Gwyne found herself naked, on her knees, with her hands tied behind her back. For a moment this felt all too familiar. However instead of a cave, she found herself in a room made of stone. Sharp rocks on the floor cut into knees causing them to bleed. She could just see make it out on the ground. The room was barely lit with candles and torches. She furrowed her brow as she realized that was far too much blood for her to have scarped her knees. She soon realized the blood wasn't hers.
She fell deeper into the dream as she cried out almost madly. Her eyes stung. She would have cried if she had any tears left, but they had all dried up days ago. The things she had done and seen haunted her, tearing at very soul. Beyond the dream Gwyne tossed and turned in bed. She clutched the silken sheets, tightly in her hands as she twisted herself up in them. The dream fully took over and she no longer knew she was dreaming at all.
She rocked herself as she saw a shadowy figure on the wall before her. It rose something up then brought it down. It made such a gut wrenching sound as she watched another smaller shadow fall and roll away. Her stomach turned and she would have wretched, if there was anything left, but once again, she had nothing left having thrown it all up days ago. She rocked herself on the edge of madness. She struggled to hold herself together and not look about the room, at the bodies that were piling up around her.
There were so many now and there was so much blood on the ground. It was almost caked in it. Another man was dragged into the room. She didn't look at him, but heard him scuffle about as he fought then screamed. Like the others he was forced to his knees with his head on the chopping block. Once again the shadowy figure raised something up. The man's cries grew louder and then that gut wrenching sound, and there was...such silence.
The executioner dragged the body away from the chopping block and dropped him down on the ground. She kept waiting for her turn, kept waiting for the big man to drag her over. It would be painful but perhaps it would be quick, quicker then what more 'HE' might intend. She dared a glance in his direction.
Her 'downfall' was still in the same position, sitting in a chair with his hands together at the finger tips and his eyes wide open, unyielding! He hadn't looked away from her once. His maddening gaze was so full of malice and insanity, it sent shivers through her, frightened her to the core.
She didn't understand why he was still so upset with her. She had done what he had asked, yet he was not pleased. She looked at all the bodies around her and began to sob again. It must have been days ago now but he'd brought in a dozen or so men and demanded she take their seed as the whore she was. He demanded that she take until she could no more.
She was certain he was going to kill her either way, but hoped if she did as he asked and laid with these men, he would make it a quick death. She had sex for days, man after man. He had stayed in the room watching her like a hawk. He never looked away nor made an expression. Eventually she could take no more and collapsed. He stood over her then with such hated. She expected it to be the last thing she saw yet he emptied the room and left her alone in the dark.
She had been surprised to wake again. She'd found herself naked on her knees with her hands tied behind her back and they began to bring in every man she had laid with and killed them. She didn't know any of them but it was still hard to take...seeing anyone being brutally murdered in front of you, was enough to drive anyone mad. After the room was cleared he brought in every man she'd ever come into contact with. Some of them she had known for awhile, others she had only known for a second. She begged and pleaded for him to stop this but their heads kept rolling and blood filled the room.
She looked at him not understanding what...what more did he want from her? Why! Why didn't he just kill her like the others! Yet not a word was spoken. She was so so tired. She had already collapsed several times but they just kept going. They'd let her sleep, forced her to drink and eat until she was no longer distracted then start up again. She let her head drop swaying a bit. A guard whispered to the executioner. He set down his ax then approached her downfall.
"That is the last of them." said the executioner.
"Are you certain?"
"As one can be."
"As one can be." her downfall rattled back at the man. He burst into a mad laughter then repeated it again and again "As one can be." he finally let his eyes shut then turned his head to the side and smiled. His smile just kept getting bigger to the point where his face contorted. Then he frowned and seemed almost lost. Clearly he had lost his mind.
He waved the executioner off and he cleared the room until it was just her and him...at least those that were still living. Her downfall stood from his wooden chair. His long black robes draping over his corpse like figure as he stretched then hobbled over to her. Sometimes he looked so unwell she wondered how he was still alive. He had always been of poor health, perhaps that is why he'd become a man of ritual, a "Sacred One.'
He glared down at her and she managed to look up at him. She nearly collapsed swaying slightly as she took in the color of his eyes. That color was like no other. She couldn't help but recall the first time they met. For years, she'd only seen him at a distance. They must have passed each other a dozen or so times on the street. His people were always protesting outside the Great House, trying to save those tempted by the flesh.
To some the Great House was a sparkling gem of unimaginable pleasures and to others it was a lustful blight upon the land. To her, it was the only home she had ever known, the only life. From the moment you were born into the Great House, you were indebted to them for life. She couldn't tell you who her mother was, nor how many father's she might have had.
Once a child was born in the Great House, it was quickly taken to the Lesser House. They were raised in ignorance until they could walk and talk. Then they were made to serve. They did everything, from cooking, cleaning, laundry and errands. They were taught to stay out of sight, never to be heard or seen and above all to mind their own business. Curiosity was not tolerated. They'd hear rumors of going ons in the Great House and see people going in and out but knew not what for. Once a month they might look out the window to see the parade of brightly colored robes into town but none of them fully understood.
At some point each of them would be assessed by the matrons of the Lesser House, no matter their sex. If they had any worth they'd be taken aside and given classes and education on how to please. Be it through dance, music, literature, gambling and of course pleasures of the flesh. Those that did not make the cut were made into servants, everyone was given a role to play.
The night before those chosen from the Lesser House were to go to the Greater House, they were given a feast. Later they were shown books with detailed pictures and diagrams that went far beyond what they were taught in their classes. It was to show them what to expect but nothing really prepared you for the day you became of use.
The next morning they were taken to the Greater House and separated into tiers. The Greater House was large and extensive, with many floors. Based on your looks and what you had to offer, you were given a bracelet that was assigned to a floor and set of rooms to which you would remain. Those that were the most valuable all lived on the top floors with those of low worth in the basements.
From the moment you were placed in your tier and given your first robe, it was time to pay back those that had fed and clothed you. Those that had kept a roof over your head and made your entire existence possible. It was not an easy life, your body...your very existence was never your own. You only existed for others pleasure. It was not your place to question, you did as you were told and always aimed to please as many as you could, day in and day out.
It was pointless to form attachments to anyone that didn't reside within the Great House. Even then, many did not last long. Sometimes it was from, drugs, sex, illness or accidents, more often then not, many tried to escape in one way or another. She had taken to the Great House like a duck to water. She knew what was expected of her and preformed. Years went by and she grew accustomed to this way of life.
She looked most forward to venturing out beyond the walls of the Greater House. Once a month or when things were slow, they would take a walk outside and parade through town to 'drum up business.' They would be allowed to look around and get to try something new to eat but they were always to be performing.
It was moments like these that they'd run into the 'Sacred Ones.' They were mostly men of substance, who dedicated themselves to ritual and spiritual atonement. They would hold cleansing ceremonies and always spoke ill of those from the Great House, calling them Corrupters of the Flesh. She learned to pay them no mind but one day there was a great storm. An older matron pitied some of the younger 'Sacred Ones' and permitted them into the house.
She was entertaining a group of men, soldiers just passing through, when she looked across the room and saw her downfall, glaring at her. At the time, she had no idea he was such. He looked like a drenched cat, his hair and robes clinging to his frail body. Unlike his comrades, he had refused the dry clothes and warm food, the Great House had offered, while they waited for the storm to pass. He was younger then her, barely a man but had such disdain for her, such judgment in those eyes. Who was he to judge her! It made her blood boil.
When she was younger she used to have a defiant streak in her. The matrons had mentioned she was like someone else who had once lived here and had long since passed. She had been defiant too and it had gotten her nowhere but an early grave. They warned her not to test other's patience, not to put her hand in the fire or she'd get burned. She took heed of their words but from time to time, her defiant nature and boredom, got the best of her.
That day...the way he looked at her, she saw a challenge and sought to take him down a few pegs. She continued to talk with the soldiers then excused herself to get something to drink. She approached his table and he glared up at her. She simply smiled at him and offered him some refreshments. While his comrades gawked at all those around them, he didn't take his eyes off her as if there were no other in the room. He didn't look at her face but focused his scornful eyes on her face. He didn't say a word. He just sat there glaring. She set the water basin down and gave him one of her most lustful looks. She watched as he froze up, the lump in his throat raised and then lowered as he swallowed.
She took in those eyes of his, never having seen a color quite like them. For a moment she was almost mesmerized. She drew in closer to him and others noticed them staring at one another. She smiled at him and he furrowed his brow. He looked almost like he was in pain. She was able to reach out and touch him. She brushed his cold cheek with the back of her hand.
The poor thing reacted so violently. He flew back in his chair and fell to the ground. The room burst into laughed as he crawled and then scrambled to his feet. He quickly rushed out of the room dashing back into the storm, with his tail between his legs. She later heard he got sick and it nearly killed him. She felt a twinge of pity, perhaps even guilt, but it didn't last long. The next time she saw him, she was with the others, on their monthly parade through town. She was minding her own business when he threw rotten fruit at her and cursed her with wheezing breaths. She was punished for ruining her robe and causing trouble in town. She was no longer allowed to venture out. She despised him for that. When she saw him outside the Great House, a few days later, she glared at him defiantly, and decided she would make him her play thing.
'Sacred Ones' were suppose to be free of the demands of the flesh and beyond reproach. They would starve themselves to prove they needed not for food or would disdain from water, to the point of hallucination. They used to castrate themselves, to disdain from any chance of temptation. Yet when their numbers started to dwindle, some decades ago, they stopped the practice. Now once or twice they used their bodies to make more bodies, for their cause and the greater good, of course.
She thought this made them hypocrites, considering they thought all flesh was a burden to the soul. However it gave her an idea and a chance to get some revenge. Over the next few months, she toyed and taunted him, every opportunity she got. She couldn't help but notice, even as he cursed her out and glared at her with such hatred, he was still outside the Great House every day. In fact he came more so then any other, even their regular customers would miss a day here or there but he did not. No, not even on sacred days, when the "Sacred Ones' were suppose to be at the temple to purge themselves. She would still spot him from a balcony, standing in the bushes glaring at the house. If he saw her he'd come out of the bushes and curse at her until she went back inside.
One day, she leaned out her window and called to him, showing him which room she resided in. After that, she'd often find him camped outside it, doing strange danced and rituals. Some of the other's said he was putting a plight on her, but the matrons said such things weren't real, or the Great House would have stopped existing a long time ago.
Every chance she got she toyed with him. Some days, it helped her to pass the time, having nothing better to do. She would call out to him, wave at him and blow kisses. Sometimes she'd sing songs and let her long hair fall down around her. She'd brush it out on the balcony and let her shoulders show. Once or twice she flashed her cleavage at him. He'd shout and curse at her, yet she noticed he didn't look away.
One hot day they'd all went into the backyard. One of their rich clients wanted a water party. Some men dug a big hole and they filled it with water. The women all got naked. They splashed about in the water and played in the mud. She caught him spying on them and saw that he was touching himself. She threw some mud at him and told him not to waste it on his hands. She showed herself fully to him, spreading her legs and touching herself. She beckoned to him, urging him to come and play.
She could see him struggling with his 'temptation" Some were just fools for it and she just knew with his fancy vows and robes, he was just like any other fool. The next day she was reading in the library and the house was abuzz, with rumors and whispers. She wondered if someone really rich had come along. A matron came and got her. They took her to a small room and she saw him standing there uneasy. The matron gave her a look but said he'd paid like anyone else. She wondered where he'd gotten the money, given they gave all of it to their order.
She also wondered if they knew what he was doing, given it was forbidden to lay with another for anything but breeding. She saw he was nearly mad with desire, his hands were shaking and his robe was tented. She took hold of his hand and guided him. It was clear he didn't know what he was doing. She treated him like any other first timer, bringing him into her bed.
It would seem at last she had won. She had melted him to her whims and he gave into his desires. Though he was inexperienced. He was quite insatiable...probably from repressing it for so long. The poor thing barely lasted a few minutes but wanted to go again and again. She supposed he wanted to get his money's worth. He tired himself out after a bit and ended up passing out on top of her. She let him sleep on her breasts, but as soon as his time was up, they carried him outside and dropped him on the ground.
He was back a few days later and wanted her again. She didn't have anything else better to do so she saw him. This time she took charge and showed him how to properly fuck. If he was going to take up her time, she might as well put him to use. He was a quick learner and kept coming back for more 'lessons'. She toyed with him for nearly a month, pretending he was special and that she enjoyed only his company. He no longer cursed her name but rejoiced in it. He wanted to talk, wanted to know everything just as any fool did, but she only listened.
She learned he was sick as a child. His family couldn't take care of him so they gave him to the 'Sacred Order.' He had believed in so many thing yet having experienced such want, desire and pleasure with her, he now understood why others were tempted. Having this new found understanding, he felt he could 'help them' and really change things. He had such 'ideas and plans.' He was still such a young man. His heart was still enact. She'd lost hers years ago, if she ever had one. She used to believe in dreams. They made the Great House seem like a palace but it was anything but.
He risked everything to see her and be with her. She had no idea how he was getting the money for this. She enjoyed playing with him, but once she knew he was like any other man, she decided it was time, to put an end to her little game. It was her turn to look down on him, just as he had looked down on her, all those years ago.
One day he came, but she told the matron's, she was done with him and refused to see him. They were allowed to turn poorer clients down. He didn't understand. He had the coin and wanted to see her but they denied him. They told him she was busy. He said he would wait but they said it would be a long while. They offered other girls but he wanted her... only her. He said some rubbish about her being his one and only. His love. Such a foolish man. His coin was just as good for any other. She realized she might have sunk her claws in a bit too deep.
He left disappointed, she couldn't help but stand on the balcony and fan herself. When he looked back at the Great House and caught sight of her, oh how his spirits...rose. For a moment she actually felt something. It was silly and she quickly pushed it away. Like a fool, he waved to her, rushing up to the house. He called out her name hoping she'd see him and welcoming him in, no doubt. She looked down at him, made it very clear she could see him then gave him such cold eyes. She returned the malice of when they'd first met. When he thought himself above her... above them all. She knew that look and gave it right back.
She watched him like watching a bug after you'd taken off its wings. His face soon fell as she just stood there fanning herself. She looked through him then as if he didn't exist. Once she got her point across she turned away from him and went inside. She planned to forget him and never think of him again. Yet he would not be forgotten so easily. He came right back in and demanded to see her but they once again refused him.
The whole house could hear him yelling from downstairs. He even tried to get up to see her. He made it past the first flight got up the second but they tackled him before he could get to the third floor. She stood at the top of the stairs, just beyond his reach and laughed at his foolish attempts. He got so angry and though he was small, it took nearly three men to drag him out. He tried to fight them and busted one man's nose. They beat him for that and took all his money, they left him bloodied and broken outside the gate and banned him from ever stepping foot in the Great House again.
He laid outside for hours and thought he might die but he eventually crawled away. He came back every day after. He would stand outside the gates glare up at the Great House. She paid him no attention, even allowed others to fuck her on the balcony, knowing full well he was watching. He meant nothing... they all meant nothing to her.
Once she might have cared, once she might not have lashed out in such a petty manner but her heart, her soul had long since been broken and she'd become twisted. She had simply sought to take him down and make him see he was no better then her or any other. Yet she knew not what she had done. She knew not who she had provoked.
After a while he no longer stood outside. She'd casually looked for him, from time to time but he was no where to be seen. Not even when his order of the "Sacred Ones' was out and about. She heard a rumor that he was caught stealing from them and they had cast him out. She assumed he'd moved on.
Years went by and she all but forgot about him until one night, a group of men entered the Great House. There were so many of them that they overwhelmed the front lobby. They were all dressed in dark robes and scarves covered their face They could not see who they were and when asked to leave, they slit a matron's throat.
Chaos broke out and they all rushed through the house. She hid in a closet with another but they were soon found out. She was captured by a big man. She was sure he was going to kill her like the matron or tear her apart but she was taken outside. The man gave orders that he had found her and to start. She didn't know what that meant but soon the Great House was set ablaze and she was forced to watch on her knees as everything she had ever known was destroyed.
Eventually one of the men stepped up to her and removed his scarf. It as 'HIM' and she realized, he had done this...because of her. He had killed everyone because of her. After he burned the Greater House down. He burned the Lesser House. She protested but he ignored her preaching to his "people" that the cycle of corruption would end here and now. He had started a new order, one of vengeance and unforgiving might that would squash out the darkness of this world, from it's very roots. As she watched the ashes rise into the night sky and saw the charred remains of those she had once known, she knew she had driven him to this…driven him to madness.
He was not so innocent anymore. He did not take being her toy so lightly. She was sure that he was going to kill her and yet he stole her away. He took her to some small locked room, where it was just the two of them. He made her see him then, see the monster he had become. Then he made her take him for days. He violently forced himself on her. It wasn't anything she hadn't endured before. Some customers could be brutal. You learned fast to give in and she just let it happen. It was better to laid there then fight and risk further injury. He had gotten better at it. He knew things she had not taught him. Once the rage was out of his system he still kept going until he passed out. They tied her up so that he could sleep on her. Some things never changed.
She learned the big man who had snatched her up in the house was her downfall's right hand, his executioner. When her downfall awoke, he ordered her hair to be cut and her body to be branded and scared. He came up with various ways of torturing her every day. He sought to make her suffer as she had made him suffer. He wanted to make her nothing, unworthy of anyone attentions. He said such vile things and made such threats. Every day she thought he was going to kill her. He came close at times but did not. No matter how much he despised her, no matter what he did to her, he'd always returned between her legs unable to stay away. He could not help himself. Even as defiled as she was he still wanted her.
He called her a temptress and fell back on his old order of the 'Sacred Ones'. He tried to 'cleanse her corruption' They cleansed her again and again so much so that she grew weak and nearly died. She wanted to after everything but eventually he stop hurting her and nursed her back to health. It was a sick cycle. Sometimes he was kind he'd bringing her flowers, soup and beautiful words. She...felt...nothing... for the longest time but as she came to depend on him for everything. She soon felt this strange sense of an affection.
When she told him and wondered if this might be love, he'd laughed at her cruely. She thought he was going to cast her out but instead he kept her locked up. He let her watch him lay with others. He taunted and teased her as she had him, then called her worthless, ugly, and pathetic. She knew she had broken him but it still hurt. She tried to just exist from one day to the next.
Eventually he allowed her out and let her attend to him as a servant. Some days he ignore her, while others he took joy in provoking her. He wanted her to keep playing their little game of love and hate, forever more. When she wouldn't play he began beating her. He asked if she hated him, if she despised him as much as he despised her. She said nothing. Then he would make love to her, for hours and ask if she loved him as he still loved her, yet again she said nothing.
She didn't think there was anything she could say. She did hate him but she also loved him. However things were not that simple. Everything was so mixed up, there was so much she had done and that he had done that nothing would ever make sense again. She didn't want to feel anything anymore. She thought she didn't care about anything and yet one day he fell ill.
It had been a hot day, hotter then any other before it. Everyone was feeling strange. He passed out in the courtyard garden and everyone's attentions were on him. She saw a chance for her to escape and she ran...to where...to what she did not know. Yet she found something inside her still wished to live and live she did.
For the first time in her life she let her curiosity blossom. She sought out the world beyond all that she had ever known. She left the walls of the town and ventured out to the greater world. It was beyond everything she could have ever imagined. There were so many different kinds of people and places, vast cities and food. None one place was quite the same. Her hair grew back as she grew stronger, smarter. Her beauty did not return but she found there was more to life then beauty and the pleasures of the flesh...more then the pain as well.
It wasn't always easy. She was often overlooked or mistreated. She learned to hide her scars and how to find food. One day as she was scrambling for scraps a kind man with silver hair, offered her nourishment, not just of the body or the mind but the soul. He offered her a place of hope. A place to truly live. She thought he wanted her as a servants but found everyone was equal where he lived. They gardened and they built a community on friendship and love...not the lust kind, but the love for life and others wellbeing. He made her see things in a different light.
He showed her things she knew not of. She spoke of her past and wrong doing and they still accepted her. She thought perhaps in time she might be redeemed for her life and the chaos she caused. She sought to make amends and help who she could. And then one day, the executioner found her. Her downfall had not died and demanded her return. The Executioner had scoured the land for her day and night year after year until he at last found her.
She pleaded wit him to just say he hadn't found her. He threatened to burn down this new world she had found, less she come away with him. She did not want to endure the past so she gave herself up. She was taken back and he looked worse then ever. For months he would not let her leave his side. He didn't have the strength to take her. He simply wanted to be close to her. He slept pressed against her and broke down. He wept in her arms and she held him. For a while she was reminded of that little wet cat all those years ago. He had her do everything for him, she fed him, bathed him and took care of his every need.
Slowly he got better and then angry once more for being so weak. For needing her in his life when she had ruined it. She tried to give him space but he seemed unhinged. She was out in the garden one day, just talking to a young man about what seeds they needed to plant and he nearly ripped the man's head off. He accused her of betrayal and trying to ruin another life, with her vile ways. She considered running away again, only this time she wouldn't stop.
She got some things together but one morning she woke to him standing over her. He told her he knew what she was planning. He wouldn't let her leave him again. He could not live with or without her and would not let her live without him. He took her to a room and had her stripped and chained to the floor. And so the men came again and again and again. He told her she would fuck them as she fucked everything. She did as he said to atone….to greet death. She didn't know anymore what the point of anything was. There was no redemption. There was only an end, she longed to be swallowed up and yet he would not let her.
"Well," he bellowed.
"Well what?" she rasped, "I did as you asked. What more?"
He leered down at her. At first he repeated what she said in a whisper. "What more." Then he said it a little louder each time. "What more? What more? What more? WHAT MORE!" He backhanded her and she fell to the floor.
She looked up at him from the ground, her face covered in the blood of men he'd had slaughtered. She could not get up. She glared at him and spat, "What more do you want? What more can I give you? What more?
He glared right back at her and thundered, "WHAT MORE! WHAT MORE! YOU WILL DO ALL THAT I DESIRE!"
The room fell quiet as the two looked at each other and she quietly asked, "Do you even know what you desire? What you want anymore?"
"YES!" He hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes lighting up in the firelight. "For you to suffer endlessly. As I do." He pounded his fist against his chest. "You did this to me! You have driven me crazy! You twisted me up! I want to love you, to make you mine and mine alone but I can not because in the same breath I hate you! I hate you with everything I have. YOU CORRUPTED ME! YOU RUINED ME! YOU MADE ME WEAK FOR THE NEED OF YOU! I can not think! I can not breath! I can not live without you! I want you to suffer! I want to degrade you! To destroy everything you are until you are nothing to me!"
"Then do away with me! KILL ME AND LET US BOTH BE DONE WITH IT!"
"DO YOU NOT LISTEN!" He raged falling to his knees before her. "You...YOU HAVE RUINED ME! YOU MEAN NOTHING AND EVERYTHING TO ME!" He pulled out a knife from his robes. "I'd slit your throat if I thought it would bring me a moment of peace. I'd cut out your heart, if you even had one to begin with. I'd gut you like a fish and let you slowly rot in your own filth if maybe...maybe it could make you come close to what what I feel. When you look at another! When you speak to them! When you allow them to touch your skin! You are evil itself! You tempted me and dragged me into the darkness with you! You are a sin but you are my sin!"
She just looked at him knowing once more she had done this. She knew full well what she was doing when she decided to pursue him and lure him in. The full weight of her actions weighted heavy on her soul. Yet in this moment she realized something. Her own spite, hatred and bitterness had been her downfall.. not this...this man. She had been cruel but cruelty was all she had known. Still she had made her choices….what was done could not be undone. She simply closed her eyes and cried, "I'm sorry. Forgive me."
"FORGIVE YOU," He seethed gathering her up from the floor. He dragged her to him and she was sure he was going to plunge that knife into her. As he raised it up she looked at him and went on. "I was damaged and in turn I damaged you."
He roared with such fury and madness babbling on. She couldn't make out what he was saying. Eventually he fell silent. Her head was in his lap now as he looked down at her. He drew the blade close but she did not flinch. "Damaged…Damaged," he madly repeated. Tears well up in his eyes and fell on her face as he ran his finger though her hair, "This is all just damages. I'll end it. I'll end both our pains. He lowered his knife to her crotch, "You're insatiable need, never enough, never enough but mine will be enough after me you'll want for no other."
She thought this was it. He was going to do it. He was going to cut her up and yet as their eyes locked, he seemed lost. "What is wrong with me?" he cried, "I don't understand how I can hate you yet love you so much? I want to destroy you with every breath of my being yet hold you close and never let you go."
He raised the knife furrowing his brow. "You! Hold me!" He suddenly seemed urgent as he moved the knife to cut her hands free. "Wrap your arms around me and hold me." She quickly wrapped her arms around him doing as he asked. She held him as he suddenly clung to her for dear life.
"Well go away! Far, far away from here! Where it's just you and me! Where no one knows our pasts! I wont get upset! I wont hurt anyone and you'll live only for me and me alone! We'll be together forever!" She held him and gently rocked him as she felt him cry out, planning, hoping for a future beyond this moment. For a second even she thought there might be some possiblity. So many emotions flowed through her. He kept rambling as they embraced "Well go away far, far away where it's just you and me. You and me for all eternity."
He pulled from their embrace then grabbed the sides of her arms. His eyes frantically looked at her as he thought then whispered, "No better yet, we'll start over completely." Before she could comprehend what he'd just said, he moved so fast that she'd almost missed it. In one swift moment he lifted the knife and stabbed it into her throat. It was quick and unexpected. One minute he despised her, wanted to ruin her, the next a sudden reprieve, talk of running away, and now this!
Her eyes went wide as he just stared at her. He looked like he was in shock as well...almost like he couldn't believe what he'd just done himself. Then he almost smiled but not quite his mouth quivered as if uncertain. Seconds passed but it felt like forever, there was such pain in her throat, soon she was choking on her blood and the blade.
Instinctively she moved her hands to grasp hold of the blade but he pulled it out. "Next time I'll do better. I'll save us both and we wont suffer anymore."
She wasn't listening. She frantically grasped hold of her throat but there was nothing to be done. She madly coughed and gasped, drowning on her own blood. It was a horrid, horrid way to go! She barely register him plunging the knife into his own chest. His face was filled with immediate regret as he sunk to the floor.
The door opened as second later as the executioner returned with a tray of food. Still holding her neck she looked up at him. The executioner dropped everything and went to him. He gathered him up in his arms and cried out, "NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" He held him close as everything went foggy. Her eyes turned away and she just barely saw a shadow lifting up a blade before plunging it into themselves...the executioner having taken his own life.
/***
Gwyne nearly flew out of bed, gasping and choking for air. She fell to the floor and dragged herself across it. Her nightmare was still so vivid in her mind. She rushed around the darkened room then into the bathroom. The lights were nearly blinding as she practically threw herself on the countertops and looked at herself in the mirror.
There was no blood, nor wound from a knife but still she wheezed recalling how it had felt. She turned on the faucet and choked down some cold water before splashed her face again and again. She was rattled to the core never more terrified in all her life. She felt feverish perhaps even delusional. She didn't trust anything! She was coming off something or was on something!
She got to her feet and moved to the doorway alert, no beyond alert, she was WIDE FUCKING AWAKE! Every impulse in her body was telling her to 'GET OUT! RUN! GO! GET AWAY WHILE YOU STILL CAN!' This time she fucking listened.
She carefully looked at the bed and saw that it was empty. The entire room was empty. GOOD! She looked for something anything to throw on. She moved going into his closet. She was wearing nothing but a corset. She stole a dark blue shirt tearing it from the rack. She slid it on then rushed to some shoes. She didn't bother to look at them. She just took them then tumbled around the room for a few second... maybe longer. She got to the hall determined to get the fuck out of here! She just had to go! She could not do this anymore! SHE WAS DONE! DONE!
Her brain was on fire as she made it through the hall. The apartment was a mess, clothes, unwashed plates, leftover food, empty wine glasses and delivery boxes, were scattered about. Something was not right! She heard Dawson madly cackling from somewhere. Again she was reminded of her nightmare. It sent shivers down her spine!
She didn't dare seek him out, tears streaming down her face. She felt like if he saw her, he'd kill her, like he had in her nightmare. Wait had that been him? YES! YES! A HUNDRED PRESENT YES! They were all him! The bookstore keep's son, the village elder, the man in the cave with the golden codpiece. It was all Dawson! Again she felt this urge to get to the door, to get out!
Her legs were shaking and every hair on her body, was standing up as she bit down on her lip. She struggled not to madly whimper. She managed to get to the front door then undid the locks. From there it was to the elevator. She planed to push the ground floor and go out the front door, but another urging had her shakily pushing the parking garage.
She put on the shoes and laced them up as tight as they would go but they were still so big. When the elevator stopped she cautiously stumbled through the parking lot. From there she wandered up to the security gate. She had forgotten about the gate but saw an emergency exit door. She knew it would be alarmed but it was propped open. She rushed through it half expecting the sirens to still go off but the only sirens were in her head and heart. She ran and ran, getting as far away as she could. After a while, she nearly fell in the over sized shoes. She stopped to catch her breath and looked around She realized it was daytime, either early morning or close to evening. She couldn't be sure. She got a lot of strange looks and tried her best to make the shirt look like a stylish dress.
She tucked some into her corset and rolled up the sleeves. After a few dozen blocks, she didn't quite know where she was or what she was gong to do, to get home. She had no money. She bit her lip but kept going, determined. There had to be something she could do, some way she could get out of this mess. She walked and walk then spotted a place she knew downtown. From there she was able to figure out where she was and knew what buses to catch home but again no money. She bit her lip but got an idea. People rode the bus all the time and didn't use up all their time, maybe someone would have a ticket with time still left on it. The bus system allowed a few hours for each ticket so you could make transfers. All she needed was for someone to get rid of their ticket!
She waited for hours but eventually a woman got off a bus and dropped her slip in the trash. Gwyne quickly fished it out and checked the time, to see if there was any left. It had half an hour.
She crossed the street then got the bus. From there it was two transfers. She didn't have enough time for the last bus so she just walked. It got bright out, nearly blinding but she got to her place and it was locked. She knew another way in through the fire escape. She always kept one window slightly ajar for air flow.
She ran around the building, climbed the fire escape and got inside. She nearly collapsed but forced herself to keep going. She got his shirt off her and kicked his shoes across the room. She undid her corset and went to the bathroom. When she was done, she showered scrubbing herself all over, most of all her neck.
She was still so fucking frantic. She just couldn't settle down. When she got out she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself. She had been someone else in her nightmare and now she didn't know herself. It took her way longer then it should have but she knew those eyes and that hair color. She ran her fingers through her hair. Something was wrong with it. She leaned in close to the mirror and noticed her roots looked strange. It looked like they were turning white! She was only twenty six.
She looked back at herself and realized she had something written on her ass cheeks. She saw cum written on one side and dump on the other. She stared at herself in the mirror and furrowed her brow. She felt sick to her stomach but knew it was true. She had been really dumb lately letting anyone fuck her and cum inside her. She couldn't even recall the last time she used protection, doing so much crazy shit. She was a fucking cum dump! She was so stupid!
She let everything get out of control again, only much, much worse this time. She got back into the shower and scrubbed over and over again, trying to get the permanent marker off her ass. She was afraid it wouldn't come off but it started to break up and fade. She drank an entire bottle water after that and tried to fix her face. She had gotten a look or two on the bus but she had been so focused on getting home that she hadn't noticed it was bruised. She put on several layers of make up and planned to do her body next.
Maybe if she could cover it all up, she'd could pretend it never happened and feel better. Yeah she'd feel better and make that nightmare go away. She swallowed and then stared at herself, for a second in the mirror, knowing covering thing up...denying it wasn't the answer but she...she didn't know what else to do. She just couldn't deal with this right now, maybe ever so she'd push it down with the rest of the shit and covered it up.
Her phone rang and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She rushed to the kitchen but let the answering machine get it. Someone was calling for Runie to come pick up her paycheck. She let out a sigh of relief realizing it was a wrong number. She ran her fingers through her hair then looked down and saw a utility knife on the floor. It must have been Corrie's. Again, it felt like last night had been ages ago. Wait? Had it been last night? She couldn't be certain as she set the utility knife down on her kitchen table. She had no idea how long she'd been asleep.
She threw something on and went to smoke a cigarette but they were all gone. She sat down at her kitchen table and just broke down. Her life, her entire world was a mess. She felt like she was on fire and she couldn't make it stop. Suddenly the door opened, she jerked, worried it might be Dawson. She turned and saw it was Corrie.
"Oh, hey you're in." he said giving her a grin.
"CORRIE!" She screamed and rushed to him.
"Hey, hey what's up?" He said embracing her.
She didn't tell him. She couldn't even begin to. She just clung to him and cried. "Oh Corrie!"
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I...I had a nightmare!"
/***
Corrie paused for a moment taking in what she said. She clung to him so tightly. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, clinging back just as hard, if not more so. He understood what it was to have a nightmare that shook you to the core, lately his life had been feeling like a nightmare.
It was so weird usually he used his work to escape from his life. Now...it was the other way around, he used his life to escape from his work. Things had been tense lately. He had hoped everything with Bea would just blow over but it hadn't. Somedays she could almost seem normal and he'd start to forget there was a problem. Other days, it was very, very clear she did not respect his boundaries.
She kept finding reasons to talk to him and started getting him small gifts. If she heard he liked something, be it cookies, chips, lotions or socks, she'd try to get it just for him. He always declined and she'd look at him like she was about to cry. The guys teased him about it, but he didn't want to give her an inch. He knew if he showed any kindness or interest, it would just set them back.
The other day he caught her trying to mend one of his shirts. He tried to keep his cool but it was hard. He knew she had to have taken it from his locker, meaning she went through his stuff. He'd also done a load of laundry at the firehouse last week and noticed some things were missing after. He didn't accuse anyone he just went on about his business. Now he had a feeling it was her. He didn't want things to get weird but knew he had to do something.
He was stern with her and told her this wasn't okay. He took his shirt back and she acted like nothing had happened, like he was overreacting. He'd did his laundry at home now and he changed the lock on his locker. He didn't feel comfortable at the firehouse anymore. He didn't feel comfortable back at the house. He noticed she had drooped by when he wasn't there. Since she worked with everyone they didn't twice about her popping by and hanging out. Thankfully he always kept his door locked. After some of the shit on his shelf in the bathroom went missing he had to start keeping it in his room.
A few days ago he took her aside, and told her it all needed to stop right here, and now. He told her they couldn't be friends. They were just coworkers, and she needed to start respecting his wishes. She just kept asking what she could do to change his mind. She said she'd do whatever it took to be with him. She could be whatever he needed and do whatever he wanted.
She tried to blow him again, right then and there in the firehouse, but he pushed her away, and said no. Thankfully no one was around but he worried people were going to start talking and that he might have to take it up with the captain. Not even a second later she asked if he could at least check out her car as it was making a weird sound. He didn't say a word he just walked away.
He knew he needed to cut her off completely. He couldn't be nice anymore. He felt like he'd led her on a little in the beginning, but since that day he'd held his ground and been very clear. He needed this to stop. He'd had admirers before. Sometimes they could catch feelings from being rescued or shared trauma but usually they got the hint, when he wasn't interested and would leave him alone. He hoped Bea would get the hint to and just stop.
He was glad when he had a day off. He hung out with Gwyne. They talked about her bike and got into it about the married guy she was seeing. She had a burn on her ass. She kept changing up just how she'd gotten it but he had a feeling. He'd seen bruises too. If this guy was hurting her he'd take his ass out, one way or another.
They fought and he caught her smoking. He thought she quit but he guessed he hadn't noticed she was still doing it. He realized he'd been neglectful. He knew they were breaking up, but he needed to be more attentive, if he was going to get her away from that guy. He was glad to go to the Morning Market with her and lighten the mood. They looked around for a bit, then got separated. He was interested in some signs, someone was using soddering. He talked to them about it and looked at a few other wooden items.
Eventually he started looking for Gwyne, and someone suddenly bumped into him and fell. He quickly went to help them up. He knew he was strong but he usually didn't make people fall over. However when he reached out his hand and the woman took it. He saw it was Bea. He got a sick feeling as he helped her up, like maybe it hadn't been an accident and she'd run into him on purpose. Her eyes lit up and he wondered what she was doing here. Was it a coincidence? Maybe she'd been here before or was with someone or just passing by...let it be anything but her following him.
"Thank you," She said flashing him a loving look. He felt awkward, very awkward. His entire body tensed standing next to her. She reached out lightly brushing his arm, "Funny running into you here. I didn't think I'd get to see you today."
He stepped back and furrowed his brow, 'Yeah,"
"Small world, right!" she said with a big smile.
He had a strong feeling now she hadn't run into him by accident, "Are you following me?"
"No," she said pouting her lips but he didn't believe her.
"I thought I was clear the other day."
"About what?" she said running her fingers through her golden hair. She flashed him another loving look and her voice got seductive. "I forget, being with you, I forget everything. You make me feel so... safe. Being with you is just so nice. It's such a beautiful day, we should spend it together. I called last night but you weren't home."
"I told you to stop!"
"And I told you I didn't understand why? Why can't we be together?"
"I told you why!"
"I know you're hurt, guarded because of what happened to your parents but I am here now and I'll always be here for you, Corrie."
He felt his entire body sting at the mention of his parents. He was upset but didn't want her or anyone else to see it. He forced himself to smile as she babbled on about something. He needed to find a way out of this situation. They were surrounded by people and he was worried she might do something. He didn't want to draw any attention to them. He didn't want Gwyne to- Corrie froze mid-thought, he'd been looking around and saw Gwyne a few feet away. NO! NO! Don't come over here! He didn't want Bea to know about Gywne. It was enough that Bea bothered him, he worried what she might do if she found out about Gwyne. She was already acting unstable. He looked at Gwyne with desperate eyes but she didn't pick up on the hint stepping up to them.
Looking back on it he could have handled things better. He should have just grabbed Gwyne's hand and took off, or made everything clear from the very beginning. He should have introduced Gwyne to Bea, his stalker, that's what she had become, a full on stalker. Instead he acted like he didn't know Gwyne. He hoped if he acted like she was a stranger, Bea wouldn't realized they'd come here together and that Gwyne was- She was-
He didn't know anymore. It was always on the edge of his tongue these days. He didn't want anything to change between them, yet it seemed everything had, since he realized he was in love with her. Things were already so messy between them, he didn't want to make it more so, but he couldn't help it. When she stormed off hurt, he threw caution to the wind and ran after her...even as Bea tried to sink her claws into him. He didn't care what she thought! What anyone thought! The only person that mattered was Gwyne!
He needed her to understand nothing was going on here. He lost her in the crowd and it started to get stormy but he didn't waver. He quickly found her again but she kept trying to lose him. She finally broke free of the crowd and he was able to catch up with her in an alley. She was so upset and had every right to be, but he made things clear and told her everything about Bea.
They made up, then made love outside in the rain. In that moment he felt so close to her, closer then he had ever felt to anyone, in his whole life. He wasn't sure if he could walk away anymore. They went back to her place and had sex all afternoon. At one point they ordered something to eat, then curled up in bed and fell asleep. He was used to taking naps, getting sleep in bursts, these days, he'd wake up all the time from nightmares. He needed half a dozen alarms to make sure he'd get up. He just felt like he couldn't rest anymore. Yet that night he slept so deep and hard.
He hadn't even noticed Gwyne had gotten up at some point and left. It was strange waking up in her bed alone. The sun was out and he sat up running a hand over his face. He wondered where she had gone. There was an empty space, in the bed, where she normally laid and it felt weird not seeing her there. He assumed she went to the bathroom but when he went to relieve himself, she wasn't there. He scratched his head then took a shower. He assumed she had just popped out for something and would be right back.
When he was done showering, he dried off, then checked himself out in the mirror. He had a bit of stubble and knew he should shave soon. He didn't like his facial hair to get too long or it could mess with the seals on his mask. He ran his hand through his hair and realized he'd let it get too long. It was probably the longest it had been since he was a kid. He knew Gwyne liked it longer, but he liked to keep a little on the top and have it shaved on the sides and back. Still maybe he could try something new for once.
Some guys kept their hair long and just put it in a tight bun, when they were working. He yawned wondering what he'd look like with a man bun. He got dressed, then wandered around the apartment. He wondered why Gwyne still wasn't back and finally spotted the note she'd left for him. Something had come up with Tawnie and she had to go. He stared at it for a moment wondering what had happened. She should have woken him if it was an emergency, after all emergencies were his job.
He downed a full bottle of water then tried some of her health food. It wasn't bad but not filling enough for him. He burned a lot of calories throughout the day. He cooked himself up one of the stakes and made some instant potatoes. He ate slowly then checked the time. She still hadn't come back but he needed to get going. He didn't like that they'd been fighting so much lately. It had been nice making up though. He didn't mind spending all day in bed with her. He wondered if his stamina had increased or hers, because they had gone at it, a lot more then usual. He rubbed his stomach then cleaned up a little before leaving.
He went outside and locked up after himself, hoping she had her key. It was so strange, this was all so new to him. Usually he didn't have to think of such things. Usually she was here especially after he'd spent the night. He went down the first flight of stairs then jogged down the second. It was still morning but a bit later then he usually liked to get up. He must have been tired.
He dug his keys out of his pocket and casually looked around. He notice a car that looked all too familiar. He did a double take then just stared at it. He hoped he was mistaken but he knew he wasn't. He'd worked on Bea's car enough to know what it looked like, inside and out. Oddly it looked the same way it had the last time he saw it. There was suppose to be a lot of damage. Maybe she had gotten it repaired? He knew that didn't matter, he was just in shock, it...she shouldn't be here!
The car looked empty as he approached it, but as he walked up to the driver's side window, he saw Bea. She was laying down on the passenger seat trying to hide. He clenched his fists and knew without a doubt she was following him. Not only had she followed him, but she'd waited outside, for who knows how long. THIS WAS NOT OKAY!
It was one thing to mess with his life and another, to start in on Gwyne. Bea now knew where she lived and what she looked like. He didn't need her fucking around in their relationship! He banged on the window. He was so pissed he almost broke it. Bea sat up and looked at him innocently, like all of this was just another 'coincidence.' She rolled down her window and looked tired, like she'd been out here all night. It made sense, she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. He also saw bags of fast food and coffee cups.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" He demanded.
"I-" she looked around but seemed too tired to give a proper response.
"Did you follow me here?"
"No." she said. Then perked up, "Is that your girlfriend or was it just a one night stand?"
"That's none of your business!"
She pursed her lips, turning away from him, then said what he'd just said under her breath, "None of my business, none of my business." She practically whipped her entire body around to face him. "It doesn't seem very 'professional' fucking people you've saved. Isn't that taking advantage of them or something? Did you take advantage of her, like you did me? Is that your stick, Corrie. Act like a hero then fuck em and leave em!"
Corrie took a step back from the car. "What's wrong with you? That! I don't do that! What happened between us was a mistake."
"A MISTAKE! Making me fall in love with you was a mistake!" she cried. She looked hurt. He didn't want to hurt her but he needed her to stop this. Being nice wasn't working, if he had to be blunt and get nasty he would. Whatever it took to make her see this wasn't okay!
"You need to stop this now! I told you to leave me alone!"
"We need to talk." she sobbed. She opened her door and he shut it.
She looked surprised. He leaned into the car and said "No! We've talk enough! I don't want to talk to you anymore! What don't you get! I don't want anything to do with you! If you don't stop harassing me I'll go the captain!"
She looked horrified for a moment then lashed out at him, "SO GO! TELL HIM! I'LL TELL HIM! I'LL TELL EVERYONE WHAT YOU DID TO ME AND THAT BITCH INSIDE!"
The two locked eyes. She was threatening him but it wasn't going to work. She could tell all the lies she wanted. He knew some people might believe her but not everyone would and at the end of the day, he knew the truth. He wasn't going to let her or anyone control him. If he got in trouble he'd face it head on.
He let go of her car door and gave her a look of utter disgust. He felt sick, thinking he'd never been so wrong about a person. He'd thought she was nice but now he was seeing a whole other side of her that made him question just what he knew about her, if anything. He started to walk away. When she realized her threat wasn't working, she broke down screaming. She hit her steering wheel several times before lashing out at everything around her in a full on melt down. "WHAT DID I DO! ALL I WANT IS TO BE WITH YOU! WHY DON'T YOU WANT ME!"
"I'm sorry." he said not looking back at her, "I'm just not interested." He didn't owe her anything but he'd always been a sucker for tears.
He started walking back to his truck and she got out, calling after him. "WHAT DOES SHE GOT THAT I DON'T HAVE!" She ran past him and got in front of him. She suddenly pulled down her shirt and flashed her tits at him. "SHE MIGHT HAVE BIGGER TITS THEN ME BUT MINE ARE BETTER!"
"Fuck Bea!" he said jerking back and looking around. "She has nothing to do with this! This is between you and me, and I'm not going to discuss it with you anymore! Stop following me! Stop talking to me! I don't want to see you outside of work, and when we're at work don't talk to me, unless it's work related! I don't care what you think or how you feel! Move on! Get some fucking help, and find someone who wants to be with you, but leave me and Gwyne alone!" He walked passed her knowing this was useless. She didn't want to hear any of it. He really was going to have to do something.
She grabbed onto is arm and yanked him to look at her. "WHY! WHY CAN'T YOU LOVE ME! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME! I'LL DO ANYTHING! I CAN BE ANYBODY YOU WANT! YOU CAN EVEN HAVE HER AS LONG AS YOU COME HOME TO ME!" She fell down on her knees, yanking on him as hard as she could.
She was screaming at the top of her lungs now. He looked around, it was still early, people were probably around and she was causing a scene. He had to come back here. He might not be able to now, for weeks or even months, after this. Gwyne could also stop by, at any second, and he didn't want the two of them getting into it. He didn't understand how things had gotten to this point. Where had he gone wrong? What could he have done differently?
Bea started to drag herself up his body. She tried to kiss him, "CORRIE! PLEASE! I LOVE YOU! I NEED YOU! I CAN BE YOU FAMILY! LET'S MAKE A BABY!"
Again he gave her a look of disgust, "You don't even know me!"
"I know all about you! I know everything there is to know! I've done my research! You're such a good guy you've just been hurt so much! I know all about your mom and dad now and how they died! I know about your childhood. Your aunt and uncle did the best they could but they can't fix you, like I can. Let's get married and have a baby I'll be your family. I'll make you better! I'll fix you! I'll help you like you helped me! I'LL SAVE YOU!"
There was so much crazy coming out of her, it was hard to unpack it all. He didn't even know where to begin. He just looked at her wide-eyed. She knew everything there was to know about him. She'd done her research, knew all about his mom and dad and his childhood. How did she know about his aunt and uncle? Had she talked to them? She wanted to get married and have a baby, like that would replace the family he lost. His brain felt like it was on fire with all this bullshit. "I-" He shook, trying to control his emotions, "I wont warn you again back off, leave me and the people I care about alone or I'll call the cops and press charges!" His tone was clear and cold. He'd get a fucking restraining order against her, if he had to.
She got wide-eyed at the mention of the cops. She let go of him completely "NO! NO!" She stumbled back then rushed to her car. "NO! NO! DON'T! YOU CAN'T!" She got in her car and sped off, nearly hitting him but he just managed to jump out of the way. He didn't want to make her life any harder, but at some point he had to start taking action. He knew he'd let things get way too far.
He looked back at Gwyne's place then got in his truck. He didn't start it right away. He sat there for a good minute trying to process everything. Eventually he ran his hands through his hair then rested them on his mouth. He let out a heavy sigh then started the truck, pulling away from the curb. He tried not to think too much. He drove around for a while running errands then went back to his place. He shaved and changed for work. He was not looking forward to going in today. He waited in his truck until the last possible minute then went into the firehouse.
He found out Bea had called in and taken the day off. Maybe just maybe, he'd gotten through to her this time. He could only hope she'd listened and would leave him alone. He needed some time to think, and clear his head. Maybe some space would do them both good. He had a double shift and tried to lose himself in it. The first shift went by like a blur and Samson came on for the second shift. He really did enjoy his company these days. He always had something going on. He spent half the shift talking about his latest attempts to win the captain's daughter over. They worked from mid-evening until sunrise the next day.
Samson could tell something was off with Corrie and asked him to get breakfast. They went to the diner Corrie liked and got a booth. As he looked over the menu, he couldn't remember the last time he ate. After the waitress took their order they sat in silence for a minute or two then Samson asked, "You okay man?"
Usually he'd lie, especially when it came to Samson but he just sighed and admitted it. "No. No I am not okay."
Samson played with a sugar packet, shaking it out before he added it to his coffee. He took a sip then added another and asked, "What's going on?"
Corrie leaned back in the booth, resting his arms over the top of it. "You…" He sighed then looked out the window. He watched a few cars come and go then spoke again. "You ever have a woman who wont take no for an answer?"
"Yeah! Sometimes I have to beat em off with a stick." Samson joked
Corrie felt stupid for talking about this and immediately regretted it, shaking his head. "Just forget about it."
"Nah man, seriously, some chick bugging you?"
Corrie sighed again but said "Something like that. I made it clear I have no interest in her but she keeps doing shit, taking my stuff, calling me, coming around and now she's been following me. She just wont listen."
"Shit." said Samson. He took a sip of his coffee, then added another packet of sugar and said. "Sounds like you got a full on stalker to me."
"Who's got a stalker?" asked Brendan stepping up to their table.
He was another guy from the overnight crew. They'd just got done working with him. He must have come in for breakfast as well. He sat down at their booth and Corrie felt even more frustrated. He really didn't want to make a big deal out of this...especially since she worked at the station.
"Nothing, never mind." said Corrie, leaning forward in the booth. He put his elbows on the table then rested his face in the palm of his hand.
"Nah man, just tell her to back off." said Samson.
"Yeah," said Brendan "If anyone's bothering you, shut them down. If they don't listen go the normal route, documentation then restraining order."
He made it sound so simple but it was anything but. The food arrived a second later. The waitress put it down on the table then thanked them for their service. It was a nice gesture; one they always appreciated. They thanked her for her service as well. She walked away as Corrie removed his elbows from the table. He looked down at his plate and it was perfect as always. He'd gotten himself a juicy steak, with baked potato and an apple crisp. Samson had just gotten himself a massive plate fries. Brendan quickly stole one or two. Corrie felt strange cutting up his steak. Usually he was the one giving out the advice. He knew all this, already, but he was just too close to everything to see it clearly. Sometimes it was good to have another pair of eyes on a problem.
"I know the route," said Corrie with a heavy sigh, "It's just, I know her situation and she's going through a real rough time. I just don't want to cause her any more trouble."
"Shouldn't matter what her situation is." said Brendan, "If she's bothering you and you've been clear."
"I have," said Corrie. "More then clear, a few times now."
"Then you need to take action man!" said Samson. "Some bitches be crazy! Just cause she's a girl, doesn't mean she can't do shit. I've seen some guys get seriously messed up!
"I think we all have," said Corrie.
He'd seen a lot of domestics where the woman was the aggressor but a lot of guys just didn't want to admit it. They didn't feel they could speak out, which only amplified the abuse. There were a lot of resources for women and they were encourage to come forward, men were too but not as often. There was still a lot of shame associated with it and it could be hard to convince them.
He was starting to get a better understanding of it. He, himself was struggling. It was hard to admit he was in this situation. He kept telling himself she hadn't done anything...yet, yet was the keyword here. He'd seen enough shit over the years to know this could escalate at any point and be a serious problem. It was a problem! He sighed looking down at his steak, "I just. I guess I never thought something like this would happen to me or if it did that I wouldn't let it get this far." Again he struggled to think of what he could have done sooner or differently. Hindsight was always 20/20 but he felt like he could have done better.
"You just need to treat her like any other stalker, regardless of her sex." said Brendan
"Yeah," said Samson nodding, "Don't be alone with her! Don't be nice to her! Don't go out of your way for her! Stalkers aren't playing with a full deck."
"Sometimes they don't even realize what they are doing." said Brendan. "If you do care about this girl and her situation, this might be the push she needs, to get herself some help."
"Yeah, protecting your ass might protect hers." said Samson grabbing the ketchup and hot sauce.
"Right, thanks guys," said Corrie. Maybe things weren't as bad as he thought. Maybe this would help her, get some help.
"No problem." said Brendan.
"Who is it by the way?" asked Samson. Corrie could tell they were both interested.
"It's no one you guys know. I'll take care of it." said Corrie.
"Yeah, but if you need any help." said Samson.
"Yeah. Yeah." said Corrie. "You got my back."
"You know it! Plus it could give me an excuse to call Ru."
"Ru?" said Brendan as his order to go, arrived.
"Rubi Slaunch." said Corrie.
"Slaunch...wait the captain's Rubi." said Brendan, "The one who slapped you!"
"Wait? The nightshirt knows about that." said Samson.
"I think all the firehouses do," said Corrie before taking a bite of steak.
"That they do," said Brendan taking another one of Samson's fires."
"Hey you take one more and you're buying it," hissed Samson.
"You that hard up for cash," said Brendan."
"No but I ordered large fries. I want to eat large fries." said Samson.
"Whatever, you still owe me for eating my breakfast sandwich."
"That wasn't me," protested Samson, "How many times I got to tell you."
"Right," said Brendan. Then he turned to Corrie, "Good luck with everything."
"Thanks." said Corrie.
Brendan got up and left. They finished eating breakfast then Corrie went home and slept, well attempted to sleep. He kept having that dream about saving his mom and Gwyne being in danger. She was on the floor this time, while a Shadowy figure loomed over her. He got the sudden urge to go to her place, but didn't want to, until he'd made a decision about Bea. He needed to do something and he kept debating if he should tell Gwyne, Bea had been outside her apartment. He knew it would just upset her. He just wished he could step away from things for a while and think.
When he went in for his shift later, Bea wasn't there again. Thankfully it was her normal day off. He was glad to have some more space and time to consider things. He thought about it off and on as he tried to bury himself in work. He noticed everyone was looking at him weird and asking if he was okay. He had a feeling Samson or even Brendan, had let the word get out that he had a stalker.
One of his old buddies, a retired firefighter, Reggie, dropped by that evening with some slow cooked ribs. They were so good. They'd been cooked to the point where the meat just fell off the bone. The guys really appreciated it. Reggie cracked some jokes and they shared a lot of old stories. They had a call but he was still there when they got back. He talked for a while longer, then later when it was just the two of them, he told Corrie he'd heard he had a problem. Corrie realized he was right and was not happy the word had gotten out.
He simply said, "I'm dealing with it."
Reggie didn't push he just nodded and said, "I understand but it might be nice to get away for a few days. Saw what you did with that school. Could use a few things fixed her or there at my lake house. It's nice this time of year. Good fishing, lots of forest and paths to hike and run. You can see the stars at night and nothing beats all that fresh air. Does wonders to clear the mind."
Corrie chucked and nodded. It did sound good a bit too good. Reggie always had a way of getting you to do things, then making it look like he was doing you a favor. It would seem he hadn't lost his touch. "I might have some time saved up. Its been a while since I got out of the city. I could use a nice break but I'll have to ask the captain."
Reggie nodded, "Of course, of course. I'll be around if you get the go ahead."
Reggie stayed and chatted for a few more minutes then took off. Corrie finished up his shift but stuck around and did another, when someone called in. Sometimes he'd stay at the firehouse for days on end. When there wasn't a call, or maintenance to be done, they could usually do what they wanted as long as they stuck around the station. He got a few hours of sleep then made himself something to eat.
They had a few calls throughout the shift but nothing too chaotic. He kept thinking about Reggie's offer and thought he would take him up on it. He'd ask the captain next time he was in. They got another call out toward the end of his shift. Some kids and fireworks, they didn't mix well. They managed to put out all the fires easily enough then stuck around the lecture both the parents and children on proper firework safety. He ended up working late and saw Captain Slaunch was in his office when they got back. He changed out of his work clothes then knocked on the captian's door.
He was doing paperwork and was surprised to see Corrie was still on.
"I thought you did a double the other day."
"I did someone called in, so I covered,"
"Ah thanks," said Captain Slaunch,
"Listen I was looking to talk to you,"
"You want some time off," said Captain Slaunch not looking up from his paperwork.
"Yeah? How'd you guess?"
"Me and Reggie are poker buddies, asked if you could make some repairs on his Lake house,"
Corrie chuckled when he realized Reggie had already asked the captain.
"Yeah," said Corrie.
"Yeah," said Captain Slaunch "Go get out of here. Take a few days, few weeks if you want."
"I doubt I'll be gone that long,"
"Knowing Reggie, a few repairs might mean a new house, altogether."
"I hope not," said Corrie.
He laughed then headed over to Reggie's house. He handed him the keys to the lake house, along with some instructions on how to get there. They chatted for a bit then Corrie went home and took a nap. When he got up he told his roommates he'd be gone for a bit. He didn't tell any of them where he was going. He didn't want to risk Bea finding out. He packed up everything he might need and was almost ready to hit the road but couldn't find his utility knife.
He really hoped, no one, Bea...hadn't taken it. He asked his roommates if they saw it but none of them had. He knew it wasn't at work because he'd looked for it more then once. He checked his truck again then thought he'd swing by Gwyne's place and see if he'd dropped it there or in the alleyway. They had been rather vigorous the last time they were together. If he still didn't find it then he'd go to the store and buy another one. He probably should just the same, it didn't hurt to have to but he really liked the one he had, it was a gift from his uncle for passing his fireman's test.
He pulled up to her place and went inside. He was glad to see she was in, but found she was sitting at her kitchen table, crying. She turned and looked so upset as she rushed to him. He worried something might have happened the way she clung to him. He held her and spotted his utility knife on her table. He was relieved to have found it but worried about Gwyne. He asked her what was wrong and she told him she'd had a nightmare. He understood how upsetting they could be.
They held each other for the longest time. When they pulled apart, she got some tissues, and he grabbed his knife putting it in his pocket. They embraced again and he ran his fingers through her hair. He took a closer look at her, and noticed she had red marks, and bruises. He knew they'd been vigorous the other day but he didn't think they'd gotten that rough. He had a feeling it was that married guy.
"Everything okay?"
"No." she said quietly sniffling. She turned away from him and her voice trembling with emotion as she continued. "I feel so overwhelmed! My life feels like such a fucking mess right now. I keep fucking up and I think my hair is turning white." She burst into tears again.
He stepped up to her and looked it over, but only saw the one white strip in the middle of her head. "Looks the same to me, but even if it's turning white, it might look hot."
"Right," she chuckled. She sniffled then blew her nose and continued "I'll look like an old lady."
"I doubt that," he said, "Besides it's easier to dye white hair. You could have any color you wanted."
"Right," she said but turned slightly and smiled at him. He could see he cheered her up.
"Everyone's hair goes white sooner or later anyway."
"Yeah but I just turned twenty six."
"I think I saw a fourteen year old with white hair." He said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It can happen at any time. It will be different at first then you'll get use to it. I'm thinking of growing mine out."
"Really?" She said, turning all the way to face him. She looked over his head then said "Wont that get in the way?"
"Nah, some guys have really long hair, they just pull it back into a bun. What do you think me and a man bun?"
She chuckled again. "Whatever floats your boat."
"Speaking of boats." he said pulling her into his arms, "How would you like to check out a lake house?"
"A lake house?" she said raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah, an old buddy of mine needs me to do some repairs. Might take a few days, few weeks. I wont know until I get out there. It's nice and quiet, has a lot of open space and fresh air. Why don't you come with me? I think it would do us both some good."
He hadn't planned on bringing her along, but he was glad he'd asked. He watched her light up all at once. "Really, just you and me for a few weeks. Yeah I'd- I would really like that!"
"Okay," he said giving her a hug. They put their foreheads together for a moment "Why don't you get dressed and pack a few things."
"Yeah, I'll be real quick," she said.
She quickly began dashing around her apartment. She grabbed a bunch of stuff and put it into a bag. He could see she was really exited. She put on some jean shorts and a tank top then grabbed a hat and was ready to go. They locked up and rushed out to his truck. She threw everything into the back then go in next to him. As they took off his chest felt strange, it ached, but not in a bad way. It was more like this heat, this sense of joy he hadn't felt for a very long time.
It didn't take them long to drive out of the city. The further away they got the more happy she seemed. After a few minutes she messed with the radio, finding some music they both liked. She snuggled up to him and he put his arm around her. They both looked out at the endless road before them and smiled.
It was strange, part of him wished they could just keep on driving forever and leave it all behind. Maybe he- Maybe they both could use a fresh start. He knew the thought was foolish. He'd lived all his life in the city. It was where he worked. He had commitments. He wasn't ready to walk away from everything but still a few days would be nice to get away from it all and get some perspective. He kissed Gwyne on the top of the head, and hoped when they got back he'd know what to do about Bea...about everything.
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