I opened my mouth to speak but instead, I flew at him. My hands gripped at his arms, fingernails digging into his flesh. “I haven’t been anywhere near you.” My face folded itself into a painful unfamiliar scowl.
Shock dashed in his eyes before they hardened. Deep, dark, hardened flints… of… of… onyx and jet.
“I hate you.” His aggravated statement hammered somewhere in the depths of my stomach.
“Not as much as I hate you.”
Still clutching one another with vice-like grips we stared hard. If I could have laser-beamed and melted his brain with my gaze, I would have without a second thought. Deep down I knew this was crazy, but the overwhelming feelings of hatred towards him overrode my common sense.
“You’ve never met me.” His lips curled into a twisting sneer.
“Thank God, you repulse me.” I shuddered. The intense sensations made me want to puke.
His hands tightened on my shoulders, my bones aching under his crushing touch. “You need to get away before I hurt you.” He leaned closer, and I inhaled the scent of earth and fresh air. My head whirled with nausea. “I will kill you, right now, with no hesitation.” His icy statement should have had me running for help, calling the police maybe? I didn’t move.
I sneered, curling my top lip like a ferocious lioness. “You hurt me? You’d never be quick enough.”
I wanted to stop myself speaking. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t this person. I’d never so much as trod on a spider. But the boiling rage pushed the words out of my mouth like a molten volcano.
“I will kill you,” he repeated. His hands skimmed from my shoulder, along the skin of my neck until his long strong fingers slid effortlessly around my throat. I swallowed, my face heating with lack of oxygen. He was going to kill me. I thrashed with my hands, then my feet, kicking and thrusting, trying to make contact, all the while he held me. His dark furious gaze settled on my burning face.
“Tristram.” The name came from nowhere. My eyes closing as darkness flickered around the very edges of my being. From the place where they’d been tattooed onto the inside of my eyelids, I sought the dark gaze from my dream. I found them, although they were dotted with stars, the lack of oxygen making blood vessels burst. As unconsciousness pulled me along a teetering edge between here and the expanse of space before life ends, I searched for that dream. For the hand clutching my hand to a firm chest, the air rushing and rising, pulling two bodies towards one another.
We were stood under the trees. Birds chattered and flapped as though they watched us and approved. “I love you, Tristram, you know that.” I blinked into midnight eyes. “You’d never hurt me, not even for my blood.”
I pressed against his chest with one last feeble effort.
Except it was her hand… not mine.
Not mine.
“Tristram,” I gasped. It was the last word I’d ever say. In my heart, it etched a stencilled outline which told me it was my first.
He was gone. His hands leaving my skin. His footsteps echoed like a racing heartbeat down the hallway. I gasped and clutched at my throat, gagging and heaving. Sweat tingled along the back of my neck. Falling to the floor, I placed my hands and knees on the hard flagstones, breathing hoarsely. He was going to kill me. But I knew I would have done the same if I’d been bigger and stronger.
What the hell was going on?
Crawling, I made my way to the doorway at the end of the corridor. A green sign pointed a white printed 'Fire Exit' at me. Still on my knees, I pushed at the door, willing it to open. But I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t strong enough for anything. I slumped against it as I allowed darkness to take me.
I’d go anywhere to be away from him.
I remembered the jet eyes as I slid under. Wouldn’t I go anywhere to see them?
Another wet slobbering lick bought me too and I sunk my fingers into the deep fur along Buster’s back. “Are you on a rescue mission?” I whispered to the dog. Opening my eyes, I blinked into woodland. A wet nose nudged my hand, pushing me to get up.
How did I get outside?
I smoothed Buster’s fur. “Let me rest a few minutes. I’ll be fine I promise.”
With my eyes shut, I listened to the rustle of leaves on the trees; crisp and dry they were preparing to fall. I loved this time of the year, the golden hue of the glowing trees always reminded me of his hair. He’d come back, he always came back when he was sent on errands, although he’d never left after we’d spoken cross words before. I patted his dog and nestled further to the ground. Just a little sleep, no one would mind.
“Mae!” The call stopped me from slipping into the deep sleep I craved.
“Coming, Father.” With an internal sigh which made my stomach dip I forced my eyes open. Instead of trees I found only a shadowy ceiling.
“Mae, what the hell happened to you?” It was Phil who stepped up close, her face creased and pale.
“Nothing, I got lost.” I staggered from the floor. My whole body ached as if I’d been hit by a truck.
Her fingers gingerly touched the skin of my neck and I winced as she prodded the bruised inflamed flesh. “You got lost? Mae, it’s midnight, you’ve been gone for ages.”
Her words didn’t make any sense, but I clutched onto her arm. “Help me get back, I need to sleep. I can’t find my way along these ridiculous hallways.”
Phil nibbled on her bottom lip, her eyebrows knitted together. “I think we should go and find Mrs Cox. She’s a cow, but
