Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The sky was overcast showing no sign of the blue atmosphere, only an endless white sea over the collapsing waves of the ocean. Rain threatened to spill from its hold but kept to the sky. Charlie gazed at the clouds knowing he would have to secure the windows. Storms can be dangerous for a beach house.
After the last lock and storm shutter was firmly in place, he decided it was time to check on his beloved. He descended the stairs quickly with a soft smile playing upon his lips.
Entering the room, he found Gabrielle sitting on her mattress and staring at the gloomy sky with an immense life behind her eyes. Her leather jacket was wrapped tightly over her since the air in this room was becoming as frigid as the nights outside. Charlie made a mental note to bring her a heater or more blankets later on.
“Can we go outside today,” she boldly asked without taking her gaze from the window. Gabrielle was growing very bored of her concrete confinement. It was the same unappealing bare room and the same lines of Poe written on the same four walls. She was tired of her caged feelings and she was ready to see how far she could push her captor. And Charlie, being so captivated into obeying most every one of her whims, complied happily.
“Of course my dear,” the man said with such enthusiasm. Charlie came to stand by her side and ran his hand over the back of her hair. The smile on his face could not have been any bigger than what he wore. He was thrilled to have her wanting to be with him. “Wait one moment here.”
Charlie was about to run off as Gabrielle piped up again. Caught by her mumble of words, he froze in his spot with uncertainty. She had asked him one simple favor but it was something he was not sure his Annabel Lee, or he for that matter, was ready for.
“No handcuffs,” she pleaded. “They chafe my wrists raw.”
Gabrielle’s head kept bowed in nervousness but she didn’t need to worry. As much as it was a daring request, there was no way the man would say no. Charlie again drew close to her and held out his palm which she took timidly in her hand.
“Of course, my Annabel Lee,” he replied. “Just please… do not run from me. I am putting my trust and faith in you. Do not make me regret what I do.”
Gabrielle nodded her head with a hesitant smile on her face. She let her kidnapper lead her up the stairs into the living room, past the dining area and out the back door. The view was similar to the one from the basement window but far lovelier when she stood above it. The rocks in the distant framed the scene and there were no homes along the shore on either side of the house; not as far as she could see at least.
A sudden drip on her pale cheek made the girl flinch violently. She wiped at the spot, finding the single raindrop that landed there. Her eyes turned to the bright sky and squinted. It was going to rain; she felt the pressure in the air that said so.
And she was right. As soon as Charlie took one step with her fingers interlaced with his, the sky opened and drizzled down on them with its salty tears. Gabrielle smiled, glad for the resemblance of a shower. The sensation overwhelmed her, seeping into her very bones and soul. She felt as though she’d burst if she did not move from that spot and take full advantage of the empty area waiting to be run upon.
Gabrielle quickly kicked off the slippers her kidnapper had gotten for her and sprinted over the sand. This was no escape; this was for the pure intention of being outside. Her hand pulled from Charlie’s grasp and pumped alongside her body with her arms. The kidnapper was too concerned with the waves seeming to grow larger out in the ocean. But he did notice her legs take off and that made him displeased to the fullest extent.
Charlie chased angrily after the girl as the rain started to intensify. He knew this sort of thing would happen. It was why he had his hesitations on bringing her up without the shackles. Gabrielle was no different than the rest of the Annabel Lees.
But the girl ran for other reasons. She had enough of a lead on him to stop and dance for a few moments before Charlie caught up to her. Letting her feet be lapped by the tide, she twirled with the music being played by the tears of the sky. But her joy was short lived as Charlie came behind her and gripped her arms to the point of pain.
“You mock my faith in you! So what am I supposed to do?!”
Panic trembled in her expression as Charlie’s hand raised up to smack her. Gabrielle did everything but drop to the ground which was a surprise to her since her knees felt so weak. It was a pitiful sight to behold and Charlie could not take find it in him to strike. His hand lowered into a fist while his other grip loosened. Gabrielle dared look back into his eyes.
“Never do that again,” Charlie begged her. Gabrielle waited for him to finish his words but no rhyme followed. She took that as a very bad sign.
“All I wanted was to dance with this rain,” explained the frightened girl. It was true. Gabrielle looked to her captor with big doe-like eyes and embraced him. Surprised by her actions, it takes a moment for the man to hug her back tightly.
“I want to dance with you, Charlie,” she whispered in a strained voice. Her arms relaxed so she could face him fully. A sigh released from the kidnapper’s lips while she brought his forehead to rest on hers and let him place his hands on the small of her waist. “Dance with me,” she urged again.
The storm picked around them and the pair slow dance to the music of the raindrops pelting on the sand. Annabel Lee put her arms around Charlie’s neck and brought his body closer to hers. She felt his heat radiating off of his through his simple v-neck tshirt. Her pulse beat irregularly with their proximities so close. But Charlie took this well even if Gabrielle intentions were not as he thought.
The storm raged stronger making it more difficult for the two to be outside. Charlie, seeing that it was becoming dangerous for them to stay, scooped his Annabel Lee bridal style in his arms and took her to the house. Gabrielle clung to his neck for support and shielded her face from the rain by hiding it in his chest. His heartbeat thudded calmly in her ear making her more nervous.
What am I thinking, she questioned herself mentally. This is stupid to try. I should never have…
Charlie put her down on the wooden surface of the floor unknowingly cutting off her thoughts. The back door was closed off to the downpour and the curtains were drawn to hide the dark skies. Charlie laughed as he brushed off the sand that stuck to his feet and clothing as his Annabel Lee did the same. Realizing it only made the floor dirty and the sand stick to their fingers, they washed their hands clean in the sink and Charlie took out the padded mop.
“I have a gift for you,” he said when most of the grains of sand were cleared up. Charlie made sure his Annabel Lee stayed put as he reached in the back of the closet to replace the broom and remove a flat but large box from the top shelf. “Every girl needs a ‘something new’.”
Gabrielle went to lift the lid but Charlie put a hand on hers. He told her it was to open when he left the room and proceeded to guide her down the steps. The girl scolded herself from the fact Charlie’s trust in her was faltering. Today was supposed to bring her closer to him which meant closer to freedom. On the last step, Gabrielle felt the world on her shoulders. Unshed tears glistened in her eyes but she threw her best smile on her face and turned to Charlie as they both stood in the cellar.
“I will protect you always, dear. But you must learn your home is here.” Charlie cast his head down with a bit of sadness. He couldn’t tell his Annabel Lee how much her running off would break his obsessive heart. Gabrielle, having no other thought but to try and rescue the remnants of her plan, agreed with the enthusiasm Charlie longed for. The man brushed her damp hair behind her shoulders before noticing the leaking crack on the basement walls. Repairs had to be made soon to keep his Annabel Lee safe. That or she would have to be moved. Charlie was still debating if she was ready.
“Goodnight, goodnight my Annabel Lee,” he whispered as his fingers travelled her arm to her awaiting hand. The man kissed her knuckles like the gentleman he pretended to be and began to return to his home above. “I hope the stars gaze down on thee and grant you—”
“Wait,” Gabrielle interjected before his foot stood on the first step. Throwing all hope into one action, the girl pressed her body into his, stood on tip toe and crashed her lips onto his mouth. It wasn’t the way she planned it, especially the rough landing, but Charlie did not seem to mind. He in turn kissed her back with the same amount of passion he thought she was giving. His arm caressed her back and she held onto him with as much strength as she could.
Gradually, Gabrielle slid back down on her bare heels and broke their kiss. Charlie gasped as they parted, barely able to close his mouth from both the delight and surprise of the moment. He grinned happily and let out a few soft laughs. His Annabel Lee was a mystery to him and he loved every second.
“Goodnight Charlie,” the girl said while wrapping her arms around his torso and clinging to his back. His forehead pressed on hers not wanting to leave. But knowing she needed her space and time before he could call her his completely, Charlie gave her one last kiss before heading upstairs.
Gabrielle waved at him as he closed the door. His footsteps thumped up the stairs but the girl waited until he was completely upstairs and his footsteps headed in his bedroom. When there was no more noise, the smile she had was wiped literally off her lips with the back of her hand. Tears filled her eyes from disgust of herself.
She kept the present unopened, not even caring anymore of what was inside. The idea of having Charlie fall for her enough to trust her to live upstairs was not turning the way she wanted. Patience was the way she survived at home and planning during that was her forte. Now she was planning to use that patience to keep her grounded as she made him fall for her. But it was becoming difficult to keep her nerve.
Why would this start happening now?
Gabrielle clung to her pillow that night questioning everything in her plan. It was wrong and naïve and foolish of her but there was something terribly right; there was something in the kiss that felt almost… good. And that was horrible for her. It wasn’t supposed to happen and so she willed herself to ignore it. Ignoring everything like the way she had when she was home. That would keep her safe and take her home; it had to.
There would be no way of escape if she started losing the balance between the survival flirting and the real feelings bubbling beneath her surface. Gabrielle pushed her face further into the pillow and let out a frustrated growl.
Why does life hate me?
.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Poor Gabrielle!! Why do I put my characters through torture? I a terrible person D':
What do you think of Gabby's plan? I doubt any of you would try something like that but who knows... ;) Also, what do you think is in the box??
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top