Chapter 5
Five
The route to the cineplex leads to an older part of Ashburn—the supposed ‘historical’ sector. Here, even more buildings and businesses are seemingly stuck in time. As if this entire damn town isn’t a fossilized relic to begin with.
The Ashburn Theatre, on the other hand, stands out as a gleaming gem in a town that has long since passed its prime. It’s a stunning tribute to the more visually appealing eras of the past, with its Art Deco architecture being one of my personal favorites. The theater’s design and preservation make it a genuine work of art.
I stare out the car window, reminiscing about the last time I went to the theater. Jimmy had persuaded me to see a horror movie that I had no interest in. All I really wanted was to spend time with him like a lovesick puppy. But his dumb friends crashed our date, invading our space and ruining any chance at romance, a hot make-out session—or maybe even more.
My low self-esteem is the reason I stayed in the relationship. And despite the cautionary warnings I ignored from friends that Jimmy was a total piece of shit. Now, I can’t help wondering if I’m making the same mistake again by clinging to the next guy who shows more than just an interest in my vagina. I steal a glance at Luke as he pulls into the theater’s parking lot—and something in my core stirs pleasantly.
Not that I’d actually mind if he’s interested in my vagina.
Luke pulls into a parking spot and turns off the engine. “We’re here.”
Unsure of what to say and afraid of sounding like an idiot, I struggled to make small talk with Luke during the ride. It’s not a skill of mine, so we mostly rode in silence, aside from the radio. “Cool,” I blurt out, forcing a smile.
After pocketing his keys, he walks around to my side of the car and opens the door before offering me his hand. I want to protest that I’m not delicate, that I won’t shatter like glass. But I swallow my apprehension, my heart racing as I intertwine my fingers with his.
I inhale the brisk air as we cross the parking lot and head to the front of the theater. A light breeze catches my hair, and I shiver. Luke notices and draws me closer, his broad chest warm and comforting. Safe. I lose myself in the bliss of security when we come to a stop at the ticket booth.
“What are you here for?” asks the operator, not bothering to look away from her dog-eared book.
Luke pulls out his wallet and looks at me, seeking my approval. I nod, and he clears his throat. “Two tickets to the Friday the 13th marathon, please.”
The ticket booth operator finally looks at us, giving me a disapproving once-over before focusing on Luke. She seems incredulous at the thought of someone like me being with someone like him, as evidenced by her quirked brow. Finally, she smiles at Luke, a friendly expression on her face. “Sure. That’ll be six dollars, please.”
He eyes her name tag and plucks the correct amount from his wallet. “Here you go,” he says, sliding the bills toward her.
She giggles as she snatches the money. “These tickets will give you access to the entire marathon.” She enters some information into the register, deposits the cash, and gives him the tickets. “Have fun.”
Luke takes them, pulls me closer, and puts on a pleasant grin. “Thank you, Christina. Have a good day.”
As soon as he turns to walk through the doors, his demeanor subtly shifts. Like a flash of something I can’t quite place. I frown, struggling to decipher it as we enter the theater.
“Sorry, Grace. I have to use the restroom,” he says suddenly, untangling himself from me. “Grab some snacks. I’ll cover the cost.”
“You don’t have to. I have my check. I can?—”
“You worry too much,” he says with a wave, taking a step back towards the bathrooms. “I told you this would be my treat. Relax.” And with that, he disappears behind the door.
Blowing out a stream of air, I will myself to chill out. I’m not accustomed to people, especially men, treating me so kindly. I try not to think that Luke has bad intentions—after all, with a serial killer in the vicinity, it’s in my best interest to stick with someone who’s built enough to scare them off. It’s fine, Grace. You’re fine. Nothing to worry about.
I wander over to the concession stand. With its neon lights, it looks like something straight out of the 1950s. But it also sticks out like a sore thumb, its color palette clashing with the Art Deco theme. I watch, fascinated as the kettle cooks kernels and spits out popcorn. As the machine fills, a voice startles me.
“Hey, Grace! Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Heart leaping into my throat, I clutch my chest for a moment before turning around. Kyla stands before me, with Briar’s hand practically down her pants. I resist the urge to fake barfing. “It wasn’t … exactly in my plans today. I met someone, and?—”
“A boyfriend, huh?” Briar remarks, nuzzling Kyla’s neck. “Finally getting some action, Lawrence?”
I scowl, my face flushing in both embarrassment and anger. “That’s none of your business.”
“Briar, shut the fuck up.” Kyla shrugs him off her. “I’m sorry. Somebody here doesn’t know the meaning of tact.”
Briar ignores her jab and rolls his eyes.
“I-it’s fine.” I look away and focus on the concession stand menu. “I’m sure you two have places to be, so …”
“Yeah, we do,” Briar says as he steals a sloppy smooch, prompting Kyla to bat him away. “See ya, short stuff.”
I shake my head and bite my tongue. I’m not that short, I think. Give me a break, asshole. I keep my gaze trained on the menu as they duck into an auditorium.
“Were those people bothering you?” Luke asks, appearing beside me.
I didn’t hear him approach, but at least I didn’t jump this time. “No, no. They’re … friends. At least one of them is.”
“I see,” he says as he skims the menu before turning to me. “Anything catching your eye?”
“I think I lost my appetite,” I answer honestly.
He peers down at me. “What about a drink, at least? A slushy, soda …”
I consider his suggestions. “A small strawberry slushy sounds good,” I reply, feeling like a kid.
He beams at me. “Sounds good,” he says, motioning for the employee. “We’d like a small strawberry slushy and a medium Diet Coke.”
The employee nods and gets to work.
The following minutes pass in a flurry as we get our drinks and wind our way through the crowds and into the designated auditorium. Since many of the screens are playing the marathon, ours is mostly empty. We have our pick of seats, so Luke takes my hand and guides me through the dark to the middle section somewhat near the front.
“Seems like we made it early enough for the beginning of Part III,” Luke comments, taking a free seat.
I sit beside him and place my bag on the other seat next to me. “Yeah, apparently,” I say, not questioning what he says, as I do not know the difference between these films. All I know is that they all feature a masked man with a sharp blade who murders people. Much like real life, I think, my hands trembling as I put my cup into the drink holder.
“Did you know they originally released this movie in 3D?” He sips some of his soda. “Nothing but headache-inducing. To be honest, I don’t think it’ll ever truly catch on.”
As the bodies pile up on the screen, I can’t help but squirm. I shut my eyes, blood spatter painting the inside of my lids as Jason stabs Debbie through her chest from below. Wasn’t she pregnant? That’s so fucked up. Who actually enjoys watching this shit? I glimpse Luke. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as he gazes at the screen. He almost looks … transfixed.
When Chili is impaled by a fire poker, I recoil and squeeze my eyes shut again. I hear a chair creak—and then feel fingers press into my thighs. I open my eyes.
Luke is between my legs, sporting a devilish grin.
“What the hell are you doing?!” I hiss in a loud whisper.
His brows raise playfully. “I want to help you relax,” he says coolly, his words oozing promise. “But it may require some trust on your part.”
It takes me a moment to piece together his implication—and I blush madly and look around the auditorium meekly. The people far in the back had either walked out or were too busy sucking face to pay any attention to anything else. “You expect me to trust you to do …” I gesture to my clothed pussy. “That,” I finish.
He nods nonchalantly, as if what he’s suggesting is no big deal, like he’s casually selecting a cut of meat at a butcher shop.
Ugh. What a terrible analogy.
“Are you not interested at all?” he asks, leaning in closer. In the darkness, his gray eyes practically glitter with mischief. “I promise it’ll be fun.”
We stare at each other, the silence between us thickening into a hot tension.
I sigh, relenting; the thought of his tongue running up and down my pussy makes me slick with need. “Fine. But how are we gonna …” I point to my jeans.
“I’ll help you shimmy out of them,” he says. “After that, spread your legs and close your eyes. I’ll take care of you, Grace.”
We may be moving too fast, but rational thought is thrown out the window as I unbutton and unzip my jeans. After wriggling my hips and somehow avoiding kicking Luke in the face, I drape my jeans over the back of his seat. He then puts a finger to his lips, signaling for me to be quiet.
“Close your eyes and try not to make a sound,” he instructs.
I quake in anticipation, shutting my eyes as Luke settles comfortably between my legs. He runs his finger up and down my slit through my panties, making me gasp. He chuckles at my reaction and presses the gusset against my sex, causing me to gush with arousal. I bite my lip to stifle a moan.
“You okay?” he asks, his hands grasping my thighs.
I can’t help but shudder. “Yes,” I answer, breathless. “Please … don’t stop.”
He smirks wickedly. I hiss as he presses the bruises left behind from the attack; to my surprise, it sends sparks of pleasure to my core. Maybe I’m more of a masochist than I thought. Pushing aside my panties, he licks a long stripe along my slit. I gasp, my insides burning with arousal. As a woman in the movie screams, Luke’s tongue swirls against my clit in time with her grisly murder.
“F-fuck,” I whimper as he nibbles on the bud. Electricity coils in my stomach, begging for delicious release. “You’re really good. I can’t …”
As I trail off, he hikes my legs up and eats me out more vigorously. I wrench my eyes open to watch the crimson spatter on the screen. It’s like sweet torture, with the blood and gore in high resolution coupled with the heat that pools in my core. It’s been so long since I felt so free, so unchained. I writhe in my seat, a scream threatening to break free. My body tenses, every single one of my muscles squeezing violently as I come to the sight of Jason hacking somebody up.
I screw my eyes shut—and all I can see is red.
After Luke finishes feasting on my pussy, he makes a show of licking his lips and grinning at me. “Wanna go to a bar and have a drink?”
I’m sure I look dazed as I reply, “After that? You bet your ass.”