AN: This chapter wasn't all that much exciting to me but I do hope you like it nonetheless. I delayed on this procrastinated a lot because of the loss of ideas. I didn't really have writer's block but I was kind of out of ideas but I was anxious to write. Well, hope you like this chapter; I tried my hardest on it. Enjoy. Oh, at the end of the chapter, it's quite graphic so if you don't want to read it, that's fine. This is probably the only time I would do it anyway.

A Thing for Passion

Chapter 4

Richard probably called about fifteen times before he went over to Kori's apartment. He was worried about her. It had been about 2 days since he heard anything from her.

His heart beat sped up as he pulled to a stop in front of her building. He quickly got out the car and walked up the stairs to her door, apartment number 625. He entered with the spare key he received from Kori some time ago. Looking around, it seemed as if nothing was out of place; that was until he reached the bedroom.

The pictures that once were on the bedroom set mirror were nowhere to be seen, Richard noticed. The bed was nicely spread but no Kori was found. His gut told him to look into the drawers and he followed it. They were as empty as his stomach felt when he looked in them.

He ended up walking through the apartment, looking for any sign that Kori was there but came up short. All he was able to find was a picture of them on one of their many dates and a gift he had gotten her the day he took her out to the fair. Richard plopped himself down on the living room sofa and stared at the picture in his hands.

Richard distinctly recalled that date they had went out. They went prowled the town, went to a night club, and ate dinner. It was one of the best dates they had since they had become an item. In the picture, Richard was standing behind Kori, his arms wrapped around her small figure. He was kissing her on her neck.

Kori was the one who took the picture of them, so her hands were out in front of her in the picture trying to balance the camera. Both of them were smiling. It was a sweet picture they took.

Richard flipped the picture over and recognized Kori's handwriting. On the back she wrote "The one and only" with Richard's name encircled in a heart. Richard smiled.

He got off the couch and made his way to the door. Just when he was about to open the apartment door, his cell phone rang. He answered.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?! Class is about to start any minute and we need to be there early so we miss the test," Richard's friend Victor yelled over the phone.

"I'll be there soon," Richard said calmly. He wasn't exactly in the mood for much talking let alone yelling.

"Well you better. Where did you run off to anyway?" Victor asked.

Richard was silent for a couple of seconds. "I'll tell you later."

"I got to go, so call me when you get back." And both hung up. Richard took one last look around the apartment then went out the door. Memories still lingered in his mind as he drove back to Jump University.

That was the last he had ever visited Kori's apartment knowing she would never occupy it again.

With Kori

Kori's eyes widened. Standing before was a tall bald headed man with two small kids by his sides. They must have been twins because they looked identical. He must have noticed her too because he let go of the kids and held his arms open, ready for an embrace.

Kori ran from the still open elevator doors right into his arms.

"Victor! I haven't seen you in so long. How have you been?" Kori asked. She was close to tears and her voice was crackling. (AN: Disappointed huh? Don't worry; there may be a surprise later in the chapter. Maybe.)

"I should be asking you that question. Where have you been? Why did you leave? Man, I got so much questions for you," Victor said letting go. She looked up at him and smiled. She had forgotten that Rachael and Gar were right behind her, already out of the closed elevator. She turned around one arm still wrapped around Victor's waist since he was too tall for her to put her arms around his neck.

"Hey guys, this is-,"

"We know who he is," Rachael butted in. She turned to Victor. "What are you doing here?"

"I was coming here for the weekend. I needed some time off of work. Business is booming lately. I thought I'd bring the kids with me."

"Where's Karen? Why isn't she with you?" Rachael asked.

Victor's face turned grim. "We're having some problems at the moment. She wanted to stay." Victor turned to Gar.

"You up for video games tonight?" He asked.

Gar smiled. "You bet! I am determined to kick your ass this time. I got some new tricks up my sleeves," he said.

Victor grim look turned into that of a happy one. "Oh, we'll see about that." Their conversation was cut short when Victor felt a little tug on his pant leg. He looked down to see it was his 5-year-old daughter, Jasmine, who was tugging on his leg.

"Daddy, who is that lady? She's pretty." He figured she was referring to Kori whom was still by his side.

"This is my long time friend Kori. Kori, this is Jasmine and beside me is Jamal," he introduced. Kori let go of Victor and bent down to shake both the kid's hands.

"Hi, how are you?" Kori asked.

The little girl shook her hand first. "I'm fine," she replied. Kori then turned to the little boy and shook his hand. He was a little more shy then his sister, she saw. She asked the question to him and he replied the same as sister.

Kori smiled at both of them and said, "You know, I have a daughter myself. She'll be coming soon; she's about the same age as you, maybe a little older. I'm sure she'll love to play with you guys," Kori said. When she stood back up, Victor was giving her a confound expression.

"Daughter?" he asked. Her face flushed.

"I'll tell you later." She desperately searched her mind for a change of subject. "So, where are you heading to?"

"We just came from the arcade. We were just going up to the TV room. Where are you guys going?"

"Well Rachael and I were going to the restaurant downstairs. I don't know about Kori. Where are you going?" Gar asked Kori.

"Same direction."

Rachael thought for a while. "Why don't we all just go get something to eat together?" Everyone, except Kori, turned to Rachael with a surprised look on their face. Even the kids.

"What?" she asked.

"Auntie Rachael, it's not like you to say something like that," Jasmine pressed. Everyone nodded.

"Well I do have a nice side every now and again." Rachael implied.

Gar murmured, "That's very hard to believe." Even though he said it in a low tone, with Rachael sharp senses, she heard it. She hit him on the back of his head.

"Oww! Rae what was that for?"

She crossed her arms. "I heard what you said. And don't call me Rae."

They came up with a solution and they all headed to one of the fancier but not fanciest restaurant. They settle into a booth and got back to talking. The conversation surrounded what Kori was up to recently. Then Victor brought up the "daughter" situation she oh so dreaded he would ask.

"So, what this I hear about a child?" he asked.

Kori hesitated for a moment then spoke. "It… it happened after I left." She didn't want to tell him the full story but somehow she knew she was going to be forced.

"This child of yours wouldn't happen to be his would it?" He hit the mark. She turned her face to the window she sat beside. She was able to see the east wing of the hotel which included the parking lot and a close by park. There were people outside, some who she recognized as co-workers there at the hotel. But one particular guy stood out. She couldn't really see much since it was dark outside the window but she was able to see simple details.

Kori could make out the white shirt and black slacks he wore. His hair was a dark color, she couldn't make it out completely, and it was spiked; a very similar style to could oddly remember. As she turned her gaze back to the table, a flash of Richard's image flashed in her head.

Why the memory all of a sudden?

Her train of thought came to an end as she heard somebody call her name.

"Kori? What are you looking at? You haven't answered my question you know," Victor said.

"I thought I saw somebody and I know I haven't answered your question because I'm not ready to," Kori replied. She was a little irritated that he kept asking.

She stole a glance back outside only to find that the people were gone. She shrugged her shoulders and brought her attention back to the group. For the moment, Victor had left the conversation and proceeded to argue with Gar about who was better at the new game they started to play. Rachael was trying to shut them up by using some violent language but they didn't seem to hear her.

She sighed and placed her chin on her right palm. She thought about her life and compared it to the others'. It seems that, no matter what the struggle, they were still able to keep a smile on their faces. Instead of her doing the same, she did the exact opposite. She kept dwelling on the past with weighed her down a great deal. Maybe it was her time to live.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom," Kori said. Victor, whom was sitting beside her in the booth, slid out to let pass. The washroom was pretty clean, just a couple stains here and there but it was nice. The countertops were marble, the wall painted a type of rich light brown color and the floor pleasantly matched the color with a type of creamy beige. It was like a personal rich bathroom.

Kori walked over to the big Ginger Kubic mirror to wash her face, get her senses going. She tried not to stay long in the there so she came out after she used the bathroom and washed her hands. She also made sure she fixed her clothes before she walked out.

As she made her way back to the table, she noticed the same man she saw out the window at her table. He strangely looked familiar from behind since he was standing in front of her table. Her heart started to pound against her rib cage. She didn't know why, but she started to get nervous so she stopped in place trying to gather her thoughts.

Why am I acting this way?

Her body must have noticed it before she did. But when the man turned to the side to talk with Gar, she knew why. Kori would know that face anywhere, whether here or in another life time or in a million years. Her eyes widened for the second time that day.

Standing there at the table was a man she vowed not to see ever again; a man whom deep down, she still loved.

A man named Richard.

Kori's breath got caught in her throat. Her body felt like it was to malfunction any minute, but the problem wasn't over. Rachael had seen her and was still looking over her way. Richard was getting relatively curious started to turn around to see what she was so fascinated with. Rachael saw here mistake and tried to force Richard's eyes toward the table, but it wasn't working. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion.

Without another second to spare, Kori quickly turn around determined not to make Richard see her. She didn't notice the waiter behind her approaching another table with a tray of a creamy strawberry pound cake. She smacked right into the waiter which sent the cake flying in the air and right on her face and Kori to the floor.

Gasps and "oh's" could be heard around the spacious restaurant.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" asked the waiter as he bent down to see if she had any injury. Kori whipped some of the cake from her eyes.

"I'm fine," she responded. She was preoccupied with whipping her eyes (which were burning her like hell) that she didn't spot Richard by her. He too bent down to make sure she was okay, still haven't noticed that it was her. She was stunned when she saw him. She failed to elude him.

"Are you hurt?" he inquired. She stayed quiet. All she was able to do was stare at him.

He still looks the same, probably even more handsome. God, I missed him.

She wanted to reach out and touch him, have him hold her in his arms, and kiss his soft lips until the end of the earth. But she knew she couldn't do it. She couldn't blow her cover now. She tried to hide it so hard it and she wasn't about to give up now.

Richard helped her up as the rest of the gang came over. Gar was chuckled.

"That's a nice look for you Ko-" His sentence was cut short when Rachael jabbed her elbows into his ribs. Gar doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"That hurts you know. Why did you do that?"

"Because now is not the time to be making jokes," Rachael said. That wasn't the only reason she did it though. She knew Kori didn't want her cover to be blown.

By now, everyone in the restaurant had turned back to their food and forgot about the incident. Looking around, Kori noticed the waiter was gone along with the tray.

"Where did the waiter go?" she asked no one in particular. Richard answered.

"I think he went to get another order of the cake that you have on your face."

The cake without a doubt was scattered all over her face except in her eyes where she had whipped them out of. When she looked up at Richard, she realized he was frowning. He was just… staring at her. Once their eyes met, she quickly looked away at the group for some help, but they couldn't read her call. They too were silent as if wanting to see what was going to happen.

She started to back away, trying to think of some excuse to get away from them. And then she remembered about the crud on her face.

"Ah, I think I need to go get this thing off my face. I'll be right back," She said backing up some more. Then she turned around and started to head back to the bathroom, but a hand stopped her halfway.

"Kori?"

Oh, that voice sure was capable of bringing her to her knees. That voice could make her melt. How she wished she could be with him at the moment. She turned around and looked at his piercing blue eyes. She could see some sort of sadness. She hoped she wasn't the one who caused it which she knew deep down she did.

As much as she didn't want to, she jerked her arm away from him.

"Sorry, you got the wrong girl." And she walked away, leaving everyone behind her stunned at her action.

With Vanessa

Xavier had dropped her home about an hour and a half ago. And though she was exhausted when she came home, it didn't stop her from inviting him in. After a round of sex, he left saying he had something important to do. She really wanted Richard in the bed and she often pictured him while in the bed, but Xavier was there and he was the next best thing.

Vanessa took off her clothes and stepped into the preheated shower. As she took her shower, she didn't notice the pair of eyes watching her through the bathroom window. But by the time she got out a few minutes later, they were gone. She dried her now wavy hair and wrapped the tower around her body. Vanessa quickly dressed into a pink night gown and robe.

She made her way into the kitchen to turn on the kettle and grabbed a People's magazine on the way to the kitchen table. She flipped through the pages but stopped when she heard something fall in the bedroom down the hall. Vanessa looked around and sat in silence, straining her ears to hear something else.

Vanessa got up and went down the hall into her bedroom. There on the floor was her night lamp. It didn't break on impact because of the soft carpeted floor beneath it.

She picked it up off the ground, put it back in its known spot and started out the door. Suddenly there was another noise, like someone running. Her body went stiff. There was someone in the house! Without warning, someone grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth and nose with a cloth. She soon passed out due to lack of air, but she wasn't dead…yet.

The masked man dragged her body toward the bedroom where he…had his way with her, making sure to strip off all unneeded clothing. He liked them unconscious or dead. That way, they wouldn't put up much of a fight. Half way through his fun time, Vanessa had awoken. She screamed as much as she could only to get punched right in the face which knocked her out once more.

"Stupid bitch," he had called her.

He dragged her body, once done with it, to her bedroom bathroom and placed her into the tub. There he washed off her body, erasing any evidence that he had his way with her. After that task was over with, he picked up her body and brought her on the living room floor where he slit her throat with one of her kitchen knives and carved a smile on her face that reached literally ear to ear. Oh yeah, he was sure she was dead now.

With a smile, he hacked off her legs from the knee down and put them both on the left side of her left leg making a human "L". On a note pad he got from home, which he kept in his pocket and wrote, "Loyalty was not she" and threw the note onto her bloody body.

Now that I'm done with the body, time for some fun.

He retrieved a red lipstick from Vanessa's makeup kit and wrote "Whore", "Bitch", and "Cheater" onto the white walls that surrounded her dead body. Stepping from the whole scene, he admired his work.

My best yet the sick man thought.

He thought for a moment, thinking that he forgot something. Then he remembered, his signature.

He walked up to the body and slashed a letter onto both breasts. Now he was done. Before he walked out the front door he opened with a spare key he made hours ago, he made certain to satisfy his hunger with a muffin from her pantry.

Now for my next victim.

Well, this chapter sucked to me. I liked the last part. Tell me what you thought of the last part. I kind of thought it was a little too graphic. Again, sorry for the long update. I have lots of stuff to do at home. I'm like a substitute mom sometimes. Anyway, remember, all thoughts welcome.

Canadianth22