Page 7

"Elaine?" I heard a soft, deep voice coming from close to me.

I opened my eyes and saw Dominic hovering over me, and I thought I was dreaming. Looking around, I saw I was lying on an unfamiliar bed with a soft blanket covering me. Dominic sat next to me, and his hand laid atop mine.

"Are you ok?" He asked, looking at me as if I were about to fall apart.

I blinked. Slowly, it started to feel less and less like a dream. The image of me crying in the forest came back to me. My memory was hazy, and it almost didn't feel real.

"Where are we?"

Dominic sighed. He looked around the room and his eyes drifted to the window. He seemed to be lost in thought, as if he were contemplating his next words.

"My room." He replied softly.

At his words, I suddenly snapped back to life. I quickly sat up and ended up hitting my head on the bed's headboard.

"Jeeze, be careful." Dominic chided.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I thought about what to say next. I felt embarrassed at how I broke down in front of him. A stranger. Well, for some reason he did not feel like a stranger.

??I took in his concerned expression, the light filtering through the curtains casting a soft glow on his face. Dominic's eyes held a mixture of emotions - worry, curiosity, and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Why did you bring me here?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic hesitated for a moment before answering. "I couldn't just leave you in the woods like that. You were upset, Elaine."

His use of my name sent a shiver down my spine. It sounded so intimate, coming from him. I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling exposed under his piercing gaze.

"I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here," I mumbled, trying to gather my thoughts and steady my voice. His presence felt both comforting and intimidating at the same time.

Dominic's expression softened as he reached out to gently touch my shoulder. "Elaine, you're safe here. You needed help, and I couldn't just leave you alone in the woods."

His words struck a chord in me. Despite the fear and confusion swirling inside me, there was an undeniable sense of security being around him. But the rational part of me knew better than to trust blindly.

"Why did you bring me here?" I questioned, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

He hesitated for a moment, his icy blue eyes searching mine. "There are things about me that you need to know, Elaine. Things that might sound unbelievable, but they're true."

My heart skipped a beat at his cryptic words. A part of me wanted to run, to escape whatever

mysterious secrets Dominic was about to reveal. But another part of me, a curious and reckless part, wanted to stay and uncover the truth. I bit my lip, uncertainty gnawing at me, as I studied his face for any hint of deceit. His gaze was unwavering, intense yet strangely vulnerable.

With a deep breath, I mustered the courage to speak, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean? What could you possibly have to tell me that's so important?" The words tumbled out in a rush, betraying my anxious state.

Dominic's features softened, a shadow of melancholy passing through his eyes before he schooled his expression into one of determination. "Elaine, there's no easy way to say this, but... I'm not entirely human." His admission hung heavy in the air between us like a shroud of mystery.

A wave of confusion washed over me as I tried to process his words.

Not entirely human? He must be crazy. Well I knew he was crazy, especially after the biting incident.

Then he started stalking me once he transferred to my school.

I need to get away now. He is clearly delusional and I don't feel safe around him right now.

As Dominic's words hung in the air, my heart raced with a mix of fear and disbelief. Not entirely human? What kind of ridiculous claim was that? I knew he was intense and had a temper, but this was pushing things too far. My instinct screamed at me to flee, to get as far away from him as possible.

"I think I should go," I managed to say, my voice wavering slightly as I shifted to stand up from the bed. The room felt stifling, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

Dominic's hand shot out, gently but firmly gripping my arm to stop me. "Elaine, please, hear me out. I promise you, everything will make sense once you know the truth." His voice held a pleading undertone, his eyes searching mine for any sign of understanding.

I hesitated, torn between the urge to escape and the gnawing curiosity about what he could possibly reveal. However, I chose to escape.

Ripping my arm out of Dominic's grasp, I stumbled backward, my heart pounding in my chest. The room felt suffocating, and the weight of his revelation pressed down on me like a heavy cloak.

"I can't do this. I need to leave," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper as I backed away from him. His expression shifted from pleading to resignation, as if he had expected this reaction.

"Elaine, please, just give me a chance to explain," Dominic implored, taking a step closer to me. His eyes held an intensity that both frightened and intrigued me.

But I couldn't stay. The fear that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted into a roaring blaze, urging me to flee. Without another word, I turned and bolted towards the door, my hand fumbling for the handle in my haste to escape.

As my fingers closed around the doorknob, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.

I tried to ground myself, afraid of passing out again.

I had no clue where I was, or how to get back to school.

I decided that I would need Dominic's help getting back.

But, he would probably continue to stop me from leaving.

I decided that my best bet was to try to find my own way back.

Before I could turn the knob and bolt out of the room, a sharp pain seared across my shoulder. Gasping, I stumbled forward, my vision blurring for a moment. Dominic was by my side in an instant, his strong arms steadying me as I fought to stay upright.

"Elaine, easy now," he murmured, his voice laced with concern. "You need to sit down."

I allowed him to guide me back to the bed, clutching my throbbing shoulder. The pain was intense, like a searing brand against my skin. Trembling, I looked up at Dominic, searching his face for an explanation.

"What did you do to me?" I managed to whisper through gritted teeth.

Dominic's expression was pained, regret flickering in his icy blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Elaine. It's the mark... the bond we share."

Confusion swirled in my mind as I tried to comprehend his words. The mark? Is he talking about the scar on my shoulder, the place he bit me? He seriously must be crazy.

With a mixture of fear and defiance, I pushed myself away from Dominic, his touch feeling like fire against my skin. The intensity in his eyes was unsettling as he watched me with a complex blend of emotions that I couldn't quite decipher.

"Stop it!" I exclaimed, my voice quivering with a mix of anger and fear. "I don't understand what's happening, but I can't stay here with you." Each word felt like a struggle as I tried to push past the pain in my shoulder and the confusion clouding my thoughts.

Dominic's gaze softened, a flicker of hurt crossing his features before he masked it with a composed expression. "Elaine, please, just listen to me. I know this is overwhelming, but I swear I would never harm you intentionally."

"I need to leave!" I shout at him, instantly feeling regret at being so harsh. "I have to be somewhere soon..." I start, unsure what lie I need to spin. "I told my boyfriend that I would be at his house by six and I need to get ready."

I didn't have a boyfriend, but it's better if he thought I did. Maybe it would make him back off from me and leave me alone.

At my words I saw his face sink. His eyes glossed over and a shadow of resignation crossed his features. "Your boyfriend... right," he muttered softly, the words heavy with unspoken disappointment. Dominic took a step back, his posture slumping as if accepting defeat.

I watched him warily, unsure of what to make of this sudden change in his demeanor. The intensity that usually emanated from him seemed to dim, replaced by a palpable air of dejection. It tugged at something within me, a strange mix of guilt and compassion.

"I will take you back to the school." Dominic said, sounding empty.