Chapter Seven
Reaper
I run a wet hand over my face as the steam from the scalding shower swirls around me.
Jason was a messy cleanup. I sometimes prefer to leave my victims with an artistic twist, grotesque yet clean, but what Charlotte did was an unplanned, unhinged female rage event—leaving behind a bloody swamp laced with evidence.
Savage little thing.
After cutting Jason’s body into duffle-size pieces and cleaning up all that damn blood, their bedroom looked back to normal. Any evidence of a brutal murder gone.
Jason simply disappeared.
I wrap a large towel around my hips, then head to the door that will lead me up to the main floor. Before I enter the code on the keypad, I spin and move to the bathroom, remembering I left my mask there and I have a woman lying in my bed who has not seen my face whole. I’d like to keep it that way. She’s seen more than enough of things I should have never let anyone see. But at least I can keep this part hidden. A mystery.
With my mask, I can remain The Bone Reaper. Without it, she could see me as a simple man. A man she could pick out in a lineup.
No.
She won't be going to the cops about anything. I wouldn't let it come to that anyway.
I slide it on, concealing half my face and walk upstairs. I slowly open my bedroom door and spot a lump under my sheets, unmoving.
Standing over my bed, I look upon the little savage curled up on the left side where I always sleep.
She lies on her right side with one arm under a pillow and her other balled into a fist resting against her mouth. Her soft pink lips are parted, taking in slow breath. Black hair covers part of her peaceful face, then mixes with the charcoal silk sheets.
How can someone who looks so innocent be so savage?
I try to picture her brutally slamming the hammer onto Jason, but I can't. This woman couldn't possibly commit such a vicious act.
But she did . And now she’s asleep in my bed.
I grab some clothes from the dresser and walk into the conjoined bathroom to dress.
A moment later, I enter back in the bedroom to find Charlotte sitting up in bed staring at me. Eyes locked with no one daring to say the first words.
After getting some sleep and waking up here, it’s probably made everything more real to her. It wasn't a dream.
Yes, Charlotte, you really murdered someone and now you’re in The Bone Reaper’s grasp. You should be scared. You should scream. You should run.
But she doesn't look scared. She doesn't scream nor run. She holds my intense gaze until her sleepy voice says, “Hi.”
I clear my throat and my mind. “Hi.”
“Is um… is everything—”
“Yes. It's been taken care of. As far as you know, Jason left and never came home. He’s a missing person.”
She nods, looking down. “Okay. Thank you.”
“You can return home when you’re ready.” Her head quickly snaps up but she doesn't speak. “Just let me know and I'll drive you.” She nods again, and I take my leave.
Twenty minutes later, Charlotte finds me in the kitchen where I’m making an omelet for myself.
“Wow, that smells amazing.”
I pause, questioning my next words, but they come out before I can stop myself. This is becoming a new habit around her that I don't like.
“Do you want one? It’s an omelet.”
“Sure. As long as you don't fill it with weird shit.”
“What qualifies as weird shit?”
“I don't know… like, mushrooms.”
“You don't like mushrooms, got it. Me neither.”
She smiles and takes a seat at the island counter, hands clasped.
A couple minutes later I slide a plate to her.
“ Weird shit free.”
“Thank you,” she says before quickly breaking off a piece with a fork and bringing it to her mouth.
“Wait—” I try to stop her.
“Oh fuck. I fucked up! Oh god, I fucked up!” she mumbles over the piece of steaming egg in her mouth before it falls out and plops down onto the plate with a wet smack.
“You just watched me take it off the damn stove. Did you not think it was going to be hot?”
“I… fuck… I wasn't thinking. I’m just so hungry.”
Grunting, I grab a glass and pour some milk, handing it to her. Our fingers briefly touch as she takes it from me and it sends a buzz through me that reminds me how I haven't been touched by a woman in over a year. My lifestyle isn't exactly suited for female companionship.
I quickly rub my hand on my dark pants, shaking off the foreign sensation. If she notices, she doesn’t give it away. She waits a few minutes longer, cutting up pieces of the omelet before she tries again. This time, it's cooled enough for her to enjoy.
“This is like, really good. What's in it?”
“Cheese, onions, peppers, human remains.” She nearly chokes on a piece and stares at me. I shrug. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s just lots of butter and bacon.”
“I really can't tell if you're joking. You don't seem like the type.”
“Then I guess don't eat it and stay hungry.” She scowls but continues eating.
Smiling, I walk into the living room where I can remove my mask to eat in private.
When she’s done, I hear her washing her plate in the sink, which is unexpected. Figured she’d just leave it right on the counter.
“Okay. I guess I'm ready.”
I slide my mask on and stand from the couch and nod. We walk to the garage and get into my car. The garage door opens, sending in a beam of warm morning sunlight, but my dark tinted windows keep me from having to squint at the bright lights intrusion.
We make the drive back to her neighborhood without speaking a word. I park down the block, then finally break the silence .
“You’ll have to report that he never came home, otherwise that would be suspicious. You can say he left the house yesterday for a jog or something and never returned and you haven’t heard from him. There will be an investigation, but don't worry, they won't find anything. I'm thorough. Don't add too much detail and just stick to that story. Got it?”
“Okay.” She nods, reaching for the door handle with a shaky hand, then stops. “Reaper, I… I don't think I can do this. I don't think I can go back into that house. I can't sleep in that room. It’s not even my house, it's his! Oh god, I think I'm panicking. Am I having a panic attack? I can't breathe.” Her words come out rushed and breathless.
“Hey. It's all right.” I instinctively place my hand on her thigh, which nearly swallows it whole. “Everything is going to be okay. You're safe.”
“But I can't… I don't want to be back there. I can’t be back in that house. Even being this close is making me spiral, and I feel weak all over again.”
“You're not weak, far from it, little savage.”
“Please don't make me go back there.”
“I'm not forcing you to do anything, Charlotte. Can you stay with family? A friend?”
“I only have my friend Lily. I don't want to bring her into this mess. I can’t involve her in what I did.”
She doesn’t know her friend is already involved. I’m only here because of Lily’s message.
Fucking hell.
I can't believe what I'm about to say but fuck it, shit has already gone past the point of no return.
“You can stay with me until things settle.”
“Really? I don't want to cause problems.”
“It's fine. You’ll still need to report him missing though. If anyone asks, you're staying with family or a friend.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much! I promise I won't be a burden! I can make it like I don't even exist!”
Doubtful.
Her damn scent is already everywhere, and my bed will continue to be occupied by her.
I whip the car around and head back to my house.
I hope I don't regret this.