The Mask Of Beauty and Rage

by yaztheangel

Greta got away, but the memories still remain. Soon returning home, until the man himself awaits for her, kidnapping her in the night. Betrayed, hurt, and angry. Brahms is determined to bring her back to him within the dreary walls. What if Brahms knew Greta in another life. Secrets have been kept from Greta, but for her own good? Brahms will make Greta believe and see, the truth.

20. Chapter 20 - Dark Knight

p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms." Greta immediately caught Brahms's full attention. "We need food, and I know you don't like to leave in this place, but I think we might have to because I really don't feel like dying here due to starvation." /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms wasn't happy about the idea but soon gave in to the agreement. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Ok." Greta breathed out softly. "But the only problem is… we don't have any transportation to get there, nor do we have any money." She sat down next to him near his craft table. "I don't know how we're going to do this." She sounded worried now. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms pondered but soon he reminisced to himself. He stood up quickly and moved to go to the upstairs part of his room. Greta had a puzzled face as she scooched forward from her seat. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms?" She got up and looked up and over to where Brahms was heading to. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Where are you going?" He seemed to be in the zone as he put half his body in the broken brick wall. He looked like he was trying to reach for something. Greta didn't go upstairs because she didn't want to get in his way and get yelled at for being in the way. Suddenly she remembered such fond memories of Cole telling her she was always in the way. Whether it be because she was standing in front of his football game, or he was fixing the car, or perhaps she took up all the blankets in bed. Such loving memories, she thought sarcastically. Men, she thought sarcastically. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms soon slithered out of the wall and with a thud he dropped something heavy, very heavy. It sounded up metal or heavy-duty tin. Brahms swiped it up and bolted down the wooden stairs to Greta. Looking down at his hands he held a metal box. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms, what's this?" she asked pointing to it. Brahms was about to open it, but Greta ceased him putting her own hands over his box. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Why don't you put it on the table first." She guided him over to his own desk. "And then you can open it." She reassured him. Brahms followed her without delay and Brahms set the box down. Brahms gave the seat to Greta and went to sit down in front of the desk. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms pushed over the metal box right in front of her. If it wasn't obvious enough, Greta assumed he wanted her to be the one to open it. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta unlocked the simple latch and slowly lifted the box up little by little. Soon seeing gold turned into paper and she flipped the top over. She let out a loud laugh as she snored but quickly covered her mouth, turning to him, hiding the sudden embarrassment. Brahms masked face back up a bit as she scared him from her suddenly loud and rather funny-sounding outburst. That was a little weird, he thought, but funny to hear coming from her mouth. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms." She whispered. "Where… did you get all this money?" She asked astounded but quickly in awe seeing like new stacks of $100 bills in English money. There at least must be sixty grand here in American terms. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Well, that's one less problem we don't have to worry about." She smiled at him. "One less piece of stress has lifted off of me," she whispered, letting out a short sigh of relief. Brahms heard her struggle, and he bent down over her putting his hands around and hugging her from behind where she was seated. It was a little awkward, but he wanted to show he cared about her. That's why he brought out the money, to ease her worries at least a little. She didn't want Greta to get sick from this constant worrying all the time, he himself had nothing to worry about either, or he understood the pressure she was under. Maybe his hug would soothe her, or so he hoped for himself desperately. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""I'm ok Brahms. Really!" She patted his broad arms around his neck and shoulder. Trying to comfort him as well in an awkward position. "Believe me I'm… happy you had the money for food, but I was just curious as all, where did you get it? Is it your parent's money or like emergency money?" she asked again. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms slowly released her as he bent down to her side next to the chair. Brahms pointed to himself and then to the money. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Oh, so it is your money! Ok, I thought maybe it was your father's and he might've forgotten about it or something." She shrugged. "I mean the house is huge, if I hide money in this place I'd probably forget where I even left it." She giggled a little. Brahms shook him in a big 'No' like he was offended that she thought everything was his father's and nothing was in his own name. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""All right, all right, take it easy Brahmsy." She laughed at his offended eyes. "Well, anyways, I'm glad you have money laying around because I couldn't picture you going to a bank dressed like…" She looked at him up and down but thought it better to change the subject. "Well, I guess that doesn't matter now." She laughed unevenly. "We got the money and now we just gotta figure out how on earth to get there but one step at a time, right?" She shook her head slamming her fist on the table with a small thud. Brahms looked down and away from her face as he thought to himself. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta knew she had to bring it up though, the topic of his clothes. It's not like she was changing him and what he chose to wear around the house. He liked his sweaters and tank tops, and he even wore more of his shirts now because she was doing his laundry, men, she thought annoyed. If she wasn't here with him to take care of the basic elements within the manor, Greta was pretty sure it'd explode if Brahms was just trying to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Oh god, she thought, she really wanted to have a grilled cheese sandwich right now, she would have to add those simple ingredients to the list. Maybe Brahms might want some too with some fruit too with it. Not so many perishables but canned food so it'd last much longer. The sodium is going to kill her alone, she thought restlessly. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Hey, uh, Brahms?" She got his attention. "About going out. I'm just a little worried about… well…. your appearance." Brahms looked a little hurt as his eyes shifted in the dim lighting. What did that mean, he thought self-consciously. Did she not like him and the way he looked? Immediately thinking about his true appearance, he was so utterly ashamed of his face. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Not that there's anything wrong with you!" Greta put her hands up and didn't want to make him uncomfortable, that wasn't the intent she wanted to do to him. "Honest! I'm just saying if we go out in the real world, and I know… you haven't been out for some time. And I know… you wouldn't like people staring at you, I understand, believe me, I do." She whispered a little. Brahms looked away slightly from her, he didn't want to be seen or anything. He just wanted to stay home and that was it. To stay home with her forever but now it felt like 'Real Life' was finally catching up. Brahms was being pulled into a world he didn't want to be a part of, he wanted to just be here in this mansion, in his room, with just her. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""So…. that means… you'll… have to take off your Mask." She spoke each word very carefully, but it didn't matter because Brahms shot up and walked away from her entirely. It wasn't like him not wanting to be by her side. Well, he was upset, and Greta wouldn't dare blame him, he was under a lot of stress and pressure. He looked like he was weak and drained. For a moment she was worried now studying him from behind. He didn't seem like himself, well he technically did but she just couldn't place it. For some time now Greta noticed these little struggles he had, seeing him have little ticks, and sometimes it looked like he was having heat flashes. He was trying to hide it from her, but his dirty and sweaty laundry said otherwise. Greta was worried about him, yes worry about a crazy childlike man who kidnapped you in the night, she thought peeved. God help her, she silently prayed hoping someone might hear her already. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms please." She called him. "We can figure this out, it's going to be ok." She wanted him to sit down and take a breath. Those porcelain nostrils can only do so much for him before he starts hyperventilating again. His pacing was making her dizzy, no doubt about it he was constantly moving around the room going everywhere but to her. Maybe it'd be best to let this ride out, she thought crossing her arms and just back against his craftsmen table. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms was livid, no furious, NO ANGER! God damn it they all meant the same thing in the end, he thought frantically. He wanted to smash something but didn't want to scare her again, so he paced around the small area and even walked upstairs but quickly went right back down. He couldn't face her, not yet, he wasn't ready, damn it, he cursed again. His mind was like a ticking time bomb, it never stops ticking on his rapid thinking. Not only was his self-esteem extremely low right about now but his Greta thought ill of him under his true clothing. She was so beautiful and apparently, he was so vile. Curse the fire that made him this way, curse that worthless whore Emily who'd make him think so low of himself, and curse his parents for sending the love of his life away without even consulting him. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Suddenly he stopped pacing and tried to breathe. That pain was back, he felt it again and he needed to calm himself down. He needed to think but now he was all out of ideas. Perhaps Greta knew the answers, she's so smart, he wouldn't doubt his Greta already had a plan. Brahms sheepishly looked over his shoulder seeing his Greta was giving him a look of 'Are You Done Yet'? Feeling rather embarrassed to have her see him pacing around like a creep. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms believe me, I'm going to be with you the whole time, ok?" She stood up from her seat. "We can just find something else to cover your face, you don't have to go in feeling completely nude. I'll drape you in black from head to toe and no one will even look your way. And even if they do just ignore them, believe me, Brahms it's a pretty powerful tool to ignore others when they want your attention." She smiled at him. Oh god, please don't ignore me Greta, he thought desperately. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Here," Greta walked over to his small bathroom and took his towel from the rack. "Clean up a bit, wash your face, and body, and I'll cut a little of your beard so the cloth will be able to lay flat against your skin when I cover you." She handed him the towel and he took it slowly. He wasn't sure about this but decided to listen to her, he trusted her after all. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Ok, I'll be back in one hour, all right?" She nodded her head before heading to the door. "I'm going to look for something black and dark, so I'll be back soon." With that, she felt him alone. Brahms looked down at the table and squeezed it with a tight grasp. Everything that was going on was too real and it scared him. Maybe that's why he was so angry right now. He didn't want to show it in front of her again. He wanted to change that, but that dark part of him was still lingering within his deepest core. Still fighting this very long battle between his mind and heart. He was a mess, maybe Greta was right, he thought a little overcame, but maybe a quick cleanup would do him some good. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms had his own bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. He went into it and closed the curtain with ease. He never needed one until Greta thought it best to have one so he could have some privacy. Secretly he wanted Greta to walk in and see him naked. It was a childish thought; it gave him a thrill, nonetheless. A jolt of pleasure made him hard and having her walk in and see it, well… what would she think of him. He didn't understand much about seeing other people without their attire on and how one might react to an unexpected sight. He'd never even seen Greta at her finest even in the shower. He didn't want to spy, not now anyways, it had crossed his mind in the past, but something felt different. Maybe it was always being together and wanting to give her the respect and dignity she deserved, Brahms wasn't entirely sure though. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms stripped out of his clothes and put his sweater on the toilet seat. Completely naked, the cold air hit him, but he didn't shiver, he never got cold. Brahms looked into the mirror only to see the mask. It was a part of him, but he did take it off from time to time and now would be the moment. Greta wasn't there, it was just him, and deep down that bothered him. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Raising a hand to his mask he took it off slowly. Seeing his lips part slightly as he breathed somewhat fresher air. To taste it and to feel like a person again. His hand started to shake a little, his face was down, and he didn't want to look into the mirror. It hurt too much to look, he always avoided mirrors. What a mess he must look like right about now, he thought, and Greta had to endure it, he'd been cursed to endure it for years. Shame ran over his burned face, he was repulsive. Brahms tried to hold in a cry as he battled the sadness. He bent over the sink with his arm and hand holding the edges for dear life. His tall skinny frame made the bones in his spine show. Brahms sucked in a breath, and he whimpered to himself sounding like a real man. Not a child's cry, but a man's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe shed tears of disgrace, embarrassment, and sorrow. Naked and alone in the bathroom, he couldn't hold it in. All the thoughts of wishing Greta to walk in on him and seeing him without the proper attire had vanished. He didn't want to face her like this, not ever. Now he had to face people, complete strangers, and that made it even worse. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms avoided all mirrors and bent down to not be seen by himself. Even covering his face with his hands in humiliation. He turned on the water and jumped in quickly, the water would help wash away his tears, it always did, and that he was thankful for. Once he was alone and inside the show, he just stood there and let it run over him. He remembers so many times being in this position, this pitiful, depressing position. Only he didn't have Greta at the time, he only had his thoughts of her. The way she talked was so… different and lovely, she shouldn't like him at all, and he liked that a lot. Everything sounded the same here and it was boring. His Greta brought in a new light, and it was pleasant. She was smart, witty, cunning, funny, thoughtful, caring, sweet, pretty, and so utterly trusting. Brahms was starting to feel better now, that was good, he thought with relief. He began to move once again and reached for his soup and began to clean himself slowly. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta was probably up there right looking all over for something for him to wear. Blacks were the way to go though, he didn't want to appear too flashy, blending in was always better than standing out. Brahms bent over cleaning himself thoroughly over his hairy legs, arms, head, and chest./spanspan style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;" Soon reaching his private area he faltered a bit. Truthfully, he never showered during the day, not ever, only at night when he'd known she was finally asleep, and then he'd take a shower. When it felt like it was just him in the house, he could do what he pleased. Just the thought of being alone scared him to high heaven knowing she was up walking about, and he was about to do the deed. He must admit, the first time he had ever done it was very confusing and scary. Having never been taught or schooled about such naughty, and sinful thoughts. His family was religious no doubt, but this was something he never expected to feel good about at such a young age. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Brahms would always play with himself, and it felt like a sickness he had. A constant frustration and a relentless itching urge hung over his head. Sometimes it would come up without even wanting it to, it was annoying and yet exciting to have the feeling back. It didn't help though that he never took the time to completely understand this feeling. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"He wondered though if Greta ever experienced the same thing when she was younger. Did she play with herself, did she whimper in the night as he did? Did she ever like him or think of him or feel shame and excitement altogether? Brahms was not naïve though, he knows they had two different parts, biological they are different by their genetic chromosomes. He did read science books from time to time, but it was still fuzzy, nonetheless. Brahms felt so out of touch and so far behind, he supposed it wasn't his fault, he was just curious as all. It was nature, he supposed with a bit of uncertainty. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"So many nights of pleasuring himself hard and soft, tutoring himself like a child wanting to suck on a piece of candy. To be honest, he didn't know if what he was doing was right, but something came out in the end, and it was exquisite. The constant thought of Greta was deadly. She was like a seductive witch who cast this torturous spell on him to feel this way. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Brahms leaned against the shower walls; the ice-cold tiles shot another spark of bliss throughout his body. Pushing his hips out ever so slightly letting the water hit his area. He wanted to feel touched but not by his own hands, not yet anyways. The water that fell on him was her hands in his mind. It was a sinful thought, but he continued, to hell with it he declared. She was upstairs though, he reminded himself again. The build-up of that naughty thinking of his Greta walking in on him naked sparked another jolt of pleasure. His member had already begun to rise high and hard. He didn't want to touch himself though, no, Brahms closed his eyes and breathed deeply. It was her he wanted to feel, he was desperate, he was starved to get something other than a hug. He was grateful either way for her simple and thoughtful little affections, but it killed him inside wanting to do more with her. The thought of taking her by force always made him hot, it was a very bad thought that always got him hot and heavy within seconds. It was a dangerous idea, but he could never bring himself to do it. No matter how hard his mind pushed him, his heart wouldn't let him. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"His hair was so thick and dark that he looked down and touched its strands softly. Another way of pleasure hit him. He ceased his touches and put his hands against the wall's cold tiles. His Greta in his mind was bent down in front of him and he'd take her from behind holding her so close to him. Brahms never wanted to let go, he just wanted to hold her against his naked body, to feel the skin on skin and let the water rain over them. Brahms held himself in the shower, hugging himself tightly, he felt so hard, and yet he felt so soft. The wave of emptiness still cascaded over him, his Greta didn't need to see him like this, crying, swollen, tired, hurt, and alone. He never touched himself though, he couldn't, not now anyways, it would go away, he reminded himself, it always did. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"./span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Greta had been looking all over the mansion to find something black. She found in Mr. Heelshire's closet a long black coat and a pair of dark shoes and slacks. That was one thing to check off the list. Soon she went into Mrs. Heelshires closet and found some thin but black scarves, nonetheless. Greta even took a pair of dark-shaded glasses. Perhaps these might help cover his eyes, so he won't make any eye contact with people he doesn't know. Knowing him he'd probably start throwing apples at people's heads like a bratty child in the food store. God, she hoped he would behave for her sake. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Greta went back downstairs all the way to the crypt with all the items she found placed inside a large bag. Stopping herself at his hidden door within the walls, she paused a moment. Was he done with his shower, she thought, oh boy I hope he is finished. She thought it would be a bit much walking in on him naked, she chuckled to herself. She knocked and spoke aloud to get his attention. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Brahms it's me! I'm gonna come in, ok?" After a few short moments of waiting her face pondered but she shrugged, opening the door. Seeing Brahms in the room he was putting on his tank top. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Oh! Sorry!" She chirped. Brahms turned to her with his already masked face. "You should've told me you were getting dressed I wouldn't have walked in." She told him and put the bag on the table next to him. Brahms just watches her from the side putting on his tank top slowly. So close, thought he. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Ok so… I found a lot of black clothing thank God." She laughed inwardly. "Here's your father's coat it's pretty big, nice, and long to cover your tall frame." She put them aside and moved on to the next. "A black turtleneck, pants, shoes, well actually these are your father's black shoes, and your mother's scarves. We'll use those to cover up your face and about the beard-"Greta stopped her rambling and noticed his neck under the mask. The hair was short, it wasn't clean off but definitely shorter than before. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Hey, did you… shave?" Greta asked pointing to his neck. Brahms nodded his answer toward her. "Oh, ok wow, I didn't even know you could… shave with a blade or whatever you used." /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Of course, Brahms knew how to shave, he wasn't completely incompetent, he thought to himself. He just didn't do it very often, he only did it because of her. He did what she asked of him and he complied with her request without any complaints. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Ok here!" She handed him the turtleneck and dark pants. "Put these on and don't worry ok I won't look, I promise." She winked at him with a smile. Brahms blushed under the mask like a madman. Greta took a seat at his desk and focused on the clothes in the bag, taking everything out. Brahms glanced at her from the other side of the room, and he took off his pants slowly. Would she really not take a small peak, he thought rather disappointed. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Greta could hear him getting changed but kept her head turned away. She didn't want to watch him get dressed what kind of weird person would do that, well... maybe someone with a freaky kink. That was not her, she sucked in a sharp breath trying to stay focused. It's like the feeling of knowing someone is getting dressed or changed and it's not a big deal but it's the deeper part of your being that's the more curious instinct of wanting to look. Shunning herself for even thinking that she secretly wanted to take a quick peek. It was gross she tried to convince herself then rolled her eyes feeling annoyed now. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"Maybe he was almost done, it sounded like he was anyways. Greta didn't turn but cleared her throat to get his attention. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Brahms, you almost done?" She could hear his footsteps getting closer to her. Greta turned around in her seat to see him in normal men's clothing. He was draped in black, and it hugged his body with every muscle and curve. So this is what it'd look like if he wore normal everyday clothing, she thought, and minus the mask of course. She could see the self-doubt as he stood awkwardly in the clothes. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Hey, you look great! Really!" She went up to him and straightened his sleeves. Extending his arm letting her fix it like a little kid. "You look… nice in these clothes Brahms." She smiled up at him a little. Brahms was completely and rather in awe by her complaint. She preferred him more in these fitting clothes he supposed, rather than his normal attire. Brahms hoped this wouldn't become another so-called normal thing he had to do. This was only one, he guessed, he could endure it for the time being, for his Greta of course. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Ok," Greta breathed out a small noise. "Now, about the mask?" She asked carefully with squinted eyes, still rather unsure how he felt. He couldn't exactly wear it, it's not like Halloween was around the corner. Then maybe he could wear it because everyone else would be dressed for the holiday. Sadly, that was out of the question right now. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms contemplated whether to take it off in front of her. He wasn't going to though, he promised himself he'd never show her his repulsive shame of a face./spanspan style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;" Well, to be quite honest he didn't know how to go about this. He figured she'd wrap and cover his face like the Inviable Man from one of the books up in the library he read years ago. He couldn't let her see him though, that wasn't going to happen, even if he had to throw another fit, he would do and he would do it with pride. Just to get her to stop trying to remove his mask. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;""Hey, listen, how about this?" She went over to the table to pull out the chair. "You'll sit down here facing away from me. So that way I won't be able to see you." She took the scarves in her hands. "Then I'll stand behind you and put the scarves over your face and you can direct them on the parts of your face you want to hide. Since… you know, I won't be able to see what I'm doing to you." She chuckled a little at the last part. Picturing her literally suffocating him for no apparent reason… well, there would be a few actually. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"It was risky, Brahms thought to himself a little panicked but how else would they do it? Well, he could do it himself but even he didn't want to look in the mirror and have to wrap himself like a sodding Christmas present. All right, he'd just do it and get it over with, the sooner the better anyways. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms took a seat on the chair that was facing away from Greta. She prepared herself by putting the scarves on the table behind her but kept one in her hand. Brahms took a shaky exhaled through the porcelain nostrils on his mask. Ok, he can do this, he could remove his mask and just keep it in his lap for safekeeping. Raising a hand to the bottom he lifted it up slowly and made it descend. Greta could hear his breathing more clearly now. It sounds rugged and heavy but she supposed it was because he was extremely uncomfortable and felt completely naked. The vulnerability of being exposed to her and being close didn't help him inside. One wrong move and she'd see him, but he'd run from her if he had to do so. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""I'm going to put this over your head and onto your face now, ok?" Greta just wanted to be sure of course and didn't want to scare him. Brahms took a moment but nodded at her. She stretched out the scarf and put it over his face and Brahms took hold of it as well and guided it to the correct spots to cover. As they kept going and wrapping it around and around, they wound up wrapping almost his whole face along with his hair on the sides. Besides his eyes though, he still felt a little exposed though, but it wasn't as bad as before. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Can I see?" She went in front of him, but Brahms shot up from his seat walking away from her. Brahms wanted it to be perfect as he looked in the mirror now. The scarves were made of soft sheer, and it was now very black from placing layer after layer. The slit of his eyes though didn't help cover the burns on the side. They were showing a little and he didn't want her to see that. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms, here." She went behind him as he stiffed a bit. "I found these old-looking glasses, they'll definitely cover your eyes if that's what you're worried about. She extended it out to the side of him from behind. Brahms just turned his head a little before taking them. He pondered on them; he didn't know his father had these glasses. They were very dark-shaded, and they covered the sides so his burns wouldn't show. He put them on carefully, hooking them over her ears making sure they were on securely. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms looked in the mirror, he was covered no doubt. He could breathe, perhaps even a little better because of the cloth being cotton. It was weird seeing him without the mask and just covered in black. He looked like a mystery man hiding in the shadows in the dead of night. He did that now but with less black. Feeling a hand on his shoulder he turned to her slowly. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""See? Covered completely and it's not so bad." She padded him on the back. "And here's the coat." She expected it out and helped him put it on from behind. Putting his long arms in the black sleeves fit perfectly. Sliding it on him without a problem. The coat was very long like a trench coat. There was a hoody on the back as he lifted it up and over his curlicues. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"This image was creepy and yet a little sexy, she thought. Being covered in all black had an effect on her, she must say. With the black turtleneck, slacks, shoes, glasses, hoodie, and complete coverage, it was a little enchanting. Almost alluring by the sight, he did sort of look like the invisible man but no hat just a black hoodie, she thought. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""I like it and I think it'll work just fine." She smiled at him with reassurance. It was nice and yet a little scary not being able to see his eyes now. It felt like he was just watching her without her even knowing about it. Again, it felt creepy and rather erotic at the same time. Oh god, she thought annoyed, this is Brahms for fuck's sake. Greta covered her mouth with her hand a little laughing a bit. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""I'm sorry," She giggled. "You look like Batman a little but in an alternate universe without the ears." She had to laugh about it; it was pretty funny. Brahms just shrugged not knowing who Batman even was but nodded all the same. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Well, I'm gonna go get ready and then we'll figure out the main issue of transportation." She walked past him and went to leave. "I'll meet you by the front door." She called over her shoulder before disappearing. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms just watched her leave, but it was all right he supposed. He was glad she didn't say anything negative towards his… well, new dusky appearance. It did feel weird, he thought, but if she was pleased with it, then he would be too. Although he couldn't wait to get out of these clothes and let his skin breathe the fresh air once more. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Transportation, he thought worried. Not so much worried about not having any way to get there because he did have a way to get there, it was a matter of wanting to show her it. The true key to freedom he tried to deny was an actual big problem. He tried to ignore that fear he had about his Greta getting any ideas. He did trust her, with all his heart, but he was stumped though at the same time. If he gives her that access, she might want to leave. Leave him behind, I mean if Brahms trusted her what was the issue? /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms shook his head desperate for an answer. Just a solution on what he should do, for a moment he wished his parents were there to do all this nonsense for him. This wasn't him to take care of this meaningless stuff. Going shopping, cleaning, chores, certainly wasn't for him, perhaps that was the child's side speaking in him. Was this growing up, he thought, well… it wasn't fun. Greta made it at least bearable though, at least just enough not to make him lose his mind again completely and accidentally fall down a dark hole with no way to cruel out. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms walked over to his stairs and quickly ascended. Reaching the top, he went to his other desk filled with dead animals that he needed to finish stuffing later. He moved a few things aside and soon revealed a small outline on the wooden desk. Simply lift it up from the sides it revealed a pair of keys. Car keys no doubt, and Brahms took them into his grasp tightly. This was it, he thought anxiously, the key to freedom. The true keys to freedom Greta never found when they played that spiteful game of 'Locks and Keys'. What a pity she didn't find it sooner, but it was good for him, he'd win after all. If only she knew these were the keys, she needed to acquire them to achieve sovereignty. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Holding them tightly against his chest he hesitated, and it felt like a battle raged inside his brain. Should he, he considered, many it was that weakness he held in his heart. The empathy he secretly held for her having to be cooped up here without smelling the wood's fresh pine breeze. He went out all the time, mostly at night when he knew she was in a deep slumber. He wanted to show her a spot, his secret spot in the forest he grew up in. He never got a chance to show her before she left, and he wanted to show her the perfect place. It showed a different light, a different perspective on nature and if she was there Greta would make it come to life. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Taking a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and relaxed for a moment. Ok, maybe this was it, maybe they could go out, even if it was just for one day, it was merely a few hours at the most. Secretly Brahms hoped he might like it and perhaps see something he hadn't seen before but that one strand was holding him back from stepping through the new void. Hoping that it will be fast, and maybe he'll see a few new things, but he'll be back. He'll be back home, the sanctuary he needed desperately to stay sane. Greta helped him stay stable though, he needed her, and he couldn't lose her. Why did this have to be so hard, he thought unhappily. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"./span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta got changed and dressed and put on her own coat now. It might be chilly so why not be prepared to the fullest? She opened the big tin box with the money Brahms gave her. She took a lot of money, she wasn't worried about getting robbed though, because she knew if something bad did happen Brahms wouldn't hesitate to attack the thief. She could just picture Brahms smashing the thug's head flat into the wall of a building without so much as a pin drop of remorse. He did kill Cole without any second thoughts. Ruthlessly he was slaughtered and tried not to think about the image too much, but it was hard to forget something so drastic and rather scary. Hopefully, it wouldn't come down to that scenario, hopefully, she prayed. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta took ahold of her bag and put the money inside along with whatever else she thought she might need as well. She left her room and quickly went downstairs. Hopefully, Brahms was already down there by now. She didn't want to keep him waiting and she didn't want to keep herself waiting either. Holding the railing for dear life as she skimmed down the long grand staircase. Without even reaching the bottom, Brahms was already at the front waiting for her. He was always a good boy like that, doing what he was told of course. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Hey." She greeted him with a small wave and went over to him with a little skip. "Ok, you ready?" she asked just wanting to be sure. Brahms hesitated but offered a small nod to her question. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Ok, so now… how are we going to get there?" She looked a little unsettled by not having any way to get there. "I mean we could walk but I think it might take a while to get there." She shrugged, feeling unsure. "I mean it might even be nighttime by the time we even get there or the store may be closed and we didn't make it or- " /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms just listened to her rambles; he knew she didn't really sound like her true self. He could sense the nervousness and uncertainty of the whole situation. Even though Brahms had the solution he was holding it off for as long as possible, but he had to give in. After all, he made a little promise to himself and to his Greta. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""You wouldn't happen to own a car, would you?" She joked./span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Without wanting to hear any more of her excessive worrying he took ahold of her wrist a little too roughly and dragged her along with him through the house. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Because that would be too per- HEY!" She yelped at him trying to catch up with him. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Where are we going the door is that way!" She exclaimed. Brahms took her within the walls. He wasn't going to go through that door, he bulleted it shut after all. Maybe she forgot, good, he thought pleased. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms, could you tell me where we're even going? Why are you taking me through the walls again? Did you forget something?" She asked a bunch of questions he really didn't feel like answering at the moment. Reaching the deepest part where he smashed Malcom's head in, he quickly and swiftly bent down under the small stairs and went to the cellar doors. Pushing through it without so much as a finger they were both outside. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta had to shield her eyes from the suddenly bright sunny light. Almost tripping over her feet a few times from trying to squeeze out the door. Brahms held her tightly on the wrist almost forgetting he was even doing it. Trying to catch her footing in his steps because Brahms wouldn't stop for just a moment from his speedy walk. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"She was outside, she couldn't believe it, and well she couldn't enjoy it because Brahms seemed to be in a rush. She wasn't surprised though, rolling her eyes at the back of his black hooded head. Where was he even taking her, she thought puzzled. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms, I know you love dragging me around like a doll but where are we even going?" They were heading into endless woods. She looked back seeing the manor getting smaller and smaller. They weren't even going toward the road; they were heading in the opposite direction of civilization. The sound of the crunching of leaves and twigs snapped under their shoes. They continued to walk on and on for at least ten minutes. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms I can walk on my own you know," Greta said slightly annoyed. Brahms just ignores her as they continue walking with his grasp held tight on her wrist. Suddenly coming into view was a very big mound of browns and greens. Dead long branches, leaves, and bushes over something, like it, was trying to hide something. They now reached it as Brahms stopped walking. Greta's brows knitted together in confusion. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms, what is this?" She asked, looking up at him but he didn't look her way. He was too focused on the massive item in front of them. Brahms suddenly released her and went over to the hidden item. As if inspecting it he swiftly started removing the dead plants from the outside slowly revealing its hidden secret. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta moved forward and started to help him remove all the dead heavy branches. With a struggling huff, she shoved it off. Her eyes go wide at the sight. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"A car. Well, it was a van, an old van, but a vehicle, nonetheless. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Since when do you own a car?" She sounded flabbergasted. "Let alone drive?" Greta was utterly perplexed. Brahms ignored her questions too preoccupied with shoving the rest of the dead plants off it, letting it all fall to the ground. He hadn't seen this vehicle in years, he would've preferred to keep it that way. Alas, now he was looking at the dreadful thing. Memories of the killings he did that day, he had zero regrets though, those disgusting thieves deserved to suffer by his hands, and with pleasure, he gave it to them free of charge. After being satisfied with the condition of the car he turned to Greta just watching in awe. He rolled his eyes a little at that, he wasn't thrilled that she was thrilled. The relief in her eyes made him sick to his stomach but through perseverance, Brahms handed her the keys. Greta hesitated at first to take the keys. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""You… can't drive?" She looked from the keys to him. Brahms shook his head, of course, he couldn't drive, don't be preposterous he thought, plus he had no idea how, he never left this place. Where would he even go anyways to a spa, he didn't even know what a spa was exactly, he just remembered his mother always hollered from below she was going to the spa down on Lillybet Road. It must've been where she got all the pantyhose or something, he quickly assumed. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta took the keys from him carefully. Noticing the car keys themselves and the mansion keys. Good to know, she thought. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms went around to the other side of the van. Greta looked at the keys in her hand, giving them a little shake as she went to her side of the drive. She opened the door and Brahms did the same, but he jumped in with no problem. Greta struggled from the height but succeeded as she pushed herself up in a huff. She got comfortable in the seat as she slammed the door shut. She looked about to see it was quite old and hadn't been used in ages. It was dusty and had a slightly aged smell. She turned her body to look behind her at the long open space of the van. Black bags that looked like body bags lay on the floors along with hammers, rusty nails, empty booze bottles, and what seemed to look like dried blood. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Yeahhh, this doesn't look creepy at all." She looked uneasy at the unpleasant scenery. "This is the type of van that promises candy to the kids but winds up getting kidnapped," she muttered. Brahms didn't seem to be listening to her babbling. He was busy opening up the compartments in the van like he was trying to find something interesting to keep himself occupied. Greta turned her body back to face the front but noticed Brahms feeling rather antsy in his seat. Like he couldn't keep still or something. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Hey, you, ok?" She sounded worried for him. Brahms glanced at her but quickly looked out the window and back to her in a little panic. "It's going to be, ok. I promise." She wanted to reassure him nothing bad was going to happen to him. Brahms just looked down with his hands folded tightly over his long lap. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Brahms." She soothed him with a light touch on the shoulder. "I'll be with you, the whole time. I'm not… going anywhere, ok?" She struggled and she knew why of course but she pushed it aside for now. She couldn't have Brahms backing out of this, she needed him to be brave. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""I know you can do this." She wanted to encourage him. "You'll be in public, but you'll remain hidden, and believe me no one is even gonna notice you. You're all in black and you'll blend right in with the crowds, and that's a good thing. Plus, if you…. I don't know- maybe if you get scared or get an uneasy feeling or you're starting to feel anxious or have a panic attack, just take my hand. Take my hand and you'll feel safe, trust me." She rubbed his shoulder lightly, his tension was decreasing, thank goodness, she thought relieved. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Brahms sheepishly looked over to her with a small nod. He still pulled his black hood tightly down to cover his shaded eyes. Even though he didn't have the mask on, he just didn't feel like himself, he felt off, he felt naked, and vulnerable. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, never in his life would he have thought he would be going out. Leaving his sanctuary, the only place he ever knew would now become smaller the further they'd drive away. Brahms didn't want to see it vanish from his line of sight, he wanted to see it grow. Had he been a fool for doing this, yes, on so many levels yes? A risk of being spotted or someone who might recognize his hidden face. He held the black cloth over his face tighter than he thought. The risk of losing Greta, he wasn't naïve in that department, he knew Greta would bloom at the thought of escaping his grasp. It was unsettling to him, the risk he was taking so that she may live, he didn't want her to starve in his home. Sadly, he knew Greta all too well, she couldn't leave him, she wouldn't, he thought furiously to himself. He repeated those words over and over until he was satisfied but it wasn't diminishing his fear. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta knew he was nervous, and she did feel bad for him. Years of being isolated have obviously taken a toll on his well-being. Maybe this would be good for him, she thought, to see what was happening on the outside rather than on the inside. Let him see people he's never seen before, let's just experience a little dosage of freedom. Maybe, then he would understand how she felt in a way of being held captive. It was a hopeless idea, but she needed some type of hope to brew within his dark world. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;"Greta began to flip through the keys and soon found a key that looked like it would belong to the van. Without another thought, she put the key in the ignition. Before turning, she prayed, hoping that it would work. Greta turned it a few times before it suddenly roared to life. Greta's face lit up with excitement as she let out a sigh of relief. Brahms looked over with a small jolt of surprise that the car had even started. Secretly, hoping that it wouldn't start. He felt slightly defeated and deflated in his seat. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""It works." She laughed a little. "That's crazy, this piece of shit actually started!" She joked hitting the horn. Brahms could see the exhilaration in her face at the start of this blasted vehicle, he thought agitated and concerned. She shouldn't be this happy over something so stupid, he thought like a child. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""Ok." She whispered reaching for the stick shift. "Let's go." Brahms's hands landed over hers harshly on the steering wheel. Fear reaped its way through Greta's body. They made eye contact with one another, the harsh gaze he gave her through the slit of his hidden eyes. It was a warning, it was a message, it was a reminder for her. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""You run…" His deep voice made her shiver. "And it's over." Was all Brahms had given her as he released his tight hold over her. Greta needed a moment to catch her breathing once more. She swallowed hard as she went to put it in the drive. /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;" /span/p
p style="margin: 0in; background: white;"span style="font-size: 13.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: #222222;""No problem." She whispered, making the car begin to drive away and headed towards the road. /span/p