Tangled in His chains

Kelly B noticed

with the dawn, but unnatural, like the air itself ha

nked, the world around her shifted in a way that made her stomach rumble. Everywhere i

ains, the place was a small but cluttered apartment. Papers were scattered across the desk. A notebook

e saw th

, covered with dust and crac

hick black ink, were four words

ne. Not eve

eath c

mouth, her own pulse

ell...?" sh

oser to the mirror, she felt odd like something was missing. Something wa

't remember writ

t remembe

door made her

asn't

de... knew exactly wh

anger at

esitant tap of a neighbor or a delive

d at the mirror again, at the warni

n the day but,

ng cold. Her eyes darted down a silver key, lying on the flo

Whoever was on the other side w

amed at her to run, to hide, to do something... anything... but her

. open t

amiliar, but she couldn't place it. It carried a

her hand flat against the w

use.

el D

t a shiver d

She was sure becaus

. it felt lik

key. Something told her that if she op

ment, with a blank memory and a stranger callin

ready

ed. Like the person on the other s

se pounded

allowed hard and took a step back, her gaze darting around the apartm

othin

the silver key on the floor it was like walking int

eady. Da

. open t

knew her name. Bu

s waiting on the other side, but on the other hand..a part of her

said "Who are yo

nce.

el D

s familiar in the way a forgotten dream lingers on the ed

er fists. Thin

he tried, her mind was a

th

Not a knock. Not a shuffle. But the un

th caught in

ng was

the shape of boots, unmoving, and the faintes

ut this time, his voice wa

t remembe

n the key

s starting to think that r

ured step back from the

owel said

familiar, yet distant-b

way her instincts scr

remember

bout to open the door to a stran

something here... something that explaine

scattered across it, some blank, others filled with messy, al

it happened again. Keep calm. Lo

omach

ta

ers, the small red light blinking like it had been waiting for her.

, she grabbed and

r voice, wea

earing this... it's

ill fille

u won't remember anything. But listen carefully

ecause Rowel was still t

tighter, her heart pal

. But he's also the r

ked in

ou do, don't le

knock rattled th

calmer now, but there was

he key. But he's also

key is on

ing on t

ling her not to l

fist. Whatever this was, she

em faster, desperate for more answers when sudd

, written in hurr

hat you see. H

pani

Rowel Don whispered "I

gripping the recorder like it was

r, sharp and unforgiving. But before she c

ear you,

o calm. Like he was wa

r clawing at her throat. If she was goin

o the door but didn't unlock it. "Why are yo

use.

you asked

sent a chill

ked fo

ing the message in her mind. "Rowel Don is the

th. Which

door, with her palm lying flat on the cool

retched be

lower, almost... regretful

art sk

a

hovered ov

she needed some answers. She ne

he turned

ock c

in the room changed. The air grew h

ing wa

er body recognized the da

eact before the door, on

here

shadowed by the weak light. He was exactly how she

ppearance that sent

er and black, filled with liquid me

ntensity that made it impossible to look away. The

ized the truth, he didn't need her

he forced herself to stay still. Do

assessing, like he was waiting for her

di

desk, turning her head slightly. "You don't knock lik

at wasn't quite a smile." You did

rt wasn't hitting hard against her ribs

said, her voice smooth despite the chill in her bones.

in his posture shifted-could it be an unreadable

That's why

. And I just conveniently forgo

darkened.

r spine. It wasn't a warning. It wasn't a thre

it a thousand

answers, to demand what he meant, but she knew better. If he was dange

ugh. "Fine. Let's say I did ask you to come back

. "Putting things back t

isted. The way

utral. "And what exa

ilver-black eyes searching hers. Then,

ntire bod

et him t

er own recording s

he just sto

spoke with a

warning pulsed in her mind like a flas

if that w

remember, to understan

move, didn't rush her. He just stood there, w

ed out to him. Everything scattered

places she didn't recognize, faces blurred by time, an

a

o

she had ma

hen,

rough her veins, revealing the very fabric of who

and wrapped her around his arms. With that action she felt a strange pe

short, sharp gasps.

y, his grip firm but

dazed, her heart rac

ould answer. But then, he exhaled and whisp

elly. And you a

, Kelly. And