Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Audrey

Grief was a weird thing. I dulled rhe senses in a way that was indescribable but at the same time even through all the tears that I had finally let loose I was more aware of my surroundings than ever.

The moment the twig snapped in the darkness I knew it was the neighbour. The axe murderer who had a taste of apples.

“Hello Audrey.” His voice was like velvet. Two words and each one of them felt like they were rubbing against my most intimate areas. My core clenched , forcing me to squeeze my thighs together in embarrassment.

What was up with that.

How could an unseen man have such an effect on me?

“Who are you?” I managed to speak normally and not moan but it was a colossal effort. I couldn’t even see him but it felt like I knew him.

Two words and I knew him. Like I had heard his voice before.

That’s the effect he had on me. Instant and violent.

“You don’t know?” There was an edge of amazement in his voice and that confused me more than anything else that had happened recently.

“I know you Audrey.” His continued in his smooth silky voice. “I know-“

I cut him off as a chill swept over my body. Tighrening the blanket around my body.

“My neighbour-“ I began to say and stopped. It wasn’t like I could see him but it was like I could feel him move. My back was to the tree so why did it feel like he was suddenly breathing down my neck?

“Look I disnt mean to just let myself in?” I stuttered. Why was I suddenly so nervous and unsure of myself?

Because I told myself. I was in the dark , completely alone with what I was pretty sure was a murderer.

Or maybe a ghost of a killer.

Not that I believed in ghosts but the way he lurked around unseen I was beginning to.

“I don’t care about that. What is mine is yours Audrey. It always has been and I enjoyed the crumble.” There was a deep breath , one that sounded almost like a moan and again my core clenched.

“It’s been a long time since I had my fill of something so warm and sweet.”

I maoned before I could stop myself.

His low chuckle just made my embarrassment worse. He had heard that moan.

“I don’t mind you being in my house Audrey.” He said again, all signs of laughter gone from his voice in a second.  “Just don’t snoop to far, theirs demons in my closets.”

“Is that right?”

“There’s demons in your home too. Well one at least. But he’s the worst one of the lot. A ghost of a man who was torn apart and -“

A whsiper of wind blew the branches above my head and I shivered.

“He wants you Audrey and he won’t take no for an answer.”

In that second I knew he was the one I had sensed in my home. The wasteful presence , the one who kept moving things.

My mind flickered back to the water and painkillers on my bedside table to ease my hangover.

He hadn’t just been in my house , he had been in my bedroom and watched me sleep.

“I don’t believe in demons. I do believe in bad men though.” Scrambling to my feet I loosened my grip on the blanket and it fell from one shoulder.  “Why have you been coming into my house?”

No answer. There was suddenly no sound but the wind above me. It was like he had disappeared.

“If you break into my house again, I swear I will call the police.” I said to the darkness’s and even though I meant every word I said, my voice shook. I sounded weak.

Even worse I sounded like I didn’t mean it.

His laughter sounded from right behind me. Literally right behind me and I gave a little scream. Almost losing my footing as I tried to whirl around and face him.

If he was some crazy murswrer then I wanted to face my death eye to eye with him. I wouldn’t share any fear.

I wouldn’t.

Except I was terrified.

Not just afraid but pee my pants terrified.

“Will you?”

This time he really was right behind me and I could literally feel his breath on the bare skin of my shoulder.

“Yes.”

“Demons aren’t going to be caught that easily. Especially this one.”

I shuddered. “You’re crazy.” Tugging the blanket back around me I took a step forward. “There’s no such thing as ghosts, or demons.”

“Isn’t there?” His voice was curious. “If you turn around now you will come face to face with one Audrey and if you do then he will never ever let you go.” More laughter. “Not that he will let you go anyway.”

“Why are you stalking me?” My words wobbled and I had to try again and again to get them out before they made sense.

“It’s not stalking if I’ve always been there Audrey. Haven’t you felt me just behind you? Whispering your name in your ear.”

Hot breath moved across my ear, moving my hair and I shivered again only this time it had nothing to do with the chill in the air. It didn’t even have anything to do with fear. It was something else entirely.

Because he was right. For years I had felt like I wasn’t quite alone. That someone was always just out of sight. And it had never really frightened me.

“Audrey.” He whispered.

“Please stop.” I whispered right back. “I don’t believe in-“

A warm hand came down on my shoulder. Hot as fire but flesh and blood and I froze.

“Don’t you believe in me Audrey?” A body moved against my back. Pressing into me, so not even a millimetre separated us. I could feel a hard muscled body through the thickness of the cloth that separated us.

A huge body that seemed to dwarf mine. Never before in my life had I felt so small. Or so vulnerable.

“You dont believe in how being this close to me makes you feel.” His hand slid down into the open neckline of my dress and across the swell of my dress. The tips of rough fingers teased at the edge of my hippie as his lips found the hollow of my neck and kissed.

A soft brushing of his lips against my skin.

“You will.”

I couldn’t move. It didn’t even feel like I could breathe. “Are you going to kill me?” I managed to hiss.

Another kiss, slower this time. Like he was savouring the taste of my skin.

“No I am not going to kill you. You’re death would force me into the underworld with you Audrey because I’m never going to be able to let you go.”

This time when he kissed the hollow of my throat again I couldn’t help but moan.

“So your just going to rape and hurt me-“

He tore his lips away from my throat in a second but not his hand. That delved downwards. His fingers closing around my diamond hard nipple in a pinch that made me cry our.

“How can I rape what is already mine , but hurt? You’re going to enjoy the hurt Audrey. In time you will crave it just as much as you crave the darkness in me.”

“You’re crazy.” I hissed through the pain and he continued to pinch.

“And you’re turned on.” He countered. “Do you fantasize about being fuxked by a monster Audrey? Do you want a demon to sneak into your room and fill you with an actual cock and not the piece of pink plastic you currently use.” He nipped at my ear. “I can do that for you Audrey. For you -“

Realisation hit me with a flood of anger.  He hadn’t just been in my room he had been - I swallowed hard. Oh god he knew too much if he knew about that.

I tore my way out of his arms and the spell of his lips and mouth evaporated like it had never happened at all.

“Don’t fuxking touch me you weirdo.” I took another hurried step forward and whirled around just in time to see his shadowy shape step back into the darkness of the trees.

A man.

Not a demon . He was a man and he was fucking crazy.

“Stay away from me.” At my sides my hands balled into fists. “You come near me again and I’ll have you arrested.”

He didn’t answer , all he did was laugh.

He wasn’t afraid of my threat , I knew that just like I knew this wasn’t going to be the last time I encountered him.

Turning on my heel I ran and I didn’t look back.