His Soul to Take by C.M. Torrens

Author:C.M. Torrens
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter Five

The knock echoed through his apartment. Robert jumped and spun to look at the front door.

He'd been on edge since he got home hours ago, expecting Simon to come pounding on his door. He'd considered calling Jerry and telling him about what he'd seen, but it all sounded so weird and creepy. Every time he thought he should call and had rehearsed what he'd say, it just sounded like insane babblings. It wasn't like Simon had threatened him—just the opposite. He felt safe with him.

Robert stared at the hardwood door, wondering if he should answer the knock.

"Robert,” Simon called. “Can we talk?"

He swallowed hard and said nothing.

"Please?"

He pursed his lips together, wishing Simon would just leave.

The sound of shuffling feet drifted from outside into his apartment.

"It's... hard to explain. I was hoping you'd let me."

Maybe he had gotten things wrong. What if it was just a strange set of weird events?

He stared at the blank TV in front of him, debating whether to open the door or not. The quiet of the late evening descended, and he couldn't be sure if Simon had left or not. Getting to his feet, he took a deep breath and stared at the door. The clock over the TV ticked, each second beating through the small apartment. The heavy air sucked the life out of the room, and he moved to the entry hall. He pressed his ear to the door and listened for the sound of Simon outside.

"Tell me to leave and I will,” Simon whispered from the other side.

"Tell me it's not what I think,” Robert said.

"It's not what you think."

He unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open. The chain caught the heavy wood, leaving it to hang open just a few inches.

Simon stood in the hall, his eyes were dark with worry and hints of crow's feet creased his face. Tiny lines of age accented the frown on his supple lips. Robert wouldn't have called him striking, but the more he looked at him, the more Simon stood out. His strong Roman nose, firm chin, and those eyes. Those dark, haunted eyes.

"What are you?” What, not who.

"May I come in?"

Robert hesitated. There had been countless times Simon could have hurt him, but he had saved him instead. The memory of his strong arms wrapped around him as the lights collapsed stirred his blood more than he thought it should. Their night together, Simon's arms, his kiss—God, how he'd loved the taste of him. He ached to hold him again. He hated to admit he wanted to touch him. He at least owed him the chance to explain.

He closed the door, unlocking the chain before letting Simon inside.

"I saw you with the old man. You touched him and he fell in the street. Did he die?” Robert asked.

"Yes."

"You didn't help him. You could have helped him. You could have pulled him out of the way. Like you did for me."

"I shouldn't have done that."

Robert stared at him, a shocked numbness spreading over him and fear beginning to creep under his skin.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.