Hellish: Chapter 5

Ivy

After passing out, I woke up to water pouring down on my face. It was cold, but it had a familiar warmth to it. I shook the moisture off my face, as much as I could and opened my eyes completely, well at least as wide as I could, and I saw those Amber eyes staring in mine. The breath I didn’t know I was holding on to that point left my mouth and I exhaled a sigh of relief. I realised where the heat my body felt was coming from. I have no idea how it happens, but his body is definitely giving thermostats around the world a run for their money. Ayan’s body radiates so much heat, it makes me want to embrace him and never let go.

I sat up and he adjusted the pillow behind my back so I could be comfortable. It made butterflies flutter in my stomach. This simple gesture just made me feel so homey, it reminded me of him.

Okay, no we’re not opening those gates right now.

To remove those thoughts from my head, I looked around to have something else fill up my mind for a couple of seconds, something that was not over 6 feet tall.

I looked around at the luxurious bedroom I was in. I should’ve been scared ideally because I was in a royal af room with a handsome af jock, and I was unconscious not a minute ago. But somehow his presence just naturally made me feel safe, like a joey feeling safe in the kangaroo’s pouch.

Okay way to ruin the moment. A mother’s pouch and joey, with this handsome hunk and his warmth. The comparison I made just popped my bubble, actually I popped my bubble but viewing his muscles in a parental light. Okay now, I’m just not making sense.

I took a deep breath and looked around the room again. A plush mattress that dipped with my weight, oakwood bedside tables with modern, black and blue mushroom like lamps that glowed beautifully against the hardwood decor behind my back. All brown, filled with intentional and sleek cracks that leaked a golden glow from within. There were golden lights on the underside of the edges of the bed as well. It was a beautiful room, no doubt but it lacked personal touch. No wonder it was a guest bedroom. But even guest bedrooms have something.

Anyways, before I could ponder over the lack of personal touch and critique this stunningly gorgeous room, I was in with this stunningly gorgeous man in front of me, I looked at him and all the memories of the party came flashing back. I realised he expected me to tell him what had happened. I sipped on the water; Sammy entered the room and he seemed to be at ease the minute he saw me up. I owed them an explanation and I did give it to them, but as I was speaking, I saw the colour drain from Ayan’s face. I didn’t understand what happened to him, but my heart started drumming as he asked Sammy to leave us alone. I could hear the blood pound my ears and my heart banging against my chest so hard, I was afraid it might as well rip a hole there and come out. I didn’t know why but I was half curious and half terrified of what Ayan was going to say.

I waited patiently for Ayan to start. He opened his mouth to begin, when a strong vibration filled the room. I looked at the table and saw my phone vibrating against the oakwood table. If Ayan was frustrated, he didn’t show it. He gestured for me to pick up the phone and handed it to me with his long, slender and muscled arms. I was practically drooling.

I saw the name on the screen and froze. Ty!! I had forgotten about him, and he was supposed to come pick me up. I picked up the call and his voice was trembling with a mix of anger, frustration, but majorly worry. I brought the phone towards my ear, and I could hear his voice blasting through the device before it even touched my ear.

“Liv would you fucking tell me what happened!? Have you looked at the time or your phone at all!? You never ghost anyone even if you’re busy getting laid. So, care to explain because I have been worried sick. I literally left my date halfway. Please tell me you’re okay and you better start talking now young lady,” Ty bellowed through the phone.

A smile pulled up on my lips seeing how concerned he was, but his concern was genuine obviously. I felt bad he cancelled his date because of me. It was his first date after….. again, we’re not going there Ivy Levine. I responded, “Aww my Tiger, don’t worry about me, I am fine. I uh….” I looked at Ayan who took my palm in his and stroked it reassuringly and gave me the slightest nod to continue, “I had a panic attack 15 minutes in and I passed out. But…. before you freak out. I am really fine now. All hydrated and calm and warm. Please Ty don’t worry about me. I can find a ride home, if you wanna go back on your date. I am so sorry about it. Please just calm down and call your date again. Ayan and Sammy are taking really good care of me” I could practically feel Ty’s anger from the phone.

“Liv. For the last time. I am going to come and pick you up. I don’t care if it was a tiny panic attack or a full blown one. I am coming to get you. Text me his address. I’ll be there in 2. Get up and no excuses. I am taking you home, Liv.”

There was no arguing with Ty when it came to these things. So, I hung up and texted him the address. I didn’t realise Ayan was still holding my hand and gently stroking it with his. It was so comforting and light, I had forgotten it was there. With that realisation, the butterflies in my stomach were up and about again. He did nothing but smile at me and I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks.

“Ty worried sick?” He asked, with a smile on his face but he didn’t remove my hand from his grip. There was something grimmer going on in his mind, but he did not show it on his face. The way he held me with so much possession, like he was afraid to let go, spoke volumes about how his face showed something else, while there was something else in his mind.

“Yeah, I mean I didn’t really reply to him and it’s unlike me to do that. I have been MIA for a couple hours.” I sent Ty the address and kept my phone.

“Wait, he had a date, I thought you both were a thing.” There was a strange shock in his voice.

I laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “No!! God no. He is just my friend. I have known his family for a long time.” I didn’t want to talk more about any of this. So, I moved to get up when Ayan sat me down again. “What are you doing? Aren’t we supposed to talk?”

Oh yeah. That talk. I didn’t want to know anything right now. I was too exhausted to be curious and have all my questions answered. “Can we talk about it some other time? I am pretty exhausted right now. I just want to rest. Ty’s coming to get me.”

“Okay yeah, sure. You should rest. Text me if you need anything.” He smiled and I nodded, getting up. I pulled him in for a hug thanking him for everything he did. I buried my nose in his chest and I could smell his cologne. He smelled like twisted sheets, leather and earth. Heady, addictive, intoxicating and earthy.

I reluctantly let go and we walked down the stairs. Ty texted me saying he was waiting for me outside. I hugged and thanked Sammy for everything and both of them insisted on walking me out. I realised I was walking barefoot the entire time. I looked at my shoes near the door. Ayan responded, seeing the confusion on my face, “I removed your shoes before putting them to bed. Take your time and sit and wear them. You want me to get a chair for you?”

I nodded in understanding and asked him not to get a chair. The porch was good enough. I sat near the wall end and started wearing my shoes. Sammy and Ayan engaged themselves in serious conversation, I was not too close enough to decipher their words. So, I put my socks on and I felt the hair on the back of my neck rising again. But this time I did not feel as cold as I did before. My hands were shivering slightly. I finished wearing my shoes and I turned my head to the side. I got up and before turning towards Sammy and Ayan, I turned towards that far end of the wall. I started going near the place where I had passed out and by the time I reached it, my hands started shivering violently, but that didn’t make me stop. I kept walking till I reached that place, and my legs were starting to give up, but I held my balance. I started into the eyes of a bald man, who had grey eyes, a great body, beard and a moustache. He wore a plain black dress shirt and plain black dress pants and before I could look at the shoes, I felt his touch.

It was so hot, but it sent such a cold shiver down my spine, my entire body shuddered with one touch. I pushed his hand away and I was so close to passing out again, goosebumps broke out on my skin, and I couldn’t breathe again. The only thing he did was smile and look towards Ayan and Sammy. The moment his grey eyes landed on Ayan, goosebumps broke out on his skin as well, but it did not affect Sammy. He forced his hand on my chin again and I shuddered with such force I would’ve collapsed because of the cold. I pushed his hand away again and took a step back before he could touch me again.

“Baby, brace yourself.” That’s all he said, and I shut my eyes before I heard Ayan come running towards me, I forced my eyes open to see, the bald man’s hand stopped halfway in the air. He was going to hit me, and Ayan was trying to stop him, but his fist literally passed through his body from the other end. He left out an evil, humourless and dry chuckle from his lips which were orange-ish for some reason. He was one scary looking man, but he was not a man. I didn’t understand how I could touch him, but Ayan couldn’t. He looked at me and the bald man raised his hand again in the air to hit us both. I was going to slap him, but my hands were shaking too much, and he was obviously too big. The bald man and I raised our hands at the same time to hit each other but before anything could touch, Ayan pushed me to the ground with him and the bald man's eyes fired up with rage. He smiled with that intensity, a sarcastic and scary smile that made me run out of breath again and my skin started turning blue, except around the parks where Ayan’s skin touched mine.

He stared into my eyes so deeply and with so much rage, I started shivering so violently, Ayan had to steady me, but my rage replicated the one in the bald man’s eyes and he took a step back and my lips curved into a smirk. He jumped ahead without warning and my entire body froze. Unable to move except my eyeballs and he came close to my ear, Ayan’s grip tightening on me. He ran his face through Ayan’s shoulder and whispered in my ears, “I’ll be back baby.” His face passed through Ayan’s shoulder again like a wisp of smoke and Ayan’s shirt melted where his face had been, leaving a serious burn mark on his shoulder. He didn’t even flinch. The bald man took four steps back and looked towards Sammy who was frozen like a statue, assuming it was all the bald man’s doing. He looked at Ayan again and smirked, “Salvatore.”

That’s all he said before he disappeared leaving a wisp of smoke behind which flew into Sammy’s right ear, came out of his left ear and rendered him mobile again. The smoke came towards us and lingered over our heads for a few moments before it turned into ashes and fell over our heads.