“Something strange is afoot, Nacho.” I mumble, grabbing my phone and wallet.
Meow meow.
Kip: coming. u ok?
No response. What the hell is going on? Before I head out, I check Tyson’s room, and find that he’s not here. I have a bad fucking feeling about this. I can feel the bond tugging at my chest, telling me that something iswrong. Charlie shouldn’t be at Blood Rose, especially not alone. I do the only thing I can think of.
Kip: Lisette, it’s kip. i think sumthing is wrong. can u meet me at blood rose? in basement? please.
I rush over to the club to find the front door unlocked, which is…odd, given that it’s a weekday and it’s like six in the morning. I was hoping that this was some mistake, but the door being wide for me doesn’t bode well.
“Hello?” I call out into the dark, seemingly empty space.
This feels like the start to a horror movie.
The bond pulls at me, tugging me deeper towards the entrance to the basement. Everything inside of me is screaming at me ‘don’t go down there you fucking idiot!”. I desperately don’t want to see that dark and dank room again. What if it’s a trick? What if I’m being lured down here to be locked up again? Maybe Charlie isn’t actually here. God, I hope he isn’t actually here.
“Please, Lisette, get here quickly.” I clasp my hands and look to theceiling, praying for her to come save the day. Because I have a feeling I’m going to need saving.
The door to the basement creeks open ominously.
“Charlie?” I call out, my voice shaky.
Using my phone as a guide, I descend the steps, my heart racing. I feel like I’m gonna puke.
“I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid. It’s just a room, Kip. Pull yourself together.” I psych myself up. I can do this. I’m a big, badass vampire. I’m not afraid of the dark. Or jail cells. Or creepy fucking basements. Nope. I’m too cool and buff for that.
The door at the bottom on the stairs is propped open slightly. Please don’t let me be walking into my own demise.
“Baby?” I whisper, casting my phone’s flashlight around the dim space.
The flashlight illuminates the cell at the back of the basement room. And there he is. My Charlie. Sitting with his arms tied behind his back, and a rag tied around his mouth like a makeshift gag.
“Charlie.” I gasp, running forward.
He shakes his head at me, just as the door to the room slams closed.
“Hiya, Kip.” Tyson’s voice rumbles from behind me.
I whirl around, spinning my flashlight in an arc until it lands on Tyson’s figure.
“Dude, what the fuck.” I wheeze. “What is going on?”
“Not much, you?” Tyson replies, unbothered.
Charlie mumbles something unintelligible around the gag.
I move towards the cell, ready to do anything to get Charlie out of there. Before I get too far, Tyson grabs my arm, yanking me back towards him.
“Uh-uh-uh. We’ve got some stuff to discuss, just you and me. If it goes well, I’ll let Charlie go. If it doesn’t…well…let’s just hope it goes alright.”
“Tyson, this is too far man. Whatever you think you’re doing, it’s wrong.”
He steers me towards a chair, pushing me until my ass hits the hard seat. He plops down across from me, crossing his feet at the ankles, with his arms crossed across his chest.
“That’s where you’re wrong, sugar. I’ve tried and tried, and fucking tried foryearsto get you to see reason. And then, even afterCharlie—”Tyson sneers the name, “came along, I fought at every turn to get you both to see that you don’t belong together. But no matter what I did, you didn’t get it. Well, I’m done trying. So no, this isn’t too far. And if this little chat doesn’t work, if you prove it’s not far enough, I’m willing to do anything to get you to see the truth.”
I hear Charlie grumble, and my instinct is to look towards him.
