He walked closer, practically shooing her away like a scolded dog.
She turned and stopped to stare at me for a moment. Her mouth opened, just as he pushed her toward the parking lot. She shook her head, letting her eyes fall to the ground with tears pooling in the corners.
“Come on,” Jensen said, pulling me in the direction of my room. “Sorry about all that.”
I continued to stare until they were out of sight. “Who was that?” I asked, finally letting him lead me away. “What was she talking about?”
“That’s Mae Walker. She’s our town’s version of the crazy ol’ drunk, I guess you could say.” He ran a hand through his hair, casting a glance behind us as if she was still back there. “Her daughter died years ago.”
“Why does she blame everyone for that?”
“It was a drunk driver. Dr. Brown fought to save her, but he just couldn’t. Everyone tried to support her. We knew she was hurting. Anyone would in that situation. But she didn’t want our help. She went crazy, blaming us all. It’s really sad.” We stopped outside my door as he opened it and held it for me to go through. “You going to be okay alone?”
No. But I didn’t want him here with me as I slept. I didn’t know him like that.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for asking. If I need you, I’ll call you over the walkie-talkie. Unless you’re going home for the night?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m sleeping in the office, so feel free to call away. Even if you just want to talk.” He leaned over me and took a piece of hair in his fingers.
Nope. Not gonna happen. I smiled, backing away.
His hand dropped. He smiled, almost like it was painful to do so. “I really wish this hadn’t happened to you.”
“What?” I was taken aback by his words.
“All this. The wreck … and everything.” He stepped back outside. “Well, good night.” Before I could answer, he trotted off.
Why did I get the feeling he hadn’t been talking about the wreck?
A cold sweat ran down my nape as I twisted around in the tangled covers. I hated that feeling. Trapped. No escape. It was something I had felt since I woke up here and was only getting worse. I shoved against the sheets, freeing myself as my eyes peeled open to stare at the ceiling. Ugh. Why is it so hot in here? I picked my head up to look over at the air conditioner.
The room was silent, which meant a busted air conditioner. I dropped back into the pillow with a grunt, wiping sweat off my forehead. The people of this town should seriously think about closing this place. It’s shit. At least they needed to make sure everything was maintained on a regular basis.
I closed my eyes trying to remember the dream I’d been having. My heart skipped a beat when an image of Taylor played before me. My stomach fluttered at the mere feeling the dream had given me. I sighed, rolled over, and desperately tried to find my way back to him. Something bumped against the far wall. I jerked up, searching the room.
Empty.
The sound must have come from the room next to me. But Jensen had said no one else was staying here. I leaned against the headboard, waiting for it to repeat. After a few minutes of silence, I slipped out of the bed and went to the window. My hand tightened over the hem of the curtain. I barely moved it to the side and peered out across the empty parking lot. The fabric fell back into place as I dropped my hand.
I was still tired. My scolding eyes and inability to fully comprehend what I was hearing told me that — not to mention still being freaked out from today. I was imagining things. I stared at the wall; a tiny bit of light splashed against it from outside. I walked across the matted carpet, dirt sticking to my bare feet. I stopped, putting my ear against it. My heart beat rapidly. I didn’t want to hear anything, but I would toss and turn all night wondering. I held my breath and focused.
Riiiiinnnnnnnggggg.
I jumped back as a phone rang from the next room. What the…? They’d told me the phones weren’t working. The ringing stopped, and I heard a deep sound. A voice. I swallowed, once again pressing my ear to the wall.
“She was asleep last time I checked.” Silence. “I know how important this is. I’m not going to let her out of my sight.” Silence. “Okay, okay. I’ll check again. I’m telling you I just looked.”
I sunk back against the corner next to the door. A tiny piece of wallpaper shifted up a few feet from where I stood, directly in front of the bed. Tears rolled out of my eyes as I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from whimpering. I didn’t wait for whoever it was to answer the person on the phone. I ripped the door open and tore down the sidewalk in the direction of the office.
Please be unlocked. Please be unlocked.
I slammed into the door, my fingers trembling against the knob. Finally, I managed to turn it and ran directly into Jensen’s arms. I buried my face into his bare chest, trying to calm down.
“What is it, Piper? Did you have a bad dream?” I shook my head, fighting to form words.
He rubbed the back of my head, no doubt trying to calm me down.
“Someone is in the room next to me,” I said quietly, as if the person was still spying on me and would be able to hear.
Jensen’s body went rigid before he pushed me away enough to look me in the eyes.
“What do you mean? There’s not supposed to be anyone in these rooms but you.” He stepped back, snatched a tissue off the counter, and handed it to me.
“I heard him. He was talking on the motel phone about watching me. Then I saw … I saw the wallpaper move. Like a peephole or something.” I shivered, wrapping my arms around my midsection. “He was watching me while I slept.” I had no idea what this sicko next to me looked like or what his intentions were. I should have let Jensen stay with me.
Immediately, I was pulled into a back room, too upset with everything to fight it. He gently pushed me down to sit on his bed. A second later, warm blankets were wrapped around me.
“Stay here,” he instructed. “I’m going to have a look.”
I didn’t watch him leave. My eyes never left the floor. More than anything, I wanted my grandfather. Whenever I’d been scared, Pappy had always made me feel safe. I would give anything to have him sit beside me, smell his scent, and hear a story as to why I shouldn’t be frightened. I closed my eyes, trying to picture him. I could practically feel the bed dip down beside me as he sat. I raised my head, a smile gracing my lips as the daydream triggered the sweet smell of a cigar from my memories.
An arm went around my shoulders, pulling me to the right.
“Tell me why I don’t need to be scared.” It was the only thing I needed, his encouragement to break my dwindling strength.
“I wish I could, Piper baby, but I can’t. You need to be scared. It’s the only way you’re going to make it out of here alive,” he said.
“So I’m going to die here?” My voice shook, asking the question I didn’t want the answer to.
“You’ve known that the whole time.” His voice changed, deeper, no feeling, just a hollow, emotionless statement.
Something burning invaded my nostrils. My eyes ripped open to see a black apparition. I yanked back, unable to look anywhere else. The room began to change, melting away as pieces of reality became flakes floating in the air around me.
I was back in the underground room. Only this time, it was full of warm candlelight. The creepy statues were gone. The throne was there, but empty. The click of shoes against the stone floor pulled my attention behind me. The man, dressed in a solid black suit, approached me as gracefully as a cat. His eyes were hungry as he took in my body, barely covered by the thin nightgown.
“Who are you?” He stopped directly in front of me, causing my heart to slam against my chest.
“Mmmmmm. The sound your heart makes when I’m around is intoxicating.” He leaned close, the smoothness of his skin brushing against mine.
My breathing became erratic. My temperature spiked as heat surged through my body at an alarming rate.
&n
bsp; “Your body calls to me.” His fingers curled near the strap on my shoulder. “You were meant to be mine. The way you’ve grown … your beauty … it makes it worth the wait to have you.”
I leaned forward, my palms resting against his solid chest. I didn’t want to touch him, but I couldn’t stop myself. The pull was too strong. He was right. My body wanted him as if it didn’t have him, it wouldn’t be able to survive.
I felt tiny next to this huge being. He could break me if he wanted, and there was nothing I could do about it. My mind was clouded. Being around him made it impossible to think of anything other than how bad I wanted to be with him.
Desperately, I shifted through the fog and repeated my question. “Who are you?” I purred, running my moist lips against his collarbone.
He growled, the bass rumbling through his chest and into mine.
“Who I am isn’t important right now. You’ll find out in all due time.” His hand slid down my arm, raising goose bumps across my flesh as he did so. It stopped at my lower back, coaxing me closer to him. I allowed myself to eliminate the tiny gap between us with a need that was so strong it practically ached.
“When?”
He didn’t answer. I was moved so fast, I felt my equilibrium sway with uneasiness as I sank under him into a bed that formed around my body. Tendrils of hair splayed around me, covering the red silk sheets. We were in a different room, one I hadn’t seen before. It was hard to focus on it due to him being on top of me. He stared down, his eyes burning into mine with pure lust. His gaze dropped, landing on my heaving chest before licking his lips. It was clear he liked having me in his possession. This was where he wanted me.
One hand inched down until it met my thigh and hooked underneath. Harshly, he pulled it up, so he could position himself between my legs. His nose dipped between my breasts and ran up to the under part of my chin. He seemed to be smelling me. A shiver rolled down his body as he exhaled a deep moan. “If your taste is half as good as your smell, you truly are the most valuable treasure I’ve ever been in the presence of.” His lips brushed against my neck as he spoke. The heat seeped off him, practically scalding my skin.
I bucked up as his fingers dug deep into my flesh. He gently bit my neck and then traced the burning wound with his tongue. His grasp moved from my leg to my jaw, holding my head in place.
My lips parted as if on instinct, waiting for him to command every inch of me. His mouth descended on mine, claiming it for his own. His taste sent my body into a frenzy. Our tongues flicked together, both clearly hungry for each other. My hips rocked against him as he pressed down harder with his lower body. His hand left my jaw, and he wrapped his fingers across the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. He pulled back for just a second, hissing through his teeth before pressing his lips against mine for a second time. This kiss was more demanding, starved, and desperate to fulfill his needs.
Something warm ran down my cheeks into my hair. Forcing my hand to leave his back, I wiped it away. But more continued in its wake. Finally, I shifted my attention to the back of my hand. Black smeared across it, completely covering my skin. Shocked, I pulled away from our kiss.
The gorgeous man who had been showing me affection was no longer there. Now, hovering above me, was the image he had changed into when I’d found him. I jerked back, sending black feathers through the air around us. Shocked, I looked down. The bed was gone. We were lying in a pile of decaying crow bodies. Mangled and slimy, the remains stuck to me. His red skin pulled back as he smiled, sitting on his heels across from me.
“There are always two sides to me, Piper. Remember that before you try to escape. I know you’ll try. We’re now connected.” He reached for me again, but this time I recoiled, closing my eyes and wishing I could nope the fuck up out of there.
“Piper…”
I heard my name, but it sounded far away. I blinked, trying to focus on where it was coming from.
“Piper!”
I was jostled from my cowering position. Everything seemed to be spinning around me. It stopped when I found myself back in the bedroom of the motel office. I sucked in air like my head had been held under water to the point of drowning. I tilted forward, still uneasy from what just happened and landed on my knees.
Hands gripped my shoulders, making me flinch. “It’s just me.”
I locked eyes with Jensen. I had never left this room. Everything I’d just experienced had once again been in my head. He was in my head. I could still feel him all over my body. Now that I wasn’t near him, it disgusted me, but I couldn’t shake the need for more.
“What happened?”
Jensen’s head tilted in confusion as concern played on his features. “I was hoping you could tell me. I walked in here, and you were sitting there.” He pointed in the direction of the bed before continuing. “You were staring straight ahead without blinking. I tried to call your name several times, but it was like you couldn’t hear me.” His eyes roamed my face as if it would give him an answer. “Maybe we should talk to Dr. Brown about this.”
“No!”
His eyes widened as his forehead creased.
“It’s fine. I’ve been enough of a bother for him. Did you find anyone in the room?” I asked, changing the subject before he tried to argue with me over it.
Before Jensen could answer, there was a knock on the office door. He held up a finger and jumped to his feet, leaving me alone again.
Refusing to undergo any more weird mind games by the supernatural pervert who had decided to set up shop in my brain, I grabbed the blanket that was now pooled around my feet on the ground and walked over to the open door.
The sheriff stood in front of Jensen, both talking too low for me to hear. He glanced over Jensen’s shoulder and nodded in my direction. Jensen turned and gave me a weak smile.
“What’s going on? Did you find someone?”
“It was a homeless guy. He’d broken in through the bathroom window. Looks like he’s been in there for a while. Told you. No one stays here, so we didn’t know he was in there,” Jensen answered.
“Where’s he at now?” the sheriff asked, clearly seeing no need in the explanation for my question.
“I tied him up. He was pretty trashed. There’s a lot of empty bottles around the room. You want me to help you get him into the squad car?”
He shook his head before disappearing in the direction of the rooms.
Jensen turned back toward me. Our gaze locked.
“I thought none of the phones worked in the rooms?” I asked through gritted teeth. There was nothing I hated more than being lied to.
He turned toward the desk and sat down in the worn leather chair behind it, his expression closed off.
“Well?”
He stared at a stack of papers on the surface. Judging from the thick dust, they hadn’t been touched in quite some time. “I didn’t lie. I honestly had no idea any of the phones worked. I work mainly in the restaurant, remember? I only know what the owner told me.”
I frowned. “Who’s the owner? I’d like to have a word with him because this place seriously needs to be closed down or remodeled. It’s gross on all kinds of levels.” Twisting to rest my elbows on the counter, my upper body was covered in the halo of the little desk lamp sitting on the corner.
An uneasy look washed over his face as his eyes dropped. “Your arm…” He jumped up, closing the gap between us within seconds and gently lifted my elbow. “I saw this bruise earlier, but it didn’t look like this.
Fighting a wave of frustration at his blatant ignoring of my question, I focused on what he was referring to. I expected to see the mark that Ben Ryser had left. But it was different now. It was more defined. Darker. I traced my fingertips over the symbols now there amidst the discoloration. Symbols that I had seen before … across the man’s forehead.
“This wasn’t like that earlier, right?”
The words caught in my throat. They just wouldn’t come out. I continued to stare at the symbols w
ith a wave of anxiety eating away at my insides. “No,” I finally said.
“Maybe we should call the doctor. I’ve never seen any bruise do that before.” He continued to stare at the mark like it was the most repulsive thing he had ever laid his eyes on.
I locked my jaw. “It’s fine.” I knew it was anything but fine. There was only one way to make okay though, and that was to stop whatever was happening to me.
“Take these.” Dr. Brown handed me a small paper cup with two pills rolling along the bottom.
His command reminded me of my battered state. I clutched the cup, staring at the pills.
“What is this?” I leaned back against the headboard. Yesterday had taken a lot out of me. I was weaker than I expected to be, but my body was healing. I hated feeling this way in the aftermath. I guess it could have been worse. I could have been killed.
“It’ll make you feel better. Maybe even get you up and moving a little bit. As long as you’re not running all over the place, that is.”
I swallowed the pills and chased them with a gulp of water.
“The wounds seem to be healing nicely, considering what you’ve put them through.” He replaced my shirt and sat back until he was looking at me eye to eye. “So I heard you had an exciting night.”
My entire body stilled at his words. I nodded, thankful that Jensen had allowed me to stay in the room with him after the homeless man had been taken away.
“Why is it that I get the feeling that isn’t the only reason you look so … what’s the word? Unhinged, maybe?” His voice was soft, not the patronizing tone from the day before.
I shrugged, unable to form the words lodged in my mouth. “Does it have to do with what you think you saw yesterday?”
I steeled myself, forcing a smile. “That was something caused from me hitting my head.”
He crossed one leg atop the other, remaining silent for a moment. “You know, Piper, I’ve studied the human psyche a great deal. It may be beneficial to discuss what you’ve seen. There could be underlying issues that need addressing. Otherwise, those things might not ever leave you alone. They’ll eat away at you until you’re lost.”
Chosen (The Urban Legends Series Book 1) Page 13