Page 7 of Ravage (The Wellard Asylum #6)

T he morning sunlight drifts through the thin curtains, warming my skin.

I stretch out like a cat and bask in the coziness of the moment for just a bit longer until I finally pry my eyelids open and lick my dry lips.

A salty taste coats my tongue, and I vow to remember to put on chapstick before bed next time.

My eyes immediately land on my bedside table; the photo of me and my parents sitting there shines back at me.

A soft smile spreads across my face as happiness spreads throughout me and a sense of pride of finally getting back onto my own two feet.

I sit up in bed and stretch my arms over my head, relishing in the best sleep I’ve had in weeks.

My good mood continues as I swing my legs over the side of the bed and my feet hit the plush carpet beneath them instead of scratchy car flooring.

As I start to meander out of my room in search of caffeine, because that is my only vice in life, I notice the unusual dampness between my legs.

I reach my hand down to brush against my panties and they come back slick.

In a panic, I rush back to the bed to check the sheets, but they all look dry.

Confusion spreads across my face, but I chalk it up to just having a wet dream.

Shaking my head at the thought of having one and not even remembering what it was about has me laughing, feeling like I’m in high school again.

Chuckling while I exit my bedroom in my search for coffee, the apartment is quiet while I make my way to the kitchen and flip the light on.

The soft lights bathe the kitchen, and the fixtures sparkle more than they did yesterday.

I'm still blown away by how nice this place is. Searching through the cabinets, I find one filled to the brim with coffee cups and smile at the fact that Kole likes coffee just as much as I do. I pull one down and turn towards the fanciest coffee pot I’ve ever seen in a home, and if I wasn’t a barista myself, then I would have no idea how to use this thing.

As I reach to grab the coffee beans to put them into the grinder, a yellow sticky note that is stuck to the front of the coffee maker catches my attention.

Sloane,

As I’m sure you’ve noticed already, my work shift is long and early. I’ll be home for dinner around six. Make yourself at home, because it is your home.

-Kole

P.S. Please break down your empty boxes and take them downstairs to the recycling bins at the back of the parking lot.

Placing the note onto the counter, I continue on my mission of getting coffee and pour the beans into the grinder.

Within minutes I have a steaming cup of coffee in my hands, and I take it into the living room to sit on the couch.

Which, of course, is as soft as you'd expect. Basking in the cozy quiet of the room and mulling over the note that Kole left. How did he know I had boxes to break down? But then I realize how silly that notion is because why wouldn’t he know that I had boxes to break down after moving into a new place?

Once my coffee cup is empty, I place it in the sink, deciding to wash it later, and head back to my room to get ready for work.

I root through my remaining unpacked boxes, and locate a pair of light-wash jeans and a black T-shirt.

Then grab underwear and a bra from a different box before heading to the bathroom with it all piled in my arms. I flip on the light and drop the clothing onto the counter in a messy pile.

Next I turn the shower on, strip out of my clothes, and step under the already steaming water.

The warm drops melt into my skin, making me groan at the luxurious feeling.

I run through my shower routine quickly and then step out to grab a towel and dry off.

Wrapping the towel around my body, I move towards the big mirror to wipe the steam away, but as I’m wiping, I see another yellow sticky note stuck to the glass.

I pull it off, uneasiness filling my stomach as I read the note.

You would look beautiful in blue.

The words seemed to be scrawled quickly onto the paper, as opposed to the previous note I found in the kitchen, but I can still make out Kole’s handwriting.

My head swings around the bathroom, and I catch one of my nicer blue flowy shirts hanging from the towel rack.

The note falls through my fingers onto the floor while I just stare at the shirt hanging there like it's a bear. Maybe if I don’t move, it will disappear?

After a few minutes, the warmness of the bathroom dissipates, leaving cool air to float across my skin, erupting goosebumps in its wake.

I gather my wits and tell myself that it’s nothing.

Maybe I forgot to lock the door, and Kole came in to check on me?

But why would he come in to check on me in the first place?

I shake my head, forcing the thoughts out, while I rush to dry my hair and pull on the clothes I had already picked out, leaving the blue shirt to hang alone in the bathroom.

My nerves are on fire as I rush through the apartment, grabbing my shoes, keys, and purse without even looking for a sweater before running out the door.

My Converse dangle from my hands by the shoelaces while I pad down the hallway to the elevator, almost running smack dab into Alyssa as she walks out of her apartment.

Her face is one of surprise when she sees me and my frantic state.

We stand there in awkward silence until we both turn and walk towards the elevator.

“Is everything okay?” Alyssa asks, her voice laced in concern, while I lean down to pull on my Converse.

“Yup, everything is just peachy.” I grumble, letting my anger out on my shoelaces. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, for starters, you were running out of your apartment without your shoes on. So either you’re late or something happened.” She chuckles with a wave at my feet.

“Oh, uh, yeah… Late, I’m running late for work, that’s all.” The words stutter out of my lips, coated in lies that she easily accepts.

“Having to work the day after you moved in has to be rough, I’m sure. Where do you work?” As she asks the question as the elevator dings its arrival, the doors opening to reveal the empty inside.

“The Ravage Café.”

“That’s a nice place! I’ve been there a few times; their iced lattes are to die for!

” She pretends to faint as she speaks to really sell her comment, and it makes me laugh.

Then her face gets serious as she faces me full on.

“Look, you seem like a nice person, and I want you to know that you can come to me if something’s wrong.

I know you’re not late because the café doesn’t open until 10, and you still have an hour to go.

” My heart starts beating frantically in my chest, my cheeks warming with embarrassment at being caught in my own lie.

I scrub my hands down my face, while I try to think of how to reply and curse this elevator for moving so damn slow.

“I’m sorry for lying… I just… I have a lot on my mind right now.” I give her the lame excuse because my brain can’t even piece together more coherent thoughts from my jumbled-up brain.

“It’s okay.” She says with a soft smile, reaching out to pat me on the shoulder, “Just know if you need to talk, I’m around.

Here, give me your phone.” She doesn’t wait for me to respond before she snatches my phone from my grip, getting into it easily with my lack of passcode.

Her fingers fly across the screen for a few seconds, and then she’s handing me back my phone.

“Now I’m just a text away!” Her friendly smile warms my chilled insides enough for me to crack a smile.

The elevator finally stops in the lobby; the doors open to the lavish area.

“I hope you have a good day at work, Sloane!”

“Thanks, you too, Alyssa.” I wave goodbye to her with a smile on my face and less anxiety in my chest.

“Girl, I just had the most embarrassing moment of my life at the store!” Cassie’s voice says next to me as she grips my bicep, tugging me hurriedly down the hallway to the locker room.

As I’m twisting the combination lock to open my locker, Cassie’s voice rattles on in my ear.

“I was in the plant section looking at orchids, and these two women were prattling on about how relaxing gardening was, so I joined in with them to agree. I asked them what their favorite strain was, and they looked at me like I was crazy! That’s when I realized we were not talking about the same type of gardening.

” She ends in a whine and lays her head against the locker door next to mine.

I can’t help but laugh at her, not only at her reaction but also at the fact that she thought two women were just openly talking about marijuana in the plant section.

“My goodness, Cassie! That’s almost as bad as me finding a note from Kole in my bathroom along with a blue shirt to wear today.” I continue to laugh, hoping her head is elsewhere while I slam my locker shut and turn to walk away.

Her hand snaps out like a viper, wrapping around my wrist and pulling me back beside her.

“You can’t just speed on past that like you didn’t just say what I heard you say.

” Her brows are pulled into a deep V, and her arms cross over her chest while she cocks her hip out to the side.

“He left you a note in the bathroom?” She repeats, raising an eyebrow up at me.

“He sure did.” I answer with trepidation in my voice, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Tell me everything, now!” She screeches before tugging me to two folding chairs against the opposite wall.

“But we have work—” I don’t even get a chance to finish my sentence before she’s pushing me down into a chair and glaring at me like I’m a child.