Page 10 of In the Dark

Trying to open his eyes, Key moaned. Then there was nothing but darkness again.

Blinking his eyes open, Key swallowed, his head throbbing with a dull ache, his stomach unsettled. He heard movement and blinked again, realizing he was in his own apartment and he wasn’t alone. Whoever had saved him had brought him here.

Gingerly, Key sat up with one hand on his stomach, groaning when his stomach and head protested. Swallowing, Key tried to find who was making the sounds and slowly scanned his apartment until he settled on a shadow in the corner of the room.

“Who…” Key licked his dry lips, swallowed again. “What happened?”

The shadow moved and stepped into the light that spilled from the window. It was then Key noticed the curtains were open and the light coming through the window was the only light in the apartment. He almost whimpered, but slammed his lips closed, then instantly regretted it as his cheek screamed in pain.

“Kelvin.”

“Kelvin happened to me?” Key went to tilt his head as he asked, but thought better of it. Leaning it back on the sofa, slowly, he focused on the man who stood in from of his window.

“My name is Kelvin, and you were attacked. I helped you.”

“Who are you?” Kelvin could feel who this man was. The one who followed him. His stalker and now potential saver… unless he’d planned it.

His eyes moved over the other man, taking in the dark clothing he wore. It was hard to tell the exact color due to the poor light, but Key had a feeling it was black. Focusing on Kelvin’s face, Key had to admit the guy was attractive.

Trimmed beard and mustache, eyes that Key couldn’t tell the color of, a sharp nose and what he could only guess was a strong jaw. Those eyes watched in closely and Key held himself still, waiting for this Kelvin to answer. When he didn’t, Key murmured, “You’re him. The man who follows me.”

One single nod. “I am.”

“Why?”

Kelvin didn’t answer. He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and continued to watch Key. “I have my reasons,” he whispered.

“And what are they? Shouldn’t I know about them?”

It looked like Kelvin smiled, but Key wasn’t sure. “You might not like the reasons.”

That sentence chilled Key to his core. What the fuck did he mean by that? The guy sounded unhinged, and Key glanced at the front door to his apartment, then back at Kelvin. “Tell me anyway.”

“What would you do with the information?”

Why was he being so evasive? “Tell me. You follow me. You track me. Why? We’re strangers. Why do you do that?”

“Do you believe there is more to this world than what you see?”

“Er…what?” Key lifted his hand and gently touched his cheek, wincing when it flared with pain. He felt a bandaid and stared at Kelvin. “My cheek.”

“I’ve treated your injuries.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to.”

Key was done. He’s had enough of the stupid, almost cryptic answers. “Who the fuck are you?”

The voice that answered was calm and quiet. “Kelvin.”

“And? I know there’s more.”

“You want the truth?”

“No, I mean, why else would I keep asking for it?”

“I’m a vampire and you’re mine.”

---