ENTRY 5
AFTER DARK


What do a broken heart, two bottles of wine, and the internet have in common? Add those things in with a love of Halloween, and you have all the ingredients for irrational decisions.

Of course, my brain did not register the irrational part last night while I sipped my wine and chatted in various chat rooms with random people. I was filling my time and wandering my mind with mindless chatter. I ended up in a spicy romance chat and fed into my deepest, darkest desires of being the object of some crazed man's obsession. It wasn't until I started chatting with him that I hadn't even thought of actually meeting up with anyone.

So here I sit in front of my computer with his email inviting me to a masquerade party downtown on Saturday night. Since Halloween falls on Tuesday, it will be a few days before. I'm nursing a hangover and deciding if this is a good idea. I don't know him, but it's a public place. So I should be safe, right? I sit back and analyze the email. Opening another window, I decided to google this place. I've never heard of it, but I never get out. I'm either at work or home alone these days. After Dark, I've never heard of this place. However, I keep an open mind as I browse the website. It has goth vibes, which I like. I've always been interested in vampires and gothic themes. I went through a phase like everyone else; I hid mine and tucked it away for Jake. He disapproved of my taste in music or style. I decided I would go all out for this party. Masks are required, but any costume will be okay. I just have to send E the final choice so he knows how to find me per his instructions.

I spent the next two days going to all the gothic stores I could find. Luckily, it was so close to Halloween, so I had no problem pulling together an outfit with a matching mask. I decided to wear a black ball gown and a beaded mask with sequins. I quickly sent an email attaching a picture of the mask to E. He responds with a smiley face and lets me know he will be holding a red rose and waiting for my arrival.

I feel like this will be the longest week ever. The anticipation of getting out of the house and meeting new people gives me anxiety, but I am oddly calm about this upcoming date.

xxx

I'm due to arrive at 8:00 p.m., and it's already really dark. The moon isn't visible tonight since there is a lunar eclipse happening. The night air is so still and so crisp. The cool air stings my face and bare arms as I exit the car. The attendant takes my keys and gives me a polite smile. I stand there watching as he drives my car to the parking garage. I'm suddenly wishing I had told someone I was coming here tonight. Maybe I would not have such an uneasy feeling about this. I hear the music when the door opens for other guests to enter. I'm not sure how long I've been standing on the curb at this point. I feel someone touch my arm and nearly scream.

"Are you lost?" a man asks while gauging my appearance. He has a roughness to him. Tall yet slender with stubble on his face. He appraises me while waiting for my response.

"I'm meeting someone here. He told me to meet him inside." I explain while looking around to see if anyone else is here to witness this exchange. I notice a brunette standing to the side, watching our interaction.

"Pity, we could have had some fun with you tonight." He responds while moving to open the door for me to go inside.

I giggle nervously and give him a polite smile while walking inside. What an odd thing to say to a stranger. Maybe he was just trying to loosen me up with humor. That's what I am going to think anyway. Surely, he didn't mean what I think he was implying with "fun."

Making my way through the doors, I see elegantly dressed women and some women barely wearing anything. There are men dressed the same, some in suits and some shirtless. Everyone is wearing a mask. The music has a goth feel. I can make out the voice. It sounds a lot like Type O Negative. Taking a deep breath, I steady my nerves as I walk inside. The room is decorated in gothic decor, primarily black, with some red thrown in there. The lighting is very low, and I wonder if E can find me. I have no idea what he looks like or even what mask he's wearing.

Wandering through the sea of people, I reach a refreshment table. I pick up a glass and scoop some punch into it. Out of habit, I smell the liquid before I taste it; it smells like cherries. I slowly sip the fruity punch while I turn around to begin looking for someone holding a red rose.

I lose myself in the music and gaze at all the people dancing. Everyone is so close to each other or full-on making out on the dance floor. There are couples huddled in the corners, whispering and touching one another. I can feel the sexual tension in the air flowing up and around me like a fog. I quickly wonder if this is the punch or just the raw energy in the room. I'm almost giving up hope of finding E when I spot a man at the top of a long staircase holding a red rose; it feels like he is staring into my soul.

I'm frozen in place as I watch him descend the stairs, never taking his eyes off me. Could this be it? The moment I have been waiting for all week. I'm both nervous and excited about what this night will hold. I feel a chill slowly creeping up my spine as he approaches me. Part of me says you need to run, and the other, more dangerous side tells me to embrace this.

"Bella?" he asks, reaching for my hand. I nod and lift my hand to him. I shudder when his lips touch my hand. His hands are cold, and his lips even colder. His eyes find mine, and his deep gaze freezes me.

"E?" I manage to squeak while trying to remain calm. No one has ever had this effect on me.

"Yes, we finally meet. Would you like to share a dance?" He asks. I nod in acceptance and allow him to lead me to the large dance floor.

We join the already swaying couples. He wraps his arms around my waist, and I raise my arms to his shoulders. We are so close. I can feel his hard body against mine, relaxing in his embrace. I start to feel oddly calm. A feeling I have not felt since I arrived. We spend the next couple of songs gently swaying to the music. I start to notice couples leaving the dance floor. Some ascend the large staircase while others disappear into rooms downstairs.

"Would you like to go somewhere more private and get to know each other?" E whispers in my ear.

I lean back to look at his face; he looks so handsome. His jawline is so sharp. He has one of those faces you want to trust instantly. With a small smile and a nod of my head, I allow him to lead me off the dance floor and to the staircase.

Once we reach the landing, I notice all of the doors. Doors are lining the entire hallway. Walking past each one, I hear the sounds of passion coming from the rooms. People are not just talking in there. I suddenly get nervous. What are his expectations for this meeting? Part of me wants to indulge in whatever he may have planned, but on the other hand, I don't know him. Will I be able to go through with being intimate with someone I just met?

Finally, we reach a door at the end of the hallway. He opens the door and steps aside, allowing me to enter first. Stepping inside, I see a large canopy bed and a small loveseat with a coffee table. The coffee table has two wine glasses and a bottle of wine in an ice bucket. The room is dark and decorated like the downstairs had been. Making my way across the room, I find the loveseat and sit down just as I hear the door close and the unmistakable sound of a lock latching. I quickly stand back up, starting to panic a little. E walks toward me, unbuttoning his cuffs and pulling off his jacket.

"Please sit. I'm just getting more comfortable." He assures me. I breathe out a heavy breath and take a seat. E sits beside me while reaching to grab a wine glass. He passes it to me after filling it. "Drink, it will relax you."

I take the glass and sip slowly. I'm not sure what to say. I had way more courage online. Sitting here in person, I feel exposed and nervous.

"So, Bella, would you mind if we removed the masks?"

"Okay, that's fine. I'm sorry, I'm nervous. I've never done anything like this, and I'm unsure what will happen…." I trail off, rambling while removing my mask. E placed his finger on my lips as soon as my mask was down.

"Shhh, just relax and let whatever happens happen." He soothes.

xxx

We've been talking for what seems like hours. I've already had two glasses of wine. I've shed my dress in favor of one of his button-up shirts. The wine must be giving me courage. Feeling brave, I lean in and touch my lips to his. He doesn't stop me. Instead, he reaches over, grabs me off the loveseat, and moves toward the bed. Everything happens so fast that I don't resist or try to stop him.

"How do you feel about restraints?" E asks while slowly kissing my neck. "Like handcuffs or leather straps?"

Letting out a shuddering breath, I rationalize what he asked me, "I've never used anything like that."

"Hmm, I see. Perhaps we will give you the experience tonight." He chuckles while removing the shirt I'm wearing and my bra.

I try not to worry while he lifts one wrist above my head and places it into a leather strap; as he straps the second wrist, I can feel how cold he is. I'm burning from the alcohol, so maybe that's why he feels so cold. After both wrists have been restrained, E lifts himself from the bed and removes his clothing. I watch intently as he reveals his muscular physique. He isn't chiseled or ripped, but he is toned and fit.

"Like what you see?" He asks while crawling back into the bed. "I could just sink my teeth into you with you tied up like this, eat you alive, you know?" He divulges while tracing a cold finger up and down my torso. The feeling making me jerk a little.

I let out a little laugh, studying his face. He doesn't look like he's joking. The anxiety from earlier starts to creep back in. I pull gently at the restraints, testing how tight they are. They're tight. I can't break free. He notices my panic and immediately smiles.

"You know you never asked about dinner?" E mentions while leaning in closer to lick my ear. "My dear Bella, you're what's for dinner."


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