Monster Of Ruin: A Dark Serial Killer Romance (The Dark Angels Book 4)
Monster Of Ruin: Chapter 3

My eyes crack open, and I groan as the bright light assaults me. “Too many shots, Clara,” I whisper, rubbing my temple.

Against my better judgment, my eyes snap open and I jolt up in bed, looking around. My head is pounding but the confusion as to where the hell I am takes precedence.

I toss the soft blue comforter off of me and stand up. My clothes are still on so at least I didn’t have drunken crazy sex with some stranger.

Slowly, I walk around the room looking at the antique furniture. It’s not something I would initially gravitate toward, but in this beautifully decorated room, it adds a touch of something unique. I run my fingers along the tall dresser, taking notice that there is no dust.

Did I get drunk, and some guy brought me back to his place?

The room is very large with a huge double window letting in a ton of natural light. I walk over toward it, and I’m taken aback by the beautiful scene. Tall, towering trees as far as the eye can see. The sunlight breaks through some of the coverage causing an almost heavenly look on the ground below.

However, my head is still throbbing and a part of me wants to crawl back into bed and never wake up.

As I continue to look, I notice there are no other homes around. At least none I can see.

“Where the hell am I?” I whisper.

I’m alone in this huge room. Who the hell brought me here?

I briefly close my eyes, trying to remember what happened last night. Vivid memories of drinking, laughing, and flirting flash through my mind. Tall guys, muscular guys, unattractive guys, and even a few older guys all tried to gain my attention last night.

My eyes close tighter as I groan. I truly need to stop drinking like that, but I know Adele wouldn’t let just anyone take me home.

I rush over toward the bed to look for my purse. I need to call her and find out what happened. She’ll be able to tell me what stupid mistake I’ve made.

At first glance, I don’t see my purse. It’s not next to the bed or on any of the furniture in the room. I get down on my hands and knees, lifting the blanket to check under the bed, and there’s nothing. I check every corner and even the closet, which is completely empty.

“Fuck, I must’ve put it down when I walked into the house,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed.

My head drops into my hands as I contemplate what to do next. This is the problem with going home with someone when you’re trashed. The harsh light of day makes you realize what a mistake it was because now I need to walk out of this room and act like I remember the man who probably thought he was going to get lucky last night. I also need to let him down easy if he’s expecting a thanks-for-taking-care-of-me-last-night fuck.

I just want to go home, take a hot shower, and change into something more comfortable.

I blow out a breath and stand up, adjusting my shirt to make sure my tits aren’t on full display. Last night I wouldn’t have cared, but today I just want to cover up and forget that girl.

I open the bedroom door and peek my head out into the hallway. It’s not what I was expecting at all. It’s a long hallway with closed doors all around. I know I’m on a second level from the view out the window, but I don’t even see a staircase that would lead to the first floor.

There’s no other option, I need to walk around this stranger’s house. I step into the hallway and listen carefully. There is no noise at all and if I’m honest it’s starting to creep me out a little. Usually, when I wake up after a night like last night, I hear pots and pans in the kitchen, a TV, or the guy on the phone with someone.

This place is dead silent.

“Hello,” I call out. “Is anyone there?”

I slowly walk down the hall and end up at a window at the end of it.

“A fucking dead end,” I say to myself.

I pad down the opposite way and find myself again at another dead end. There’s just a wall.

“What the fuck?”

There’s no staircase. There seems to be no way to get down to the first floor, but that’s impossible. Obviously, we got up here.

Maybe an elevator? This house is extremely well put together. Whoever lives here has money. Lots of it.

The decor. The crown molding. The woodwork. It’s beautiful.

I open doors, looking for an elevator or maybe a hidden staircase. Each door surprises me with what’s behind it.

The first one is another bedroom, completely different from the one I woke up in. It’s more modern with black furniture and looks as if it must belong to a young boy. There are posters on the wall of deer and foxes. The bed is a twin size and my stomach sinks because now I’m starting to believe I came home with a married man.

The next bedroom appears to belong to a little girl. It’s pink with a white comforter covered in small pink flowers. A stuffed horse rests against the pillows and there is a large rainbow painted on one wall.

The next two doors are bathrooms. One is big with a double vanity and a large clawfoot soaking tub. The other is smaller with a stand-up shower and pedestal sink. I take a minute to use the small bathroom before I continue looking for a way downstairs.

As I wash my hands, I look at myself in the mirror. My heavy makeup surprisingly held up pretty well but it’s too much now. My hair falls back into place after I run my fingers through it. But what really catches my attention isn’t my reflection, but the picture hanging on the wall behind me. I turn around and study it. It must be a painting of this house I’m in, which isn’t really a house, it’s a massive estate.

It’s grand, enormous, and stately. I had no idea there were even houses like this in Black Falls.

I shake my head, wondering if I’m even in Black Falls anymore.

As I exit the bathroom, I continue opening what seems to be endless doors. All bedrooms and all decorated differently.

I’m back down by the window and there are only two doors left. I open the one and my eyes widen when I see it’s a small kitchen. There’s a table with two chairs, a wall of cabinets and a countertop, a stove, and a refrigerator.

“What the hell?” I glance around. “Hello?” There has to be somebody here. Right?

It’s as if this level of the estate is capable of being a house on its own. Maybe this is like the maid’s quarters or something?

I close the kitchen door and turn around knowing this door has to be the way out. As I grab the doorknob, my stomach drops.

It’s locked.

I jiggle the handle harder and harder as I try pulling on the door. My heart pounds wildly as the realization becomes clear—I’m trapped.

My throat dries as I continue to twist and yank on the locked door. Fear starts to wrap around me and I bang on the door.

“Hello?” I yell.

I’m met with silence as my eyes fill with tears.

I kick and pound on the door hoping I’ll either be heard or break the damn thing.

“Help! Please!” I scream.

I’ve been scared and feared for my life before, but this is something completely different. I’m suddenly finding it hard to catch my breath. I feel like the walls are closing in on me as I continue banging on the door that will allow me my freedom.

“Let me out!” I scream, jiggling the doorknob. “Help!”

“That’s enough.”

I freeze at the angry, deep voice on the other side of the door.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Silence.

“Hello?”

More silence.

It’s as if the man who was moments ago standing on the other side of the locked door is gone.

I hold my breath, putting my ear against the door, listening. Is he there?

Did I imagine his voice?

I can’t hear him breathing. I can’t hear fucking anything.

I pound on the door once more, angrier than I’ve ever been in my life. “Let me out you mother fucker.”

I stop to listen, and I can hear the faint sound of laughter on the other side of the door.

“What do you want from me?” I bang my fist on the door.

My mind races with so many different scenarios of what this sick fuck could do to me. My body shakes and I sink down to the floor.

Someone will notice I’m missing—right?

“Please let me out,” I whisper as tears run down my cheeks.

“Oh Clara, our fun is just beginning.” His voice sends shivers down my back, and I wrap my arms around my body.

But will they ever find me?

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