Terrifying Love: A Halloween Anthology Read online

  I passed the front of the garage as I left and called out my thanks. The mechanic waved from under the hood of a car and ignored me as I walked to the next block, deciding to walk home and use the time to come up with the rest of my plan. It worked out because I didn’t really feel like interacting with people, not when I was riding the high of knowing we were one step closer to being together.

  Night came quickly, and before I knew it, I was setting out for Binx’s apartment, ready to spend some quality time with her, like we were always meant to.

  Chapter Five - Binx

  I went home, still in shock from the news about Jan. That mixed with the call from the company giving me the part so quickly, I wasn’t sure how to process it all. My email had already come through, and it looked like they needed me at the Theatre the next morning to sign the paperwork and go over the rehearsal schedules. Also, it would give me a chance to meet everyone and get a feel of who I would be working with.

  I was so excited to have this part, and I was ready to put in the hours needed to make this production a success. When I had first heard about the Theatre wanting to put on a production of Coppélia, it had excited me. Even more so when I found out it would be a three-year contract.

  The idea of love being so strong that someone was so willing to do almost anything to guide them back, and a happily ever after, pulled at my heartstrings. Dr. Coppélius makes a life-sized dancing doll, so lifelike that it infatuates a village man, Franz, to the point that he turns away his true love, Swanhilda. She knows something is up, and that the doctor is evil, so she shows her love the error of his ways by dressing up as the doll, pretending to make it come to life, and ultimately saves her lover from an untimely death at the hands of the evil inventor.

  A timeless tale of love, and one I was honored to portray. I only hoped that the other dancers would be good to work with as we would be working together for the foreseeable future.

  The hum of my light filled the empty room again as I turned it on and decided to take a quick shower before bed, so I would be ready to go in the morning.

  After brushing my teeth and hair I slid into bed, grateful that I quickly fell asleep.

  *******

  My alarm going off pulled me from my sleep, and I groggily wiped at my eyes, grateful I had gone to bed early because I clearly needed the rest. I brushed a loose strand of hair from my face, my mind racing as I realized it was not in my face, but braided down my back. I took a deep breath as I sat up, maybe I had been more tired than I realized, and didn’t remember braiding my hair before I went to bed.

  I sat up and looked at the rough rubber band that held the end of my hair. I knew for sure that was not mine. Where the fuck did it come from then?

  My gaze darted around my room, no clue what I was looking for, but something had to have happened. Everything on my small vanity had been lined up in neat rows, from smallest to largest, and my closet had even been reorganized. I knew sure as fuck that I hadn’t done that. I took a deep breath as I tried to figure out what to do, now was not the time to lose it.

  Should I call the police and file a report, or would they just say I lost my mind? What exactly would I even tell them if I did? Someone came into my house in the middle of the night, cleaned, organized, and braided my hair?

  I didn’t need people thinking I was going crazy right when I finally landed the job of a lifetime. Quickly, I unbraided my hair, an unexplained feeling of being dirty and wanting to scrub it off overcame me as I did so.

  The clock showed I still had just enough time to get there if I was quick. I could shower and take a cab to the Theatre and still make it in time. I washed my hair and scrubbed my body until I was red and tingling, the feeling of whatever it was finally gone.

  Feeling refreshed I pulled leggings and a tank on and raced for the door, grabbing my keys and locking it behind me. Downstairs, I hailed a cab and got in, giving the address for the Theatre, and thanking the driver.

  His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror and I noticed a black cloth tied around the bar that held it to the window. “What’s with the black cloth?” I asked, curious why he had it tied there. “You can tell me to mind my own, if you don’t want to tell me.”

  “No, it’s fine. One of our drivers was found dead in his car yesterday. So, we are paying our respects,” he told me.

  “Oh my, I’m so sorry to hear that,” I replied, instantly regretting that I had asked.

  “Thank you. He will be missed,” he said quietly, both of us falling into silence until he pulled up to the curb.

  “Thank you, and sorry again about your colleague,” I said, passing him cash before sliding from the car with five minutes to spare.

  I pushed into the building, surprised when I found a small woman waiting inside, “At least one of you will be on time for the rehearsals,” she muttered in a very thick accent. “Come, come,” she ushered me through a side door, and I found myself standing in an office as she rounded the desk, motioning for me to sit as she remained standing.

  My stomach jumped with nerves as I took my seat. I had been in productions before but certainly nothing of this caliber, and this last step was actually going to make it final. I was excited and nervous at the same time.

  “Temperamental dancers make job harder to do,” her thick Russian was much more notable now that she said more than a few muttered words, though there was no heat behind them. I could tell she was fond of the Theatre and the dancers she spoke of. She shook her head, as she tsk’ed and stacked papers on each other before passing them to me, “You fill these out and I come back.”

  I took them from her and smiled as she left me in the office. She seemed like quite the character and I hoped I would be working with her more. The stack of papers seemed daunting, but it was nothing too involved to fill out. Quickly, I read over the terms, shocked at the amount they were offering, as well as the fact that they wanted to leave it open-ended to possibly keep me on at the end of the term.

  Not only did that mean steady work for the next three years, but I might actually be able to save and get out of my shitty ass apartment. Just as I finished my last signature she came back in, the timing impeccable. “Good, good,” she took the stack of papers and dropped them on her desk unceremoniously. “Now you meet people.” She held the door open indicating that I should leave before her, motioning toward the door to the grand Theatre that I had auditioned in.

  “They wait. Good luck,” she nodded and shut the door to her office in my face. Well then, that one was to the point.

  I squared my shoulders and prepared to face the rest of the room, pushing open the heavy Theatre door. There were more people than I was expecting, but all of them stilled at the sound of the door and looked in my direction.

  Arthur Sanon himself called out to me and I had to remind myself not to fangirl if I were going to be taken seriously, “All welcome our Prima, Bianca Moore.”

  I grinned as I walked through the rows of chairs to him. “Thank you. You can call me Binx,” I told him, reaching my hand out to shake his.

  He pulled me close and kissed each cheek, “Binx, a unique name for a unique dancer. We are pleased to have you with us. Take a minute, get to know the others and then we will go over our schedule.”

  I nodded and grinned, “Thank you.”

  “Binx!” a familiar voice called out, and I turned to see the guy from the previous day running toward us before he scooped me up and spun me around. “I knew you had it in you.”

  I laughed as he set me down, “You're enthusiastic, aren’t you?” I looked into his green eyes, again surprised at the level of attraction I felt toward him.

  “Rightfully so. Your dancing is beyond perfection,” he complimented, making me blush.

  “Thank you. So, you already know my role, what’s yours?” I asked, curious.

  “This is Jay Solis, our Franz, and your lover,” the choreographer wiggled his eyebrows. “Might as well get close now. The two of you have some long hours ah
ead of you.”

  I flushed a little as I recognized the name of primo danseur. This production was going all out if they had managed to get him to come and perform. “You already had the part when you talked to me, didn’t you?”

  “Kinda. It wouldn’t have made a difference though, I still would have been drawn to you,” he admitted. “It is a pleasure to officially meet you, Bianca Moore,” he dramatically bent over and lifted my hands, kissing my knuckles. I could see why he was a dancer, that guy had more drama in his little finger than most had in their whole body.

  I tried to pull my hand back, but he tucked it at his side and pulled me around the huge room and through to the backstage area. He introduced me to everyone, from the other dancers, to the stage crew and prop designers, all of whom seemed to be here today. It was a whirlwind as I followed him around, grateful for the introductions, but also knowing I would never remember them all.

  At last, he sat on the edge of the stage and pulled me down next to him, the choreographer standing as we did so. He went over the upcoming schedule. It would be rigorous and tough to make it for opening night, but worth it for the kind of dance we would create together.

  He gave us the remainder of the week to rest up, and come back fresh Monday morning, ready to put in the hours. After he dismissed us, Jay turned to me. “How about some food?”

  “I could eat,” I replied, realizing that I hadn’t grabbed anything this morning after waking up to all that weird shit in my apartment. Now that I remembered, I wasn’t exactly ready to go back either, and the café was no better.

  “Let’s go then,” he tugged me from the edge of the stage and I followed him out, waving to the others as we left, his energy infectious and immediately lifting my mood again.

  Chapter Six - Binx

  The afternoon flew by and I found myself even more attracted to Jay. He was funny and thoughtful, not to mention hot as sin. He didn’t give me a choice as he held my hand in his, leading me through the streets and showing me some of the local spots that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been to before. I couldn’t afford to let myself get distracted though, I needed to focus on the dance, not the other dancers.

  As the day passed by, it was getting more and more difficult not to let myself think of things I was better off ignoring. Like how his lips would feel on mine. Or how those strong hands would more than likely be skilled in the very best of ways.

  He did everything from telling corny jokes, to opening doors for me. When I talked, he actually listened, instead of letting his mind wander to what he had to say next. I had expected a big-name dancer like him to be self-centered, interested only in what benefited him. But he was exactly the opposite. He genuinely cared and didn’t let his success get to him. It was refreshing to say the least, but I knew I was going to end up in trouble if I didn’t lay some ground rules.

  We rounded the corner to my street just as the sun was setting and I paused, looking up at him for a moment. “You know we can’t let this go too far, right?”

  “Yeah, we’ll pass your building,” he quipped with a smirk on his face.

  “Jay,” I couldn’t help but grin. He knew exactly what I was talking about.

  “Binx,” he replied in the same tone I had used with him, making me laugh as butterflies flitted around in my stomach. The way he said my name, light and sexy all at the same time, it was enough to make me want to swoon.

  I held back a sigh, it wasn’t going to do me any good to let him get to me this way. “Look, you’re great. Amazing even. But we will be working together for the foreseeable future and we can’t,” I motioned between us, “you know, let something come between that.”

  He took a step closer. “I don’t intend to,” his voice had dropped and was now low and seductive as he took my hands in his and ran his thumb across the back of my hand. He paused and pulled my phone from my pocket and clicked a few buttons. “There, you have my number if you need it.”

  I swallowed thickly, “Good.”

  “Is that everything?” he asked, his eyes not leaving mine as he resumed stroking his thumb over the back of my hand, making those damn little butterflies take off and swarm through me.

  “Yup, I think we are good,” I said, my voice shakier than I would have liked. But at least we had the ground rules covered.

  “Good,” he responded. Before I realized what he intended, his mouth closed over mine and heat instantly spread through my core. A heat that rocked me to my very center and had me pressing against him for more. He pulled me closer, his hard chest pressed against me, his desire clear with the bulge that pressed against my hip.

  I pulled back, my breath coming out fast and uneven. “We can’t,” I denied again.

  “We did.”

  I let out a small laugh, “You are incorrigible.”

  “I never said I wasn’t,” he tapped his finger on my nose. “I’ll give you time to get used to the idea.” He gave me a quick kiss, so light and quick, if I hadn’t still felt the tingles on my lips, I would have thought I had imagined it. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he winked and left me staring after him as he walked away.

  As Jay turned around the corner and disappeared from sight, the shock of his very bold statement finally receded. I shook myself out of the trance I had been in staring at his retreat, and purposely turned away.

  He had certainly made himself clear where he stood on things. I would just have to be more firm next time. No, I corrected myself, turning to go the rest of the way to my apartment, there was not going to be a next time.

  I got to the door of my apartment and turned the key, frowning when it didn’t click. It was already unlocked. I looked at the handle curiously, certain I had locked it when I left that morning. It was one of the things my dad had ingrained in me when I moved. Safety first, and that always included locking up.

  Had I been in such a rush to get to the Theatre that I forgot? I didn’t think so, it was one of the things I always did, both when I left and when I got home.

  A feeling of unease washed through me, and I opened my door cautiously, not exactly sure it was safe to enter, but not exactly sure I wasn’t losing my mind either. After all, that very morning I had thought my stuff had been moved around, even organized, without me doing so.

  Maybe it was just the amount of stress I was under lately. Trying to juggle a full-time job at the café while also auditioning and keeping in shape for my dancing career. Not to mention the death of the first friend I had made when I came to the city. It was no wonder I was losing it.

  I stepped through the door and relaxed a little as I saw everything was still in place. I slowly set my bag down and locked the door behind me, slipping out of my shoes and crossing to my room. The bottles were still lined up on my vanity, and I tried to remember when I would have possibly done that, but nothing came to mind. Instead, only that gut feeling that something was off remained.

  Even as strange as today had been, it had also been the best day I had in a long time. While Jay had made me want things that I knew were not a good idea, I still enjoyed feeling this way. And as much as I knew I had to draw boundaries before things went too far, I wanted more than anything to say fuck it and just have fun for once.

  I smiled to myself as I crossed to the small bathroom, eager to get ready for bed and fall asleep, for once, what I hoped would not be a restless night. I had an early shift at the café, and dealing with it without Jan was going to be difficult. Everything was going to be okay though. We would handle it and the police would find whoever hurt her and we would all move forward.

  I reached out and flicked on the bathroom light as I pulled my shirt over my head. I started to drop my shirt on the countertop and glanced at the mirror, a small scream escaping me at what I saw. In the only shade of lipstick I owned, someone had written shaky letters across the surface, and my reflection shined back at me through the bright red letters.

  It was all for you. Always for you.

  My heart hammered in my chest as
I tossed my shirt back on, suddenly feeling way more exposed than I would have liked. I raced to check the windows and doors to make sure they were locked, grabbing my phone as I passed it on the way to my room. There was no way I was imagining this now, and something had to be done.

  Chapter Seven - Him

  My night with Binx had been more than I had ever imagined. The sounds of her softly sighing in her sleep as I watched her, brought me such joy, and I knew I could live a lifetime and never tire of hearing those soft noises. As she slept, I sniffed the small, colorful bottles she kept on her vanity. Thrilled, when I found the scent she had worn the first day we had met. I hadn’t been able to help myself when I slipped it into my pocket, so I could carry part of her with me until we were together for good.

  After that, I straightened the bottles for her. To let this kind of mess cover her vanity, the place where she started her day, was not okay. She was a very busy woman, but she still needed to keep her things in order. It was okay, she had time to get used to keeping things tidy. I would teach her. I would show her everything.

  My eyes fell on her brush and again, I couldn’t help myself as I picked it up and crossed to her, kneeling at the edge of her bed. Her chest rose and fell, her dusky nipples peeking out from her tank top, just for me. I itched to reach out and touch her, to find out if her skin was as soft as it looked.

  I restrained myself though. I wanted to see the look in her eyes when I finally touched her for the first time. That look when the knowledge filled her that she was mine. Every bit as I was hers. That didn’t keep me from taking care of her in the meantime as I ran the brush through her soft, silky hair. It flowed around her, the bright blonde a contrast against her dark purple sheets.

  At last, when all of the tangles were free, and her hair soft and smooth I separated it, braiding it gently so I didn’t wake her. I started to pick up her hair tie from the bedside table, but stopped short, seeing the rubber band around my wrist. She would appreciate having something of mine, too, I was sure. It would have to be enough until we could move to our new home together. Until we could finally be together like we were meant to be.