Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Blood Ties	By : maiafay376 Category: +S through Z > Silent Hill Views: 6706 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Silent Hill, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meeting Lucia, the Doll, and strange dreams...
--------------------Chapter 3: Little Cracks Appearing--------------------
Daniel didn't wake until the next morning. He rose, blurry-eyed and astonished that he had slept the entire night. His neck was stiff along with the rest of his body, and every muscle protested as he staggered to his feet.
�Ow�fuck.�
He limped to the bathroom, tripping over boxes and furniture that lay strewn over the hallway floor. He managed to make inside in one piece, and ran the shiny new faucet to splash himself awake. Catching a glance at himself in the mirror, Daniel cringed and threw open the shower door. He needed to bathe�now.
A few moments later, drenched and cursing the fact that he had forgotten his shampoo and soap--Daniel ambled into the living room to retrieve the items from his duffle bag. Unable to find anything useful, he muttered in irritation as he stood nude, dripping puddles all over the carpet. He flipped the bag over and dumped its contents onto the couch. Of course, it was in that awkward moment--that someone decided to knock on his door.
Daniel jumped and stared in alarm, as if whoever was beyond the door could see him standing naked in the middle of the living room. He stood there unmoving, hoping that his unwanted guest would give up and go away.
However, the knocking continued, unabated, paired now with the persistent ringing of the doorbell. His hopes sank as he realized the visitor was not going to leave. He clenched his jaw.
�Hold on damn it! I�m coming!� He looked around for his jeans, and found a dirty pair crumbled next to the couch. The water on his skin made things difficult as he wrestled the stubborn material up his legs, but he managed to button them and hurry to the door.
Daniel paused a moment before opening it, the memories of Walter�s charming, yet, wolfish smile creeping into his mind. He used the peephole to look outside, giving a sigh of relief when he saw it was only a young, dark-haired woman, dressed in a skimpy purple top and a tight skirt. Daniel unchained the door and opened it, giving his morning visitor a perplexed smile.
�Uh�hi?�
The woman grinned and looked him over, snapping her gum. She seemed pleased with what she saw. Her ethnicity was Hispanic: with dark wavy hair spilling over her shoulders, and light mocha skin that shone with some glittery lotion. Her outfit seemed more suited for a nightclub, with sequins dotting the breast area and the style displaying ample cleavage. An ornate choker encased her neck--expensive looking, with amethysts arranged intricately in a cross pattern. Her high heels were the same shade as her clothing, complete with sequins petaling over the top and purple nails wiggling from the crisscrossed toe slit. Chocolate brown eyes lined with heavy makeup appraised him, and she smiled again, popping her gum as she spoke.
�Well, morning Sunshine!" she drawled, her accent light but still noticeable, "thought you�d never answer. I�ve been out here knocking on your door for the longest time!� She then pouted, as if trying to elicit sympathy from him. Daniel frowned, confused.
�If you�ve been knocking all morning, how come I didn�t hear you ten minutes ago?�
�I had to go back to my apartment for...something,� she shrugged her shoulders and smiled slyly, �anyway, Frankie told me to keep knocking 'til you answered. Seems there�s a little problem out in the parking lot. You�re the owner of that old van right?�
�Oh crap! I forgot to close the doors didn�t I? Shit!� he cursed his stupidity, and felt angry that he had allowed some man to scare him into leaving his van exposed. �No one took anything did they? I mean, I only had a few things left inside��
�No, no baby, don�t worry about it,� she gave a throaty laugh after she said that, waving her hand in the air. Her nails matched her toes; both perfectly manicured and polished the same color. Each finger had silver rings both large and small, and her middle finger had a jeweled chain extending to a bracelet on her wrist. �Frankie closed the doors for you last night. I know, because I was just on my way out. That�s not the problem Sunshine. That ugly, old van of yours is blocking three spaces. No one can leave, and those folks are getting pretty pissed off.�
Red faced, Daniel swore and went inside to fetch his keys, leaving the door wide open--which the woman took as an invitation and let herself in. She sauntered through his living room, looking at everything with curiosity. �Wow, quite a mess you got in here!�
Daniel flashed an aggravated look and snatched his keys from between the couch cushions. �Well, ma�am, I only moved in last night. It�s probably going to stay a mess for a few days.�
She chuckled, toying with her hair and gave him another girly pout, her amethyst earrings catching the light outside. �I know that silly, and my names not ma�am--it�s Lucia, Lucia Moreno. I�m certainly not old enough to be called ma�am,� she smiled, teeth even and very white. Obviously a bleach job.
�Well, nice to meet you Lucia, I�m Daniel.�
�I know.�
�You do?� Daniel blinked at her in confusion, and wondered how to maneuver towards the door without touching her. She stood directly in his path, with boxes and other items lined on either side. She shrugged, shifting her weight from one slim leg to the other.
�Frankie told me who you were last night.�
�You�re talking about Frank Sunderland right?� Daniel said, and then added with puzzlement, �speaking of which, why did he send you and not come himself?�
She laughed, coming closer, her body movements provocative. �He runs errands early on Tuesdays and usually isn�t home until late afternoon. He always has a sign on his office door with his schedule--so check there, Sunshine, if you forget.�
Daniel nodded in response, lifting the blinds to see if he could view the parking lot. �Well, that was nice of him, and considerate of you to actually stand outside my door knocking all morning. Thanks to you both. Does Frank always go that out of his way for the residents here?� he jingled the keys in his hand, his gaze still out the window.
�Yeah, he�s a big sweetie. Will do anything for you if you ask nice. He�s the one who told them not to call the tow truck��
�Shit!�
He charged past her and raced out the door. He took the stairs two at a time and almost ran over a young woman who loitered at the bottom of the steps. She jerked away and fled to her room before he could apologize, or even get a decent look at her appearance. Sighing, he continued toward the main doors and tried to keep calm. He had a feeling these tenants were furious with him.
Running outside, he noticed two people pacing beside his van, angry and pointing at it as if it was some offensive beast. He took a deep breath and put on his best apologetic face. He jogged over to the vehicle and conveyed how sorry he was to keep them waiting.
They glared at him, and the older male dressed in a blue business suit began muttering under his breath about how stupid and selfish kids were nowadays. Daniel squelched the urge to grumble back, annoyed that he mistook him for a �kid.� He was twenty-five years old, not a teenager.
But, he swallowed his pride and continued to apologize. He gave some half-ass excuse about falling asleep (which was true), and forgetting where he parked (also true). What he didn�t tell them, was the fact that some guy named Walter gave him the willies and that he was too scared to go back outside. Daniel had a feeling he wouldn't get much sympathy.
He climbed inside his van and started it up, backing out so the other residents could be on their way. He parked in the rear of the lot, watching with guilt as each tenant rushed off to jobs they were now late for, and feeling like shit.
Strike two, you moron.
He got out of his van with the last of his belongings and trudged toward the complex, his mood now surly and mean. Up ahead, he heard Lucia�s melodic voice scolding someone, but could not see the victim until he entered the building.
�Already you�re nosing around aren�t ya Stutter Bunny?" Lucia said, "Jesus! The guy just moved in last night. Give him a few days before you start stalking him!�
Daniel walked forward and spied Lucia at the base of the stairwell, glaring up at the girl he had seen slipping into her apartment earlier. The young woman shrank from Lucia and blushed, the color growing brighter when she caught notice of him staring at her. Lucia turned and made a noise of surprise when she saw him--but then grinned, placing one hand on her hip, and jerked her thumb in the girl's direction.
�Better watch this one close, Sunshine," she said, quirking a mean smile, "Stutter Bunny here likes to nose around and get into everyone�s business. Caught her spying on ya while you were moving your van. Doesn�t waste time now does she?� Lucia shot the girl a nasty glance, snapping her gum with loud pops. Daniel gave a small frown but declined to comment. He eyed the girl as she pressed herself against the wall, and picked at the threads of her sleeve self-consciously.
�Stutter Bunny� appeared around 19 years old--tall, slender, with long red hair thrown into a messy bun, and soft green eyes. The flowing skirt she wore skimmed the top of her sandals, and her T-shirt had a big pink bunny in red overalls hopping in the middle. The words �Lakeside Amusement Park� had sparkling letters printed over the rabbit, and they twinkled in the light. She met his eyes once during his appraisal, lowering them quickly as Lucia snorted in distaste.
�As you can see Bunny,� Lucia sneered, �Sunshine here is obviously unimpressed with you; so go back to your apartment and leave him alone.�
�Hey, stop being so mean, � Daniel said, his tone reproachful but light, �I really don�t know what the big deal is. She wasn�t doing anything wrong by watching. I�m sure half the building probably saw how idiotic I was. Really, it�s not an issue,� he insisted, trying to give Stutter Bunny a reassuring smile. He didn't want to make Lucia angry, but he felt she was being harsh with the girl.
Lucia sniffed as the wind went out of her sails, giving her nothing more to insult with. She gave a dismissive shrug and sashayed over to him, displaying her most charming smile. �My, you�re a nice guy aren�t you, Sunshine? That�s good. We need more like you around here," she fluttered her eyes at him, and his cheeks warmed, "say, when you�re all settled in, why don�t you come visit me? There's no one our age to talk to 'round here, and I get pretty lonely sitting up in my room all by myself. Apartment 207. Stop by anytime in the late afternoon or early evenings--I�m always free then to�chat.� She chuckled and swept past him, hips sliding sensually under her skirt as she swayed up the stairs. Lucia gave �Stutter Bunny� a snarl as she passed, causing the girl to scamper down the steps and seek refuge in the lobby area.
�Don�t be a stranger, Sunshine! Remember, anytime after four would be perfect for a visit�� Lucia waved and winked, her voluptuous form disappearing into the second floor hallway.
Daniel continued to watch, not certain if he was flattered or irritated. Girls like Lucia were not his first choice in a relationship. Everything about her screamed high maintenance: from her clothes to her jewelry, to the way she carried herself--like some pampered drama queen. Daniel shook his head and resisted temptation. He did not need a woman like Lucia--not now, not ever.
He turned to see if �Stutter Bunny� was still behind him, but there was no sign of her anywhere. Not surprised, but disappointed, Daniel carried the rest of his bags up the steps, grunting a little as their weight became obvious the higher he went. He had forgotten to lock his apartment, but that proved beneficial when he shouldered the door open and dropped his bags to the floor. He scanned the mess of his living room for several moments, before giving another irascible grunt and proceeded to the shower--this time armed with his shampoo and soap.
Thirty minutes later, he felt like a whole new person, cleaned, scrubbed, and his face free of stubble. He dressed in his last pair of clean jeans, drank some warm Pepsi for the caffeine boost, and began the daunting task of organizing his new apartment.
Walter and Silent Hill were far from his thoughts as he shuffled furniture around and arranged his bedroom the way he wanted. He decided to put the bed frame in the closet and lean the mattress against the wall--mentally reminding himself to inquire about the storage units Frank offered. The couch his father slept on was too huge for the living room since the other furniture took up most of the space. Instead, Daniel opted to place it in his bedroom as a makeshift bed. It was comfortable enough, and well�it smelled like his father. He felt a little silly for being so sentimental, but he would rather have it in his apartment than some dusty storage room.
He shifted the furniture around to his liking, all except the flower dresser propped against the far wall. Giving it a critical eye, Daniel pulled it from its resting place, noting that the carpet underneath was dusty and track marked--a strong indication that this dresser was moved often. He maneuvered it into a smaller corner, taking care not to scrape the wood against the paint. He began setting his acrylics and pencils inside, categorizing them by length, color and size. When that was finished, he looked at the spot where the dresser had rested, frowning a little when he spied a small hole in the wall.
Daniel got down on his hands and knees, peering at the hole with wary curiosity. It had a jagged outer rim, the edges chipped and cracking. It was no bigger than a nickel, but Daniel was certain that whoever made it, could see inside his room, and vice versa. It unnerved him and he sat back on his haunches, wondering if he should tell Frank or not. He�d rather not be a bother, but this was something the super should fix. Looking at the hole again, curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned forward, sticking his eye close to the surface and peered inside room 302.
Darkness greeted his inquisitive gaze, the light too dim to see anything clearly. Whoever lived there was obviously not home, as Daniel could see nothing moving in the living room. From his limited perception, he could make out the general furniture shapes, some pictures on the wall, and a shelf or storage box sitting beside a large TV. The reflection of the window shone on the dark screen, and was the only bit of light he could discern.
Something then clattered on the floor and Daniel yelped, jerking his head back. His heart hammered for a few moments, and he waited until his breathing was under control before he braved another peek. He leaned close, searching back and forth, but could see nothing. It was then he realized that he 'was' seeing something, but it was the fabric from someone�s coat or pants.
Someone was standing in front of the hole.
Daniel lurched backwards and stood, heart pounding anew. He took several, deep breaths to calm down, vowing that he would get Frank to plug the hole up and soon. Until then, he would have to find something to cover it with�
He searched and found masking tape and some old construction paper from his art stash. After pressing the last piece of tape over his �patch,� he leaned back to survey his handiwork. It was just a plain, dark piece of paper, but it would do for now. Satisfied that no one could peep at him, Daniel gathered his dirty clothes and threw them all into one of his large duffle bags. He then exited the apartment and trotted down the steps, making a direct path to the laundry room.
Unexpectedly, Stutter Bunny was also there--folding her garments and seemed preoccupied. He mustered a genial smile when she looked at him in alarm.
�It�s okay. I�m not going to run you off. You have every right to be here as I do.�
She favored him with a small smile and ducked her head, concentrating on the pink pair of underwear in her hands. Daniel chose washer three and began loading his clothes, all too aware of Stutter Bunny�s presence behind him. He thought she was cute in that girl-next-door-way, but she was just so shy.
And a little too young for me�maybe�
He smiled at that thought, wondering how he could broach conversation with her. Stutter Bunny then decided that for him.
�S-s-she has a b-boyfriend you know!� she blurted, her face turning bright crimson as she fiddled with another pair of underwear.
Daniel stopped loading the washer and gave her a bemused look. �Who has a boyfriend?�
�L-L-Lucia�she lives with him. H-h-he�s always gone a-around the afternoon. That�s why s-she invited y-you.�
Daniel raised his eyebrows and shrugged. �I suspected as much, but even if she didn�t have a boyfriend, Lucia�s a bit too high maintenance for me. I like simple girls,� he said, and Stutter Bunny flushed even more.
�O-o-oh. T-that�s good, because h-he�s really jealous and m-mean. Y-yells a lot. It keeps me u-up at night sometimes.�
�You mean he�s abusive?� Daniel raised his eyebrows, then frowned. �Lucia doesn�t act abused. I didn�t see any bruises or anything.�
�H-he was warned by F-Frank not to hurt h-her," Stutter Bunny looked embarrased. "F-Frank said he would e-evict them if he caught A-Andre slapping h-her around again. F-Frank tried to talk her into leaving him, but s-she wouldn�t listen. Andre buys her stuff all the time to make it u-up to her. Whatever she w-wants.�
�I see, so that�s where she gets all the bling.�
�W-what?�
Daniel sighed and started the washer. �Never mind. I think any woman who stays with an abusive husband, boyfriend, whatever--needs to have their head examined. I cannot understand why anyone would want to put themselves through that. And for what? Makeup and jewelry? It�s fucking ignorant,� he slammed the washer lid down, crossing his arms as he leaned against it. He shook his head as he thought about Lucia�s situation, feeling angrier than he should with a woman he had just met.
�Y-you look mad.�
�I just don�t like guys beating up on girls, that�s all. It�s bullshit.�
�H-h-he hasn�t d-done it in a while,� Stutter Bunny offered, her green eyes sympathetic.
�That doesn�t matter. It�s still bullshit.�
�Oh. Y-yes, I agree.�
Daniel glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and changed the subject. �So, I can�t call you Stutter Bunny, that�s just rude. What�s your real name?�
�M-M-Melanie Knight.�
�Well, Melanie, I�m Daniel Morgan--not sunshine, or baby okay?�
Melanie laughed, the flush making her eyes appear like glinting emeralds. She folded another pair of underwear, this time a yellow pair, and set it in the basket.
�So Frank tried to talk her into getting help?� Daniel asked, eager to resume the conversation, �man, he really seems involved with his residents. All the other superintendents I�ve encountered just fix stuff and that�s it.�
Melanie paused her folding, and regarded him. �Y-yes. He�s been that way since I-I moved in. He told me o-once that he wasn�t g-going to l-let it happen again, so he makes sure h-he knows everyone around here and their habits.�
�Let what happen again?� His curiosity was peaked, but then he remembered what Frank told him about Eileen Galvin. �Wait, I think I might know what he�s talking about. The room I�m renting had another occupant named Eileen Galvin. I guess she was attacked and murdered right there in my living room.�
Melanie�s eyes widened and she nodded. �Y-y-yeah, that�s right. It happened a little over t-two years ago--but she wasn�t the o-only one��
�What? Who else was attacked?�
She fiddled with a red shirt before replying as if unsure she should reveal anymore. Daniel saw the garment in her hands was another Lakeside Amusement Park shirt, this one with several of the pink bunnies waving and riding on a rollercoaster. She sighed and folded it, placing it on top of her �red� pile. �F-Frank told me one time that two other people died when Eileen did," she said "I think a-almost on the same day! One just was found d-d-d-d--� she grimaced and paused, her face turning a deep shade of pink. Daniel smiled and waited.
�Take your time. I�m not in a rush.�
She took a sharp breath and stared straight ahead, as if looking at him made her stutter worse. �One just died in his a-a-apartment, a-and another d-disappeared from his room. Frank s-said the doors were locked from the inside, and so w-were the windows. He just v-vanished.�
�Just found dead? Who was that, and did they ever find the cause?�
�R-Richard Braintree, and I d-don�t know. He just was dead when they f-found him. Had numbers w-written on his forehead.�
�Numbers? So, it was murder then.� Daniel felt his stomach twist with revulsion and shook his head, �damn, that�s harsh. Poor Frank. That must�ve been tough on the old guy. What about the disappearance? Did they ever find him?�
�No. No t-trace at all.�
�Shit�that�s freaky. What was his name?�
�I-I think Harry--no, H-Henry Townshend. He lived in a-apartment 302. Frank hasn�t let anyone n-near that room since it happened. W-won�t rent it to anyone.�
Daniel felt cold after she said that, and stared at Melanie blankly. �It�s vacant? Are�are you sure.�
She frowned, her face pinching with concern. �Y-yes, I�m sure. It�s been empty since I moved h-here.�
Daniel�s stomach made another turn, and he felt slightly ill. He turned away from her, his mind racing. Empty for two years�but then who the hell was standing in front of that hole?
�D-Daniel, are you okay?�
He glanced over his shoulder and mustered a weak smile. �Yeah. Just contemplating the creepiness that�s all. I can see now why Frank wants to know everyone personally. He probably feels responsible in a way. I know I would.�
She said nothing and nodded, watching him while she folded the rest of her clothes.
He gave her a thoughtful look in return and also fell silent, his thoughts whirling. Three people dead or missing, the killer running loose. It was a little scary to think about, especially since he was living in the dead girl�s apartment, right next door to the guy that disappeared. Nice.
�H-hey.�
Daniel looked up to find Melanie at the door, laundry basket high on her hip and ready to leave.
�I-I have to go now�my mother�s m-meeting me for dinner. I�ll see you a-around?� She said this with a hopeful lilt, as if she expected Daniel to make some lame excuse about not seeing her again.
Daniel grinned and winked, putting her fears at ease. �Sure, anytime you want to clean your panties, I�ll be here.�
Melanie giggled, and started out the door. Then, Daniel remembered something Lucia said, and called her back.
�Melanie! Wait a minute! I have to ask you something.�
She came back with an inquisitive frown, her eyebrows rising. �Y-yes?�
�Do you know everyone that lives here in the complex? I mean, all the tenants here--you know all their names?�
�M-m-mostly.�
�So you know anyone named Walter Sullivan? Blondish hair, tall, wears a blue trench coat?�
Her frown deepened and she bit her lip. �N-no I don�t know who t-that is. Maybe h-he�s visiting someone. I-I c-could find out for you if y-you like.�
Daniel shook his head, waving her offer away. �No. It�s fine. You don�t have to do that. Just keep an eye out for him; he gave me a bad vibe yesterday. With all this talk about murder and disappearances, his face just came to mind. Be careful if you see him okay?�
She looked anxious for a moment, but then nodded, propping the basket higher on her hip. Her �blue� pile appeared on the verge of spilling to the floor. �Okay�I-I-I�ll make sure to avoid h-him if I s-see him.�
�Good, you should. Take care. Have fun with your mom,� he said, with a touch of sadness. Melanie caught the tone and seemed puzzled, but she only nodded and left the room.
When she was gone, he removed his clothing from the washer and threw it into the dryer, setting the machine on �delicate.� He had no desire or money to deal with shrunk clothing, so he was careful with how he dried his clothes. The rest of the hour passed by without incident and no one else entered the laundry room. Daniel amused himself by watching the clothes in the dryer spin. Stretching the kinks out of his neck, he sighed and turned from the tiny window to open his duffle bag.
A �thunking� sound from his dryer then captured his attention, the rhythmic thuds muted, but noticeable. He watched for a moment before approaching the machine, flinching a little as the sounds increased. He knew there was nothing in the dryer to make those noises-- nothing of his anyway. He snapped the lid open, taking a step back in case anything fell out or leaped at him. His clothes lay inside, ordinary looking and slightly damp. He began sifting though his garments, plucking up towels and shirts until he stumbled upon a strange doll lying on the bottom of the dryer compartment.
�Now, how the hell did that get in there?�
Daniel retrieved the toy and studied it, turning it over in his hands. It was old--with button eyes and a sewn mouth. Raggedy hair stuck up in tuffs, and the dress was faded and stained. Daniel wondered who it belonged too. He was uncertain that any children lived in SAH apts.
Well, it has to belong to somebody�
He set it on the washer counter, hoping that whoever lost the doll would see it there and reclaim it. He stared at the toy for a few moments, before returning his attention to his laundry and started the dryer again. The doll never reentered his thoughts.
Another thirty minutes later and he was on his way out the door, carrying the duffle bag over the shoulder, and content he would have at least a weeks worth of clothing to wear before he had to revisit the washing machine again. That was fine with him; he hated doing laundry.
Daniel smiled to himself as he took the stairs to his apartment. Upon reaching the third floor however, he slowed as icy air swept over him, ruffling the hair from his face, and carried a slight sour smell--like rancid milk. It gave him that familiar feeling of unease, but he shrugged the sensation away and pushed open the doors to his hall.
All was silent except the faint sounds of arguing coming from the nearest apartment, as Carl seemed annoyed with his mother and was telling her so--loudly. Daniel shook his head and rounded the corner--then stopped cold as he saw who stood in front of his door.
Walter was in front of 303. He stood in his familiar stance: head cocked to the side and eyes vacant. Daniel swallowed and looked around, but no one was present within the hall. He wondered if he could slip away, but was too nervous to chance it.
He watched Walter lean close to the door, as if listening for something. Then he lurched away--the movement swift and unnatural. That movement is what made his heart pound, and he took a step backwards, every intention to flee. Noticing the movement, Walter jerked his head in Daniel�s direction, his eyes widening. For several moments, they both stared--frozen in place like dogs sizing each other up.
�Do you see me Daniel?� Walter hissed, the sound almost tangible as it rolled through the air. It grazed Daniel�s skin and made him recoil. Walter threw his back his head and gave a delighted peal of laughter, the sound dark and disturbing. It caused Daniel�s stomach to ball into a knot and his head to throb as the laugh changed tone. It became louder, echoing like the voice of a distorted doll--never ceasing, skimming over the walls and floor like a legion of invisible serpents.
Acting like fingers of decay, they split open the walls, and carpet--dark grooves oozing apart and revealing a pulsing, red maw beneath. Fluid dripped from these crevices, tainting every surface within reach. Daniel�s eyes bulged as he retreated, his gaze on the corrosion reaching for him, grasping for him. Walter began moving forward like a twitching puppet, his head jerking and bending with inhuman motions. As he contorted towards Daniel, his body faded and reappeared, almost as if reality wanted to spit him out. His voice twisted through the air as one, continuous hiss, whispers and moans joined with words to form a cacophonous jumble that was impossible to endure. Daniel staggered and put his hands over his ears.
�Stop it! Stop it!�
Walter laughed in reply, his voice assailing Daniel like a barbed whip, repeating the same words over and over again. �Do you see? Do you see? Do you see, do you see, do you see, do you see, do you see, do you-�
Daniel lurched backwards, dropping his duffle bag and turning to flee--
--right into Gladys Porter.
�Oh my!� she cried, as Daniel crashed headlong into her. They both tumbled to the floor.
He rose the next instant, wildly looking down the hall toward where he had last saw Walter, and saw--nothing. Daniel gave a noise of disbelief as his gaze searched over the pale walls and carpeted floor--all now pristine and unblemished.
�What? Where did he go? He was just here! You didn�t see him?�
Daniel looked back at Gladys, who rose to her feet and brushed off her dress in irritation.
�What are you talking about, young man?" she snapped, straightening her hair, "there's no one in this hall but you and I. You should watch where you�re going next time, you could have hurt me!�
�I-I�m sorry Ms. Porter�really. I--" Daniel gazed at her stricken, unable to find the words to describe what had happened. He glanced back a few more times, positive that Walter would ooze out of the wall and resume his pursuit. But the hall remained empty, void except for the sound of Carl screaming at his mother. Gladys sighed in resignation, crossing her arms.
�That man has a filthy mouth on him. Poor Martha�to lose her husband and have to deal with that ungrateful son of hers. It�s a darn shame.�
Daniel glanced at her, his fear diminishing somewhat. �Yeah, he and I already met. He was kind of a jerk. �
�Really? Did you knock him down too?�
He sighed and retrieved his bag. �No, Ms. Porter, I didn�t knock him down. I said I was sorry, what else do you want from me?�
Gladys narrowed her eyes and gave a haughty sniff. She turned on her heel, and then marched back to her room without another word. Daniel stared after her feeling awful, but too unnerved by what had happened to really care. Let her think what she wanted.
I guess no home cooked meals from Gladys�
Daniel opened his door and slipped inside. He dropped his bags on the floor and locked it. Then he looked out the peephole for several minutes, positive that Walter would appear and resume staring at his apartment door. But he saw nothing, all remained normal.
Clenching his jaw, he sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew what he had saw. It was not a hallucination; he felt the air turn cold, felt the pressure bearing down on him. He kept hearing Walter�s voice in his thoughts, that insane phrase: �Do you see?�
�What did I see?� he said aloud, keeping his hands fastened on his forehead and elbows on his knees. Was Walter human? Was he a ghost? With the tragic past of this building, it would make sense for Walter to be a spirit, but why focus on Daniel?
Do you see?
Walter was giddy as he said that, as if he was excited that Daniel could 'see' him. Why? And why were the walls breaking apart and oozing blood? Some bizarre manifestation of past horrors? Some malicious way for Walter to scare him?
Growling, Daniel rose and went into the bedroom, his emotions rattling inside. He reclined on his father�s couch, staring at the ceiling and tried to make sense of what had happened to him.
He had physically touched Walter, or more accurately--Walter had knocked him aside as the man rushed to get somewhere. Ghosts cannot be solid�right? They had no mass, no body. They were only energy. So, what the hell was Walter?
These questions bounced through his head for what felt like hours, looping in endless circles as he tried to find a reasonable explanation. There was none. What he had experienced was equivalent to a supernatural punch in the face, and he would just acknowledge that.
Why now? Why after my parent�s death?
A soft knock on the door stirred Daniel from his reverie--and he froze, heart pounding once again.
It can�t be�he wouldn�t knock�would he?
He stood, his stomach twisting itself into unpleasant shapes and walked with caution to the door. He mustered enough courage to peer thought the peephole, sighing in relief as he saw it was only Lucia. He unlocked it, opening the door a crack.
�Uh, hey Lucia, what brings you up here?�
�You left something in the laundry room, Sunshine; I came to give it back.�
�Oh?� he frowned and opened the door, allowing Lucia�s perfume to invade as she glided inside.
She was dressed in casual attire, with a white tank top and blue jean shorts. The bottom cuffs were frayed, and a red heart logo dotted the pockets. Her hair was in a ponytail, with silver earrings that dangled to her shoulders. Lucia kept her back to him, surveying the room with an approving nod. �Well, Sunshine, you cleaned up nice. Looks good in here.�
�Thanks.� he replied and shut the door. Daniel could see she carried a bundle in her hands, but couldn't make out the shape. �You said I left something in the laundry room?�
�Oh yeah, sorry,� she chuckled and turned, giving him a secretive smile as she handed him the item. Daniel looked down, and then took a step back in surprise.
�Uh, that�s not mine�it belongs to someone else.�
The doll he found inside his dryer lay cradled in Lucia�s hands, staring at him with its hard button eyes and hair like black grass. There was something ominous about it now, like a harbinger of dark times ahead. He could hear a little girl crying from somewhere, the sound far in the distance, but it made the hairs on his neck rise. He backed away, waving his hands. �Lucia, that�s not mine�put it back downstairs. It belongs to someone else!�
Lucia giggled and set the doll on the couch. �Silly Sunshine, finder�s keeper�s. She�s yours now.�
�But--�
�Shh�� Lucia came close, running her hand over his face, and purred. �Don�t worry about it, baby�let�s just relax a bit. You seem so tense! Poor thing, moving in all by yourself--mommy and daddy dead�you must be so lonely--�
�How�how did you know about my parents?� Daniel stammered as Lucia pressed against him, maneuvering him down the hall and into his bedroom. She pushed him on the couch, straddling his hips and nuzzled the side of his neck.
�Frankie told me Sunshine�don�t you remember?" she said, "now hush and let me taste you--I�ve been wondering how your lips would feel all morning long.�
�Wai--� Lucia swallowed Daniel�s protest as her mouth met his. Her lips were soft and warm, with a touch of eagerness to the kiss that sparked his own desire. He was a passionate man by nature, though the last five years had left little time for pursuit of the fairer sex. His body response was instant and his hands found the small of her back, lifting her body closer so she could rub against him. A moan escaped them both, and Daniel tangled his fingers in her hair, freeing the ponytail and burying his face within the tumble of dark locks. She smelled sweet and inviting, and Daniel was having trouble keeping his passion in check. He should not be doing this, he barely knew her�she had a boyfriend--an angry boyfriend that liked to hit, to hurt, to--
Lucia shoved him down and leaned forward, tugging the button of his jeans open. She slid the zipper down and freed him in one motion. Daniel arched back, as moist warmth encircled his flesh. She took him with expert motions, easing the jeans and underwear to his ankles while rolling her tongue over his length and scraping her nails lightly along his hips. Daniel�s hands clenched the sides of the couch, a brief thought flickering for a moment about how surreal this all was�like a dream...
�Is this real?�
�Does it matter, Sunshine?�
Lucia paused and stared into his eyes, the rich brown of her irises deep enough to drown in. He rose a little and stripped off his shirt, flicking his under garments off at the same time. He lay nude before her, reclining back as she wove her body over his, tasting and touching--her tongue like a darting flame as it danced over his skin. Daniel bucked and groaned, his head leaning back as the sensations overcame him. His eyes fluttered as she resumed the suckling, and he fought to keep from thrusting inside that warm mouth.
�It�s okay, Sunshine�you can do whatever you want��
He tossed his head to the side, undulating his body upwards, and without restraint. Instead of retreating as he thought she would, Lucia only clenched his hips and took him all the way in--the sensation akin to being devoured. A low cry knelled from his throat, and his eyes closed as the beginnings of an orgasm shuddered through him. Lucia slyly inserted her finger inside as she grazed the head of his cock with those perfect white teeth, educing another harsh groan from his throat. He thrashed, and she held him down--merciless as she pushed his body beyond the brink of control. He came then--hard--spasms rocking through him as he released again and again. She took him all, drinking from him as if she had never enjoyed anything so sweet. Daniel�s breathing slowed as the last of his pleasure ebbed, with Lucia flicking her tongue over the tip of his length one last time before she sat back. He panted there, spent and exhilarated. It had been too long since he had another�s touch, and he had almost forgotten how wonderful and humbling it was.
�Anything for you, Sunshine� anything��
He turned his head to the side and stared dazed out the window, giving a little noise in amazement as he watched snow fall outside. The world was gray, the buildings beyond colorless and indistinct. White flakes drifted downward, gathering at the windowsill like pale moss.
�Why is it snowing?�
�It always snows here�never ending�ceaseless��
Frowning, Daniel rolled his head forward to look at Lucia, and then screamed.
It had the body of Lucia, the hair and clothing, but the face was nothing but a mouth--edges torn and bloody, with veins branching from the outer corners. He could see no teeth, but inside seemed composed of several layers, pulsing red and forming a small back hole within the center. A tongue drooped from the side, saliva dripping.
�Did you suck me with that?�
�Yeah, I did, Sunshine, and you liked it��
Daniel recoiled from the thing as it spoke. Voices overlapped as hundreds of mouths appeared over the tanned skin. They opened and closed independently from the main mouth, echoing every word the creature whispered in his head.
�I want to taste you again, Daniel�will you let me?�
�No! Stay away from me!�
Daniel scampered off the couch and fled from the Lucia-thing. He ran down the hall and into his living room, and then halted in mid-stride.
His walls were cracking open; streams of blood and black liquid poured from each crevice like a sluggish waterfall. Everywhere it dripped, it decayed. The carpet peeled and dissolved before his eyes--and his tile floor encrusted with age. His room transformed into a prison of blood and rust, his sanctuary twisting into a hellish parody of �home sweet home.�
�Isn�t it beautiful, Sunshine? It�s all for you, baby�just like me�it�s all yours�forever.�
�No! I�m dreaming�this is a dream. Wake up! Wake up!�
Daniel suddenly opened his eyes and jolted awake, staggering from his father�s couch with a yelp. He looked around his bedroom, trying to find the Lucia demon--even though his mind acknowledged that he had been dreaming.
�Fuck�� he took several, deep breaths to calm down, and then entered the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. He looked in the mirror and shook his head, angry that the dream affected him so.
Pull it together Daniel�
Strange that his body still trembled with the remnants of his orgasm, and that his heart beat in frantic rhythm. Shaking, he walked into the living room, and then gaped in disbelief.
The doll from the laundry room sat where Lucia had placed it, drooped on its side and watching him with its black button eyes. Daniel remained motionless for several moments, turning only when a scraping noise rose to his left. Suspicious, he tip-toed around the kitchen counter, pausing when he saw the red letter peeking beneath his door. He bent down to retrieve it, looking back at the doll to see if it would disappear. It did not.
It was only a dream�why is it here?
Daniel then stared down at the paper in his hands, ignoring the blood-like stains upon its surface and turned it over to read the short message scrawled upon it. His hands began trembling as he re-read the sentence, his body growing numb and throat closing in fear.
Do you see?
--Walter
Daniel felt sick as he let the paper flutter to the floor, and glanced back at the doll. It remained on its side, innocent--with button eyes staring as if mocking him. Suddenly furious, Daniel stalked forward and plucked the hateful thing from the couch. He unlocked his door and whipped the toy against the wall, snarling into the corridor with rage.
�No, I don�t fucking see! Leave me ALONE!�
He slammed the door and locked it, shaking with fear, anger, and more than just a little bewilderment. He did not know why this was happening to him�but he would not tolerate it. No one would intimidate him!
With his resolve strengthening, Daniel walked back to the bedroom--opened the flower dresser, and withdrew his paints. He stood his easel next to the window for the best light, and gathered a blank canvas from the closet. With a glass of paint thinner and palette at his side, he began painting. No reference, model, or even idea entered his mind--he just kept painting--the colors picking themselves and the object forming from the deepest recesses of his subconscious. He continued painting until his fingers ached and his eyes blurred--but he did not stop--not until the canvas was full and the desired subject finally emerged.
He took a deep breath and stepped back.
The best way to exorcise demons was to purge them--a visual cleansing of sorts, and this is what Daniel had done. He had painted Walter, with his face pale and eyes gleaming, and rising from his bloody paradise in triumph. However, faceless, iron angels surrounded him on either side. Their tattered wings formed an arch above Walter, their white hands grasping his limbs. Chains wrapped their arms and bodies, spreading wide, holding back the crimson walls and their dark taint. They encircled Walter-holding him down, pinning him, keeping him silent and still.
Satisfied, Daniel rubbed his neck and covered the painting with a dark cloth, his body weary with fatigue and stress.
But he felt better.
Feeling safe now, he laid on his father�s couch, gray eyes staring at the ceiling and drifted to sleep�
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Blood Ties