ROSES OF BLOOD

CHAPTER 3

NOTHING IS THE SAME anymore. I can feel my head spinning and the loud hammering of my heart against my chest. I don't know how I got this weird course of adrenaline, but thinking about it deeply gives me a strong sense of dread, so I've decided to leave it alone.

First off, I need somewhere to go to. But I don't remember where I live nor who I am. I only know my name, and that's all.

I feel so lost, so confused.

Especially when I saw that my hands were covered with blood.

So I had run to the nearest bathroom and washed my hands there vigorously, not leaving even a tiny speck. The sight of the vibrant colour of red startled me so much; it is deeply embedded into my system and it is so vivid that I can't get it out of my mind.

It haunts me.

"I'll be going now," I suddenly hear someone say not too far from me. It sounds feminine and tired with a note to it that makes me intrigued.

My head turns towards the direction of the voice and I find myself looking at a woman with long blonde hair and intelligent brown eyes.

The moment she walks off, my eyes stick to her retreating back, never once breaking their gaze. I don't know why I even bother, but there's just something about her that peaks my curiosity, although I have no idea what.

I start to follow her.

'Kill her...'

I instantly stop in my tracks.

No...

Why now?

Why does it have to be now?

The darkness consumes me the next moment, and then all I see is black.

—

I FOLLOW HER DISCREETLY from behind, noting the way her shoulders slack from fatigue and the way she emits a sigh like someone who tries to escape from the burden of guilt.

I can almost taste her smell. That sweet vanilla scent.

It makes me hungrier for her than ever before.

When she goes inside her apartment, I grin maniacally, then open the door forcefully without much effort.

And then there she is, clad in thin, sexy clothes with an expression of shock on her face.

Delicious.

"Who—Who are you?!" she demands.

I do not answer her; it is not even necessary. Instead, I go over to her with intent in my steps.

No words can explain just how much I'm craving to touch her right now.

She backs away, but then her back collides against a wall, and with that I have seen my opportunity.

Without further ado, I close in on her and slam my hand on the wall at her side, leaning in towards her sweaty, red face which I presume is because of fear.

"W—W—What do you w—want?" she whimpers.

I freeze for only the briefest of moments before licking my lips.

Damn. She's hot.

"What do I want?" I say to her, a smirk forming on my face. "I want you."

I can practically feel that her breath catches in her throat. Satisfied by her reaction, I twirl a strand of her blonde hair with my fingers.

"You will give me all of you… if you don't want me to kill you," I tell her, enjoying the sight of the fear that's evident on her expression.

She is about to scream out when I cover her mouth.

"Ah… bad girl." I chuckle. "No screaming… or else you'll find your eyeball rolling on your clean, tiled floor."

She shuts her mouth at that, but her body trembles, and tears are welling up in her eyes.

I move away from her. "Now, that's a good girl." I give her a manic grin.

She whimpers in response.

"Lucy?!"

I instantly stiffen.

"Lucy! What is going on here? I heard something like a door being broken in—" The voice stops short.

Groaning internally, I turn around to see a red-haired girl about centimeters shorter than me with a worried expression on her face. Then, when she sees me, her eyes narrow.

"Who are you?" she demands.

A light bulb pops into my head.

I smirk.

I can use this to my advantage.

"Ah, hey! Sorry about that," I say sheepishly, scratching the back of my head in a meek manner. "I'm, uh…" What's her name again? "…Lucy's long lost brother! I just came here and I was so excited to see her that I accidentally broke down the door. I'm really sorry, sis." I wrap my arm around her shoulders and whisper to her ear, "If you don't play along, you know exactly what will happen to you."

She gulps, then nods. "A—Ah, that's right, Erza! I—I was in fact very happy to see him that—that… I cried!"

The woman looks at us for a moment before nodding in understanding. "Ah, I get it…" She smiles. "I'm glad. For a moment there, I thought your brother is a robber. I'm glad we cleared up this misunderstanding." She turns her back towards us and waves. "Well, I will leave you two to have your moment."

When she finally leaves, I turn to my terrified prey.

"So… your name is Lucy, huh?"

"Please—Please don't… h—hurt me…" she says in a strangled whisper.

I chuckle at that. "No worries, little kitten. I won't touch you… yet." I lift my hand to caress her cheek.

She flinches at my touch.

"Not until you give me everything you have."

tbc