Stalker 101 (Book 1)

// 7 //

"I'll take a bite to prove I didn't do anything to it. Would you like that?" I nod my head. The first good idea I heard from his mouth. He beams over at me and shovels some into his mouth, chewing and swallowing. I'm quite sad to admit his face didn't turn purple or foam spewed from his mouth. He walks the food over to me, sits down in front of me and holds out the plate. The smell wafted into my nostrils and even made my insides water at the intoxicating smell of food. Well, he would have died if it was poisoned and I didn't want to die myself even though I would rather be anywhere else than this room.

"Good girl," Jase exciting says as I start to eat. I offer him a nod as I scarf down the food, thankful yet fearful of the fact that it tasted exactly like how I made it at home. He holds out a glass of water and motions for me to give him the empty plate. I gulp down the water and close my eyes in satisfaction. Damn was I starving.

"That wasn't so hard, was it? It isn't that hard for me not to yell at you or hurt you. This is just like when you're asleep," Our first encounter flashes through my mind. He used to sneak into my room and sleep with me before he kidnapped me. God, he probably still was now that it crossed my mind.

"Are you going to drug me again?" I wearily ask as he gets up to set the plate and cup in the slot of the giant door.

"That depends on how the rest of today goes. Are you going to do exactly what I say?" I stop myself from screaming and swallow my built up pride. I wanted to yell curses and throw the vase of roses at him. I wanted to be ten times my size so I could crush him. I wanted to get out of this room. I nod.

"Great! Now, pick a board game! I got Monopoly, checkers, and Candyland."

//

To say he was a sore loser was an understatement. Candyland pieces were scattered on the floor, monopoly money was shredded on the table and the checker pieces were begging for their lives. Jase glares over at me, his knuckles turning white as I move to his king place.

"King me," I say and he lets out a cold laugh.

"You are cheating, but I love you so much that I'll let it slide," Incorrect, but I wasn't in the mood to be a Candyland piece on the floor. I was just thrilled I wasn't drugged on that bed right now.

"Tell me something," I start, as he moves a few spaces. He nods in concentration and places his piece down.

"How long have you been, uh, in love with me?" I choose my words carefully so I wouldn't upset him any more than he was. He purses his lips and tilts his head in a debate.

"A few days after you came here, I believe. I saw you in the library and knew you were the one for me. Why do you ask?" I move my red piece and set it down close to his. I look up and eye the small scar on his nose. Now that bandaid was gone, the glasses slid down his nose all the way.

When I thought about who was stalking me, I didn't imagine the soft boy in front of me. Now that I was here with him and got to see who he was, he was much worse than my own imagination.

"Just curious," He lays his hand down and covers mine. I take my hand away, regretting it when I see his face. Poison oozes from his glare as he stares me down.

"Why are you always doing this to me?" I silently move my piece, taking his king again. The board flies off the table and joins the Candyland pieces.

"Answer me! Look at me when I talk to you!" Jase looms over me and I shut my eyes, not wanting to see the torture waiting for me. A loud beep rings through the room. I open my eyes.

"Oh dear, I've lost track of time. Be a good girl and wait here for me, will you? We will continue when I get back." I watch him as he clears his throat, adjusts the black collared shirt he was wearing and exits the room. The sound of a lock rings throughout the room and I am left with my own thoughts once again. That and the mess of board game pieces.

//

Jase didn't return for a long time. There weren't any clocks or electronics in the room, for that matter. After I clean up the board game pieces, I scanned the books on the small shelves. They were all my favorites from both my grandma's library and the town library. I chose a dystopian novel and settled on the bed to read.

The metallic noise makes me jump and I look eagerly at the door. God, now that I wasn't asleep, I realized how dependent on him I was for entertainment. What I wasn't expecting was Jase to have blood smeared across his face and lower arms. He smiles at me and walks over to me, laying across the bed and reaching his hand out for me. He motions for me to give him my hand. I stare at the red dripping down his cheek, past his jaw, and down his neck.

"Will you let me hold you? Just like old times?" I continue to silently stare at the blood on his body. The copper smell lingered and now possessed the room. I shake my head.

"You're covered in-"

"You're supposed to say yes," He interrupts, propping himself up on his elbows and pushing the glasses up his nose. It spreads more blood up to his nose and a fingerprint of blood remains on his glasses. He doesn't seem to care.

"I'm going to ask again. Will you let me hold you?" I didn't seem to have a choice in the matter. I nod my head and close my book, setting it next to the bright rose vase. He wraps an arm around my waist and lays his head on my stomach. There was blood on his hair, and now there was blood on my shirt. Jase sighs in happiness and presses his cheek to my stomach.

"One day, I'm going to get rid of all the vermin. I'll make this shitshow of a world a better place for you. For us. Doesn't that just sound wonderful?" His arm starts to crush my waist. I whimper in pain and nod my head.

"Answer me!"

"Yes, it sounds wonderful," I say, my voice sounding weak. I was weak. He was draining the power from me like a black hole drains the beauty from space. Jase starts to hum.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Acacia. I lose my temper quite often. I don't mean to hurt you or yell at you. I just want what's best for you," I listen to the sweet lies he says and sighs. He was incredibly smooth, I almost believed him. The candy-coated words made me want to believe him, but the blood made me remember how lethal they actually were.

"I love you so much. I'm glad you're finally realizing how much I love you."