the routine of his existence had begun to wear him down to the point that he was leaving his house late at night to go downtown. he'd park his car anywhere - anyplace - and then get out and go shopping. he'd walk inside kiosks now and then to fetch a bottle of water or a magazine . sometimes he wishes he'd get mugged on occasion . that some random man in a balaclava would approach him with a pistol or a knife , threatening to harm him until he handed over his money . something thrilling , you know . he doesn’t even find pleasure in his work anymore . the blood on his hands has faded to oblivion . is she paying attention ? does he give a damn ?
when she brings up the subject of death, he smiles again. “ then we’d better stay out of her way. ” she looks at him with gorgeous doe eyes. despite her innocent demeanour , she has a sinister underbelly to her gaze . there’s a little delay before she responds. for a brief time , he believed she would reject his proposal . who would consent to go inside a stranger’s home ? specially under these circumstances . “ no trouble at all .”
regardless of her reasons, elias leads her inside - crossing the threshold. once inside the building he pulls down his hoodie to reveal his face to her. he can see her a lot clearer now. “ it’s the fourth floor. ” he adds, heading towards the elevator. once inside the metal box, he pushes the number 4 on the wall and waits for it to start moving. “ i’m elias, by the way. ” he figures he might as well introduce himself than leave it to the imagination.
dampness clings to her skin like uncut diamonds , its transluscent sheen trickles down slow and shaky , accompaning the shallow descent of her lungs . it does not occur to her to think ill of the wolf who places himself in her path , to pass judgement , to question what might come of it . her feet merely shadow his own ---- guided by this habitual susceptiblity , hoping to land somewhere warm . once inside , he unravels --- strips himself of the cloak which previously enshrouded him in such mystery , & her heart is rests easier .
bashfulness ensues . a rose blooms , wild & vivid on pallid cheeks , flesh otherwise rendered torpid by the howling wind outside , which gnaws still at the sore joints of her spine with needle-like teeth , mercilessely reaping a shivers . she bristles , recoiling within herself : a self-made cocoon of elbows and hands , searching for safety the only place she’d always knew where to find it . ❛ oh ... ❜ those big brown eyes flutter up at him , wide & horrified . that’s right ; she had yet to ask for his name : her hooded savior . ❛ i’m sorry , --- i’m laura . ❜ sounding impossibly small and apologetic , she furls & unfurls those tiny fingers , in and out of the pale cushions of cold hands .
❛ i get a little ... rattled --- with thunderstorms . i’m normally much more appreciative of people who save me from drowning ... ❜ laura finally finds the words that had been amiss , lost in a fog of uncertainty ; clearing the icy hoarseness from her throat , face paler than ever . in the elevator’s door reflection , she is a ghostly smudge : ivory and blurry , standing in violent contrast next to his oustretched , dark form ---- close to an abstract painting you’d find hanging in a backroom somewhere . ❛ but thank you ... i promise i’ll be out of your hair soon . ❜