CHASE
3

Goosebumps scattered across my skin, my hair damp from the sweat, my eyes fluttered open and the ceiling came into view. I didn't want to close my eyes again, I didn't want to see the nightmare I could no longer remember. I lifted my legs off the bed and stretched, 7:39am. My mind drifted off to the man that I shouldn't be thinking about. He seemed so distant, gone even. There was no sight of life in those brown eyes. It was almost as if he wasn't even there. His silence intrigued me, made me want to question him, to learn about him. I wonder what he thought about when his lips were sealed. Normal people exchange words, have conversations, but he, he was like a brick wall. Of course, he wasn't normal, but somewhere deep inside him was still a human. A human that I wanted to understand. Maybe it's because I spent so long trying to figure out Becca and what was going on in her head, I failed to replace out and then she was gone. Maybe this time, I can try again and this time, I'll make it work.

'Good morning.' Luke's voice startled me. My eyes scanned the kitchen, he was stood there, making breakfast. I didn't like the fact he let himself in, he knew I liked to be informed before he dropped by. 'Morning?' I'm sure the frown on my face was more than visible. He turned and leaned against the counter, his grey eyes fixated on me. 'I know. I get it. I showed up unexpectedly.' He studied my movements as I walked towards the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. 'But I'm feeling kind of left out here. You haven't came to see me for days and then I hear from your mum that you've been busy at that loony tune hospital? What's all that about?' I could feel his interrogation rising, I set my bottle down and took a seat on the table. It annoyed me that even after I broke up with him two months ago, he was still acting like we were a couple. 'Luke, that's none of your business.' I had told him to give me my apartment key back and not to come here unless I allow it so. He never listened. I guess I didn't mind him too much, he was violent when we were together but now he was like a friend to me, although I know that, that's not how he felt about our situation but he had agreed to be friends so that's what we were, friends. 'And leave my key here before you leave, thanks.'

'I see how it is.' I could practically see the fumes rising out of him as he threw the key on the table and walked out of the door. I let out a deep breath and rolled my eyes.

After checking on mum and dad, my head was a spinning mess. I hadn't looked into Chase, all I knew was that he was dangerous and a stone cold murderer but looks like my dad did all the researching for me, being the protective father he is, he made sure to scare me good about the guy. I felt sick to my stomach. He'd killed his parents and eight other people. Raped four of the female victims before he murdered them then carved the letter 'C' onto all of his victims faces, excluding his parents. I didn't understand why someone would do such thing? What would make anyone want to go that far. I always thought, even cold hearted murderers have their own reasons. Not that I'd be sticking up for them no, I would never agree to taking away someone life but something must have drove these people into becoming so cold and so deadly.

After debating for about an hour, I headed over to see Chase Ashworth. Why I thought visiting again would be a good idea? Not sure. But something about him pulled me in. Maybe he was just an excuse to be in Becca's room again or maybe Becca was an excuse to see him but either way, I was going. Yes I shouldn't want to see him but even a person as ruthless and fucked up as Chase, needs someone to talk to, someone to hear them out. I just wanted to understand him. I never got the chance to understand Becca.

My heart was almost busting out of my chest as I reached for the doorknob. My nerves were a trembling mess as I stepped inside. I don't know why he made me so nervous or frightened even. I'd dealt with a mental patient for long enough to know their behaviour but Becca was not a murderer, nor a rapist. She was just.. crazy.

I felt a sudden wave of relief hit me as I walked in and found Chase's sleeping form on the bed. Even in his sleep he looked in pain. I debated on walking out and leaving him to his nap but I decided against it. I slowly stepped over to the side of his bed, being careful not to make too much noise. I wasn't sure to wake him up or to wait it out until he woke up so I stood there and studied him. His thick lashes were spilled over his eyes like fur. His lips partly open as he breathed through it. He was shirtless yet again, I wondered why such a beautiful being would become such an ugly creature inside. My eyes fell onto the scar on his eyebrow, it was so long and deep. It was painful to look at, but I wanted to run my finger over it, to feel the rough texture of the healed scar beneath my skin.

All of a sudden his face contorted into a painful expression, his eyebrows furrowed and his jaw clenched. A low groan left his throat as he twisted in his sleep. I panicked, not sure what to do. Afraid if I woke him up, he'd be angry but then I couldn't watch him like that. He was already sweating, breathing heavy. He looked like he was in so much pain. I subconsciously reached for his chest, gently shaking it to wake him from whatever hell he was going through, before I knew it, he had me flipped onto the bed, with him on top, his hand wrapped around my throat. I didn't realise what had happened until I felt him crushing my windpipe in his grip. Instinctively my hands reached for his wrists and tried to pry him off me as he suffocated me a little more. All the air in my lungs had been trapped and I felt like I'd pass out any minute. His eyes looked wild, as if he was an actual predator. It didn't look like him. The more he strangled me, the darker his eyes got, I could see the veins on his neck popping out while he put all of his strength into crushing my throat. I dug my nails into his wrists, but it wasn't doing much. Tears escaped the side of my eyes, rolling down my face. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe at all. 'Ch..a..s.e.' I managed to whisper out, to my luck, he suddenly eased down his grip and looked at me like I was the one strangling him. Soon after he let go of my throat and jumped off me. He looked just as started as I was. I quickly reached for my neck and rubbed my sore skin, coughing out the damage he'd done.

'Why..' he ran a frustrating hand through his hair, clearly questioning himself for trying to kill me for no reason. I sat there for a few minutes just trying to regenerate my health as I had just almost got killed. My throat felt like it was on fire, I still couldn't breathe through it properly. I watched him carefully, this time ready to run the hell away. I wondered why my heat bracelet hadn't worked, Why it hadn't alarmed the guards, clearly I was scared for my life. Could it be that maybe, just maybe, deep down I knew that he wouldn't have really killed me? God I'm stupid. I wiped at the tears that had dampened my face and stood up, not to leave, no. I was use to being attacked by Becca, I wasn't going to leave him over something he didn't have a control over. Clearly he wasn't in his right mind, what matters is that he stopped.

I inched closer to him, being careful not to upset him or make him mad. He was still stood staring at me, I could see the conflict behind his brown eyes as he watched me get closer to him. 'It's ok.' I half heartedly smiled. 'Still breathing.' My attempt to joke was futile, he looked even more angry now. 'Stay away from me.' His words came out blunt and harsh but I stepped closer, I knew he didn't want to hurt me and I wanted him to know that too. 'Don't.' He objected again, so I stood still this time. I waited. He needed time, time to get himself together and I would give him that.

It felt like hours before he relaxed a little, in reality it had probably been only ten minutes. He stood in silence while I fiddled around in his room, tracing my fingers across the walls. Becca really was gone. Pushing aside the lump in my throat I turned to face him, he looked more at ease now. I was caught off guard when he strode over to me, a part of me wanted to run for the door when I felt his finger trace across my neck. He was looking intently at my throat, I wasn't sure if he wanted to snap my neck or not so I held my breath as if it would save me. 'It's bruised.' He breathed out, his face too close for comfort. 'What? That fast?' I touched over my neck, surprised that it bruised so easy. 'I put too much pressure onto it.' He spoke through clenched teeth. Almost as though he felt bad for almost strangling me to death. I thought psychopaths weren't suppose to feel guilty for their actions. Shrugging my shoulders I smiled up at him. 'It's ok, just don't do that again ok? I like my life.' I tried to ease the tension with some humour which he certainly was not taking well. His eyes lifted from my neck to my face, lingered a few seconds on my lips before he stared right into my eyes then with a quick nod he turned his back to and headed for the ensuite bathroom.

I scanned his entire back for the first time, there was a large tattoo scattered across his skin, barely making his back visible. I couldn't quite make out what the tattoo was but it suited him. It looked quite scary in all fairness. I didn't get to spy on him for too long, he disappeared into the bathroom and then moments later he came back out, his eyes focused on me. I could see that he had poured water over his face, it was still dripping down his chin. 'Are you going to watch me shower?' I thought he was joking but then his facial expression hadn't changed and he looked serious as ever. I inwardly blushed at his question and shook my head. He nodded and turned his back to me again. 'Bye Bella.' My name rolled off his tongue so smooth that it made my insides turn. I quickly got myself together and headed for the door. Feeling slightly insulted that he had rudely just kicked me out, but then again, I did turn up quite unexpectedly.

I let out a deep breath as I left the building, I didn't know what it was about this man but whatever it was, it was leaving me breathless every time I saw him. Psychopaths really do have the charm. But Chase, he was more than a charm, more than skin and bones. For he was.. something else.