ends of my hair, yet his soft eyes fixed on mine.

"Cut the bullsh*t Lennox. What's that going to do with this—"

"Hush, you'll know soon." He said, walking past me, giggling at his thoughts, which made my curiosity itch to know.

"Lennox." —Because of that, the frustration I've been holding up until now is starting sipping out of me. He stopped just as when I called his name, glancing over his shoulder, he smiles gently and softly. Like an innocent lamb looking at his shepherd—wait, come to think of it, Alice…

He likes me so damn hard, that means I can manipulate him—yes, that's it. I am so fed up with this game. Since throwing questions like this won't work on him, I have to innovate things to cope with him…

Time to take control.

"Yes, Alice?" He asked as a drop of sweat started sliding down my temples, hesitation and fear mixed with it.

Alice, it's now or never. You can't afford to waver anymore.

I thought to myself, although I don't know how to subdue him under my grasps.

I believe, somehow, I can do it.

3rd Person's POV

As Alice stands, pondering, Lennox waits for her patiently, smiling. But, little did Alice know, aside from the innocent façade Lennox's wearing, a motive is brewing. A motive he has been building up in Alice's subconsciousness through ignoring her taunts and desperate questions and through showing his fangs—all to push her to take advantage of his obvious interest in her.

Go on now…take control as you are always meant to be.

Grab the wheels those bastards took from you.

You were born to lead; you were just tamed before you knew your potential.

Alice, let me, Alice…let me set you free, let me make you what you truly are.

Let me make the best out of you.

He thought, baiting Alice to take the leash wrapped around his neck. Believing manipulating Alice's situation could help her mold something inside her. Seeing her as his only mistress, he has been waiting for so long.

Hiding the tingling excitement that could burst any moment, his eyes are widening. Blood is rushing. Feeling restless within, he watches how Alice's eyes examine him, as her face gets darker and eyes getting sharper. He instantly knew that things are going all according to his plan.

That's right, Alice. Look at me.

Oh, Alice. Let me free you from the shackles they put.

Lennox thought, as his heart pounds as if he just took a current shot through their veins.

"Lennox…" Then, at last.

"Mhm?" Lennox uttered, gulping in the excitement after hearing Alice's voice.

Oh, Alice—say it! He thought, screaming inside. Waiting for her to fall for his plan—

"I'm tired of these mind games." But, hearing Alice says something he didn't see through. His anticipation crumbles.

"What?" He uttered, dazed, as his gentle smile falls into a confused one. Forehead wrinkled, he looked bewildered and surprised as he didn't see Alice's response coming.

"You were thinking of something just now, right?" Alice said, making Lennox's pretentious smile fall.

Just a while ago—I'm sure she was thinking of taking advantage of me. What's she saying now? Thrown in utter confusion, yet, little did he also know, Alice has also seen through him.

"Lennox, I'm not as dense as you thought I am." She said as if putting cold water on Lennox's back.

"Do you think I enjoy being manipulated?" She added that completely shut and stunned Lennox.

"No." Alice continued, staring straight at Lennox's nonsmiling face. Enjoying how she managed to scratch and threw him off, she smirks as she says—

"But, I know someone who's been craving for it." Smiling with self-satisfactory seeing how bare she sees him with his confused eyes still analyzing her through everything she says.

"Who—"

"You," Alice said, not letting him finish his words, for it already reached her as her words pierce through him.

And with what Alice just said, Lennox stood there frozen. He couldn't think anymore as he knows. She's stating a fact, a fact he doesn't want to cover. For it is the only fact he's always been willing to uncover.

"You crave it so much that you were putting too much pressure on me. Luring me into a delusional thought that I can use you, you have always been telling me you like me since I met you. May it be verbal or none, you want me to know you're interested. Basically, you want me to see you as someone with an 'opportunity' tag on your forehead. So, every damn time there were people around, you show how indifferent you are to them from me. You wanted everyone to know I'm different."

"You want me to feel fluttered, well. It somehow works, especially when you arrived with food last time I was hungry but on second thought, sorry. I was just hungry at that time. Now I'm with a clear state of mind. I can say that the delusion you created hasn't yet drilled deep in me." Alice stated, staring dead at him with a scornful smile, reminiscing how many times Lennox appeared in the most convenient times.

Hearing almost everything from her, Lennox smiles wickedly. Breaking his stunned calm stated, he brushes his fingers through his hair.

"Mhmm?" He uttered, impressed on how Alice's see through his plan. Then, he claps his hands sarcastically in front of her. Thinking how she managed to think it through with the given stress and tension.

How?

"So? What are you going to do—"

"I'm not done yet." With the firm compelling tone Alice has, Lennox stopped. Amused and overwhelmed by how Alice suddenly becomes different.

"You want me to use you, right?" Alice said coldly.

"Badly." He uttered, almost mindlessly feeling the chills running down his spine.

"Then, I will gladly do so," Alice said, and the next thing he knew, he's being intimidated for the first time in his life. So intimidated that everything from that moment on turns him on even more.