Chapter 8 Dove
DOVE
Iwalk away from the spa, feeling dirty, while Christina has a smile on her face. She’s positively glowing.
“Did you enjoy your massage?” She asks me.
Did I? I wasn’t sure. I could have put a stop to it. I could have told him no. I knew those wasn’t damn oils, but I let him put his fingers and mouth everywhere on my body.
Did it feel good? The flashbacks of every sensation crawl through my body, causing a wetness to seep between my legs.
Yes, it felt good, and I was ashamed that I’d let a stranger invade my body because once he’d started I didn’t have to strength to tell him to stop.
I knew it was wrong. I just felt shameful and dirty and nothing could wash away the feeling of shame.
I could go home and scrub my skin until it bled, and I’d still feel shameful that I let a stranger touch me in ways I’d never let anyone touch me.
I wanted to scream, I tried to scream but the only thing that came out of my mouth were strangled sobs and moans, I was terrified, I didn’t know what he was going to do to me in that room but as the crawling fear spread through my body, I enjoyed it, the fear, the pleasure—the shame.
The fact he’d called it a massage was almost laughable. I could still feel him between my legs.
“Are you okay, babe?” I look at Christina and give her a weak smile.
“I’m fine.”
“Did you not enjoy your massage?”
“It was fine. I think I’m just tired.” I lie.
What was I supposed to tell her? I just couldn’t even bring myself to think about what happened in that room, so how could I explain it to her?
I never said stop, so it wasn’t rape, but I also wasn’t sure if I wanted it, even though the entire feeling of being afraid had made my knees weak, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling—I was just numb.
“Well, I did have a few other things planned.” She sounds disappointed. “But we can go home and you can sleep before tonight if you like.”
“I think I’d like that.” I smile.
I don’t remember much of the ride home, only that it was filled with silence, which I was grateful for because I didn’t feel like talking, anyway.
Once I’m in my room, I can’t wait to rid myself of the clothes that cling to my body. Looking down at my naked frame, I see splashes of crimson smeared across my skin.
What was it paint?
I wasn’t sure. I remember in that small room there was a distinct scent of copper, but I couldn’t place what it could be. Normally spas smell clean and welcoming, but that particular room had the odor of decay.
Walking under the shower I let the warm water slide across my body and wash away the events of the day, I didn’t know who he was all I knew was he controlled my body in a way that made me almost fearful and excited at the same time.
Sitting on the ground of the shower, I let it wash away my impure thoughts. It could have been someone I knew. I’d never looked back. I didn’t dare.
I think it was more exciting not knowing who it was, would I have been repulsed if I’d have seen him, sure he felt good and his voice did things to my body that hands never could but what if I ever came face to face with him? Would I recognise his voice and then what?
God, I was driving myself crazy.
Curling my knees to my chest, I finally let the tears fall. I wasn’t even sure why I was crying but sitting alone in the shower all the pent-up feelings I had poured out of me.
Walking out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my body, I curl up on my bed and hope that sleep will consume and take me away from my manic thoughts that currently held me in a prison.
“Oh my god, Dove.” Christina rushes into my room and a groan falls from my throat.
“Do I need to start locking my door?”
“What?”
“Well, every time I finally relax, you barge in here with no consideration for anyone else.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Don’t you know how to knock?” I was getting annoyed with her inconsiderate view of my privacy.
“Why would I knock?”
“Yes, why indeed.” I roll my eyes. “What do you want?”
I didn’t actually care about her reasons for barging in here unannounced, but unless I appeased to her urgency, she would never leave.
“You never guess what?” She screams.
“Okay, I can’t be bothered playing this game—.”
“Dove, someone died.”
Okay, that got my attention. I sit upright, looking at her. I had thought she had come in here excited. You could never tell with her but I didn’t expect that.
“Who?”
“They don’t know. The body was that badly burned when they recovered it that they will only be able to identify them by their teeth.” My mouth drops open. “By their teeth.” She screams. “Isn’t that sad?” She sighs.
“Where was this, and how did you find out?”
“Chloe told me she’s a mess.”
“Chloe?”
“Yes, Chloe works at the spa. She’s the one who got us both a good deal on those massages.”
“How does Chloe know about this?”
“Oh, Dove, don’t freak out, okay?”
“Why would I?—.”
“It was at the spa. After we left, there was fire and—.”
“And what?” I whisper.
“The fire started in room 12.”
My eyes widen and I’m pretty sure I’ve more than likely lost what colour I had in my face.
“But that was the room I was in.” I mutter.
“Are you okay?” I blink rapidly. “Dove, you look like you’re in shock. I will get you a drink.” I shake my head, but she’s already exited my room.
Shit.
The crimson splashes across my body. That wasn’t paint was it, it must have been blood.
The fear hits my body in that room—panic sets in. He fucked me over a dead body. My eyes widen. How could I be so stupid? I didn’t even try to fight him. I just let him do what he wanted and left.
Somebody had died.
That couldn’t be right. I try to think of any other scenario where that hadn’t happened, but even my neurotic mind can’t come up with anything other than the reality of what it was.
But nothing ever happens here. Hollow Hills borders on the lines of boring.
“Nothing ever happens here.” I mutter to the empty space of my room.
I look up and I’m completely alone, wrapping my arms around my body. Silent tears fall down my. face. Nothing would ever be the same again after this.
Nothing.
I don’t even notice when she comes back until I feel her touching my hair and I flinch. The memories of how he had played with my hair come flooding back.
“Hey, you’re shaking.” Finally, I look up at her in a daze. Maybe she was right, maybe this was shock.
I take the glass of water from her hands and guzzle the entire contents even though it burns the back of my throat. I don’t stop until that glass is empty.
“That water tasted funny.” I sniffle.
“It was vodka.” She looks shocked. “I thought it might take the edge off.”
I’m not sure if it took the edge off, but it helped relaxed my body, which felt stiff, so I was grateful for that.
“Listen, we don’t have to go tonight.” She soothes. “We can stay home and—.” I shake my head. “I don’t mind, honestly.”
“Well, I do.”
“Dove.” I can see the pity on her face.
“No, I’m not letting some psychopath ruin our night. I’ve had my meltdown—we are going.” She nods. “But first, I think we might need a lot more drinks.”