~*~Chapter Five : Stay~*~
"You shouldn't have done that, Marty," a voice said. "You shouldn't have looked into the past."
Marty looked up to see Todd standing there, staring at the book she had tossed upon the floor. "Wh- what are you doing here?" she asked fearfully. "How did you get in my bedroom?"
"There's nothing to be gained from the past and all it's pain and loss," Todd spoke as he totally ignored her questions.
"What happened here?" Marty asked him sadly. "What happened in this house?"
"My family died. Something awful happened."
"Ohhhh my God," Marty gasped. "Your family died. But ... but you're alright?"
"Yeah, I will be fine," Todd replied. "And so will you. I am going to protect you, Marty."
"From what?" she asked him breathlessly.
"Them. The ones who are here who want to hurt you."
"Someone wants to hurt me?"
Todd nodded. "They don't want you to go. They want you to stay here forever."
Marty got chills when she heard Todd's words. Were they watching her now? Who were they?
"What about you, Todd? What do YOU want?" Marty asked.
"You. I only want you," he responded. "I want you to stay."
Staring into Todd's eyes, a shiver shook her from head to toe. He reached out, lightly caressing her cheek. She forgot to breathe as he touched her with infinite tenderness. In the sweetness of that moment, Marty never wanted to leave.