Page 21 of Vexed
We didn’t eat much before leaving and seeing all the tasty food around us, has my mouth watering. “Well, hello there gentlemen.” Hannah shouts as Austin and Jason make their way toward us. And, of course, they’re wearing their football jackets.
I’m actually happy, maybe Austin will give me his jacket because I’m starting to freeze my fucking tits off. This is the last time I’m leaving Hannah in charge of costumes. Next year, I’ll wear a huge fucking bunny mascot costume for all I care.
“You girls, look fucking hot.” Austin remarks, before pulling me in and crashing his lips against mine. I gladly melt into the warmth and part my lips for him to slide his tongue in my mouth, but as he does, I recoil and break the kiss.
“Have you been drinking?” I ask him with a frown. He rolls his eyes before taking a step back, pushing his hands in his pockets. I have nothing against drinking, but one thing I can’t stand is the taste of beer in my mouth, especially whenIwasn’t the one drinking it.
After a few moments of Hannah and Jason flirting and Austin and I mainly being silent, the boys take off to go and greet some of the other guys on their team.
I’m not going to let this ruin my evening. Austin can do as he please. “Wow, you made it. Looking good.” Hannah suddenly says and I frown. But my heart drops as a familiar chuckle resonates through my body from behind.
I turn around and Vex is standing there, dressed in his famous black suit covered with a black robe, the hood up and a scythe in hand. My eyes scan him from his feet until I meet his gaze. His eyes are brighter than ever along with that infuriating smug lookon his face. My mouth goes dry and I can’t seem to get any words out.
“You nailed it. But there’s one thing that would’ve completed the look—a skeleton mask. But other than that. Amazing.” Hannah rambles next to me.
Finally, I blink and clear my throat, “I need something to drink.” Hannah nods and turns, making her way to the little shop selling drinks on the other side of the carnival. I slowly start walking after her and, of course, Vex follows.
You look good enough to eat, darling.A voice suddenly says inside my head causing me to stop in my tracks. I slowly turn and see Vex’s eyes devouring me. It feels like I’m drowning under his gaze.
“You know she’s right. A skull mask would’ve really sold it.” I say, dismissing the way he looks at me.
His eyes find mine and he gives me a small smile before saying, “I don’t need a mask for that, but I didn’t want to frighten you, darling.” Wait, so he can really turn into a skeleton like in the cartoons? That is actually terrifying.
I nervously bite my lip, before saying, “You won’t.” Hoping he would be bold enough to show me if he really can turn all skull faced.
His face falls for a moment and he tears his gaze away and walks past me. Disappointment weighs heavy in my stomach before I grab his hand, “Please. I want to see.” He turns and gives me a long look before sighing. He leans close enough so that his hood is slightly covering my face along with his, and then…
A jolt of shock runs through me as I watch the impossible unfold before my very eyes. One side of his face twists and warps, as if reality itself is glitching. The skin thins, becoming almost translucent, revealing the stark ivory of the bone beneath.
Then, with chilling speed, the skin vanishes completely on that side, leaving behind a bare skull. His once silver eye disappears into the darkness of the empty socket, swallowed by an abyss. My breath hitches in my throat, rendering me speechless.
My gaze is fixated, a morbid fascination holding me captive. My eyes trace the grim landscape of his exposed skull: the rows of teeth, gleaming starkly against the dim light; the gaping hole where his nose should be, a vacant space that hints at the missing humanity; and the empty eye socket.
That socket… it’s more than just an absence. It feels like a bottomless void, a black hole in space that radiates an unnerving pull, threatening to draw me in and consume me whole.
“Scared yet?” His voice is a low rasp, a guttural rumble that vibrates through the air and sends a shiver crawling across my skin. Goosebumps erupt on my arms, prickling beneath my clothes.
But before I can even respond, the gruesome transformation begins to reverse. The bone fades, replaced by the slow, agonizing growth of flesh and skin.
Driven by an impulse I can’t explain, I lift my hand, reaching out to him. My fingertips brush against the side of his face, tracing the sharp angle of his cheekbone that is cold beneath my touch.
“No,” I breathe, the word a barely audible whisper. “I like it like this.”
As if responding to my desire, the transformation falters, then ceases. The skin doesn’t fully return. Half his face remains a macabre mask of bone, a chillingly beautiful mixture of life and death.
A rush of adrenaline courses through me. I lick my lips, the gesture subconsciously provocative as I graze my fingertips lightly over the exposed bone of his cheek. He lets out a long,shuddering sigh, a sound that speaks of a pleasure that borders on pain.
My hand drops to my side as he straightens, a sudden alertness in his posture. And just in time. Hannah is heading our way, her steps purposeful. Shit. Drinks. Right, I forgot about that. Abruptly, I take a step back, trying to create space between us, to somehow regain a semblance of composure.
My heart is hammering against my ribs. I need to get my heart rate under control, to appear normal, casual… anything but the captivated creature I feel like right now.
“What the hell you guys doin—holy shit.” Hannah says, staring at Vex wide eyed. “Jesus, that’s scary as fuck. But hot. If that makes sense.” She states, chuckling.
“Oh, it definitely makes sense.” I blurt, feeling my cheeks heat as Vex turns and stare down at me.
I didn’t think that through. But, come on. It is creepy and all that but something about his skull face, has heat not only rushing to my face, but straight down settling between my legs. I avoid eye contact, keeping my attention on Hannah but I can feel his gaze burning into the back of my head.
“Hey, um, I know we are here together, but I bumped into Jason on the way to the drinks and he wanted me to join him on the Ferris wheel, so…” She says, twirling her fingers like a naughty child.
