"You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

By the time I arrived home, the sun was settling on the horizon. I eagerly made my way inside, worried about what else Mara had gotten into while I was gone. I closed the door behind me, enveloped in the hazy darkness, only able to recognize the outline of some pieces of furniture from the few rays of dying sunlight that slipped through the doors half-moon window.

"Mara?" I called out silently.

With no response, I ventured further in. I turned the lights on as I continued, checking around the rooms and seeing everything still intact, but no sign of Mara. I flicked on the light to the kitchen and jumped when my eyes laid on a red liquid on the floor. I sighed, realizing he hadn't bothered to clean any of it up, but looked closer. It was hard to tell, but there was a hand smear near the spill, and on first thought, I figured it was just the jelly. Then I saw the brown tinge that surrounded the crimson.

"Mara?" I beckoned once again, louder and with a tone of worry.

A sound came from the stairwell, leading up to my room. I followed with haste, only taking a moment to look at another bloody smear along the wall leading up, and once again at my hand, which picked up some of the crimson liquid from the banister.

As I reached the door to my room, it slammed right before I could make a step in. I stumbled back a bit, catching myself before I went tumbling back down the stairs. My breath hitched as I held myself against the wall, heart beating out of my chest.

But my fear soon mixed with anger.

I gritted my teeth as I twisted the door knob and forcefully threw it open, "What in the hell is wrong with you?"

My eyes searched for him around the room, the frustration falling back into fear.

You left me

Why

Why WHY wHY

My brows furrowed, following all of the words written on the walls. I opened my mouth once more to call out to Mara, but my voice squeaked and cracked, giving way to building dread. I slowly and shakily made my way around the room, trying to find any sign of him. I reached into the bathroom, trying to find the switch, but withdrew my arm as I felt something cold and wet trace its way down the back on my hand. I let out a unsteady breath as I examined the blood on my hand.

I pressed my back to a wall near the opening the bathroom, leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

'This isn't funny'

I held my breath as I turned the corner and quickly found the switch, greeted with a still unfamiliar face, and then a loud pop. The air I held came out in a wimpy yelp, realizing the fuses had blown. I fumbled to pull my phone out of my pocket, pressing the power key to illuminate the area in front of me, but there was nothing there. I looked towards the window, showing a slim sign of street lamps from down below, confirming the sun had gone for the day. My hands found their way to my face as I closed my eyes, regaining myself.

I scrunched my eyebrows again, feeling an unease from behind. Hearing the smallest hint of an exhale, my eyes shot open, along with the adrenaline down my spine. My breath came shallow and fast, my body refusing to turn around to face him. My stomach churned, feeling something slide along both of my hips, snaking their way around my stomach, then overlapping and squeezing down.

I felt his chin rest on the nape of my neck, giving me the feeling that if he wasn't holding onto me so tightly, I would have collapsed. His voiced purred over my shoulder, sending vibrations along my neck and back, where his chest was tightly pressed.

"I missed you so much," his voice sounding oddly rasp.

He paused, nuzzling his head against my neck, "Welcome home."