The Voice

When I was little I was scared of the dark. I know a lot of little kids are, they fear the unknown monsters that lurk in the darkest corners of their room, or under their beds waiting to grab an unsuspecting child's ankle, to drag them down, or wait in the closets for the light to go out before creeping out to spy upon the sleeping child. Unlike the other kids I knew what was lurking, the only reason I could sleep in my room was the knowledge that my monster wasn't inside. He spoke to me through the window from outside.

When the moon was high, shining through the clouds, giving my bedroom an eerie glow I'd heard a voice, calling to me from outside. It was a masculine voice, a man, whispering my name. When I'd first heard him I was petrified and I'd curled up in my blankets trembling, daring not to sleep as the voice continued to call my name, "Roxassssssss..."

I didn't sleep much as a child, I became paranoid when the sun went down. My parents assumed I just had a vivid imagination, and despite my protests they'd always send me alone up to bed, no matter how much I begged them to let me sleep in theirs.

Over the years I began to get used to it, I even became brave enough to sit up in my bed, still wrapped in blankets, warily eyeing my window and began to speak with him.

"W-who are you?" I'd asked the first time, my voice shaky as this was a big moment for me, I was finally acknowledging his existence. There was a long moment of silence before I heard him speak again.

"Ah, so you've finally given in, my dear?" the voice purred. I shivered, shaking my head slightly, though I doubted he would see.
"No... I-I-I... I just got curious. Who are you?" for a moment I saw a shadow flit past my window before he replied, "I'm a nightmare, I'm a monster, though I'm really not that bad. I'm definitely something special... and you could meet me if you'd like." This was the most he'd ever said before, usually he just called my name. This was the first time he'd began inviting me out.

"M-meet you, how?" I'd asked foolishly.

"Why come out here of course my little Angel. Just step up to your window, open it and join me."

I denied, though young I wasn't stupid. And besides my mother always made sure to lecture to me never to trust a stranger, never go with one. Though I don't think this was the sort of situation she had in mind when she told me.

The voice persisted, smoothly asking me to meet him, join him. All I had to do was go to the window.

When I was fifteen I began to get mad. This voice had haunted me during my childhood, not a night went by when he wasn't there, talking to me in that purring, almost seductive voice. Trying to entice me outside with him.

"What do you want?" I'd growled, finally loosing it a bit, sitting up and throwing my legs off my bed to glare out into the night, "Why do you want me to come out and see you so badly? What do you want from me?"

All I got in response at first was a dark, rich chuckle. "What I want, my dear little Roxas, is you. Out here, with me, in my arms." I'd frozen at that, unsure how to respond. All I could come up with was...

"Why?"

"Because, dare I say it, you intrigue me. Your beautiful face entrances me, and quite honestly I'm obsessed with you. So won't you join me? I promise not to bite... unless you beg me for it."

With a flush on my face I turned away from the window, "You expect me to trust you when all you've done these years is lurk creepily outside my window? I don't even know what you are. Or your name for that matter."

"Axel." the voice purred silkily, "My name is Axel, Precious."

When I was eighteen curiosity finally over took me, when he called out to me, I got up slowly from my bed, padding my way across my carpeted floor to the window. I'd paused to gather my courage for a moment before pushing it open and leaning my head out, glancing from side to side, looking for this 'Axel'.

"Boo." a breath of air ghosted over my face, and I'd reeled back in shock with a soft yell, falling hard on my behind when a pair of wicked eyes gleamed before me. Then I heard the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. Laughter.

"You're just too cute." the dark figure that floated at my window leered, "Absolutely precious." I sat up and stared at the man before me, meeting those brilliant green eyes with my own blue, slowly taking in the shock of red hair that flared from his head, the almost delicately angular structure of his face, and the dark drips beneath his eyes.

"And you're an ass!" I growled, "You scared me."

Axel winked at me and his tongue darted out to run across his lips, "I really couldn't help myself... you're a delight to frighten."

I stood up and leaned out my window sill, glaring at him, not caring how close I'd gotten. "You know, I was considering maybe talking to you face to face. But after discovering how much of an asshole you really are, I no longer feel like it. Goodnight." and before he could react I pulled back and slammed my window shut stalking over to my bed and lying down in a huff.

It took him a week to convince me back to come back to the window again, this time I was more cautious when I opened it. He floated before me, legs crossed and his chin propped on an hand. "I'll be good this time... for a while, anyway." he promised with a smirk. I glared at him silently, not trusting him to keep his word. "Awh, don't pout darling. It makes your lips entirely too tempting, and I can't promise to be good if you keep giving me that face." I changed my expression to a scowl, and he laughed. "Fine, be that way."

We were silent for a while, him slowly studying my face with an intent expression, and me continuing to scowl, completely planning on giving him the silent treatment.

"Will you step out tonight?" he finally asked, "Will you trust me?" I raised an eyebrow and turned away from him slightly. "Not going to speak tonight?" he hummed, "If I felt so inclined I think I could get you to change your mind about that..." he trailed off ominously. I gave him another glare. "I'm so scared." he taunted. "But really Roxy, you should trust me, have I yet honestly given you reason not to? I've patiently waited outside your window, when I could have come in and gotten you myself..."

This... I did not know. I'd always assumed that he couldn't enter, whatever he was. To hear this gave me the chills, the idea that I'd never really been safe from him. I'm sure he saw some of this in my wide eyed expression.

"Don't panic now darling. As I said, I could have but I haven't. I want you to trust me, know that I would never hurt you." I eyed him sceptically, pointedly at the fact that he was sitting comfortably in the air before me. It was unnatural, and a little frightening. He was frightening.

"Sweetheart, trust me, come here..." he trailed off extending a hand out to me. It would be so easy to take it, to step up onto my window sill and walk on the night to him. The darkness was thick enough to appear solid. I took a hesitant step back, shaking my head, watching as his face fell. "Not tonight then, I suppose. One day you'll come to me though, Roxas. One day you'll let me touch you, hold you." I closed my window once more, moving back to my bed, frightened because... I knew he was right, one day... I'd give in. And I feared, because that day was coming soon, I could feel it.

One night I didn't get ready for bed, I instead sat upon my mattress reading a book and waiting, tonight was the night. I didn't know what he was, but... something about him drew me to him. I couldn't continue to resist.

"Roxassss." I heard the whisper, like the first night he came. I stood up putting my book down and glancing around my room a final time before walking resolutely to the window. Taking a deep breath I opened it, to see him standing on the air, waiting. "Hello Roxas," Axel crooned.

"Hi Axel..." I glanced up shyly at him.

"Come here dearest," he extended his hand once more, "Trust me, come away with me." Trying to convince myself that it would be fine, I pulled myself onto my window sill, sitting on the edge, eyeing his out stretched hand. "That's it Roxy... just come here..." I stood up, precariously balanced on the small ledge, gripping the window with one hand as I slowly reached out with my other. I glanced down at my feet nervously, moving one in a small step off the ledge to see if the night was really as solid as Axel made it look, glancing up as I took this step to see my hand nearly in Axel's, to see the wicked gleam in those poison green eyes, "Trust me, Roxas..."

The end.

8D Do you hate me?
... I like me...