AUTHOR'S NOTES: Once again, I am awed at the amounts at the reviews you have given me! They are so inspiring and make me want to write more. Thank you.
Jim Carrey, muse: Miss America, can we get on with the chapter please?
A/N: Uh... yeah. Sorry 'bout that. Anyways, enjoy!
"Father, what happened to Emilee?" I cried, tears streaming down my face. I fell to my knees, and visibly trembled. I took my sister's lifeless, crimson body into my lap, not caring that her blood was seeping into my clothes and getting onto my skin.
"She fell," he replied emotionlessly, taking a menacing step forward.
I looked back down at Emilee and bitter sobs erupted from my chest, brutal and painful. This didn't make any sense. Why would my father kill Emilee? His little, precious angel? From the corner of my eye, I saw my father's quick movements but had no time to react. Taking his arms from behind his back, he plunged what seemed to be a hatchet in my direction.
I screamed loudly and quickly sat up in my bed, sweat dripping down my face. Without thinking, I began to cry, the sobs ripping through my chest like diamond through glass.
Suddenly, my door burst open and I could make out Rainey in his blue bathrobe with what appeared to be a bat in his right hand. I yelped as he turned on the light, new fear burning in me like logs in a fire. I backed against the wooden headboard, my eyes never leaving his.
I saw Rainey's eyes quickly search my room and finally, his eyes met mine, a hint of relief in them. His eyebrows scrunched and he pursed his lips as he lowered his bat and leaned it against the wall.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting on the foot of the bed.
I remained silent, my sobs subsiding into little hiccups. I looked at Rainey, expecting him to leave, but it seemed as though his ass was glued to the bed. He was looking at me expectantly and I quickly looked away.
"Are you okay?" he asked, trying to get me to speak to him.
I finally nodded slowly, coming out of the state of shock I was in, and locked eyes with the man. "Yes," I breathed.
"So," he said, glancing down at the floor. "What happened?"
I hesitated, but the look in his eyes said that he wasn't going to leave until I told him why I had suddenly screamed and cried.
"J-Just a nightmare," I said, trying to sound as nonchalantly as I possibly could. "Nothing big."
Rainey quirked an eyebrow at me and I couldn't help but notice how good looking the man was. He had the perfect tan and a mischievous glint in his deep chocolate eyes, as well in his dazzling smile. His hair was untamed yet attractive... and his innocence made him seem so charming. I felt a blush slowly creep onto my cheeks as I realized how out-of-place this thought was... but it was true. Mr. Rainey was a drop-dead gorgeous man. It didn't matter if he killed anyone. It was a fact.
"Big was that scream you just pulled a few moments ago," he mumbled, but I heard him and let a smile escape onto my face. He grinned when he saw it and said, "Look at that; you're first real smile since I've met you." I blushed and looked away. "You should do it more often; you have a beautiful one."
"I would if I had something to smile about," I mumbled quietly, staring hard at my knees, trying to demolish the husky voice that tickled my ears.
Rainey felt the smile drop from his face. Was that directed at me... or maybe family issues? he thought, glancing at the floor.
"What was the nightmare about?" he asked, trying to change the subject, breaking the girl's train of thought.
She blinked, obviously dazed and Rainey chuckled softly. "When I was young, my mom always had me tell me what my nightmare was about. I never really understood why, but I felt relieved and sleepy afterwards."
Madison remained silent and moved the quilt between her fingers. Rainey studied the girl and noticed that she was beautiful, although one might call her plain. She had long hair and bright eyes. When she did smile, it brought out all of her features. She wasn't thin, nor was she fat, but she was average in figure. She had a beautiful body that she concealed with very loose clothes, and long legs.
"I dreamed that," Madison began, snapping Rainey out of his thoughts. He noticed her hesitation and silently wondered why. "That my... my f-father.. k-killed my... m-my sister."
Madison immediately looked away and fixed her eyes on the wall. He smiled slightly at her, and without thinking, pulled her into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her neck and her face was buried into his warm neck. Her shivering slowly subsided and she did not seem to be sobbing anymore.
He pulled away slowly, enjoying the warmth of her body heat against his. He locked eyes with her, and tried to read them, trying to make sure she was alright. "So," he finally said. "Do you feel better?"
The girl seemed to think for a moment, and finally, slowly nodded and smiled lightly. A slight jump in Rainey's chest suddenly happened, and he immediately questioned it. He returned the smile and got up, picking up the bat. Just before he walked out the doorway, Madison quietly said, "Thank you."
He turned back to Madison, and shot her with a soft smile. He walked back out the door and shut it softly.
Madison sat on her bed and recounted all that had happened in the past twenty minutes from the nightmare to the hug. After today's events, she decided that Rainey did not seem like the murdering type. He was kind and thoughtful, but oddly enough, spontaneous. She suddenly decided that she would give him the chance to prove he was not a murderer, or at least, that he had changed. She wouldn't completely let her guard down around him, but she would smile more often and speak more warmly... And hopefully, he would prove to her that he was a decent man.