Dark Touch

by Elle Lewis

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  GOODBYE

  I sat on the steps of the curling stairwell. Fuck. I stood, holding onto the smooth white railing. Below, the red flower perched on top of the golden table, beneath the black chandelier. I scanned the mirrors, but the glass surfaces remained solid. Everything was quiet and still.

  “Wake up, Sloan. Wake up,” I said aloud, smacking my cheeks. Couldn’t some people wake themselves up during a nightmare? I closed my eyes, but when I opened them again, I was still standing on the stairwell. “Shit,” I said quietly.

  “You should be more careful with your thoughts, human.”

  I whipped around. Darrow stood behind me, two steps up. Before I could move away he descended on me. His hand wrapped around my neck. I was beginning to expect this from him and I fucking hated it.

  I fought back, but it was pointless. He was too strong. Darrow released my neck only to back hand me across the face. The force of it made me fall. I tumbled down the stairs, landing painfully at the bottom. Blood filled my mouth. I spit it out. Bright red droplets splattered across the white marble floor.

  Before I could stand, Darrow grabbed a fistful of my hair. He began backing up, pulling me up the stairs by the roots of my hair.

  I screamed and kicked my legs, my nails digging into his hands. He continued to pull me up the winding stair case.

  “Your mind is an interesting place,” he said, casually. “It’s full of pain. There are so many things for me to play with.”

  “Go to hell,” I growled.

  Darrow laughed quietly. “You are a fighter. I see that now. It’s admirable but foolish.” He dragged me over the last step and hauled me roughly to my feet. Again, I tried to fight, but he pushed me against the wall, pinning me in place with his arm across my throat.

  “I have something for you.” His face was inches away. Staring into his eyes chilled me to the bone. Darrow withdrew his arm from my neck, pulled me away from the wall and moved behind me. He twisted my arm painfully behind my back and held it there. I gasped.

  “Walk,” he demanded.

  I did what he wanted. My feet glided over the carpet. We walked forward, towards the broken bathroom. Remembering the sharp toothed reptile that had been in the bathtub earlier, I hesitated. Darrow applied more pressure on my arm. I knew he could break the bone with minimal effort.

  I gritted my teeth and kept going. The light was dim, but soon, I could see a figure in the bathtub. This time it wasn’t an alligator, but a person—with pale blonde hair.

  “No, god no,” I whispered. I planted my feet, refusing to get closer. He could break my arm, I didn’t care.

  Darrow forced me forward. I continued to struggle, not caring about the pain in my arm. Despite my efforts, I stood a few feet from the tub. I could see everything clearly now.

  Thick black liquid filled the bathtub to the brim. It leaked over the sides, dribbling down the white porcelain. Sitting inside was my mother. Her pale blonde hair was pulled into a bun. Black liquid dripped from her creamy skin. She bathed in it, grabbing handfuls of it, letting it fall over her arms and neck.

  A scream threatened to climb out of my throat. Disgust and horror twisted my insides. My mother looked up at me, her eyes completely black. She smiled slowly, languidly, the way she did when she was high. “Sloan, my little star…I’ve missed you.”

  My heart broke, as if it were a piece of glass, shattered. Tears sprang to my eyes. I watched in anguish as she pulled a bottle out of the black liquid, opened the lid, and began swallowing pills, one after the other. I thrashed violently, screaming like a wild animal as tears streamed down my face. My mother began laughing, her mouth full of pills.

  Darrow tightened his grip and with a quick twist, snapped the bones in my arm.

  *

  My eyes flew open. I immediately began crying. He had used my mom. Darrow knew everything. Fucking bastard. I turned onto my stomach and grabbed a pillow, holding it tightly against my chest as I cried.

  Unwanted memories of her entered my mind. Pain and turmoil rolled through me in merciless waves. God, I missed her. Not the woman she had turned into, but the woman she once was, before drugs had reduced her to something unrecognizable. It was as if my mother straddled the world of the living and the dead. Part of her gone forever, yet she was still alive. A shell. A morbid echo of what once was—what will never be again.

  How did I make peace with that? No body to mourn. No finality of death. Instead, I watched her waste away. And there wasn’t anything I could do. Gradually my tears stopped. I slipped into sadness, as if I fell into a pool, sinking to the bottom.

  I closed my eyes, embracing the pain like an old friend. This darkness, this hurt, it was mine. It belonged to me and no one else. I lived alone in it. No one would ever understand what it felt like. The core of my soul was marred, and it always would be. So be it.

  I sat up, hugging my knees to my chest. My cell phone vibrated. It was a text from Millie: Can’t wait to see you tonight! XO!

  I groaned, realizing the party was this evening. I did not want to go. Not only would it endanger everyone there, but the last thing I wanted to do after that horror show of a dream was to go to a party. I did not have the energy or desire to pretend to be a functioning member of society. It wasn’t just the dream that had me on edge. Tension coursed through me, making my insides hot. The connection I shared with Darrow prickled, humming like a live wire.

  I turned the phone over in my hand, debating. I promised Millie that I would be there. I had just smoothed things over with her. If I didn’t show, she would be extremely disappointed; Donovan too. Going would be reckless.

  I chewed on my bottom lip. The tension I felt was unsettling. What if I only stayed for an hour? A quick appearance, one drink. Happy birthday, Donovan. Yay, and gone.

  With the decision made, I got in the shower and started getting ready. I just needed to get through tonight.

  *

  With everything going on, I hadn’t bought a costume for the party. I managed to find a pair of cat ears in one of my dresser drawers. I put on black leather leggings, black pumps, with a loose but stretchy black shirt that hung off one shoulder. I straightened my hair, so that it hung to my waist like silk. I did my makeup heavier than usual, with smoky eye shadow and cat eyeliner. I placed the cat ears in my purse, intending on wearing them once we arrived.

  James knocked on my door at exactly seven thirty. He had insisted on picking me up. I didn’t mind. A smile spread across my face as I opened the door. Tonight, he had on a black jacket over a dark forest green shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. The five o’clock shadow was still in place, now grown in a little more, his brown hair styled in neat dark waves.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He kissed me softly on the cheek.

  “Hi…come in.” I felt relieved to see him. The tension that I felt earlier lingered, like a bitter aftertaste. I tried to push it aside.

  I gave James a tour of my house, which took all of two minutes.

  “Can I see your art work?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Sure.”

  I led him to the garage. His fingertips brushed my lower back as we stepped into my make shift art studio. I watched meekly as he examined my work.

  “Sloan, this is incredible,” he said as he examined the Romanticism painting. “These colors and textures. Damn, you are really talented.” He shifted his gaze to the mural. “Is this glass?”

  I smiled a little. “Yes.”

  “Wow. I want to hang it in my house. How did you make it?”

  Before I could respond, I felt it. The tension. It was building, rising like a wave, posed to crash. Darrow was up to some
thing. I could feel his excitement. I could taste his hunger. It slammed into me. I lost my balance. James caught me before I fell, steadying me.

  “Sloan! Are you okay?”

  “I’m alright,” I said breathlessly. Although my legs felt like jelly. I held onto his arms for support.

  “All the color just drained from your face. Come here.” James wrapped his arm around my waist and then sat me down on the couch. “Did you eat today?”

  I nodded, my hands shaking.

  “What’s going on?”

  When I didn’t answer, James cupped the side of my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Talk to me, Sloan. We don’t have to go to this party. We can stay here, or you can come home with me? Do you want to cancel?”

  I shook my head. “No, I have to go. I promised.”

  James stayed quiet, waiting for an explanation.

  In a shaky voice, I told him about the dream.

  He frowned, his eyes filling with understanding. “I’m sorry. That must have been hard for you, dreaming about her like that.”

  “There’s more,” I said. “I keep feeling these waves of tension. Its hard to explain. Something’s going on. I’m not sure what, but… I don’t think I have much time left.”

  James exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair. “You think he’s coming?”

  “Yes. Soon.”

  “Okay listen, we’ll go to this party. Stop in. Say hi. Then we are going back to my place. I’m not leaving you alone. And I’m not just talking about tonight. I think you should pack a few things.”

  I nodded, my lips quivering. “Give me a minute?”

  He kissed me softly. “Take your time. I’ll be outside.”

  I watched as he got up and strode from the garage. After a second, I heard the front door open and close. I went into my bedroom and slipped on a black leather jacket. I then grabbed a bag and began filling it with clothes and other necessities. I felt detached as I packed, as if I were watching someone else’s hands.

  I slung the bag and my purse over my shoulder, took a quick look around my little house, and then locked the door behind me.

  James was leaning against the truck, waiting, his expression hard to read. He opened the passenger door for me and I slid in, placing my bags on the floor. James got in, put the truck in reverse and backed out of the driveway. As we drove through the mountains towards the city, I tried to convince myself that I would only be gone for one night, but I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn’t see my house again for a long time.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  HALLOWEEN HORRORS

  James managed to find street parking several blocks from Millie and Donovan’s apartment. We would have to walk. I didn’t mind. It was a cold windy night, nearing forty degrees. The sky was overcast with thick gray clouds. The frigid breeze felt refreshing on my face.

  Halloween was a busy night in Seattle. The city was packed with people bar hopping while in costume. James held my hand as we navigated through the heavily crowded streets. I followed his lead, my mind adrift.

  I felt relieved when we arrived at their building. Some of the more gruesome Halloween costumes were making me uneasy. Especially people wearing different colored contacts or masks. I had real monsters to contend with.

  James looked up at the high rise, his eyebrows raised. “Your friends live here?”

  “Millie’s father is a surgeon and he is extremely generous,” I explained as we got into the elevator. “Donovan’s parents are lawyers. Not that he needs much help. The grants he receives for school are more than enough.”

  James nodded. “Alright then.”

  The doors closed. We were alone in the elevator. Millie and Donovan lived on the top floor. It would be a long ride.

  I studied his profile, admiring the defined angle of his jaw and the long stretch of his neck. He really did have gorgeous eyes, so light they reminded me of melted caramel. James caught me looking at him. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I was thinking that you look incredible tonight. Stunning,” James said. “But with everything going on, it seemed…I don’t know. Out of place to say it. How are you holding up?”

  I didn’t answer. Instead, I laced my arms around his neck, drawing him to me. I kissed him gently, teasing him, a light brush. I slowly drew my tongue across his bottom lip. That did it. James grabbed me by the waist and pressed me against the wall. Our kiss deepened, filling with need, exploding with desire. James lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my hands tangled in his hair.

  We barely noticed when the elevator stopped, doors opening to reveal a middle aged couple waiting to take the elevator down.

  The man stared at us in disapproval. Blood rushed to my cheeks. I unceremoniously unwound my legs so that James could put me down. He laughed quietly. I kept my expression smooth as we walked past the couple. The man was shaking his head as he and his wife walked into the now empty elevator, although the wife gave James a smile and a wink.

  Once the doors were closed James started laughing even louder.

  “Oh my god that was so embarrassing!” I said.

  “Why?” He was still laughing.

  “We were literally getting hot and heavy in front of them!”

  “Did you see her wink at me?” James asked.

  I couldn’t help it. I started laughing too, “Yes! Cougar bait.”

  “We tainted their refined evening. Although…they could be swingers,” James said.

  I laughed harder and said, “And we just gave them a winning audition.”

  James and I both dissolved into laughter, the good kind that starts in the belly and pours out of your mouth, forcing you tilt your head back to let it tumble out. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed wholeheartedly. It broke apart the tension and fear inside of my chest, like soap bubbles being popped.

  We continued to chuckle as we made our way down the long hallway, finally stopping in front of Millie and Donovan’s door, apartment 2342. I could hear music. I twisted the doorknob. It was unlocked. James followed me inside.

  The apartment was decked out in Halloween decor. A fog machine blew silvery smoke through the air. Blue and orange lights were strung overhead. Graveyard headstones and skeletons were dispersed throughout the apartment, as well as spider webs. Electronic music with heavy bass played loudly. The music vibrated through the heels of my pumps.

  The apartment was crowded, most people dressed in costume. I recognized some of them from Seattle University, but didn’t know most of the people here. I made my way through the living room looking for Millie and Donovan. James stayed close behind me, his fingertips on the small of my back. I made a mental note to be focused and present. I pulled the cat ears out of my purse and slipped them on.

  After a few minutes, I spotted someone with auburn curls out on the balcony. The balcony was extremely spacious, big enough to comfortably fit six or seven people at a time. I opened the sliding glass door and stepped out into the cold night, the surrounding city lights shining brightly in the darkness.

  Millie’s costume was gorgeous. She wore an authentic midnight blue Victorian dress, complete with bustle. Her curls were arranged in a classy updo, little ringlets falling around her face. A pair of black fingerless lace gloves came up to her elbows. Donovan stood next to her, dressed as the phantom of the opera. He wore black slacks and a white collared shirt with a silk gold vest. The gold vest had intricate black roses embroidered throughout, which matched perfectly with the black tie that was tucked into the vest. Donovan had taken off his glasses so that he could wear the iconic w
hite mask. As usual, his sleeves were rolled up, revealing the tattoos that encircled his arms. They were talking with someone I didn’t recognize, a tall attractive guy with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nicely trimmed beard.

  I tapped Millie on the shoulder. She turned, a bright smile broke across her face when she saw me. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She gave me a quick hug.

  I smiled. “So am I.” And I meant it. I was glad that I had decided to come, despite what was going on. I gave Donovan a high five, which made him grin.

  “Happy birthday Donovan,” I said.

  “Thanks Sloan. How have you been?” asked Donovan.

  Donovan and Millie tell each other everything. If I told Millie something, I automatically assumed Donovan knew it too. Millie had probably filled him in on a few things.

  “I’m alright,” I said.

  Donovan gave me a little look that said we’ll talk later. I gave him a small nod and then noticed that Millie was eying James with curiosity.

  I quickly introduced him, realizing I probably should have done that first. “Uh, guys, this is James. James this is Millie and Donovan.”

  Millie gave him a small wave. “Hi.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” James gave Millie a polite smile and then shook Donovan’s hand. “Happy birthday, man.”

  “Thanks,” Donovan said amicably. “This is my cousin, Garrett.” Donovan gestured to the guy with the blonde hair and blue eyes. Shit. I realized uncomfortably that this was the guy Millie had wanted to set me up with. Garrett was not in costume but simply dressed in a blue and black flannel shirt, gray jeans and black sneakers.

  Garrett shook my hand. “Millie told me a lot about you.”

  “Oh?” I said.

  Garrett continued to shake my hand. “Yeah, and I also love art. Just so you know. Dali. The Mona Lisa. That guy, you know, that cut off his ear? All great. I see you are here with someone. I mean, of course you are. A girl like you isn’t usually single. Not to say that girls have to be anything specific. Is it hot out here?”