Chapter 40 THE CINEMA TRAP
\[NIGHT, CINEMA\]
As promised, Ixora had come with Blake to the cinema. He wasn't doing her a favor because she, too, needed it.
Currently, she was standing outside while waiting for Blake to get them their treat.
She would look around the place occasionally, and why? Because a part of her was telling her that something would go wrong.
It wasn't a natural feeling that something bad would happen, but it would happen because of that devil.
He wasn't around, but she could feel the environment closing in on her.
Drexton wasn't around. She couldn't feel him, but the air somehow smelled like him.
His threats, his words, his deep stares, his games, his torments, and lastly, his wolf. The only thing she could smell was Drexton, and she had no idea why.
He doesn't look like somebody who would come to a cinema, but she shouldn't underestimate him. That was why she had come here fully prepared.
She put her bag inside her purse and touched something that felt like a blade. He might try to do something as usual since she couldn't get his last words out of her mind.
He would haunt even her nightmares.
She was still in the thought when a voice that sounded rather too familiar knocked her back to reality.
"We meet again," Bonnie said, staring at her.
Ixora returned the gaze, remembering her threat and the incident at lunch.
"What are you doing here?" Ixora asked.
Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"Your parents might be rich, but I'm sure they don't own the cinema, Ixora," Bonnie said, making sure to drag the last part.
Ixora rolled her eyes, shifting her gaze to the long line that was waiting to get a treat.
She could see Blake at the front, and she felt happy that he'd soon be arriving.
"Oh, and if you must know, Skye, Blake's friend, personally invited me to come here with him," Bonnie taunted.
Ixora glared at her. "I never asked," she retorted.
"You'd soon, baby," Bonnie said, causing Ixora to stare at her.
What does she mean?
Before she could ask, Skye and Blake joined them.
Blake was with a bucket of popcorn and a soda can, the same as Skye.
Skye flashed Ixora a smile before facing Bonnie.
"Here."
"Sure," Bonnie smiled, collecting the soda while side-eyeing Ixora.
"Can we go and get our seats? I'm kind of feeling suffocated."
"If you say so," Skye said and turned to Blake.
"See you at home then," he said, and left with Bonnie, who didn't forget to smirk at Ixora.
"Why did she come with Skye?" Ixora asked.
"Why," Blake raised his brow. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Ixora chuckled. "No, I'm just looking out for him, that's all."
"Well, he has a crush on her," Blake said, handing her their seat ticket.
"Oh," Ixora mouthed.
"The movie will start soon, let's go in," Blake said, leading his way.
As they were going in, Ixora felt a deep gaze on her skin.
She looked ahead of her and saw those deep, emotionless eyes staring at her.
She halted in her strides, staring back.
She blinked and stared back, but couldn't see anything.
"Was I just hallucinating, or did I see him staring at me?" she muttered.
"Aren't you coming in?" Blake asked.
Ixora shook her head. "Let's go."
From the back, Drexton, Maddox and Jaxon stood.
"Everything set?" Jaxon asked.
"Done," Maddox replied, twirling the screwdriver around his finger.
Drexton took a step forward.
"Let the game begin."
\---
\[INSIDE THE CINEMA\]
Ixora was slowly eating her popcorn, and her gaze was glued to the screen. They were watching a romantic movie. She was sure Blake had chosen the movie because of her. He wasn't a fan of romance; he preferred music and pop movies without romance.
Little did she know she was beginning to lose interest in romance. Romance only happens in fiction, not in the real world. Real world isn't how it is in the movies.
In the movies, a girl crushes on a guy, and he either accepts her or rejects her. In reality—not reality, her own reality-she crushed on Drexton, and he ended up being a man whom she'd never fall for even in her dreams.
Her eyes were in the movie, but her mind was doing double work. First, the movie and the second was Drexton. She was praying inwardly for the movie to be over so they could leave the cinema.
She felt someone's gaze on her. She turned her neck, and from the back seat, Bonnie was glaring at her.
Ixora shook her head and, facing the front, she saw Blake staring at her.
"You look stressed. You don't like the movie?" Blake asked.
"No, I'm enjoying the movie," Ixora quickly replied, biting her tongue. A punishment for lying to him again.
"Xora, I know you more than anyone else. Something is stressing you out. You can confide in me."
"I'm fine. It's just that a lot has happened these past few weeks, and I... I'm just overthinking, that's all," she smiled at herself, knowing she had just told another lie.
Blake stared at her, slowly tucking the strand of hair behind her ear.
She looked at him, their gaze locking.
She took it back to the movie, and it had reached the kiss scene. The main characters just kissed. She heard the crowd awning for them.
Feeling a gaze on her, she looked and saw Blake staring at her.
She flashed him a smile, returning her gaze to the movie. She placed her hand on the armrest. Her hand brushed against Blake's own.
She looked at Blake, and this time he was the one who smiled at her. Both of them returned their focus to the movie.
Soon, it got to a part where the main characters were making out hotly in the rain.
She heard some low whimpering and looked around to see that the other people had started kissing, including Skye and Bonnie.
She faced the front, shifting uncomfortably to her seat, only to find Blake staring intently at her.
Like a force, she felt herself getting locked in his gaze. She couldn't look away, she stared back.
Slowly, he took his finger and caressed her cheek.
Ixora's eyelid hugged the other, letting his gentle caress rush down her spine.
And for the very first time, about Drexton, his entire thoughts disappeared from her head.
It was just her, her body, her soul and Blake who kept caressing her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered open when she felt his finger leaving her cheek.
His one hand cupped her face as he began leaning in.
Ixora's heart raced in her chest, and she had no idea.
He closed his eyes, and that action pulled Ixora to shut her eyes.
They both leaned in, their breaths mingling, and their lips almost touching.
But, before it could...
Click.
The lights went off, rendering the place dark.
The kissing couple immediately opened their eyes while mumbling some frustrating words.
Blake and Ixora also opened their eyes when the movie screen turned dark.
They all began standing on their feet.
"What is going on?"
"Who turned off the lights?"
They began hissing in annoyance and started trying to find their way out.
Amidst this, Ixora stood still...on her spot.
Her breath became heavy.
Her intuitions were right. He was going to come. She did see him at the entrance.
"Ixora," Blake called.
He couldn't see her since the place was shrouded in darkness.
Ixora couldn't talk. She held her bag tightly, trying to find Blake since they had already separated.
Slowly, the television light began coming on, but instead of the movie, another thing came on.
'SEEK ME' scrawled in sleek, bold red.
Ixora saw the writing. Sweat appeared on her forehead.
He was at it again. His games and this time in a cinema.
She put her hand in her bag, getting hold of the object she had come with.
And in slow motion, the television lights went off, crowding the place in darkness.
Ixora's chest heaved with short, panicked breaths.
She couldn't have a moment of peace in her life again without him appearing like a ghost. This time she was going to end him.
She let her bag slide from her hand as the blade shone in the dark.
A knife.
"Show yourself, you coward!" she shouted, her voice getting drowned in the silent room.
"Ixora."
A hand touched her shoulder.
Quickly, she spun around.
"Go to hell!" she screamed and drove the knife deep into the person's stomach.