4

"Here are some clean clothes," Ian told me, tossing me a bright red dress.

I take it at arm's length and watch it before throwing it back at him.

-No way am I wearing this, it's too short and I'm not...

Ian sends it back to me and approaches me dangerously. His face is calm my his eyes show his annoyance.

- You are what I will decide you are. Now put this on me before I make you regret it.

He pulls away from me a bit to let me get dressed but I don't want to give him that pleasure.

-Find someone else to play with dolls!

I turn to the window so as not to see his face, but suddenly I'm pinned against the wall and I see the human transform into a monster, and tear pieces of fabric from my dress until I don't have almost nothing that covers my skin. Once his work is finished Ian lets go of me, a cruel smile on his lips and hands me the red dress.

-You have two options: walk around half-naked, which is sure to please everyone here, or put on that dress.

I snatch the garment from his arms and rush to the bathroom. In addition to being a monster, he's a pervert and a complete fool! And to think that he is a hundred years old.

The dress is short, but goes perfectly with my pale skin and hair. I watch myself for a few moments in the mirror.

I feel like I'm 5 years older in this outfit.

My eyes land on the mark and I cover it with my hair, wondering what this day will hold for me.

Ian waits for me on the bed impatiently, and when I come out he looks me up and down.

After mumbling a few things that I didn't understand, he puts on a vest and grabs my arm to pull me out. I didn't have the opportunity to see the corridor leading to the bedroom and I was not disappointed to see that everything is carpeted in red and illuminated by electric chandeliers.

I have always liked old things and in other circumstances I would have really enjoyed staying here. Ian pulls me into the hallway without letting me watch any longer and opens a door at the far end. We tumble into a gigantic, beautifully decorated living room.

I follow Ian inside and he moves quickly towards the young man who abducted me yesterday. He is lying on one of the divans and talking with a blonde-haired woman.

When they see Ian coming the two people stand up and bow like he's...a king.

-Stanley get everyone together immediately, I need to talk to you.

The young man nods and suddenly disappears, creating a wind in the room. The blond woman looks at me with an evil eye.

- are you Ian's new fridge? She asks me, getting up quickly.

I recoil when she appears in front of me and frowns before crossing my arms over my chest absolutely annoyed at having been called a "fridge"?

"I'm not a fridge, I'm a person...like you," I hissed, glaring at her.

The young woman seems surprised and raises an eyebrow before slapping me. I then feel propelled across the room and I land miraculously on a soft carpet.

-I will advise you to speak to me on another tone, you are nothing here, she said while appearing in front of me.

Ian suddenly comes between us.

-Crystal! Don't damage it, he growls.

After a last look of disgust at me, she pulls away and returns to sit on one of the velvet sofas.

Ian crouches down in front of me and watches me to see if I have anything.

When he reaches out to touch my bloody mouth I push him away and stand up.

-Don't touch me, I say, moving away quickly to sit down further away and tap the tip of my lip with my vest.

I feel the man watching me but he doesn't come and put me back in place this time.

I think he's just waiting for us to be alone or waiting for me to recover from my first glide.

I blink once and the room is filled with about twenty people. All as beautiful as each other, Ian stands in the middle of the living room and you can see that he dominates them with his gaze. I stare at him attentively and fascinated by his posture.

-First of all I have to tell you that my parents got wind of our little game of corpses on the side of the road and therefore we will have to change tactics for the next time. We put ourselves in danger for nothing.

My blood is freezing and I want to vomit! Is it game for them to get rid of a person's body on the road? It's filthy, cruel and so unhealthy!

I clench my fists feeling anger and disgust welling up inside me and when they start discussing their new game I see red and stand up in a rage to slap Ian.

The slap echoes so loudly in the room that you can almost hear an echo.

Obviously, my hand is the one that took the most trouble, but I'm proud of my gesture because Ian and his band of crazy people seem shocked.

After that I run out of the living room to take refuge in another room where the door is locked. I open the first door on the right and lock behind me when I hear a crashing noise followed by:

-Bring me that kid!

I sigh and turn to look at the new room, it's a standard bedroom, but my eyes are drawn to the figure lying on the bed. I approach slowly and let out a cry of surprise when I recognize Pauline.

I don't remember her like that, when I met her in high school she was always well dressed and with her hair, everyone envied her curves and her perfect matte skin. But now she's pale and dressed in a white nightgown that's too loose for her skinny body. His face is hollow and his hair has lost its luster. She seems asleep and I shake her gently to wake her up. But I have no reaction, it's been five months since she disappeared! She is dying and I can't do anything to save her.

When I take her hand her skin is cold, but I feel her fingers close around mine.

-Pauline?

The young girl opens her eyes and turns towards me slowly as if she no longer had control of her body. She blinks twice.

"It's me...II think so," she said in a voice so low I couldn't hear her.

-I'm Alyson, we're...was in the same high school.

Her eyes widen and as if it's taking the rest of her strength, she sits down and takes my shoulders, her eyes piercing mine.

-Alyson..Alyson, I seem to remember you, everything has been blurred for a few days. Jonathan says it's normal.

She stares at me as if trying to remember me, but she doesn't seem to be entirely successful.

-Who is Jonathan?

Her eyes sparkle when I ask that question and she looks dreamy.

-He's the one who bites me every night and I can't wait for him to come home. I miss him during the day...

-What ? But he hurts you he can't miss you!

I'm horrified by his meaningless words.

-Evil ? No Jonathan is not hurting me and I will do anything for him, she said still hypnotized.

Ian's words then come to mind, does venom really exist? Is that why Pauline seems madly in love with this monster? So I'm happy to be immune to it.

It may be my way out and my cure for madness. We both jump when loud knocks sound at the door, shaking the room. Pauline then gets up and, trembling, staggers to the door.

-It's Jonathan! He came back! She said before opening as I yelled at her not to. Ian storms into the room followed by a dark haired boy.

-You will regret your gesture Alyson! Ian roared, shaking me violently.

I try to break free but when he lets go I land heavily on the floor.

-I will not regret having slapped you because you deserved it! You are a monster, a heartless murderer and I will never let myself be destroyed by you! I screamed, getting up weakly, before trying to leave the room.

But he catches up to me and takes me by the neck, pressing my back against his chest and directing my face towards Pauline.

-Jonathan! He said in a stern tone.

The dark-haired young man walks over to Pauline and I see the teenager's eyes light up.

Ian leans into my ear and whispers cruelly,

-What will happen now and your fault and if you hadn't slapped me, Pauline might have been able to find her family.

Before I could react to his words Jonathan throws himself on Pauline and I close my eyes. When I open them again Pauline is lying on the floor lifeless, her throat bleeding and her gaze fixed on the ceiling wide open. Tears stream down my cheeks and I try to struggle in Ian's arms, but he still holds me back forcing me to look.

-And now Alyson, do you regret? he asks amusedly.

I don't answer anything and still stare at the girl's body.

- Now you are going to do everything I ask of you and keep quiet. Otherwise the next time, it will be your twin brother who will pass and so on until you obey me. You will regret that my venom had no effect on you, my beauty.