Page 2 of My Guardian Demon

Strangely, I felt a shift in the room, almost as though someone entered it. Goosebumps broke out across my skin. But no one was in the room except me.

"Is this place haunted?" I wondered aloud as I rubbed my hands over my arms.

My neighbor chuckled again. His voice sounded closer. Almost as if he was in the room with me. But that was impossible.

"Haunted? No. I'm the only thing that goes 'bump in the night' here. You're perfectly safe."

I still felt a little creeped out, like someone was watching me, but decided to brush it off. Being in a new place probably had me on edge.

"Well, 'good to know,'" I repeated his earlier words. "Hopefully, next time your bumping will be quieter."

He laughed. "It's not my fault that one was a screamer. If it makes you feel better, I'll keep any future guests quiet."

That brought all kinds of interesting images to mind. Whips, chains, ropes, gags. Did my new neighbor have a "red room of pain" behind that wall? If so, why get rid of his "victim" so fast? What about cuddling and after care?

"What do you have going on over there?"

"Don't ask me that or it might force me to show you sometime. I might be a little too... mmmm... let's say intense... for you, and then where would we be?"

It almost sounded like my new neighbor was flirting with me. But he wouldn't after that night's display... would he?

Always direct, I asked him. "Are you flirting with me?"

Onyx laughed. "It's only flirting if you think it's flirting. Do you think it's flirting?"

"Yes, you're flirting," I said, incredulously. "It might be more effective if I didn't listen to you fucking someone else first. Knock it off.”

I paused, then added, “Oh! And, Onnie, please do something about the damn headboard. It was as annoying as the screamer."

He scoffed. "Did you call me 'Onnie'?"

"Maybe. You're missing the point."

"Oh? Then please enlighten me, 'Wynnie.'" He sounded amused.

"All that thumping and thudding is annoying with walls this thin. Bolt your headboard to the wall or get a padded one or something. It's not cool."

"I'll take it into consideration. Anything else you want to complain about?"

Then it hit me — he called me Wynnie. I never told him my name!

"Yes! One, how the hell do you know my name? Are you stalking me? And two, you're not allowed to call me 'Wynnie.' I'm not a cute, pudgy little bear."

Patiently, he responded. "One, your name is on your mailbox — which is right beside mine. Kind of hardto miss. Two, I don't know about the pudgy part, but you sure are acting like a cute little bear right now. All feisty and shit."

I scoffed. "Asshole."

He laughed. "I've been called worse."

I guess the mailbox thing made sense. But first thing tomorrow I was taking that nameplate down and I would have to speak to the landlord about privacy. I didn’t want my asshole ex to find me here that easily. I opened my phone app and added that to my to-do list.

“Well, Onyx, whether or not you expected me, I’m going to be the best neighbor you’ve ever had, and I expect the same courtesy from you.”

He chuckled. “I’ll do my best. Let me know if you need anything, neighbor.”

“Okay, let's start now. Tomorrow’s a big day and I need a good night’s sleep tonight so can you please keep the noise down?”

He chuckled darkly. “Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say. Your wish is my command."

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