CHAPTER FIVE- Strangled

Josephine

“Fuckk...you feel so good Jo.” Mathew whimpered grinding into me eagerly.

At this point I was already over the sex, it wasn’t enjoyable anymore. Mathew only focused on his pleasure and not mine so sex with him sucked ass....

I laid there, resisting the urge to yawn as he grunted into my ear and slammed into me in an attempt to turn me on but it just felt uncomfortable. The image of a certain grey eyed man flashes into my head and that sends shivers down my spine.

My breath hitches with flushed cheeks, eyes closed, imaging his gruff Russian accent whispering nasty things into my ear. I unconsciously clench against Mathew, turned on by my imagination.

“Damn, ugh!”

He cums abruptly into the latex confinement of the condom and that sadly breaks my imagination. Annoyance simmered in my chest as he rolled off me, panting hard like a thirsty dog.....

“Babe, that was awesome....” He chuckled to himself.

My eyes widens as a slap of realization hits me. I had just imagined fucking a total stranger in place of Mathew, what the hell was I thinking?! I rolled off the sheets and walked straight to the bathroom to wash all the sweat and fluids from my body.

Standing under the steaming shower, I rested my head on the cool tiles in hope to wash away the gnawing guilt I felt. How did I get here? Imagining a total stranger while being with Mathew....

That man.

His mysterious persona had caged me, I couldn’t stop thinking about him ever since my birthday night. His voice, accent, intoxicating scent....everything about him, I could clearly remember.

It wasn’t the first time he had slipped into my imagination but this was the first time that I shamelessly indulged in it. I let out a groan of frustration at myself before proceeding to shower quickly.

My feet moved quickly to get dressed for my night shift which began in less than an hour. The smell of dinner wafts my nostrils, making my stomach growl in hunger as I imagine the delicious meal that Mathew’s cooking up.

I reached for my phone but get cut off guard as a text pops up on Mathew’s phone instead. A text from Mrs Dawson, his project manager at work who was a sweet middle aged woman.

My eyes read the text instinctively. ‘Babe, you’re coming over tonight aren’t you? Lance is away for work.’

I froze, my heart racing faster than normal. I read the text again and again to make sure that I was seeing properly. Swiftly, I unlock his phone and quickly scroll into their chats.

It felt like someone just punched me in the gut. Photos of their nudes were exchanged, sexting, rows and rows of past video calls all specifically planned during my night shifts...

I let out a shaky breath, tears pricked the corner of my eyes. Something in me always had this gut feeling that he wasn’t faithful but I pushed that aside like a fool and kept hanging on to the delusions I had for him.

“No....”I muttered shakily.

My fingers tingled as the memories of his constant belittling, snarky comments he made to me, everything that peeked his true resentment towards me flashed into my head.

My feet moved before I could process, storming towards the kitchen while tightly gripping his phone in my hands. “How dare you?!”

I chucked the phone at him, catching him off guard as it hits his chest and drops to the ground. “What the fuck, Jo?!” He groaned.

Rage pumped through my veins, my jaws clenched with anger. “ You fucking cheating bastard!”

His face morphs into annoyance, he scoffs. “Why are you acting up like it’s new news to you?” He speaks darkly.

“N-new news? Is that all you can say?!”

He slams his hand against the counter. “Yes, okay we fuck occasionally, get over your damn self, Jo.”

That crushed my heart. “H-how long has this been going on.....”

“I felt lonely, what do you expect? You work almost all week and I don’t get to spend time with you-”

I let out a gasp. “So you’re blaming me for your actions?!”

He shrugged with a smug look on his face.

There was a silent pause of disbelief, he truly held no remorse for his hurtful actions. I’m done, this relationship is fucking over.

My lips tremble. “We’re done. Get out, get out of my house!”

“What the fuck did you just say?” He stormed over, towering over me.

I looked up at him with angry tears trailing down my cheeks. “Get. The. Fuck. Out!-”

“Ack!”

His hands grabs me by the neck, slamming me against the kitchen cabinets with a terrifying look on his eyes. I struggle against his hold, clawing and scratching his hands to be set free but he didn’t budge.

He squeezes. “Now let’s get things straight...you’ll shut your mouth and go out for work like the dumb cunt you are, pretend like this never happened, okay babe?”

My legs quivered restlessly as I try to suck in air but he squeezed tighter causing me to let out gargled sounds of urgency. Fear struck me as he stared deep into my eyes with no emotion but pure hatred.

I nod my head frantically and he let me go instantly, dropping on the floor like a sack of potatoes. I coughed heavily, taking in large gulps of air to quickly fill my lungs.

Mathew says nothing and goes on to continue cooking like nothing happened while I scrambled to my feet, running back into the room to get my stuffs for work.

My body moved on autopilot, grabbing my tote bag, a jacket and a scarf with my phone in hand before scurrying out of the apartment. I trembled violently, not from the cold night air but from the realization of what just took place.

Mathew had just strangled me a few moments ago....his cold eyes held nothing but rage and death. That wasn’t the man I loved, he was a monster that has been pretending for a long time and that mask had worn off.

I leaned back against the nearest lamppost wondering where I could go to from here. My ego wouldn’t let me call Evelyn for help, she had always been sceptical about Mathew and well, she was right....

The cold night air bit at my skin as I pulled my jacket tighter around me, my scarf doing little to shield my bruised neck. My legs moved automatically, heading straight to a dingy motel that was a few blocks away.

The sounds of my steps echoed through the night against the cold pavement but then a feeling hits me. A prickling feeling that suggests I wasn’t alone in the earie street, I was being watched or followed.

I let out a shaky breath out of fear, my heart rate spiking to an abnormal rate. Turning back quickly to take a look but there was no one on the long stretch of dimly illuminated pavements.

“You’re just paranoid, Jo....” I reassure myself.

The feeling doesn’t go away as I continue to walk down the dimly lit street. My breath hitched once I heard it, fear rattling my bone.

Footsteps

They were faint but steady, matching my pace at a measured distance from me. My feet moved quicker this time, I wasn’t ready to die by a serial killer tonight, not after what I just endured by my so called boyfriend.

“Josephine.”

I paused abruptly, my breath hitching with shivers running down my spine. The voice called out through the silence, it was deep and smooth almost soothing to the ear.

That voice.

I turned slowly, my eyes landing on the tall dark shadow figure that stepped out the darkness. His silhouette was endearing, oozing this aura of imposing power.

My breath caught in my throat. “You.”

The mysterious grey eyed man stood before me in a long black coat, his hands tucked in his pocket and his calculative grey eyes glaring down at me like a predator.

“H-how did you know my name?” My voice coming out shaky.

He tilted his head to the side with no expression on his face. “Why are you walking alone, so late at night?”

I take a step back, clutching the handle of my tote bag tighter. “W-what do you want?”

His steady gaze zeros down to the flimsy scarf around my neck. He inched closer to me but I stood rooted at my spot while everything in me screamed to run, I couldn’t move under his cold grey eyes.

“S-stay back.” I tried to sound firm but it only came out as a weak whimper.

My nostrils are immediately wafted by his intoxicating scent that I was now getting addicted to. I felt exposed under his intense gaze, his eyes trailing from my neck to my swollen face from crying.

“Who hurt you?” his voice coming out firm.

I could see it in his haunting eyes, he held quiet anger with a calm exterior. My knees felt weak, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. My hands instinctively come up to graze the scarf.

“T-this....I-its just a scratch-”

He scoffs, running his tongue across his teeth before jutting his chin towards the motel. “Go on then, it’s cold out here.”

“N-no, who are you? You haven’t answered my question.” I trembled under his calculative gaze.

His eyes darkened. “Go inside, Josephine.” His deep voice sending shivers down my spine.

It was a command not a suggestion. My lips opened to say something but my feet obeyed like a good girl, shuffling down the street towards the bright neon lights of the dingy motel.

I paused at the motel’s entrance, my fingers grazing the cold glass door before glancing back. A light gasp escaped my lips, he still stood there in the shadows watching over me.

Inside my room, I sank into the sheets, clutching it tighter with anxiety coursing through my veins.

Who was this man? How did he know my name? And why, despite the looming danger that surround him, did I feel strangely attracted to him?

Something told me that this wouldn’t be our last encounter and it felt like this strange attraction is the beginning of something different, something new and my gut feelings were always right.