Page 9 of Masked March

Confused, I hesitate. “Wh-who hired you?”

They glance at each other. “Your assistant. He paid us for the year. Said you needed a deep cleaning this week, then we’ll be by to do the day to day every week. Does this time work for you?”

My jaw drops. “Oh, um. Yes. This works just fine.”

The two give me a curt smile, then head out the front door.

When I roam from room to room, each sparkling, I’m filled with warmth. Did The Reaper do this for me?

After spending the rest of the day lounging, relaxing, and listening to records, I crawl into bed with a happy smile on my face. I think I could get used to having a stalker around. With that bizarre thought, I fall deeply asleep, ready to face Jake and whatever work he’ll throw my way.

My heart takes a leap in my chest when I wake up and spot another of his cards lying against the lamp on my bedside table…

Four

MELODY

Eye spy with my little eye

Something that looks like a crown

On the place where the Reaper’s war cry

Echoes still resound

Clue two of who do you do

Is lying beneath its frown

Spot the unshadowed image of truth

When perched upon your brow

My breathing comes out shallow as the card shakes in my hand. I slump to a sit on my mattress staring at the words, carefully studying them.What is happening?

And why do I like it?

A million thoughts invade my mind as I place the paper on my nightstand and float into the bathroom. As I take a long and hot shower, I scrub every inch of myself like I’m tainted and dirty. The masked man left his mark under my skin and it burns. He said he was my punishment. MyReaper.

He must be a guy from my past. The problem is… I havetoomany from my past to make that a narrow list.

I don’t believe in being friends with my exes. All of them were losers. Most turned out fat, bald, and addicted to something. None were as fit and commanding as the masked man. But people can change, I suppose.

Could it be someone from law school? Those guys would never test the boundaries like that and risk getting disbarred. Would they?

There was Cade that waswaytoo into the idea of us. We dated for almost a year and a half. The longest I’d dated anyone before. I knew I broke his heart when I left, but last I heard he got his dream wife and lots of kids. So why would he come back now?

The frat boys from undergrad were usually drunken one night flings. Sometimes I’d get hung up on one and we’d be athingfor a few months. Alex and I were together for a while. He was a baseball player and when it was winter, he needed someone to do consistently and I appreciated his dick. But not the way he used it so carelessly with all the girls that would show him attention.

When I backed off, I thought he wouldn’t care. Then he showed up to my dorm room soaking wet from the rain and telling me I was the only girl he’d had feelings for. I’d already moved onto his fraternity brother by then and didn’t care enough to listen. He threatened us when he caught us the next week, but that was so long ago. Would he find me here?

High school was all about the jocks. I had an image to maintain and anyone with a letterman’s jacket was on the docket if he looked good on my arm.

What an absolute cunt I was then. And I see it in the Reapettes now. Having to help my parents and certainly after their deaths put life into perspective. I kind of gave up on finding anyone, now preferring my own company. I’ve been alone so long, I’m not sure I’d knowhowto be with someone else.

The last time I had agreatfriend was maybe college? Chelsea Rhodes then. Before that there was… Lincoln Pierce.

That’s the second time today I’ve thought about him.

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