Chapter Four:
When I awake I look around the room. It is still very dark, but it seems as though Joshua has already lit some candles to make it easier for me. How could anyone stand this constant darkness? I wonder how long I have been asleep. I get out the bed and stumble towards the door. When I open it I see that Joshua has also put candles down the hallway making some sort of path. I follow and end up in, what I'm guessing is, the kitchen. There is a note on the fridge:
Jenifer,
If I'm not here when you awake I've gone out to get some food and will return shortly. You can help yourself to the kitchen. There is a TV in the living room and movies in the cabinet. You may look around in rooms that have candles lit but please refrain from going into rooms that don't. Also it wouldn't be wise to wander around outside until I return. You must never leave the apartment without me, it is too dangerous.
Sincerely,
Joshua
Wow, that's a strange note, I think to myself as I open the fridge. Inside it has much of your usual foods. Ham, cheese, mayo, sugar, regular pop, a few bottles of regular Dasaini water, and a pitcher of this strange red liquid. I settle for some Pop and look around the kitchen for a snack, I open a cabinet and find a bag of regular Lays potato chips. I go to the table and eat my food. When I'm done I go to the trashcan and dispose of my garbage. Then I walk into the living room, surprisingly without falling, and turn on the TV. There isn't anything on the tube so I settle for a cooking show. I don't pay very much attention because my mind is too jumbled by the note to do much else. What did he mean by "too dangerous" to go outside? Why would he say that? What does he think I'm going to do? Just sit here in the dark all day? Or is it night? Maybe just a little fresh air, that couldn't be too bad... could it? It doesn't matter, I can't stay here. All of a sudden these walls are making me claustrophobic. It's like I'm going to die if I don't get outside.
Just for a little while I think as I make my way towards the door. I am reaching for the door knob when something catches my eye. It's a hallway that I haven't seemed to notice before. There are no candles lighting the way here so I guess this is where Joshua doesn't want me to go. I completely forget about going outside as I make my way towards the hallway. Every part of my body is screaming danger but I don't listen. I continue to walk down the hallway. When I get close to the end I can see the outline of a door. I make my way towards it and stop right before I run into it. I reach slowly for the door knob and turn it slightly. It opens without difficulty into a very dark room. I can see the outline of what looks like a desk and pictures. I walk into the room trying to explore when I fall and hit a pillar. It topples over and I can hear something creeping open. I look around and see that there is a dim light shining from a stairway that I never seemed to notice before.
I leave the room to go get a candle and step back into it. I then walk around the room with the candle and look at the frames. I almost drop the candle when I catch sight of what the picture frames hold. It's me! I think to myself as I walk around the room and examine all the frames. They are all of me! What the hell? There are so many! Then I walk to the desk like thing and find candles and a hair bow that I lost some time ago. Oh my God! I have fallen for a stalker! I can't believe I came here with him! As I'm lost in thought I suddenly hear some shuffling coming from upstairs. I look towards the secret stairway and see some shadows in the moonlight. Before I can stop myself I am making my way up the stairs to the roof.
As I nearly reach the top I hear voices. One I can plainly make out as Joshua's the other sounds so familiar. I creep towards the top until I have a clear view of the rooftop. Joshua has his back towards the stairs I can see clearly in the moonlight as I look towards the man. Oh My Goodness! It's the guy
that tried to rape me! I quickly duck into the shadows just enough to where I'm out of view but also able to hear the conversation.
"She's mine. I tracked her and you know the law Joshua." The man said.
"No Robert. She's rightfully mine to do with what I wish. I found her first after all." Joshua said with a snarl.
"Are you really prepared to die for that scrawny little human? You know what. Since I'm nice I'll share her with you."
"Me? Die? You must be forgetting what happened to you in the parking lot." Joshua said with a chuckle."As for sharing her, you know I don't kill humans."
"Oh right, the blood bank."
"Yep."
"Well then what do you want with her then? If you're not going to drink her what are you planning on doing with her?"
"I'm keeping her safe from vampires like you! She's mine. I claim her. You can go back to getting your street urchins now. I have nothing more to say to you."
All this time I had been listening I had forgotten about the candle.
"Hey! What's that light over there?" the man said.
I quickly blew it out before it could draw too much attention to me, but it was too late. The man was already leaning over me.
"Well looky what we got here." He says as he grabs me by the neck and lifts me up in the air. I can't breathe and I begin to struggle.
"Put her down." Joshua says with a sudden edge in his voice. "Alright then, whatever you say." He says as he tosses me over the edge. I am falling! I can't scream because of the velocity. I hear a snap from above and see the man fall to the ground. Then Joshua jumps over the edge until he gets under me. Then he clings to me tight as we plunge into the ground. I open my eyes to see that I'm not dead. Astounded I remove myself from Josh's arms and look at him. He looks as though he's in pain but he gets up and straightens himself out. There isn't a scratch on him! I become startled and back away from him when he starts to move towards me.
"You need to s-stay away from me!" I scream!"What are you? There is no way that you or I should've survived that fall!"
"Jen, it's a long story but I think we need to get you somewhere safe. There are more than just one man like that looking for you. Please. You have to trust that I won't do or let anything happen to you." He said in a calming voice.
"No. Please. What do you want? Do you want money? I'll give you anything. Just don't hurt me!" I plead.
"I want nothing from you except the truth."
"You want the truth!" I yell in disbelief. "How about let's start with you."
"Fine then. Can we please, please get back inside before another vamp finds you? I can't fight off more than one with that fall."
"Okay." I say as he leads me back to his apartment.
When I am all settled down he begins to tell me his story.