Shadow Author

My breathing was already rugged as my body seemed unwilling to listen to me.

My mind was full of unsavory thoughts and it didn't help that Charlotte was doing everything in her power not to let me escape.

Any time I tried to open my mouth to retort she took it as an invitation to kiss me.

The kisses were not light either as her tongue forcefully interlocked with mine blocking out any thoughts I had of escape.

All I could do was melt into the bed and accept her advances as I knew today would be the day I became a man.

***

Charlotte awoke the day after the elevator incident.

Her heart was heavy as she was forced to recall the pain from her past when she heard about what happened to Lucas.

As she sat up in bed, visions of the past slowly returned. Immediately, the pain was sharp and unrelenting, memories flooded back like a tsunami, each one more painful than the last.

She was back, back in that horrible place, that smelled of rancid blood where the screams of friends and family echoed through the halls causing her to shiver unrelentingly.

The twisted wreckage of her destroyed safe house played back in her mind like a movie.

Charlotte tried to close her eyes tightly, hoping to shut out the vivid images, but they were etched in her mind.

The thought of never being able to have a normal life filled her with a deep sense of despair.

How could she ever forget the pain, the loss, the helplessness?

In front of her, she watched as her people were slaughtered without remorse.

She recalled the haunting scene of her nanny — whom she loved more than her parents — crawling toward her while dragging the top part of her body which was detached from the bottom.

Charlotte could vividly remember how her nanny stretched out her hand as she wanted to hold on to the little girl one last time but alas she couldn't as her wounds caught up to her and he left the waking world.

It was a cruel fate, one that would stay in her heart for the rest of her days.

Finally, as the nightmare ended Charlotte sat there, tears streaming down her face, as she tried to block out that darkness.

But for now, all she could do was grieve, and hope no such thing would happen again.

It was then at that moment a light buzz shook from in her pocket.

She was startled by the sudden noise but then she remembered that she set a specific sound for one of the people in her contacts.

Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her phone and stared at the message on the screen.

Reading the message over and over her racing heart calmed and she was brought back to reality.

Looking around her room Charlotte remembered where she was and wiped away some of the wetness in her eyes.

Knowing she had to respond quickly she gave a short message before whispering an almost inaudible:

"Thank you."

Then a second later while still having her phone turned towards her face the screen turned dark which served as a mirror.

In the reflection, she could see her awful condition.

Her golden hair was a mess as it stuck out every which way, her eyes were puffy red, and she didn't have any of her makeup applied.

It was then that she got a response from the person who messaged her saying that he would be coming over immediately, like right now.

Paralyzed with fear Charlotte stared at the message and then broke free as she threw her phone and rushed into the bathroom to take a shower in hopes of at least getting rid of her bedhead.

When she got out she used one of the products she bought at the store which instantly dried her hair while still keeping it healthy.

Unfortunately, she knew she didn't have time to curl it like she usually did because Lucas would be arriving any second.

Praying that it would take him a bit longer and that some variable would occur that would force him to waste a few minutes she started applying some makeup.

Just as she finished applying her lipstick she heard a knock at the door and her heart dropped.

Charlotte still believed that she wasn't in any condition to face him but she had to accept that she was out of time and even if she had all the time in the world she didn't know if she would ever be ready to face him.

The reason was that she was sure that she wanted to go all the way with him.

Rushing into her living room Charlotte wanted to throw on one of her uniforms but they were all hanging up in her closet and grabbing them would have taken even longer and she didn't want to make Lucas wait any longer.

Looking down at herself she saw the small towel wrapped tightly around her body. It barely went down far enough past her thighs and rested just above her breasts allowing just enough cleavage.

A weary smile filled her face as she didn't know if her clothing – or lack of it – would be a turn-on.

Sucking in a breath Charlotte prepared herself as she opened the door for Lucas to enter. The moment her eyes locked onto his, her heart felt like it would break free from her chest.

She paused for a short moment as the boy tried to voice out something but her resolve was weakening with each passing and it didn't help that if someone were to come walking down the hall they would get a full view of her.

Dragging the boy inside to hide her embarrassment she heard Lucas try to mumble something but she knew if she didn't take action right then and there she wouldn't have the strength to start it up again.

Mentally preparing herself for what was to come Charlotte raised herself up to the height of the boy and kissed him on the lips.