Page 18 of The Devil In Disguise

On the right side of the car, there’s a pond directly before the house that seems randomly placed with trees lining the fence behind it. Following the lineup of trees all the way to, what I’m guessing is the back of the property, are four smaller buildings that we are driving towards. The first two detached houses are facing each other over the street we’re driving on, whereas the other two buildings look like square bungalows and are facing me. Tilting my head at the bungalow ahead, I wonder if what I’m looking at is the front or the back of it.

Suddenly, the car comes to a stop right in between the bungalows and the driver promptly gets out to open my door. When I step out the first person I see is Kylo walking towards the bungalow to my right. He turns to me when he notices me standing there and points to the bungalow to my left.

“That’s where you’ll be staying for now, the entrance is around the back. You can walk on your own,” he says with his jaw tight before leaving me where I stand.

Asshole.

The car drives off and I spin to watch that leave me here, too. In the distance, I can just make out the silhouette of a man standing on the steps of the estate in the front. Speeding to my new temporary place, I close and lock the door, leaning my forehead against the cool metal. When I finally turn around, I take in the open-concept living room and kitchen.

The place is clean, but it also looks like no one has been here in a while. Blue, white, and gray minimal decorations give the area a coastal air. The high cabinets are white in the kitchen, while the island of lower cabinets and drawers are a pretty turquoise blue color with white marble countertops matching seamlessly. There is also a small dining table that seats about four people, more than enough for only one person to be using. There are two soft-gold pendant light fixtures hanging with faux candles overhead.

Green catches my attention when I move towards the kitchen, drawing me to the triple casement windows that paint a gorgeous scene of the woods beyond. After admiring nature for a minute, I continue to the kitchen, opening the cabinets and drawers. At least they are stocked with equipment. The fridge, however, has water, eggs, and a pack of grapes—such a random selection—otherwise that, too, is untouched.

I slam the fridge door with much more force than needed and groan loudly, my earlier frustrations creeping into my head. I feel like a forlorn puppy; lost and wandering aimlessly. I search for a bathroom and find a bedroom instead with a queen bed that looks like a cloud. Opening the two doors in the room I discover a bare walk-in closet and then the bathroom. First and foremost, I need a shower.

Half of my shower was spent with me sitting on the floor with the stream running over me as I allowed myself to cry loudly until the water turned cold. I don’t know what time it is, let alone what day it is. I crawl into bed in just my top since I washed the dirty joggers and underwear in the shower to dry for tomorrow.

The coastal vibe continues into the bedroom. My headboard is the same royal blue as the couch out in the living room and fresh white sheets wait to swallow me whole.

My brain is scrambled; the memories I am able to remember are mostly a blur or just choppy. The harder I try to think the worse my headache grows.

Who am I?

The only memory I clearly remember is my time in that gorgeous, colorful meadow with Estelle. What I wouldn’t give to go back to that peaceful town, I don’t even know what town it was. Now my world still has color, but it isn’t the same. It’s all dull and dark, reflecting how I feel inside.

A part of me hopes that when I wake up everything will be back to normal. Another small part of me hopes I don’t wake up at all.

Chapter 9

My throat is dry when I wake up. Stumbling into the bathroom, I grab my sweatpants and throw them on, shivering when I feel they’re still a bit damp. I throw up my messy hair into a bun and go straight to the kitchen for a glass of water, chugging it until I’m satisfied. The few pieces of information I remember from yesterday explain the unfamiliar kitchen I’m standing in. Ugh, it wasn’t a nightmare, this is real life.

Where do I even go from here?

Maybe I should start by brushing my teeth and actually putting on underwear. Luckily, the pills on the counter remind me that I’ll need to toss those back with more water before doing anything else. Those eggs I saw in the fridge can be my breakfast, then I’ll start my day. Baby steps. My body still hurts, but not as badly as it did yesterday. The worst part about this whole thing is my stupid brain.

For example, this house is quiet, but I’m hearing someone shaking a door or something. I am looking right at my bedroom door, though.

Wait, am I hearing things?

My hunter’s knife is in my hand and I’m prowling towards my front door in a split second. Call me paranoid, but I would rather be prepared for the worst than wait around like a sitting duck if someone is out there. Just as I’m about to admit that it might’ve all been in my head, I see the front door knob start to turn slowly.

Aha.

Tucking myself behind the door, I wait in position to attack. Whoever it is should have had the decency to knock. I don’t even look at who it is, as soon as they move to close the door, I rush them with my knife on their neck, pushing with all my strength against the door.

“Are you flirting with me, little fox?”

An egotistical Kylo stands pinned to the door, recovering from his initial surprise.

The fight leaves my body and I shove myself off of him. “What are you doing here, Kylo? And why didn’t you knock?”

He pushes himself off the door and strolls to the center of the room. “I just came by to check on you. I didn’t see anyone inside through the window when I passed, so I let myself in,” he says casually.

“So, you peeked inside my window and then let yourself inside? That sounds dangerously close to a creep or…are you secretly in love with me or something? Don’t tell me you plan on holding me captive until I fall in love with you, because it won’t work.”

For a second, he stares blankly at me. He huffs a laugh, but it’s more mocking than serious.

“Not one part of me is designed to love,” he makes air quotations with his fingers, “and if I were able to, you would be the last person I’d ever fall for.”

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