Chapter 63 I WANT TO HIDE
\[BLAKE'S HOUSE\]
Audrey walked in to meet the death glare of Blake.
"Oopsie," she muttered, and made to dash up when he grabbed her arm, roughly.
"Argh! I can explain."
"Explain? You literally ripped off my money," Blake said, releasing her hand.
Audrey scratched the back of her head. "You want me to waste my money. You are my brother after all, so your money is mine."
Blake glared.
Audrey blew him a kiss. "I know you are happy. Besides, who'd spend all the money if not me? You should be happy I left a quarter of the money for you. I would have finished it."
Blake poked her forehead. "Just wait until I get a girlfriend."
"Perfect. We would both spend the money together then," Audrey smiled, hanging her arm around his neck.
"You are the best." She pecked his cheek.
A smile spread across Blake's lips as he gave her a one-sided hug.
Audrey looked around. "Where is Skye?"
"Probably with Bonnie. He's totally whipped."
Audrey looked away. "Right. That reminds me, I think I saw mom."
Blake disconnected their bodies, stepping away from her.
"Mom? That's not possible."
"I know. She was wearing glasses so I couldn't recognize her, and she left almost immediately. You know my suspicions are never wrong." Audrey threw herself on the couch.
"I agree with you, and I don't care. She left us in the hands of Dad to die. She doesn't care, so you shouldn't waste your time thinking about her," Blake muttered, staring at the floor as if he could see the scene.
"She chose to leave us. I'll never forgive her," Audrey mumbled, curling her fingers into a fist.
Blake stood and went upstairs while Audrey got her phone, dialing Skye's number.
\[NIGHT, IXORA'S ROOM\]
Ixora lay on the bed, facing upright. Her eyes were wide open, fixed on the ceiling. She was using her eyes to write invisible things on the ceiling.
Sleep had refused to come, and she had no idea what to do. She and Nelly weren't on talking terms; otherwise, she'd have called her.
She had thought of calling Blake, but changed her mind. He might be tired from rehearsals since his next concert is in a few days.
The rustling sound of the breeze against the trees made her gaze at the window. The wind was blowing heavily, and the lightning stretched in the clouds.
No doubt, it was going to be a cold, rainy night. She sat up and drank water.
She hissed, climbing down the bed.
A text notification chimed on her phone.
She rushed and took the phone. A smile kissed her lips as if she knew who the sender was.
Drexton: To the outhouse.
She smiled before she could stop herself. It wasn't about the words, but the way her chest tightened, as if the words had crawled through the phone to press against her ears.
Without minding the heavy wind or the fact that it was going to rain any moment from now, she grabbed a jacket and rushed out of the house.
His way of speaking and texting was always commanding, but maybe she was beginning to like it. Before, she'd have waited for him to threaten her with something before going, but today, she was going on her own, willingly.
\[OUTHOUSE\]
She arrived at the outhouse feeling swallowed by the total darkness. She could feel her chest bubbling with excitement or nervousness, anything you like.
She couldn't see him, but his scent and presence were strong in the air. The breeze had gotten heavier, and her heart was beating erratically.
"I'm here." Immediately she said that, a light came on.
Her eyes lit up when she saw him sitting on the couch. The dull light shone only on him, making him the only thing Ixora could see in the room.
She walked further inside the outhouse, her footsteps and the wind going in rhythm. She stood a few steps away from him and made to talk when he tossed a knife at her.
She gasped, barely catching the knife on its edge. She glanced between the knife and Drexton, who had stood up.
"What..."
"Seek me, and while at it, try to stab me," he said, cutting her off with his deep baritone voice.
"Huh?" Ixora asked, and the lights went off, shrouding the place in darkness.
"What are you doing?"
"Seek me," he whispered, as if he wasn't asking her to stab him, but to find him, know him and claim him.
She tightened her grip around the cold knife against her palm, but the heat of his voice made her fingers sweat.
She wondered if he had gone insane. Why would he tell her to stab him? He's toying with his life.
"Do you want to die?!" She asked, panic clawing at her chest.
"Relax, Ixora. Do it," his voice came out again, but this time from her front.
Ixora released a heavy breath, deciding to listen to him.
"Maybe he was trying to feel," she thought, twirling around.
She stabbed the air.
"Try again."
Ixora smashed the air, turning around to every corner she could think of. Her back, side, and front, but he wasn't there.
Her breathing turned shallow, sweat forming at the line of her forehead.
Does he have to be so good at everything? Why couldn't she beat him for once?
She left the spot, while being careful, as she kept trying to find him.
He was nowhere to be found. She couldn't find him. It was as...
She froze when she felt his breath on her neck.
"Concentrate. You should learn to make good use of your other senses. Listen to them, your nose, ears and skin. Now, find me," he said hypnotically, as if spelling it out for her. His words guided her slowly, and Ixora stopped feeling his breath on her neck.
Goosebumps rose like her skin was betraying her. She should've shoved him away, screamed at him, but didn't... Instead, her grip trembled on the knife, not from fear, but from the way her pulse raced under his ghost-touch.
Her breathing slowed as she channeled her concentration to the outhouse. She closed her eyes, letting herself drown in the darkness.
She snapped them back open, raising the knife in the air. She stabbed her front.
He held her hand, spinning her around.
Ixora went on her one knee, trying to stab his leg. He raised one of his legs, and the knife stabbed his boot.
He kicked the knife out of her hand. It fell to the floor with a clattering sound. The heavy wind, the echoes of their feet and breath filled the outhouse.
Ixora wiped the sweat off her forehead as a bulb flickered. She was able to see him leaning on the stairs before it became obscured in darkness again.
She picked up the knife and rushed to the stairs. She stabbed the air, holding the rail to prevent herself from falling.
Her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. There was no way she could find him. She was very aware of it, but she did it because she was enjoying the game.
Her grip loosened on the knife as it slipped to the floor.
"Nice try."
She heard him say, and the lights came on. She spun around to see him standing a few steps away from her.
"You think so?" she mumbled, smiling to herself.
The fact that he admitted it was enough to make her heart race.
Drexton nodded and in the next seconds, they were in front of each other. How they got to each other so fast remained unknown even to them.
Their bodies were so close, barely leaving a space between them.
"I want to hide," Ixora said, almost standing on her toes to meet his height.
She had no idea what was wrong with her tonight, but whatever it was, she didn't want it to stop.
"This is the last time we'll be meeting here."
Ixora lowered her gaze. "Why?" she asked, her voice above a whisper.
She felt something gnawing at her chest, something she couldn't pinpoint.
Drexton didn't reply.
Ixora looked up when she didn't hear his reply. Their gaze locked, mixing with their hot breath.
Tiny drops of rain began falling on the roof, being the only noise between their intense stares.
Their silence between them, deeper than a graveyard itself.
Drexton's hands found the zip of her jacket, and slowly, he began unzipping it. Ixora's hand gripped the hem of his shirt, their stares more intoxicating than ever.
Her heart was beating so loud that it reached their ears.
Her loose tank top and high-waisted pants came into view. Cold shivers ran down her spine when his fingers brushed against her hand.
He brushed her hair to the other side, her fingers loosening on his shirt.
"W..."
He tilted her head and sank his lips into her neck.
A loud, roaring thunder rumbled in the sky, causing both the branches and leaves to fall.