Haunting Adeline (Book 1)

Chapter 3 (part3)

~THE MANIPULATOR~

"Someone broke into my house last night," I confess, my phone trapped between my ear and shoulder. The spoon clinks in the ceramic mug as I stir my coffee. I'm on my second cup, and it still feels like I have dumbbells for eyes, and my lids are in a losing weightlifting battle.

After the creep left last night, I couldn't fall back asleep, so I went through the entire house, confirming all the windows were locked.

Finding that they were unsettled me more. Every single door and window had been locked before and after they left. So how the f**k did they get in and out?

"Hold on, you said what? Someone broke into your house?" Daya

shrieks.

"Yep," I say. "They left a red rose on my countertop."

Silence. Never thought I'd see the day Daya Pierson is speechless.

"That's not all that happened, though. Just the worst of it in the grand scheme of last night's fuckery, I suppose."

"What else happened?" she asks sharply.

"Well, Greyson is an asshole. He was in the middle of trying to locate a mysterious hole in my neck with his tongue when someone pounded on my front door. And I mean, like hard. We went and looked, and no one was there. I'm assuming it was my new friend that did it."

"Are you f*****g serious?"

I go on to explain the rest. Greyson's douchery—I got hung up on complaining about that just a bit. Then his fist going into my wall and his dramatic exit. I don't mention the safe and the diaries I found, or what I read in them. I haven't processed it yet, or the irony in reading her sordid love story and then someone breaking into my house the same night.

"I'm coming over today," Daya declares when I finish.

"I have to clean out the house today to prepare for renovations," I

counter, already exhausted from the thought of it.

"I'll help then. We'll day drink to keep it interesting."

A small smile forms on my face. Daya has always been a great

friend to me. She's been my best friend since middle school. We kept in contact after graduation, even after we both moved away to different

colleges. Our lives only allowed us to see each other for holidays

and an annual haunted fair the past several years.

I dropped out of college after a year and pursued my writing

career, while Daya got a degree in Computer Science. Somehow,

she wormed her way into some hacker group and is pretty much a

vigilante for the people, exposing the government's secrets to the public. She's the biggest conspiracy theorist I've ever met, but even I can

admit that the s**t she finds is disturbing and has too much evidence to be considered a theory anymore. Regardless, both of our jobs allow us ample amounts of freedom

in our day-to-day life. We're luckier than most.

"I really appreciate that. I'll see you soon," I say before hanging up. I sigh and look over at the diaries sitting on the island in front of me. I haven't finished reading the first book yet, and I'm nervous about continuing. With every passing word, I want to reject Gigi.

Almost as much as I want to be her.

~~~~

April 12th, 1944

He came back again. I dare say I would be disappointed if he didn't. John left for work, and Serafina went off to school. The minute the house emptied, I waited by the window. Not my proudest moment, I must admit.

This time, he walked into the house. I froze when he did. Terrified of what he would do, but also anticipating his next move.

When he revealed the entirety of his face to me, without shadows concealing his features, my breath caught. He's beautiful, Piercing blue eyes. A strong jawline. And big. So, very big.

He approached me, still refusing to speak. He caressed my face with his fingers. So gently. He circled around me, letting his fingers drift across my skin.

I shivered beneath his touch and he smiled. His smile made my heart stop in my chest,

And then he left. Walked out without a word. I almost pleaded for him to come back, but I stopped myself.

He'll be back.