-Addison-

He's going to hurt me. He's going to do everything he did to that girl back at his other home, to me. After what I saw, I really need to run away, and FAST. I've read and studied about the worst criminals in American history, and this one -- standing in my living room -- he tops them all. He hasn't killed me yet. It's a matter of time. He just continues to get away with everything he's done. How is this possible? I can't imagine the pain I'd go through. It's unbelievable. And the fact he enjoys this!?

As I crawl backwards as fast as I can, trying to get away from him, he stops walking before he can grab the phone. Oh god, he's going to turn around! I flip over and jump to my feet, racing to an end table where I left an empty glass. If he comes close to me again, I'm going to stab him in the eye and run for it as fast as I can. Swooping the glass into my hand, I smash it on the wall and by the time I look at him again, he's facing me with that icy intimidating stare.

He notices the glass but then his eyes drop as if something is disturbing him.

Subconsciously, I tighten my hand around the glass and feel a sting. Hissing quietly, I dart my attention down and see blood begin to seep from two of my fingers. Instantly, a spike of anxiety shoots down my spine. I look from my hand to him repeatedly.

He turns away from me, rubbing his chin.

What is he doing?

Go attack him! He doesn't think you'll do anything. GO NOW!

I chew on my lip, breathing nervously. He knows I'm bleeding. He has to know. He'll turn around right as I run at him and he'll catch me. I'd only be amusing him! NO, STOP! YOU NEED TO GET AWAY!

"Addison, I think we need to do something." He turns back around to me. SHIT!

He sees the look I'm making and he's back to tilting his head almost like in concern.

Did you cut yourself?

Oh no, not this again.

"Don't worry, we can fix that." he waggles a finger, walking toward me.

I glimpse behind me.

There's no use in running, darling. You know that.

My eyes start watering, my chin quivering. "Please - please don't do to me what you did with that girl. Please!"

He approaches me and takes my hand, manipulating my fingers to release the glass. As it hits the floor, I flinch and squeeze my eyes shut.

"Hm hm hm,"

Stop laughing at me!

I gasp, eyes flying open as he starts sucking on my fingers. He winks at me and my mouth falls open. I immediately pull back and he forces me against him.

With a grunt and a gentle clearing of the throat afterward, he says, "I'd like to talk with you."

Breathing in and out sharply, I can only stare at him. Everything is feeling colder now.

"Can you behave for a moment?"

I can't even muster a sound.

"I'll take that as a YES." His hand slides off mine and he motions me to go sit down on the armchair.

Without thinking, I look to the door but soon catch myself and swallow the lump in my throat. As I gulp, I briefly bow my head and do as gestured. If I attempt to escape, nothing will go well.

While carefully seating myself, I watch him walk over and sit across from me again.

I don't want to, but knowing he'll get on my case again, I lift my gaze and settle on him.

He's rolling his fingers on the arm of the couch, examining me with narrowing eyes. I hate when he does this. I can never guess what he's going to do next. I don't hear him in my mind, but he might be listening to my thoughts right now.

"You know," he throws one leg over the other, "I was going to look at your phone. I didn't plan on answering it for you like some asshole would do. Something, however... stopped me along the way, as you probably noticed."

I wasn't paying much attention to that at the time.
Momentarily, I give a faint nod.

He sits back, resting his hand on his leg. "You may not know this, but before this whole thing with you getting kidnapped and all, I never dictated how you lived your life. I merely admired you. I waited for you. Sure, I do take control a lot, but that's just my fetish... you understand?"

I nod again.

"Talk to me, Addison. It can't be a conversation without us talking with each other."

I close my eyes slowly, then look at him again and finally open my mouth; "I understand, Gabriel."

He starts to smile, that gradual wicked smile of amusement. "Atta girl..." Then he looks at my hands in my lap and points. "Look at them - your fingers."

I turn them over and see the cut's gone.

"Feel better now?"

I lace my fingers together again. "Yeah... thank you."

"You're welcome. So, what happened just a moment ago... You wouldn't guess who I heard from."

"...Who?"

"My father. Jack."

My heart drops. I have an immediate blurry flashback of Reuben explaining something about Gabriel's creation. I don't remember when this happened or where I was, but this is familiar.

"Yeah, that's right." He's entertained by my reaction.

"He's alive. He's stuck in the Parisian Catacombs."

Parisian Catacombs? His father is French? What does he mean 'he's alive' and stuck there? How did this guy get inside Gabriel's head?

"There is a problem with this and I assume you would guess what it is." he says.

With a confused grimace, I shake my head.

"Well, I don't want to go to France... so he'll most likely try to come here. I don't want him near you, kitten."

I blink and quietly ask, "Is he... like you?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes... indeed, he is. But Addison, it's not about what he can do -- it's about us. You and me, together."

"Do you think he'll want to take me, too?" I can't do this again. I'm getting real tired of this shit. I'm just a person! What's so special about me?! I worked at a department store, for crying out loud!

"Not sure. So that's why I said I think we should do something."

My expression goes blank, then I look at him in more annoyance. "You want to move... and you're going to force me to live with you."

His head cocks to one side in a sort of astonishment.

"It did cross my mind. I made a sort of promise to you while you were away."

Oh hell, what now!
"...What is it?"

He starts running his thumb over his bottom lip, thinning his eyes in that contemplative way.
"It'll be a surprise for now."

I fall back in the chair. "FUCK. ME."

He flashes a quick impish, lustful grin.

I groan, rubbing my forehead. "Can you just tell me why you're doing all of this?! Why can't you just ask me out or something instead of continuously scaring the shit out of me? You want to play house, you want to RAPE me, then you think it's all ok?! Your idea of reality is a FUCKED UP FANTASY!"

"...Do you want to go out?"

I drop my hand, glaring at him.

He raises his hands, "You choose the place."

I cross my arms. "Unbelievable. Surprise me!"

How can I live like this? He's psychotic. He's twisted, he's a murderer, he's a sociopathic MANIAC!

"Well then... I suppose I will." he smirks.