Authors note: I'm sorry this took a while. My new computer didn't have any Microsoft software at all, so I couldn't write anything :(
When they had made it back into the abandoned building, Maria found herself being tied up again like a dog on a post. "I guess this means you don't trust me again, huh?" She sighed, her ankles and wrists had been tied together over a pole. "I wasn't trying to run away from you if that's what you thought." The Creeper was busy, attaching the heap of bodies one by one on the human quilt that covered his walls and soon his ceiling. He wasn't ignoring her, he was listening but Maria wasn't so sure. "You know… I may not be around when you wake up next." She thought aloud. This however, was in fact the truth. The Creeper awoke every twenty three years and every time he woke up she would be twenty three years older. Older. Closer to death. This may be the last of his wakening he would see her. As the Creeper pulled out another dead body from the pile on the floor, Marias words echoed through his head and he realised that all he had to show for his love for her was a few bruises and a scar.
He's a demon, why should he care for a human? Why should he even feel the need to show his love for her? Bruising, scaring, killing and generally hurting humans is what he does, not showing affection towards them. "Even though you killed my parents and my friends… you can kill me to but my heart will always beat for you." Right now it was fifty-fifty. He wanted to show his love towards her but he wasn't sure because of what he is. Even if he wanted to, how would he know how to show affection to her? He wouldn't. Baffled by the tug of war in his head, Jeepers thought and battled with himself. Then he walked out and left. His engine roared to life and Maria could hear him as he drove off. She didn't know when he would be back. She didn't know if she had stepped out of line by what she said. All she knew was that she was tied to a pole and that was where she intended to stay, tied up or not.
Some time to herself gave Maria some time to think. Not of anything important. Just about how much she has sacrificed to be with the Creeper. Her family. Her friends. Her work. Her physical and mental wellbeing. Her home for twenty three days. It's okay that he probably doesn't understand this or does anything in return because that isn't how love works. Especially when it's with a demon.
Jeepers came back in the room and dropped something in Marias lap before untying her wrists from the pole. Only her wrists though not her ankles, just so she could investigate the object that had been purposely dropped on her. Once she was released she rubbed her wrists before further inspection. It looked like a compact mirror, a really old compact mirror. It looked to be as old as he was. It had character to it, the paint was chipped and the design was faded, however it still noticeable. The compact had a black background with an orange flower and green leaves. If Maria wasn't mistaken, it kind of looked like a Chinese design. She flipped it over to see the back just to check the date and in small black letters were as inscribed: 1960. The compact mirror was a vintage art deco compact c, which meant it was made by Stratton of Birmingham. "Wow" She gasped, "You're old." The Creeper sneered at her in response. "Thank you, but what made you- oh!" She stopped as she realise what she was talking about a few minutes ago. "I'm sorry. Take it back. I don't want it if you felt like you had to give it to me." She extended her hand to return it to him but instead he just stared at her. After a while of nothing, the Creeper knelt in front of her and closed her hand so it held back onto the mirror, this was his way of saying 'I want you to have this, Maria. To prove to you that even though I, myself am old, my love for you will remain strong. Time does not matter, neither does age nor your appearance as time goes by. But of course this was all in his head, he never really had a reason to talk. He didn't need to. His action talked louder than if he were to talk. Still, a compact mirror doesn't change the way they felt about each other, the Creeper knew that when he next wakes up, she won't. They both knew this. "Thank you." She half-heartedly said.
I know this is a short chapter but it's apart of a crucial moment in the book.
