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Rykes' laugh echoes through the forest as I stumble over a tree root.
“Nothing is funny” I frown, swatting the hand he offers me. The last thing I need is to look even weirder if the other kids see me reaching into empty air.
“No use in trying to convince everyone you aren’t crazy Perci, they already know, I’m not real.”
It's been awhile now since Ryke popped up into my life, he looks twelve- just like me. It took time to get use to seeing someone no one else can.
Ryke chuckles again, always knowing how to strike just the right nerve.
Turning, I start running again through the woods to get back to the foster home. The air is sharp, biting at my lungs. For a moment forgetting where I am.
Then it hits me.
I’ve been here for four months, after my parents' unexpected deaths. I don’t recall much before being sent here. Just flashes. Blurred voices.
I remember overhearing the police tell the social worker that it could of been a murder-suicide. My father killed my mom before taking his own life, deciding to “spare me” or some mumbo jumbo like that.
Everyone says I am in shock right now, hence why I have no emotion to what has happened, but how could I when I don’t even know what happened myself?
All I know is Ryke has been by my side since, even though he gets on my last nerve.
I feel my lips curve into a smirk, before he turns around, I know it’s not my smile.
I must’ve slowed down to a stop while I was deep in thought, icy blue eyes capturing mine, his full lips dawning a smirk that mirrors my own.
“I knew you liked me being around”, my cheeks start to burn as my smirk fades to a frown, looking away before I resume walking.
I don’t say anything back. Walking past him, being sure to purposely bump into his shoulder, continuing through the trail.
After a few minutes, I finally see the snug cabin with tall glass windows, fairy lights strung along the eaves, and a bright yellow door that pops against the surrounding pine. Smoke spiraled from the chimney, promising food and warmth.
I look up towards the sky, seeing it burn with crimson, hoping Ms.Brown isn’t too worried about me being out this late.
She is the only one who knows about Ryke, dismissing it as a vivid imagination, which only irritates him.
Ms.Brown, in her late forties, has never been able to have children, so she opened this foster home. It’s a shame because she’s a beautiful person- would’ve made for a wonderful wife and mom.
“What a waste,” Ryke sighs, eyes narrowing as he approaches from behind.
Balling up my fist, I send it straight to his stomach. He doubled over with a grown, “What was that for, dammit.” His voice cracked, breathless with anger.
Shaking my head, I continue towards the front door.
As I step inside, the warm lighting and familiar smells wrap around me like a comfortable embrace. The sounds of bickering from Iris and Benny echo through the rooms, making it feel a little bit like home.
I kick off my hiking boots and place them at the front door before walking further into the house.
I see Tabitha setting the table around the twins, noticing now that Ryke is gone.
I head down the hall, the warmth of the house starts to fade. My footsteps grow quieter, and the cheerful noises seem distant as I approach the bathroom. A strange sensation begins to creep in, like a shadow passing over the warmth. The cheerful noises seem to echo faintly, as if from a distant place, and the hallway ahead feels longer than usual.
Just as the weight of silence begins to close in, I hear Ms.Brown's voice booming against the walls.
“There you are Perci, where have you been? It’s already dark out!”
I don’t reply, walking faster to the bathroom, turning on the sink, and start washing the dirt and grime off my hands.
That’s when something in the mirror catches my eye. I look up to see a man in his early twenties glaring down at me, with the same icy blue eyes Ryke has, he looks so much like him.
“Wake up Perci.”
Jolting awake with a gasp. My eyes wide, disoriented.
The warm cabin vanishes, replaced by the setting sun, casting shadows across my room. Staring at the ceiling, blinking rapidly, trying to forget about the dream.
Rykes face appears suddenly above, his piercing blue eyes narrowed into slits.
“Sleep well?” he snaps.
He’s irritated again. It’s been too long since his last kill, and he gets antsy-dangerously so.
“Why are you asking? It’s not like you care.”, I shoot back, rolling my eyes to taunt him.
Ryke huffs and climbs off me without a word, strutting toward the bedroom door.
He’s always so impatient.
I smirk and sit up, watching him move.
I’ve been planning his next kill for a week, making sure every detail is right.
Tonight is the night.
Ryke gets to be unleashed.
“We have scooped this bar a hundred times, he isn’t here.”
I sigh, annoyed. The past two hours Ryke has made me circle the place like I haven’t already sketched every corner in detail, like I haven’t been over it a dozen times this week.
I nearly lose it when Ryke suddenly whips out one of my carefully drawn maps, like he pulled it straight out of his ass. He shoves it in my face, finger tapping on the little red Xs I marked, each a spot our target loves to haunt, usually while making women deeply uncomfortable.
My hand curls into a fist at my side.
Ryke just smirks, tapping one last X with maddening slowness.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I sigh.
He shakes his head and folds the map neatly before tucking it into my back pants pocket.
Starting near the back of the bar, I catch a flash of red in my peripheral. I turn slightly, just in time to see long, glossy curls bouncing with every step she takes, strutting through the crowd like a goddess descending into chaos.
The bar is loud, pulsing with bass and drenched in dim, flickering neon. The air smells like sweat, stale beer, and something smoky, maybe from the kitchen, or maybe something darker.
“Don’t look down. I’m. Going. To. Cum.” Yuro's strained voice says next to my ear, his hot breath brushing the side of my neck.
I ignore him and focus on her again-but she is gone.
I stop in my tracks, scanning the bar, heart skipping. Fuck. I lost her.
“We have to find-” Yuro starts, voice edging into a whine.
But Ryke spins around and shoots him a glare so sharp it cuts off the sentence mid-breath.
“Stop fawning. We’re on a mission.” His voice low, dangerous.
Then he grabs me by the collar and yanks me towards him. He nods towards a shadowed booth tucked in the corner of the bar.
Our target sits there, half-lit by a red bulb, nursing a drink like he owns the place.
Ryke’s smile is devious as he stalks toward him.
The target's beady eyes scanning the bar for anyone desperate enough to give him attention. Little does he know, we’re about to give him the best night of his life.
I smooth out my expression, feigning a kind smile, and tuck my hands into my pockets as I approach.
“Mind if I sit?” I ask softly, raising a brow in polite curiosity.
His brown soulless eyes land on my face.
“Hurry this up Perci. Just get him outside.” Ryke’s voice cuts through the noise, distant but sharp, as he slips out the bar.
I keep my expression neutral, waiting for a reply.
“Yeah, go ahead,” the man practically spits.
It only makes my smile wider.
“Let’s go find that goddess we saw.” Yuro says as he rounds the table, placing himself behind the target. His excitement is written all over his face.
His golden curls frame his flushed cheeks like a halo, the very picture of innocence-until you look closer.
I’ll admit, I’m curious about her too. She was breathtaking. I just wish I’d seen more.
“So much more, right? Her skin was flawless. That long black hair…I want it wrapped around-”
Victim number 52 coughs, cutting off Yuro’s inappropriate outburst.
He looks at me like I’m insane-not that he’s exactly wrong.
I give my head a little shake, trying to hide the heat creeping up my cheeks. Awkwardly, I chuckle and hold out my hand.
“I’m Perci.”
Yuro huffs in defeat as the target takes my hand and gives it a shake. I do everything in my power not to yank it away. His palm is cold, sweaty- making my skin crawl.
“Randall,” he grunts.
“Wanna hit another bar? Not seeing many ladies here.”
I offer a smirk, a glint of something darker in my eyes.
He matches it with a smirk of his own, lips peeling back to reveal yellowing, decayed teeth-probably from all the tobacco he chews.
I fight not to grimace.
His behavior is vile, but so is he. As I stand, waiting for him to follow, he calls out something about paying the tab. I wave him over my shoulder. “I’ll be outside!”
I push open the door and step into the night. The cold air hits my face like a reset button, instantly cooling me down.
With a sigh, I pull out my cigarettes and lighter.
Lighting one, I suck in as deep as I can, leaning against the wall of the bar.
“Where is he?”
Ryke’s voice is murderous.
I take another drag, sighing. “He’ll be out soon, Ryke.”
He clenches his hands at his sides as he steps out of the shadows behind me.
Turning my head slightly, I catch Yuro smiling at him. They don’t get along much-well, Ryke hates Yuro. But Yuro loves getting on his nerves. Says Ryke’s hot when he’s riled up, or something like that.
I chuckle a little.
The bar door swings open.
I push off the wall and take a few steps forward, assuming it’s Randall.
Ryke slides into my place, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
There’s a smirk on his face-he’s ready for the hunt. I glance towards the door-
And there she is.
She waltzes out without so much as a glance in my direction, but I’m frozen, completely undone by her beauty.
“My, my, my Perci…what do we have here?” Ryke purrs from where he leans against the wall.
Yuro looks like he’s about to cum on the spot, staring at her shamelessly, palming himself through his jeans, face flushed and panting.
“Oh my god Perci” Ryke groans. “Look at this goddess.”
My jaw clenches.
Oh, I’m looking.
Her full, pouty blood-red lips call to me. Her thick black curls dance around her in the wind, making her look like some dark angel draped in a black corset top, tight miniskirt, fishnets clinging to thick thighs, and black thigh-high boots that click with every step.
I can’t take my eyes off her- neither of us can.
I need to know who she is.
Just one look and I already feel the cravings rising.
I won’t be able to contain them for long.
I can’t even imagine what I’d do just to hear her say my name.
Scream it, actually.
Ryke’s lust-filled voice mirrors my own thoughts.
“Fuck that guy. We can kill him later. Let’s follow her.”
I turn towards him.
His eyes dance with curiosity and anticipation, that familiar smirk sliding back into place.
“I don’t know if we should do that,” Yuro mutters. “Let’s just go home. We’ve got the memory of her now, should be enough to get off.”
Yuro nods frantically, like that’s actually going to convince me not to start this new obsession.
But it wont.
It never could.
Because that’s exactly what she is.
Our new obsession.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE59kT5RBr
