The usual disclaimers apply.

Dark Deliverance

IV

Marnie woke slowly, stretching her arms above her head. She had been dreaming about having mind blowing sex with an amazing man. The sense of someone watching her made her open her eyes. A pair of bright blue eyes looked into hers and a small hand patted her face. She grinned and wrapped her arms around Jordan in a hug. She looked at the clock on her night stand in shock. It was nearly noon.

"Are you hungry sweetheart?" Jordan nodded. "I'm so sorry I didn't get up to make you breadfast."

"Daddy, made me breakfast." Marnie froze.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, my new daddy. I like him." The child bounced off the bed and ran out of the room. Marnie sat on the bed trying to remember. Okay, she had invited this guy into her house. He helped rescue Jordan so he had to be alright. Didn't he? They talked for a long time and then…then what? A blushed flashed through her as she remembered making love repeatedly with a man with long, black hair. A beautiful man. Andre.

The blush was followed by heat that settled into a spot on her neck and another on her breast and burned. She pulled her nightgown down to see a red mark on her breast. He had given her a hickey. Hurrying to the bathroom, she looked in the mirror to see one on her neck. It wasn't a dream. The beginnings of panic fluttered in her stomach. She did not remember putting the gown on. It was one she rarely wore, made of a silky fabric that hugged her curves.

"Marnie."

"Wh..who…Andre?" Hysteria rose up through her stomach to her throat.

"Don't be frightened, beloved. You are not going insane."

"How is it you're talking to me in my mind?"

"It is the way of life mates to speak this way. Do you not remember?" The events of the previous night flooded through her, heat settling in her belly and lower.

"I am not in the habit of sleeping with men I've just met. I can't believe I…."

"You did nothing wrong, beloved. What we did was natural and right. I need you to understand something. Will you listen?"

"Y..yes."

"I must sleep for a while. You will not sense me in your mind. The sun is high and I cannot come to you. You will become very uncomfortable, but I will return to you as soon as the sun begins to sink below the horizon. Can you remember this?"

"I don't understand."

"I cannot sleep in your house. There is no place dark enough. Tonight we will talk and plan. I will return to you. That is a vow."

"Okay. I…I need to fix something for Jordan to eat. Did you make breakfast for him?"

"Yes. He awoke before I left you this morning. I fixed food for him and told him to lie down with you to protect you. He is a wonderful boy. You should be proud of him. He will help you make it through the rest of the day."

"Okay."

Marnie felt him leave her. One second he was with her and the next, he was gone. It still felt like a dream. He would come back. He promised. She would die if he didn't.

She pulled the robe that matched the gown and went into the kitchen to fix lunch for Jordan and herself. The prospect of food turned her stomach, but she needed to eat something. She hadn't eaten since sometime yesterday. Pouring a glass of apple juice from the refrigerator, she brought it to her lips. The smell of it made her gag. She tried several times to drink, but could not. She finally gave up and set the glass of juice in the refrigerator.

Marnie was able to drink a little water while Jordan ate his lunch. It was the only thing she could keep down. A hot shower made her feel a little more comfortable. She looked closely at the mark on her breast and was sure it had two small pinpricks in it. It stung when she rubbed at it, as did the one on her neck. She dressed in jeans and a long sleeved sweater and athletic shoes with socks.

She spent the afternoon playing games with Jordan or reading to him. Whenever she stopped to think, she felt as if a part of her was missing. The feeling became more oppressive as the day wore on.

The feeling of loss gave way to fear and anger. Fear that he was dead and she would never see him again. Anger that she had slept with a man she just met. More fear for her son, fear that her life was changing in ways she could not understand. Longing for his touch.

"Come on, Jordan. We are going for a ride." The child looked up from the picture book in his lap. He sensed her confusion and fear, though she tried to hide it from him. He put the book down and crawled into her lap, wrapping his small arms around her neck. She stood with him in her arms and hurried to the closet. Quickly she put his coat on him and buttoned it up. Grabbing her own coat and purse, she took Jordan's hand and led him outside to the car.

Marnie had no idea where she was going or what she would do, she only knew she had to run. It was nearly Christmas and she still didn't have a tree. The gifts she had bought for Jordan were high in a closet, but she couldn't even think of going back for them. When he was kidnapped, she could barely function and Christmas was the farthest thing from her mind. Now there would be no Christmas tree, no gifts, not until later at least when she figured out what to do.

She fastened the seat belt over Jordan then fastened her own. She backed the car into the street and drove as fast as she could safely do so. Heavy clouds had moved in and a soft, cold rain was falling. There was snow in the mountains, so she would have to follow the interstate, hoping it stayed open. She would head South, beyond that she had no idea where she was going.

It was late afternoon and growing dark. The gray overcast made it seem as though the sun had already set. Marnie hoped that she would feel better as she drove, but the fear grew worse. The farther she went from her house, the more she felt stretched, until it became painful. Jordan looked at his mother, his eyes wide with fear for her. He wanted his new daddy to come.

Sudden weariness enveloped her and she pulled over into the parking lot of a small shopping center. She rested her head on the steering wheel a few moments trying to pull herself together. Looking around to get her bearings, she realized they were in a run down part of the city. The shopping center appeared to be abandoned. She felt a little more calm but realized this place was not safe. A sense of danger grew and settled in the pit of her stomach.

She was about to pull back onto the street when the engine stopped. She turned the key repeatedly but there was no response from the engine. It was dead. A shrill scream from Jordan got her attention. A hideous, grinning face looked at her through the passenger window.

Yes, I'm evil for leaving this with a cliff hanger. Sorry. (Evil laugh)