10. Dream
CHAPTER TEN
DREAM
“Ahhh.” I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, basking in the sun.
Its warmth beamed down on my face, thawing my blue mood.
“No more storm clouds.” I took a small sip of my coffee before catching my reflection in the salon window.
“Oh!” I admired myself, securing the tight tube top and adjusting the band of my oversized sweats.
The little jewels on my freshly manicured nails glistened in the sunlight.
I raised my hand high, admiring my nail tech’s hard work.
These bad boys are going to look so good clawing down his back. Too bad I won’t be able to sink my teeth into him for a few days.
My smile fell and I started to feel blue again. “No…no storm clouds.” I took another sip of my coffee, putting my earphones in as I picked a song to listen to on my walk home.
Today had been my first real day off in a while and I was currently trying to find ways to fill it without Felix.
He had spent the last couple days at my apartment resting, and only just returned to work.
Thankfully, he had no broken bones or major injuries, but he was beat up and pretty sore, completely drained from the wreck.
I did everything I could to help him rest and recover, but he fought me the whole time.
Silly stalker.
“Oh!” I took another sip of my coffee, stepping into the local pet store.
Lady Zaza needs some more crickets.
I scanned the wall of colorful fish tanks, their flickering lights resembling tiny little raves.
“You guys need some music.” I stuck one of my earphones against the glass tank, swaying with the music, pretending to DJ to the little glowy fish.
They swam around, creating a moving rainbow of neon.
I giggled, then removed the headphone and returned it to my ear.
“See you next time, little ravers.” I continued past the remaining tanks and made my way to the live insects.
The employee working recognized me, her face beaming as she hurried to get me some crickets.
We spoke for a few minutes, the two of us geeking out over our spiders and other bugs, before another customer politely interrupted us, asking for help. The employee excused herself and I left to check out.
I stepped back out onto the sidewalk, raising the clear tub of crickets high.
They jumped around in a frenzy, perfectly plump and grown.
“Lady Zaza is going to love you,” I whispered.
A smile grew along my face, remembering how Felix had taken the time to learn how to care for my tarantula, despite being obviously terrified of spiders. Just to help me out.
I never once imagined I’d actually want something else in life other than money and power…but yet here I am, obsessing over my stalker. I guess I really am crazy.
I clutched the tub close and spun around in glee.
“I should hurry and get you little guys home,” I said to the insects. A tinge of sadness hit my heart as I continued my journey, realizing that referring to the apartment without Felix didn’t really feel like home. It felt empty.
Felix wouldn’t be back tonight and told me he'd be staying at his place for a few nights.
The storm clouds in my mind returned, and I felt blue again.
I pulled out my phone and sent a simple text to him.
Miss you.
He didn’t respond, but a few seconds later, the song I was listening to changed to one he knew I loved. I smiled and my phone buzzed.
Better?
I sent back an emoji of a kissy-faced bunny. Felix hearted it and I immediately felt better.
Get home safe, cottontail.
I hearted his message and stuck the phone back in my pocket, floating on cloud nine.
I followed my usual path home, turning down an alley that cut through to the neighborhood across from my building.
The sun drifted behind the clouds, setting the world in a shadowy blanket.
The alley got a little dark, but I kept on, listening to the song.
I stopped and glanced up at the sky for a moment, feeling an odd sensation along my back.
Someone’s eyes are on me…not curious, hungry eyes like when Felix stalked me. No…these feel dangerous. Violent.
I gently pulled one of the earphones from my ear and lowered my head, looking back to see Ray standing only a few feet away from me. He was wearing a gray hoodie, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he looked at me with that wicked smile of his.
“Mija.”
I turned to face him, keeping a straight face. “Ray.” I hesitated, and he remained still. “I thought I told you to leave me alone?” He took a step forward as a sense of impending doom reached from his shadow and snaked up into my chest.
I took a small step back.
“Come on now, Danika. Is that really how you’re going to be?” He moved closer. “Can’t we at least be friends?”
I stepped back a little more. “Friends don’t follow people against their will.”
He laughed softly. “Oh, so with me it’s against your will, but with Felix it’s consensual?”
I froze as he spoke my man’s name, unable to move. “How—”
Ray walked right up to me, knocking the coffee from my hand as he stopped maybe an inch from my face. “Tell me, does your stalker fuck you better than I did?”
I smiled, tilting my head. “What’s wrong, Ray?
Feeling insecure?” I giggled as his smile fell.
“You men always get so worked up over dick size and performance. You think every time a woman opens her mouth and sounds off a bunch of moans that she’s just dying over how good you fuck.
” I made an exaggerated frowning face. “I hate to break it to you, big boy, but it’s all just an act.
” I immediately broke out into moans, making the forced faces I used when camming until I finally erupted into laughter.
“See? It’s fake!” I noticed how flushed he was, seeing the tension in his jaw.
“Awww, what’s wrong? Does it upset you to know it was all fake?
” My demeanor shifted as I stood tall and dropped the smile.
“Nothing with you was ever real, Ray. I used you. Get over it.”
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. “You’re telling me it was all fake? Huh?” He was beginning to flip into the threat I knew him to be. But I had no energy to deal with him.
Going in for the kill, I said, “Nothing with you was real. It was all an act.” He squeezed my arm tighter but I didn’t hold back.
“Oh, come on! Did you think I actually cared about you? Ha!” He tried to tug me toward him, but I ripped my arm free, stumbling back as I caught my footing.
I laughed again, then tossed my hair over my shoulder.
“You’re so pathetic. There was never any love between us.
And that’s the one thing Felix has that you never will.
” My eyes flicked to his pants before returning to his face. “Make that two.”
Ray’s face burned a brighter shade of red. He trembled slightly, apparently seething from what I had said. I knew I had pushed him too far, but it felt so good to finally let it all go. And now, I just wanted to go home.
“Like I said, find some other woman to annoy,” I hissed. “And stop bothering me. I have better things to do than deal with you.” I walked a bit further down the alley and held my bag close with my gun tucked safely inside.
Just keep walking. Everything is fine…you’re almost home.
I heard something behind me, feeling those eyes on me again.
No, no, no, no, no!
I spun just in time, dodging his swing. Ray tripped forward, stumbling, then glared at me. “Puta!” He swung again but I crouched down as he fell over me and rolled along the dirty alley.
I tried to run, but Ray rushed after me, pulling me back by my hair. “Ahh!” I shouted, clutching my head. “Let go!” I swung out, trying to claw away at him, but he tugged me harder, knocking me onto my back. I groaned, still sore from the wreck.
He let go and leaned over me, grinning. “Not so tough now, are you, mija.” He stepped on my stomach and pressed his boot into me, increasing the weight.
“You know, you think you’re so special…and I hate to break to you, sweetheart, but the only thing special about you is your pretty little pussy.
” My eyes shot to his hand as he pulled a knife from his pocket.
I squirmed, kicking him off me with a loud groan.
He moved back, trying to grab my ankle. I kicked him again, planting my heel against his bald head.
Ray fell over, dropping his knife as I rolled onto my stomach and crawled to my knees.
I stood up, ready to run, but he grabbed the back of my neck and slammed me into the brick wall.
I hit my head hard, spinning, and losing my breath.
It took me a few seconds to realize Ray had his hands around my neck and was squeezing tight.
I slapped his arm, clawing at his flesh. “Let…go…” I wheezed.
A dark shadow cast across his eyes, soaking up my suffering, and the old Ray slowly crept to the surface. I knew if I didn’t do something quick, he’d end up killing me.
I opened my mouth, gasping as I let go of his arms and reached out to grip his face. “I…said…” I dug my long, freshly manicured nails into his skin. “Let…me…go!”
Ray shouted as I cut the skin on his face, burrowing my nails in as I clawed at him.
He finally released my neck, ripping away from me.
I fell to my knees, choking and gulping while he groaned, wiping the blood from his face.
“You little bitch!” He kicked my skull with his boot.
I fell to the ground, spitting a mouthful of blood.
Now I’m getting angry…
Ray scoffed, pacing around as I stayed down, trying to control my breathing. “What’s wrong, Danika?” I didn’t speak, and he laughed. “That’s what I thought. You sluts are all the same…all bark and no bite.”
My hair kept my face covered as I spoke quietly. “No bite?” I cackled. “Who said anything about biting?” I slowly lifted my head with a bloodied smile. Ray looked both frightened and confused as I rolled onto my hands and knees and crawled toward him.
“What the—”
I grabbed the knife he had dropped and swung it, slicing the blade along his shins.
He fell to his knees, screaming, and I shot to my feet.
I gathered my hair and wrapped it around his neck, tugging tight, while listening to his pants.
I then leaned down and whispered into his ear, “How’s this for my bite?
” I opened my mouth and bit down onto his collarbone.
Ray squirmed, groaning between wheezing breaths, but I didn’t stop.
I bit harder, clamping my jaw down as his flesh squelched beneath my teeth.
His bitter blood filled my mouth when Ray punched my ribcage, right where I was bruised.
The pain was so sudden, I nearly fell over, unintentionally allowing him to crawl free.
He scrambled for the knife, but I was faster.
“Don’t fucking move.” He froze at the sight of my gun.
“Danika—”
“Shut up!” I shouted, keeping my arms steady. I walked toward him, but the man still kneeled. He raised his arms to show he was unarmed, but I didn’t care. I was done.
“You’re fucking crazy,” he shouted.
I smiled. “So what if I am?”
Ray went to open his mouth, but I lowered my aim to his dick, shutting him up.
The sun slowly peeked from behind the dark clouds, warming up my skin as it shone down on us.
“Ahh!” I closed my eyes, feeling its rays touch my face.
“The sunshine is back. No more storm clouds.” I looked back at Ray and smiled, exposing my bloodied teeth.
“I’m going to head home now. And you aren’t going to follow me. ”
He nodded, seemingly too scared to move.
I strolled past him but stopped. “You know? Just to be sure—” I then pistol-whipped him so hard he lost consciousness and fell over. I stood there and blinked. “Well, that was easier than I thought.” I shrugged, then returned the gun to my bag before walking the rest of the way home.
But another worry gnawed at me, growing in the pit of my stomach.
I know I’m safe now, but…should I tell Felix about this?
I pulled my phone out, hesitating.
But if I tell him, he’ll leave work. And as much as I want to see him, I can’t do that to him. He’s already been through so much—worried so much. If I tell him, he’ll freak out.
I paused outside my apartment door, pondering. I looked back towards the alley, seeing no sign of Ray.
Ray’s just a petty drug dealer. He’s no real threat. Besides, I handled him just fine on my own.
I put the phone back into my bag.
Felix has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need to know about this…not yet. I’ll just tell him about it when he gets back.
I unlocked the front door and stepped inside, locking it behind me.
“Lady Zaza, look what I got!” I opened my bag to find that the crickets were missing.
“What?” I searched my bag but couldn’t find them.
“Ugh…fucking Ray.” I moved to the tarantula enclosure, eyeing the beautiful magenta spider.
“Sorry, Lady Zaza. Looks like I lost your dinner.” I frowned.
“I know…but I’ll get you some more soon. I promise.”
Now…I need a bath. And a way to fucking distract myself.