This will be deleted soon - The Wrong Hope *Complete and Free*

39. Domestic

Sally-Anne

Year: 1983 2nd August, Tuesday, After Dark, Summer.

I didn’t speak as the car flew through the night. There was nothing to say. Guy blasted the radio and smoked like a chimney but he didn’t speak either. I held my breath the whole time to avoid the overwhelming stench of the cigarettes in the confines of the car. The music blasting from the radio was giving me a headache. I didn’t recognise any of it and I struggled to listen to all the sounds together, honing in on particular tones or sounds instead.

It wasn’t intentional but my hearing just didn’t want to behave. I suppose it was better than listening to Guy’s heart beat but the run of noise reminded me of the continuous unbearable hum of numbers that had flowed through my mind in my little prison. This was my new prison. It was bleaker in many ways, mostly though because there was an illusion of freedom; of salvation. In my cell it had been easy to convince myself of my evilness. Easy to accept that my only course was to endure my fabricated hell. Sitting next to Guy however, a stranger really, was much harder to ignore.

If I could have, I would have ripped open the door and tumbled into the night but Guy was being cautious and had tied me down with his commands.

Dawn was starting to colour the sky as we pulled up to Guy's house. The light making my exposed skin develop a mild rash. His house wasn't what I expected. The front yard was all long grass. I wondered if he had ever cut the lawn. The house was single story with a white painted porch stretching across the entirety of the front. I could see the white paint peeling away. The front door was central with symmetrical windows either side. One glass panel either side of the door to give light to the foyer and then large matching rectangular windows set equal distance apart for the front rooms.

I think I had some silly notion that he would live in a castle or a haunted house but it was normal looking just untidy and in need of some repairs.

Guy got out of the car and I waited. I couldn't get out without his permission. If the opportunity arose I was prepared to bolt. Unfortunately when Guy opened the car door for me he was prepared.

"Guy says you will stay within 6ft of me until I tell you otherwise." I didn't look at him as he spoke. "You can get out the car now, Doll." The way he could just give me permission for stuff that he had previously given a command against was weird. I'd expect he would have to pretty much 'Guy says' everything but it seemed if he added the 'until I give you permission' clause he could just tell me things normally and it would break the command.

After I got out of the car Guy indicated for me to grab some bags out of the trunk. I did so without argument. What would be the point?

Guy unlocked the door and stepped inside. I went to follow only to find I couldn't pass the threshold. Confused, I tried again.

"You forgot already Doll? I only told you a couple of days back." He chuckled. I furrowed my brows, thinking. Couple of days for him maybe, lifetime for me.

"You have to invite me in?" I looked at him quizzically.

"Bingo."

"But what about my house and the motel? Even the cell? No one had to invite me to those places." I mumbled, thinking back.

"The motel was public, no one owns your house anymore and the cell - that's a Hunter thing, like mine out the back. No invite required." He explained.

"Oh." I said simply.

"Outta curiosity, what does it feel like?" Guy asked, watching me standing on his doorstep.

I held out my hand pressing in the middle of the doorway where there should only have been air.

"It feels like a kinda elastic bubble, kinda squishy but solid." I described it without interest.

"Huh, always wanted to know. Sally-Anne Bethany Brice you may enter my home." He said formally. The barrier dissolved under my fingers and I stepped over the threshold.

The irritation from the tendrils of dawn disappeared once I was sheltered by the house. Inside the house was grubby and messy but underneath there was some nice furniture and tasteful decor, well at least in my opinion. The house was probably out of fashion.

I followed Guy left into what must be the living room. He put on the T.V and sat in a worn brown recliner before motioning me to put down the bags.

"Guy says you may go anywhere within the construct of this house, you are not bound to a 6ft distance from my person while you are in the house. You may not leave the house without my permission." He turned his attention to the television. "Get me a beer." He waved his hand dismissively. When I didn't move straight away Guy turned to me with stormy eyes.

"Guy says you will be amenable to whatever I ask of you." My slow response had slapped me with another command. He took a notebook out of his jacket and started writing. Writing down the commands he had issued I guessed. "Get me a beer." He repeated sharply.

"Guy?" I said nervously, fidgeting in place.

"What!?" He snapped angrily.

"I-i don't know where the kitchen is." I looked at my feet feeling small in his presence.

"Ah right, silly me." He got up with a groan. I followed him through the house and he opened doors showing me the rooms. A wide corridor ran centrally through the house from the front door. There were three doors on the right and two doors on the left with the kitchen door at the end. The first room on the right was a guest room now being used as storage. Then there was the bathroom which was the only clean and tidy room, even the suite looked new. The final room was another guest room. On the left the first room was the living room, which I already knew, the next room was Guy's room. All the doors matched, dark heavy wood with brass handles.

In the kitchen Guy motioned for me to open the fridge. I ignored the smell from the fridge and from the dishes piled in the sink, not to mention the overflowing bin, and grabbed him a beer. Wordlessly I offered it out to him.

"Open it." He told me, shaking his head. I looked for a bottle opener feeling lost and highly aware of his impatience. Looking back at him with worried eyes Guy motioned for me to stop and open it with my hand. I copied his motion only for the bottle to explode in my hand. Glass sliced into my palms and beer got into the cuts making them sting even more. The new clothes that Guy had got me were covered and bits of broken bottle littered the floor.

Completely shocked, I stood still, watching as the wounds sealed up around the glass.

Guy chuckled at the mess I'd made before exiting the kitchen. He came back a moment later with a first aid kit but I was confused because the wounds had already healed. He took tweezers out of the kit and then pressed on my palms, placing his thumbs either side of the fading lines from where the glass had been. Nothing happened on the first one. The next one made me hiss as a shard of glass poked out of my palm. With the tweezers he picked it out and dropped it to the floor.

"You can clean this up later. The glass will come out on its own but I don't want it all over the house." When he finished he grabbed another beer from the fridge. "Right, try again." He said handing it to me.

I started very gently working the pressure gradually up till I popped the cap off. Solemnly I handed him his drink.

"Put the first aid kit under the sink in the bathroom, take a shower, I'll get you some clothes. Come to the living room when you're done." He started walking away with his beer.

"Guy!" I called desperately. He looked back at me, one eyebrow raised. "Could I not take a bath instead? Please?." I begged. He grinned.

"Didn't realise the little wash down at the motel had such a lasting effect. Just get washed up, either is fine."

In the end I decided to shower. It would be quicker than a bath and I needed to get used to it encase Guy tried it as a torture method again. At my own pace I managed to use the shower without difficulty, I remembered Guy’s directions and used them. It seemed like a different age, a more innocent age, when Guy helped me wash in the bucket without feeling like my skin was melting off. When I got out of the shower I found Guy had indeed brought me something to wear; just one large black tee-shirt with weird pink and blue writing on it. The letters were like twisted lightning bolts, I think it read ‘Eagles’. Guy had taken all my other clothes including my underwear. Feeling very vulnerable I went to the living room as instructed. Guy was sipping his beer and watching T.V. He indicated for me to sit on the floor next to his chair.

It was the early Tuesday morning news. I caught something about Chinese textile exports and more money for food stamps but mostly all I could think about, well worry about, was what was going to happen next. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I jumped out of my skin when Guy tapped me on the shoulder. Laughing he choked a little on the last of his beer.

“Here,” He offered me the last of his cigarette. “Go to my bedroom, I’ll meet you there.”

Instantly I was nervous but it turned out there was nothing to be nervous about. After finishing the last few puffs of the cigarette and squashing it out in the ashtray, I went to the bedroom. Guy had me lie under the covers with him, he draped one arm over me and went to sleep.

Once again I was stuck listening to him snore. Dusk didn't take too long to come around but the thirst came sooner.

The predator at the back of my mind hissed demandingly. At first I didn’t know what to do. I could get up but I doubted there was anywhere in the house I wouldn’t hear his heart or smell his blood. At least in the bed I was comfortable and warm, I hadn’t even realised how cold I was until Guy snuggled up. While I hadn’t been ordered to be in the bed I had been ordered to be ‘amenable to his requests’, if I got out of bed he might get mad. The situation was tortuously comfortable, getting up was likely to be torturously uncomfortable.

Deciding to stay put I reached for the arm that was over me and slowly brought it to my lips. I wouldn’t say that I knew what I was doing or why but I simply couldn’t resist having his wrist closer. It wasn’t like I could bite him. Harming Guy was on the banned list.

“Whatcha doin’ Doll?” Guy whispered in my ear. He sounded relaxed and amused despite my parted lips kissing the inside of his wrist.

“I’m not sure… It just felt nice.” I cringed, if I could blush I would have gone bright red. He took his arm from me and swept my hair behind my ear.

“Thirsty huh?”

I nodded.

“Well, I ain’t got any at the moment. I’ll sort some out, gotta get some more food for the house and clothes for you. Maybe some girly s**t for the bathroom too.” Guy nuzzled my neck taking a deep breath. “Weird lying here with you smelling like a bloke.”

He rolled out of bed, heading for the bathroom, almost at the bedroom door he stopped and turned back to me.

“I’m gonna run these errands, you’re going to clean the house; got it?”

“Yes Guy.”

“Good girl. Seems I’m in such a gooood mood tonight, I’ll do summat nice for ya. Guy says your not thirsty tonight.” The thirst melted away and I looked at him open mouthed.

“Thank you.”

Guy left after freshening up and putting on clean clothes and I started cleaning wearing just the oversized shirt. The kitchen was first and when it was spotless I made a coffee and stood at the kitchen window sipping the black liquid. Considering what a tip the kitchen had been I thought I deserved a little break. The only thing that bothered me was I couldn’t take the garbage out so despite my best efforts there was still a smell and I was going to have to mop under where the bags were. I didn’t mind that he wanted me to clean, it was busy work that I was thankful for.

I was so lost cradling my drink and watching the grass sway in the fields behind the house I didn’t hear Guy come home. Not only did I not hear him come home, I didn’t hear him come into the kitchen and I certainly didn’t notice him walk up behind me till he put his hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“Looks…” My scream cut him off and I dropped the mug. It cracked in half spilling its contents on the lino.

“You are one jumpy and clumsy Vampire.” He criticised, as I scrabbled around trying to clean up the mess. “What’s with all the garbage bags?” His tone seemingly displeased.

“You told me I can’t leave the house. I’m sorry I dropped the mug.” I wanted to sob and beg for his forgiveness. I was so sure he would punish me.

“Make more coffee, some for me this time. I’ll take out this garbage.” With that he was unlocking the door and heaving the bags out the back. As I brewed the coffee I could hear the trash cans rattling as Guy filled them and I couldn’t help wondering how things were going to work out. Being his maid wasn’t that bad and he seemed to want to take care of me. Perhaps this would work out ok. Perhaps this was enough.

I hoped it was enough.