*Flash forward*
I tried to ignore the blood that trailed the length of my arms. Noah’s hands exploring each inch of my body carelessly, his lips attacking the tender skin of my neck as I bit back the bile that forced its way up my throat. My eyes had taken a permanent position of being tightly shut, all he had to do was open his eyes to see the disgust that lay upon my face and his little fantasy would be ruined. I couldn’t let that happen.
I forced myself to relax, I needed to keep him occupied, even if it meant sacrificing my dignity. My heart was beating in overdrive as he slowly lifted his lips from my skin, “you’re so perfect Embry, and now, you’re finally mine” his smirk was demonic, one that dug a bottomless pit of dread in my stomach.
Maybe at some other time this attention wouldn’t have been so bad. Maybe another time when I wasn’t covered in blood that wasn’t mine.
*Present time*
The sun was blinding as the curtains were forced open. “Time to get up little bug” Noah’s voice sung from somewhere in the room. Groaning, I flipped onto my stomach, shoving my face into the mattress trying to block out the disturbing light.
“No” I mumbled, trying to once again find sleep. Clearly he had other plans, I yelped as the blanket was ripped off of me, the cold air burning my skin.
“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey” he teased, chuckling as I kicked my legs trying to rid them of his latest grip. Holding an ankle in each of his hands, he hauled my legs off the end of the bed with my head now half way down the bed and my torso on the precipice of it. “Noah, stop being a wet sock and let me sleep” I groaned more awake then I would have liked to be.
“Fine you’ve left me no choice” he feigned sadness, “I’ll just tell them to throw out all the chocolate muffins they made.” Shooting up in the bed I turned to face him, “what, why didn’t you say there were muffins” I was wide awake now. “No it’s fine, I know how important your sleep is, I’m sure they’ll understand” he managed to keep a sullen looking face but I could see the amusement in his eyes.
Standing up, I shoved him, “freaking a**-hat”, tripping over his feet he grabbed onto the bed sheet for support but ended up taking it down with him. Uncontrollable laughter from both of us filled the room at what had happened, his face kept replaying in my head, the pure panic and I found myself laughing so much my stomach began to ache.
His face… the face of a murderer. The feeling of being punched in the stomach hit me full wack yet again and my laughter stopped abruptly.
What am I doing?
Faking a smile, I played off the sudden cloud that hung over my head, “I’m going to get dressed”, stumbling off towards the wardrobe I dug my nails into my palm trying to get myself together.
God I’m as messed up as him aren’t I.
“Embry wait, I have a special outfit for you to wear on this special day” he sped past me into the wardrobe. Special day? I studied his movements as he pulled out a yellow floral dress, “Happy Anniversary!.”
Oh yeah. That special day. Forcing a smile I took it from his hands, “thank you.” I was never really sure when this date had become such a big deal, I guess it had plagued Noah’s mind as much as it had plagued my nightmares.
I always thought I was just imagining the worst possible scenario like when you are in a car and think about a car ramming into the side of your vehicle, or maybe that was just me and I was that level of mentally ill. I couldn’t help the bad feeling looming in my gut, things just weren’t adding up. When did he get so nice all of a sudden and more importantly why? Maybe I was just self sabotaging again, I have a chance to make good out of a bad situation so why do I feel so off.
Slipping the dress over my head I smiled at the pretty flowers that decorated the yellow fabric. I slid my feet into the yellow flats he laid out for me, grimacing at the thought of the blisters they may result in.
“God, you’re stunning Embry” he shot his lovesick smile in my direction, my cheeks flaring red with heat. “Thank you” I fiddled with the soft material of the dress. I followed silently as he led me down to the dining area where the muffins awaited. It felt normal, well as normal as it could in this situation.
“I was thinking after breakfast we could go for a walk around the garden and have a picnic under the old willow tree for lunch, then when we come back Indigo should be here and you can meet her” we both situated ourselves, picking at the food laid before us.
Nodding, I peeled back the case of the muffin, “I’d like that very much.” “And, actually, there is a swing on the branch of the willow tree, I know how much you love them so I thought maybe today-” practically bouncing in my seat I squealed my approval.
“I freaking love swings” I said to no one in particular as I contently ate my muffin. The breakfast continued with small chatter between the both of us. If someone were to observe us here as we are now they would never be able to tell that I was here against my will and that he was a psychopath.
I had spent the rest of the morning with Noah, sitting out in the garden, swinging, eating, talking and laughing as treacherous as it sounded. But it was easy, god, it was so much easier than being scared, lonely and sad. I knew it wasn’t right, but was it really that wrong?
The reminders still popped up every other minute, screaming about everything he has ever done but I just let them fade into the background and the gut feeling well I just passed that off as cramps. I needed to let myself have this.
“Indigo’s here, let’s go back inside” pouting, I shot a longing look in the direction of the swing, “we can come back tomorrow you big child” he rolled his eyes as I cheekily smiled. Reaching to roll up the picnic blanket, he grabbed onto my hand, intertwining our fingers. “It’s fine we can clean this up later.”
“Okay, but, one thing” I hung my head down, waiting for my opportunity to strike. “Yes” he asked in a worried tone, slowing his pace, breaking my hand away from his, I made intense eye contact with him. “Race you” I yelled out already having bolted across the grass towards the house.
I chuckled at the profanities that escaped him as the wind whipped around me. “You’re gonna get it Thompson” his laughter vibrated through the garden. I yelped, feeling him hot on my trail. I was running from him, once again, but this time it was completely different, it was playful, it was safe.
About ten meters away from the patio, I felt his arms wrap around my waist pulling me back into him. My feet lifted from the ground as he spun around, dropping me on the far side of the house as he took off bolting once again. “You cheater” I bellowed, charging at his back as my arms clenched around his torso.
Noah dragged both of us to the finish line, by the time we had stopped we were both breathless from running and laughing. “Well aren’t you two cute” the unfamiliar voice had me standing upright, stepping away from Noah.
My eyes widened as I watched the unfamiliar person step out onto the patio. My heart began beating impossibly faster as a light red dusted my cheeks. She was very, very attractive. “Embry, this is Indigo” my mouth fell agape at his words. Of course it was, and I was beginning the second guess whether I had romantic relationships with the wrong Hill.
“H-hi” I gave a shy wave as she flashed a smile at me. “I was being creepy and watching you two while you were out by the willow tree, you two make a really nice couple” she took a sip of the drink that I could have sworn was not there before.
Stop admiring her face. Stop admiring her face. Stop admiring her face. My eyes dropped to her arm as she lowered her drink back, tattoos, lord have mercy. “It’s so nice to finally meet you after hearing Noah fangirling over you for so long”, who? “Shut up Indy”, oh yeah, him.
“It’s nice to meet you” I composed myself, slapping the gay panic out of me. Noah guided me towards the house with his hand on the small of his back, an unknowing emotions swirling in his eyes “I think we should head inside, we have a lot planned for tonight.”