Page 120 of Grave Possession

Graves

Abrilliant idea came to me while driving home, now I just have to present it to Mallory and see if she agrees. Black and red rose petals flutter down from my hands as I spread them through the entrance way. They’re fake but smell like roses nonetheless, the packaging claiming to have been scented with real rose water. I probably shouldn’t have proposed to her the way I did, but I’ll do it right this time.

Her car pulls into the driveway, the crunching gravel loud in the dead of night. I watch from the window as her headlights turn off, revealing her exhausted features through the windshield. Her head falls back against the seat’s headrest as she takes in a deep breath. I second guess myself, maybe this isn’t the right time to do this. It’s impulsive and poorly planned, the very things I told her not to be.

She exits her little car, crossing the small distance to the front door. The keypad beeps from outside, and panicgrips my chest because I’m in the midst of something I can’t undo.

The door swings open, and Mallory’s cheerful voice echoes through the quiet house. “Nox, I’m ba—” her words falter as the air catches in her throat. Mal’s pupils dilate faster than I’ve ever witnessed before as her hand grips her chest. “C-can’t b-breathe,” she stutters, sucking in wheezing lungfuls of air that don’t seem to help. I reach for her but she turns and darts back outside.

Mallory

The pungent smell of roses hits me like a freight train as I step through the door. Immediately, I’m shoved back into the cabin of nightmares. Officer Johnson stands outside of the tub, leering after me as I scrub my skin raw with the abrasive sponge and acrid smelling body wash. The pungent aroma clings to my skin as he beats me, rapes me, then leaves me alone in the dark. It sinks into the pillow, the mattress,my very fucking soul, making me retch at the very thought of it. It’s as suffocating as his hands around my throat, the heavy shackle hanging from my neck, and his weight atop me.

And now it’s here, in my home, ripping away my safe space and saturating my reality in terror. I can’t breathe. I’m gasping, taking in lungfuls of air, but it’s too thin and not filling my lungs. My vision splits; Ted’s standing in my home behind Nox, laughing at me. Concern is scrawled across Lennox’s face as the wind blows in through the open door, sending the petals skittering across thehardwood, and the stench wafting back up into my face stronger than before.

My head swims as I fight to stay coherent. Turning away, I race back outside. Sucking back lungfuls of crisp, fresh forest air, I lean against the hood of my car.

“Mallory,” Nox chokes out my name from inside the house. I turn to sit on the hood, watching through wavy vision as he inches toward me like I’m a wounded animal. I’m goddamn pathetic. Leaning over, I brace my hands on my knees and hang my head, forcing my pulse to slow and the panic to abate.

Graves

“Mallory,” I whisper, but I don’t think she hears me. She’s sitting on the hood of her car, hunched over with her head between her knees. Her near-silent whimpers cracking through the atmosphere as I inch my way toward her.

“I’m sorry.”

Her weary eyes rise to meet mine, red-rimmed and glassy. “What for?”

“Pushing you into something you’re not ready for.”

“Come here,” she says, patting the hood next to her.

Cautiously, I approach her. When I’m close enough, she reaches out and grabs my sweater, pulling me in between her legs and resting her head against my chest. She winds her arms around my middle and instinctually I embrace her in return. She nuzzles into me, breathing in deep and sighing on her exhale.

“You did nothing wrong. I just… Apparently I don’t like the smell of roses anymore.”

“Oh,” I reply. “I didn’t know.”

“Me either. Not until just now. I got sucked back there, and clearly couldn’t handle it.”

“Mal…”

“I’m sorry I ruined whatever romantic thing you had planned. Can we try again? I’m prepared for the smell now.”

She glances up at me from beneath her long, full lashes. My better half, too perfect for words. “No, baby. I won’t make you go back in there. I’ll clean it up and air it out, maybe spray some of my cologne around, since you keep stealing it anyway.”

She smiles up at me, fear replaced with genuine adoration, as she snuggles into me again, breathing me in. “I do like the smell.” I return her smile, heart swelling with all the emotions I can’t keep at bay.

Dropping to one knee, my body’s cradled between her thighs. “Lennox…” she breathes. Fuck, the way she says my name turns me to goo.

I’m doing this now.

“Mallory Elizabeth Knight,” I say, taking her cold hands in mine, “You’re everything I never knew I wanted or needed in this life. You ensnared me immediately, I couldn’t be away from you, couldn’t breathe a full breath without you in my sights.” I reach into my pocket, pulling out a small, black velvet box. Mallory’s honey eyes dart from the box back to my face before she launches herself at me. Wrapping her arms around my neck andsqueezing me so tight I can barely breathe. I crush her body to mine as I lose my footing, and we fall back into the dirt from the impact. Her lips press against mine, hard and demanding. Her passion steals my breath as she wars her tongue against mine.

I pull back from her eager kisses, rolling us to the side. Bringing the small box up between us, I open it, revealing the white gold ring with the smokey stone she picked out in the antique store months ago. “So… Still want to be my wife?” I ask through a smile.

“Absolutely,” she replies, eyes glassy with a beaming smile of her own. “Nothing would make me happier.”

I pull the ring from the box, slipping it onto her finger. She gasps, eyes filling with shock and recognition. I can’t help the feelings that inflate my chest when I make her happy. Mal looks up at me, “Have you had it all this time?”

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