A/N – Firstly, 101 apologies for not updating for a while. You all have my permission to throw objects in my direction, providing they are soft and won't cause me too much harm!
Secondly, my thanks to Anagnophile for persevering with me! (Skippy says hi!)
And thirdly….Sending a hug to Aussie Royal; chum, you are a star for always helping me and I am so glad you have (finally) started your own story! So without further ado… please, everyone, check out "Touch of Fear" - you won't be disappointed! ESx
Chapter 85 - Hunger
"Struggling isn't going to help you."
His voice was low yet sharp, and laced with contempt.
She isn't listening to you. How many times must you repeat yourself, Reuben?
"I said, stop struggling… you can't escape, not now… "
She isn't paying attention to you, is she?
"Please, let me go… I won't tell anyone about you, this… I promise…"
Promises, promises… they always make promises to you, Reuben, but they never keep them do they?
Perhaps you should let her go? The chase was fun, but now you've caught her...
Let her go? Why should we let her go?
Reuben looked at the girl, shaking with fear. Wondering the same thing...
Because she is a harmless human, one who does not deserve death…
"Stop it… both of you… I'll decide what happens to her…"
The girl broke into hysterical sobs. "If you let me go, I swear I won't tell a soul about this…"
She wants to leave you, Reuben. They always do...
"You won't be telling anyone, because you won't be seeing anyone… not anymore…"
The girl cowered against the tree, her hands straining against the thick cord that dug deep into her wrists.
"Please…" she whispered, as the tall stranger paced back and forth muttering to himself.
That's right, beg… make her beg for her life, Reuben, make her plead with you before you…
"Shut up, shut up!"
The terrified girl lost all sanity as her shaking body fought with the ropes, desperate to free itself. The more she struggled, the tighter the ropes grew, cutting deeply into her wrists... a small trickle of blood appeared…
Go to her, Reuben… lets see how she tastes…
The girl whimpered as Reuben drew closer, his red eyes trailing the line of blood running down the girl's arm...
And then let her go, Reuben…
Let her go? Are you insane?
"Why do you persist in your endeavours, Anne? I caught you, I've won…why can't you see that?"
The girl stopped struggling, bewilderment appearing across her pale face.
"My name isn't Anne," she stuttered.
Anne…
You associate everyone with her, Reuben… you need to forget about Anne… forget about what she did to you…
She turned your world into a living hell. She cast aside your feelings and tormented you, Reuben… so you tortured her back…
"I never called you Anne," Reuben spat, confusion now playing in his mind…
You did call her Anne… Anne… Anne…
The girl slowly shook her head.
"You called me Anne," she almost whispered, the look of fear now coupled with confusion.
"I called you Alice."
Reuben, Reuben…. You need to relax. This girl is a stranger, she isn't Anne… she isn't Alice… you don't know her name; you never asked for her name... perhaps you should...
Why would he do that? Her name is insignificant… her blood is what's important… the chase, and capture and the kill, that's what's important…
"My name is Beth," she stuttered, as beads of perspiration ran along her forehead.
She has a name, Reuben... Her parents would have given her that name, as did yours...all those years ago.
"Don't you dare talk to me about my parents… they were nothing to me, nothing…."
Why do you always still think about your parents after the way they treated you?
The girl edged back, the confusion now more apparent on her face than the fear.
"I never asked you…" she began, her voice still trembling.
The man's enraged eye's silenced her...
"Shut up!"
Yes, shut her up, Reuben….
Leave her, Reuben; you don't need to harm her...
"Please just let me go, my parents will be worried." The girl shivered from the cold but made no attempt to warm herself...
Does she want to die, Reuben? She's ceased her struggle.? Perhaps now she has accepted her fate?
"You know, Beth, wandering around the woods on your own is very dangerous... you never know what wild animals you may come across."
Reuben smiled at the girl, who continued to tremble under his crazed gaze.
"Bears perhaps… wolfves even… tell me, Beth, have you ever come across a wild animal before?"
Reuben, you really shouldn't play with your food…
It's not too late to release her… she promised you she wouldn't tell anyone… trust her…
Trust no one…
"Would you like me to let you go, Beth?"
The girl nodded her head quickly, suddenly hopeful.
What are you doing?
"I'm playing," Reuben stated, his scarlet eyes dancing with glee.
The girl shuddered as her captor ripped at the chords around her wrists.
"Will anyone cry for you, when you are gone, Beth? Because nobody cried for me."
The girl struggled to her feet and took a small step back, bumping into the tree behind her as her captor held onto her wrists.
"Will anyone avenge your death? Because nobody avenged mine, Beth… my despair, screamed seemingly forever… nobody listened…"
The girl started to shake, tears running down her face.
"Please, no," she whispered, as her captor traced the tear with the tip of his finger.
"You are as cold as ice," he muttered, as his mind started to recall the past.
"I wasn't always like this, Beth. I changed when people stopped listening to me… the only people who listen to me are my inner thoughts… they comfort me, but they lash out, Beth, they fight each other…"
"Don't hurt me, please," the girl cried, as her captor pulled her close to his chest.
"Let me end this pain for the both of us, Beth. Let me satisfy my inner voice… the voice that is stronger… wiser…"
Slowly he placed his hand on her neck as the girl continued to cry endless tears.
"God, no… please, no…" she cried desperately, her pleas were strangled.
Reuben started to laugh, his hands now dropping to his sides...
"God? The god your parents told you about? All lies, Beth…. There is no god to answer your prayers! Only evil…."
His hands remained unmoved at his sides, as he watched the girl step back away from him….
"I suggest you run."
The girl turned and made her escape.
What are you doing, Reuben?
He's showing compassion…
"I'm playing," he spat, as he took chase, one hand reaching out, catching the girl's wrist, his fingers digging into her bare arm, nails ripping at skin.
"I gave you the chance…" he muttered, as he threw the girl to the ground.
And there he stood, looking down on her as an empty, hollowed look appeared in her eyes.
An elegant girl, once so full of life, now shattered and soon to be torn, broken, pierced…
"Only pain is real, Beth… everything else is a lie," he muttered, as he crouched over her body.
The girl remained silent, her gaze never leaving her captor's as he ran a sharp nail down her cheek, drawing blood.
"Feel, the pain, Beth… it's exhilarating… as the blood slowly drips… "
The same finger that made the cut, followed the trail of blood.
"Never too deep at first, Beth, just enough to show you I am the one in control… for now."
He brought his finger to his lips, and sucked gently.
The girl remained silent, almost transfixed…
His fingers were soon against her neck, as his nail cut once more, this time deeper…
"Tick, tock…. Do you hear the clock, Beth? Time is running out for you…."
Her tears cascade… an empty space…
No longer lively, blushing face…
Her eyes, no sparkle, no sign of light
Instead she'll enter darkened night
Watch her, Reuben, watch her fall…
Void emotion, through it all
Can you hear her sob, break free?
Her gasp for breath, so plain to see?
She shudders, screams envelope her soul….
Brutality will take control…
The girl gazed at her captor… slowly she spoke…
"You're going to kill me."
Her body is already dead Reuben, it's merely her mind now… take her, claim her as yours…
"I'm scared…. so scared… please…. don't…."
She was left here alone, Reuben, it's not your fault… it's her fault…
The girl shuddered again, and screamed, a loud piercing scream that echoed around the forest…
"Nobody can hear you, Beth…. It's easier if you accept this…accept your fate… don't be scared…."
You are a demon, Reuben… a demon of the night…
And I shall always haunt you, until you do what's right…
It's time Reuben…
His red, hungered eyes traced the thick triail of blood, as it oozed from the girl's neck, his thirst getting the better of him.
Within seconds, his mouth was on the cut, razor sharp teeth probing at the wound… scarlet flooding his mouth…
She was just a girl, Reuben… a young, defenseless girl…
Like Anne was, Reuben, like Alice was…
Like Bella will be….
Bella? Defenseless?
She will be… when I find her…