"Do you have anything I could wear?"I gesture to my ruined clothes, and he chuckles.
He gets up, moving slowly toward the closet that is connected to the room.He opens a door, and I see inside.A huge closet that has everything.The house still looks abandoned, but this room almost appears as if it doesn’t belong to the building to begin with.It is clean, freshly painted, with new furniture, and apparently, that includes a fully stocked closet with men’s clothing.From what I can see, everything looks like it is a brand too expensive to be owned by someone who lives in this house.
Something doesn’t add up, not that I should care. I still believe I should end it here.If he is going to leave anyway when the morning comes, and the night is almost done, there is no point in staying longer.I walk toward my clothes and purse to check my phone while he is looking through his clothes.He is searching for something that I can wear.I open my skull purse and notice the strap is ruined since he cut it along with my clothes.
The phone’s screen lights up, and I see a bunch of messages from Aiden.I open the chat app and see he was looking for me at first.Then his messages change, and then there is one that was apparently cut off in the middle, as it is followed by a bunch of characters that don’t make sense.I wonder what happened to him.
I need to find him, but first, finding something to wear should be a priority.I pick up my ruined clothing and underwear and, walking to the bathroom, I toss them in the bin there.I take a towel that seems clean and wet it, removing my makeup with it.I fish in my small purse for an elastic band.I comb my hair with my fingers and toss it into a messy bun to deal with later.
I exit the bathroom to find a pair of men’s boxers on the bed next to an oversized black T-shirt that would cover most of my body and a pair of jeans that were just cut into shorts.I see the ruined fabric and a pair of scissors next to it.Since they are all black, the outfit would look put-together.He cut them into shorts for me.
I was about to thank him when I noticed he had left the room without even a goodbye.I put the clothes on, taking one last look in the bathroom mirror before I pick up the whiskey bottle from the floor.I drink what is left in the bottle, needing the liquid courage.
When I exit the room, I notice the party has mostly come to an end.A few people are scattered in the house, but they are mostly talking; the music is low and relaxing.The ones that have stayed are all people close to Kayden.
Speaking of Kayden, I don’t see him anywhere.I am calling Aiden, but his phone goes straight to voicemail.The moment I get down the stairs, I see him getting out of a room while putting his clothes on.I guess he found a victim for the night after all.Well, we both did.
Chapter Ten
Ryker
––––––––
The moment she steppedinto the bathroom, I knew I should leave while I had the chance.This won't end in a good way.It's better if she thinks I left her.Better than her figuring out the truth.This started as revenge, but in the course of the night, everything got complicated.If I were in love with her before, now that I've had a taste of her, I'm floating.The fall will not be pleasant; that is one thing I know.
I made sure to leave something presentable for her to wear.I'm not expecting to see these clothes again, but even if I did, I would still cut the pair of pants if it meant she would feel more comfortable.The ruined fabric is nothing when it comes to her.Not that anything would compare.There is nothing in this world I would put above her.She will never know that.
When I got to the living room, most of the guests had already left.The house is now back to normal; slow music is playing, and a few conversations here and there cover the silence I'm so used to having here.But other than that, the place is as haunted as it was before it got filled with people for the night.Kayden is nowhere to be found.I notice that Aiden is missing as well; his bike is still parked next to Liv's.He is still in the house.Kayden has a room he has turned into a dungeon in my home.One of the few rooms that were decorated.Since we were going to host the party for Halloween, the renovations had to wait.My room, his room, and the dungeon are the only rooms we fixed.The kitchen had some minor changes, enough for us to live comfortably while we were waiting for the month to pass.
I slowly make my way to the front entrance.The mask is not useful to me anymore; I remove it and toss it in the trash can outside.I'm expecting Liv to run away after finding I left the room without even saying goodbye; there is no need to keep the mask until then.I can make sure to remain unseen.
There is a set of garden furniture on the side of the house, and I make my way there, putting my headphones on, music blasting through them while I settle on the comfortable couch.I didn't bother to fetch a T-shirt for myself before leaving the room; the weather is still warm enough, even at the end of October.
I trace the bite mark on my shoulder with my fingers.She left a mark.I make a mental note to get this tattooed in the morning.I need at least one thing to keep from her.One memory that is not full of hatred.One that is not painful.
My thoughts are like a fog inside my mind, swirling between the present and the past.I'm thinking about everything that happened tonight and what happened years before.Every emotion that came to the surface and all the new ones that were created.
