Hi Everyone!

Welcome to my newest story! I have been waiting for so long to publish it, I hope you will like it. It's a lot darker and more mysterious than my usual stories but I couldn't get this idea out of my head, and if you are familiar with my works, you know that I like trying new things.

There will be some warnings for the later chapters, so check the author's note before reading them.

Summary: Blaine, the lonely songwriter is excited when new neighbours move into the long deserted house beside his, but he soon comes to the realization that something is not right with the newlywed couple. The creepy clients of Sebastian, the strange behaviour of Kurt, the weird noises coming from their home in the middle of the night... Yeah, something is definitely wrong with the Smythes.

Blaine loved his house on the Birch Hill Road in Lima, Ohio. It had been his grandmother's place and after her death, Blaine had inherited the house. Blaine had practically grown up here. Since his parents had always been busy, his grandmother had taken care of their youngest son. Those had been the best years of Blaine's life. His grandmother had loved him more than his own parents and had done her best to raise Blaine properly. He was so incredibly grateful for her for leaving the house for him.

It wasn't like Blaine had planned staying in Ohio longer than necessary. He hadn't been happy here as a child and something had told him that he wouldn't be happy as an adult either. But in the end, everything had turned out just fine. After finishing his studies, he had gotten a great job as songwriter and after a few hard years and successful projects, he got himself jobs that paid well enough. He didn't have to find new clients anymore because he got dozens of various offers every single year and he could choose which one he wanted to do.

And yeah, it came with the amazing feeling of freedom. He still had to go on business trips but it only meant a few days off per month. Other than that, he was completely free and could enjoy the silence of his beautiful house. To be honest, he loved living here. The house was huge, he had two whole rooms for his instruments and a large garden with all the beauty the nature could offer for him. He loved that part the most. He usually spent his days in the garden, sitting on the grass or lost between the trees, or simply swimming in the pool. And when the night came, he focused on his music and created something incredible.

He was good in his job, he knew it. He had so much experience, he always came up with something new and there was no request he couldn't fulfill. He got better and better projects and he knew for sure that someday soon, he would get his first Oscar. That was his biggest dream since his childhood. He wanted to be there and show everyone that his music was the best, that he wasn't just a lazy kid his father usually called him but someone who created something unforgettable.

He usually got up early in the morning and made himself a coffee. He liked sitting on the porch, watching his neighbours as they got ready for the day and left. It was a small place where everyone knew each other and since Blaine had grown up here, he knew everyone the most. There was only an old couple, Mr and Mrs David who had been here before him. Everyone else had moved in later and Blaine always made sure he got to know the new neighbours as quickly as he could. So he had some very good friends and he also was the source of the best rumors. Okay, he wasn't too proud of that, but hey, it wasn't his problem that everyone told him the smallest details of their lives.

That was why he was surprised when he took his usual coffee one morning, sat down outside and realised that there were people working on the house right beside his. The Clarington house. That house was even bigger than his, hidden well behind old trees and high fence. Blaine still knew the house like the back of his hand. The late Mrs Clarington had been good friend of Blaine's grandmother and had often invited him over for tea. She had loved baking and had often made something special for Blaine who had been the only person visiting her in her last years. After her death two years earlier, the house had become empty. Mrs Clarington had had grandchildren, Blaine had even seen a scary guy called Hunter taking pictures of the house but that had been the only time Mrs Clarington's family had showed up there. They must have sold the house and it meant...

Blaine smiled. It meant new neighbours. And he couldn't wait to meet them.

It turned out that he had to wait two whole weeks for the next signs of his future neighbours. Whoever had bought the house, they must have made some big changes inside because only Blaine could hear for two weeks were the irritating sounds the worker made. But then, one day, they stopped. He was on his porch again when the large black car arrived. Okay, maybe he spent a little more time outside than necessary but he wasn't the only one. Everyone was curious, they couldn't wait to meet the new owners of the Clarington house.

Blaine leaned forward in his chair as the door opened and a huge guy dressed in black suit stepped out. He walked to the back door and opened it for someone. Blaine's mouth hang open. It seemed like a celebrity arrived. Was it maybe someone famous? That would be so cool...

To his disappointment, another boring looking guy stepped out. He was about his age and he admitted himself, he wasn't that bad, he even would have called him hot if he would have been alone. But he wasn't. Right after the brown haired man got out of the car, a slightly smaller one followed him – and Blaine forgot to breath the second he laid his eyes on him. The second guy was the most perfect person Blaine had ever seen. He was tall and slim, his hair perfectly styled, his eyes bright blue, his clothes immaculate and God, his skin... Like the finest porcelain. Blaine felt like he couldn't tear his gaze away from him like... ever. But sadly, the taller man put an arm around the beauty and guided him to the front door where Blaine couldn't see him anymore.

He leaned back in his chair and started thinking. He wanted to get to know that man, he had to. But going there right now when they had just arrived felt inappropriate. Luckily for Blaine, he knew the perfect person who could tell him more about the new neighbours.

"Santana, open the door!" he shouted when his neighbour didn't come out for the second knock.

Soon after that, he heard footsteps from inside and a very annoyed looking Santana opened the door for him.

"Uhm... Do I disturb you?" Blaine asked uncertainly.

"Are you here to talk about those awful noises you make on your piano in the middle of the night?" Santana asked.

"It's called working" Blaine explained.

Santana rolled her eyes and tried to slam the door into Blaine's face but he was faster and stopped her.

"I came for gossips" Blaine whispered. Damn, it was so not okay. He wasn't that kind of guy but he just had to know more about his new neighbours.

"Well, well, well. Just when I thought you couldn't surprise me" Santana smiled and opened the door wider for Blaine.

"Thank you" Blaine said.

"What do you want to know?" Santana asked as they made their way to her living room and sat down.

"I saw the new neighbours today..." Blaine started. "Do you know anything about them?"

"Of course I do" Santana laughed. "I know everything about everyone."

"So?" Blaine asked back. He was dying to know more about that man.

"So what?" Santana asked. "You asked if I knew anything about them. My answer is yes."

"What do you know about them then?" Blaine asked again. He hated when Santana played with him.

"Sebastian and Kurt Smythe" Santana said. "Newlyweds, moved here from New York. Sebastian is a businessman and I think Kurt is his cute stay-at-home husband. Sebastian is rich like hell, he had no problem paying for the house and the renovation. I saw their furniture the other day, they seem really expensive."

"What are they doing here?" Blaine frowned. "People like them don't move here."

"Well, you live here, too, although you could live anywhere" Santana shrugged.

"True" Blaine nodded. She was right.

"I guess they want kids and they find this area suitable for their family" Santana said.

Blaine sighed sadly. She was right, again. They were married, they were happy together, they surely wanted a family, too...

"Oh, no" Santana sighed.

"What?" Blaine frowned.

"Don't say you already have a crush on one of them? They've just arrived!" Santana said.

"I have no idea what you are talking about" Blaine said.

"I know this look, Anderson" Santana said.

"Well, then you know something wrong" Blaine replied and made a quick exit, afraid that Santana might be right in this, too.

He decided to wait until that evening and then visit his new neighbours. He couldn't wait any longer. Just when he had gotten home from Santana, he had seen Kurt standing at the window on the first floor. Not that he had been searching for him... He had just accidentally stayed in the garden until he had seen something. He wasn't a stalker.

But after seeing Kurt – or at least he believed it was Kurt and not Sebastian, he didn't know them after all – looking down at Blaine's house, his eyes so sad and seemingly distracted, he had known that he had to get to know this beautiful man as soon as possible. He had to see him from close, hear his voice... he surely had a beautiful voice.

So Blaine searched through the kitchen for his grandmother's favourite pie recipe and when he was ready with it, he grabbed the beautiful apple pie and walked to the Clarington... I mean, the Smythe house. He tried the doorbell first but when nobody came out, he started worrying that it wasn't working. It had been years since Mrs Clarington's death, who knew if...

"Can I help you?"

Blaine looked at the man he hadn't seen before. It wasn't Sebastian or Kurt but someone who seemed like a bodyguard, dressed in black clothes and watching him cautiously.

"Uhm... I'm Blaine Anderson" Blaine said hesitantly. "I... I saw that you guys moved in and I thought I should introduce myself. I'm the new neighbour."

The man stepped closer to him but still didn't open the gate for him.

"You know, people in this situation usually say hi and invite the guest in" Blaie said awkwardly.

The man didn't move.

"It's okay. Let him in" said a sudden voice.

Blaine looked around, searching for the source of the voice but he didn't find it. Maybe it was a walkie-talkie he couldn't see hidden under the guy's clothes. The man stepped forward and opened the gate for him, barely giving Blaine place to step inside.

"Thanks" Blaine said and walked to the front door.

The guy followed him and opened the front door that had been locked for some weird reason. Blaine surely didn't understand why. It was a nice and safe area, they didn't have to be afraid of burglars, especially at daylight.

The man led him into the hall and then the living room. Blaine looked around in awe, barely recognizing the place. There was nothing left from the old decoration or furniture, everything seemed new and very expensive. Sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace were Kurt and Sebastian. Both men stood up when they saw Blaine step inside and walked forward to greet him.

"So you are our new neighbour" the taller guy – probably Sebastian – said. "I'm Sebastian Smythe and this is my husband, Kurt."

So Blaine was correct. He shook Sebastian's hand and then turned towards Kurt. He was even more beautiful from close, with delicate features and stylish clothes. He seemed a little weird, though. He didn't look at Blaine at all and didn't make any move towards him.

"Kurt, greet our guest" Sebastian said with a tight smile on his face.

Kurt glanced up at Blaine and Blaine frowned when he looked into those blue eyes. Kurt seemed so sad again, that was the only emotion Blaine could see in those eyes.

"It's nice to meet you" he said quietly.

"It's nice to meet you, too" Blaine smiled. "I'm Blaine Anderson, I live in the house right beside yours. And-and I brought you this!"

He showed the pie in his hand, hoping that his strange neighbours would like it.

"How nice of you, Blaine" Sebastian smiled. "Kurt will take care of it. We should sit down here."

Kurt nodded and stepped forward to take the pie from Blaine. As he reached out towards him, the shirt on his wrists slid up a bit but he quickly pulled it back down. Then he took the pie from Blaine and disappeared from their sight.

"Sit down, Blaine" Sebastian said. "Would you like a drink?"

"Uhm... No, thank you" Blaine said, carefully looking towards the guy who had led him inside. He was still standing at the door. "Is he your bodyguard?"

"No, of course not" Sebastian laughed. "Jerry is my business partner."

"Oh" Blaine commented, not really buying Sebastian's explanation.

"I work with many people" Sebastian said.

"Yeah, I heard that you were a businessman" Blaine said.

"That's right" Sebastian nodded.

Kurt walked back into the room and sat down beside Sebastian. The man put an arm around him and pulled Kurt closer to him. Blaine realised that Kurt tried to get some distance between them but Sebastian held him firmly.

"And what kind of business is it?" Blaine asked.

"Wow, straight to the point. Isn't it too much to ask from somebody you barely know?" Sebastian asked back.

Blaine blushed. Sebastian was completely right, he had no right to ask this.

"Relax, Blaine" Sebastian smiled. "We are neighbours. Of course you want to know more about us."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to" Blaine muttered.

"Are you afraid that I would bring my dirty business here and hide dead bodies in my garden?" Sebastian asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, then you should be worried. That's exactly what I'm planning to do."

Blaine's eyes widened. Did he hear exactly that...

Suddenly, Sebastian threw back his head and started laughing.

"Damn, you should have seen your face" he said.

"I-I don't understand" Blaine said quietly.

"I was joking!" Sebastian said. "God, I can't believe you bought it."

"That-that was funny" Blaine muttered.

"You don't have to be worried, Blaine" Sebastian said. "We are decent people. We only want a nice, peaceful, provincial life, just like you."

"Yeah. Raise children, I get it" Blaine said before he could stop himself.

"Hm... Kids" Sebastian smiled as he turned to Kurt. "Not a bad idea. What do you think, honey?"

All he got from Kurt was an annoyed glare.

Blaine started feeling awkwardly. Something was going on with the Smythes or maybe it was only his presence that made them act like this. One thing was sure, he shouldn't stay any longer.

"It was nice to meet you, guys, but I think I should leave now" Blaine said and stood up. "You surely have a lot to do."

"That's right" Sebastian nodded. "But we will organize a big party when we have everything settled. You know, to get to know the neighbourhood."

"That's a great idea" Blaine smiled.

"See you later, then" Sebastian said.

Blaine looked at Kurt one more time but the man still didn't meet his eyes. He was strange, that was sure. But Blaine could say that about Sebastian, too. There was something in his smile that made Blaine's blood run cold.

As Blaine got home that night, he realised two things. Sebastian had never told him what his business was about but Blaine had a bad feeling that if he worked with people like that guy he had seen, it couldn't be anything good. And the other thing, that when Kurt had taken the pie from him, he had seen dark marks on his skin right before he had pulled his shirt back down. He had to go home and think about it to realise what they could be because it seemed so unbelievable. But now that he thought about it in the silence of his home, he came to the conclusion that it couldn't be a mistake. He knew exactly what those dark marks were.

Bruises.