Page 66 of Hello, Listener
Before I had finally decided to drive to Thalia’s house last night, I made a quick stop here. I previously laid out a pile of several black, industrial zip ties, my switchblade, the mini saw I used on Ashley, the same clear raincoat, a new tarp, a new roll of silver duct tape, a black silk sleeping mask I snagged from Ashley’s piles of lingerie in her dresser, and an unopened package of trash bags.It’s always good to be prepared.
“Can you believe I bought most of this at a hardware store not too far from here?” I signal to all of the items in front of me. “It’s amazing that people won’t bat an eye when you pay for everything with cash.”
Jace’s limp body leans forward in the metal chair and falls onto the hard floor. “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” A shit eating grin stretches across my face as I turn around with a handful of zip ties.
I pull his body up on the chair and move his wrists behind him. They easily wrap around his slender wrists. His ankles sit perfectly against the leg of the chair.
“You’re being so cooperative this evening, Jace.” I wrap another zip tie around the tight denim on his ankle. “Only one more,” I reassure his body while looking up at his cold, dead eyes.
His other ankle is just as easily strapped onto the other leg of the chair. I stand up and give him a friendly pat on the back. Walking back to the table behind us, I grab the sleeping mask and stuff it into the deep pocket of my slacks. Afterwards, I look over at the new roll of duct tape in front of me.Only one more piece will make this more believable.
The small strip of duct tape rips easily enough, and I place it over his mouth. Other than the random patches of his skin that have been removed with the old duct tape, he looks like he’s back to his old self.Minus the breathing part.
“You know, Jace. This wasn’t going to be your final resting place.” I admit, while sliding the metal chair he’s attached to. I move him just a few feet from where he was the last time we talked. “You’re just the perfect addition to Thalia’s punishment.” I set an empty folding chair next to his and look over the room. “It’s set up just the way I planned.” I look in his general direction, slide my hands into my slacks, and head towards the exit.
“See you soon, Jace,” I add as I pull down the door and secure the lock.
“Pain in the Core of Pleasure”
“Listener, wake up,” Alan says gently next to my ear. He leans in and kisses the top of my head.
“What time is it?” I wipe the blurry vision from my back eyes. The kind of sight that plagues you when you're still half asleep. His smile is something nice to wake up to. He lets out a small laugh as I stretch my whole body in my bed.
“Don’t worry about that. I want to show you something.” He leaves a trail of kisses down my neck. I turn my head and watch his green eyes light up.I don’t think I could ever say no to him.
“Let me get dressed,” I say as I sit up against my headboard. He laughs and throws my gray shorts and my black tank top next to me on the bed. I nod my head at his gesture and slide my shirt over my shoulders. Alan studies me closely as I swing both of my legs down from my bed and slide my cotton shorts up my thighs.
“What do you want to show me?”It’s a little pathetic how excited I am.
“It’s a surprise. You'll find out when we get there.” He makes that smirk that he knows weakens my knees, and it’s as if my insides instantly melt.
“Where are we going?” Curiosity fills my mind as I make my way over to my closet and slide on my slip-on Vans.
“Don’t you know anything about surprises?” His smirk widens to his charming smile. My hair is a tangled mess of after sex curls, and my makeup must be smeared all over my face, but Alan stands with his arms across his chest, looking at me with approval.
“You ready?” His tone is eager, still grinning with his mouth stretching across his face.
“Yeah, let me just grab my phone…” I watch how his whole aura changes. The color leaves his cheeks, and his face goes pale. Alan grabs my waist and pulls me into his chest before I can get to my nightstand.
“No need. We won’t be gone that long.” He whispers in my ear.I never go anywhere without my phone. Anyone who knows me knows that.
“Alan, I need my phone.” My smiling facade isn’t fooling him. He has to know that I’ll be a nervous wreck without it.
“Thalia, it’s late. No one is going to send you any messages, and you won’t have any notifications at this hour.” He turns my body to face his. His body is pressed up against my chest, and I can feel my heart racing. He looks down at the expensive-looking watch on his wrist.
"If anything happens, I’ll have mine, and we can use it. I promise, you’re safe with me. You won’t need it.” He grabs my hand and holds it against his chest. “Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?”
I shakemy head. I try to hide the uncertainty on my face, but he can see through my mask.Deep breaths, Thalia. It’s only a phone, and he said we won’t be gone long. It's Alan. I know him.
He waits for my ambivalence to subside, and his whole persona goes back to how I know him.My Alan.With one unsure leer, I turn on a switch,and he is back to the way I know him best.
He takes my hand in his and leads me quickly out the front door, through the long hallway, and down the stairs. He moves in such long strides that we almost run through the cold drizzle of raindrops outside towards his car.
Like the gentleman he is, he eagerly opens my door, and I climb in. His eyes never leave me as I settle into my seat, and he politely shuts my door behind me. My eyes follow his shadowed figure, walking around to the driver's seat. His eyes meet mine as soon as he sits down. I’ve never seen this side of him before. His grin is infectious and he acts like an excited kid on Christmas morning.
“Put this on.” He playfully hands me a black, silk sleeping mask.
“What’s this?” I probe while trying to be equally as playful.
