“I did turn him down, didn’t I?” She questions herself, looking into the mirror again. Shaking her head, she turns and walks away from the mirror and heads towards her bathroom. She runs over the words of Alex’s letter again…there’s a lot to discuss about us. Curious what the “us” means, she walks into her bathroom and brushes her teeth. Setting her toothbrush back on the counter, she turns toward the shower and turns on the faucet.
Leaning against the wall, she recalls the conversation with Samuel where he asked her to meet him at Dance 52. When she declined his invitation to meet him, he accepted it gracefully. Recalling the times Samuel would stare, she wonders if he had been crushing on her. Reaching in to test the temperature of the water, Lisa steps into the shower and the warm water runs down her body. After washing her hair and body, she reaches down and turns off the water. Grasping her towel, she dries off. Wrapping the towel around her head, she walks into her closet to find something to wear.
Pulling out a sleeveless button down lavender top, she pairs it with white capris and tan sandals. Pulling her clothes on, she takes a seat at her vanity to comb out her hair. After applying her makeup and blow drying her hair, she makes her way towards the kitchen to make some coffee. Pouring some into her tumbler, she adds her cream and sugar.
Walking towards her door, she grabs her keys and purse. Having the intention of walking down to Alex’s condo, she opens the door and is startled when Alex stands on the other side. He’s wearing a fitted black t-shirt, denim jeans and black boots, giving him a dark, seductive look.
“Alex?” Lisa smiles and opens the door wider to allow him inside.
Alex steps through, immediately pulling Lisa into his arms, hugging her tight. “You’re here; you’re really here.”
Lisa laughs, then looks at him. “Of course I’m here. Where else would I be?”
The look on Alex’s face tells Lisa that she’s his only reason for living. His fingers brush gently against her cheeks. Her knees feel weak under his touch and her heart flutters. “There’s so much I need to say. So much I need you to know. I have no idea where to start, or even how.” He sighs, looking defeated.
Tilting her head slightly, she smiles. “Okay, well, let’s start at the beginning. I’m free all day. Take all the time you need.” Taking his hand, she leads him into her living room, taking a seat on the couch. Looking towards the window, she asks, “What is up with this weather? The meteorologist predicted clear skies.”
Alex looks out the window, then back at Lisa. “I can probably explain the weather in a moment but, first, there’s so much you need to know.”
His hands cup her face. Maybe he’s being selfish, but he wants her to know what’s happened. He wants her to understand who he is and what she means to him. Tilting her head up, he leans in, then presses his fingertips lightly to her temples. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispers, “I hope you will, somehow, understand what I’m about to do.” Taking a deep breath, he opens his mind to hers, allowing the demonic barrier surrounding him to lower.
Suddenly, an explosion goes off inside her mind. She gasps, but Alex holds her to him. Her eyes open wide, the irises completely white, and her mouth is agape. No sound comes from her and she appears to be in shock.
She’s looking at the events of her life. She watches herself sign a contract with Samuel looking over her shoulder, the color of his eyes red. Then everything shifts. She’s kissing Samuel at Dance 52. She watches him and his eyes glow red again. She watches as veil drops around them, keeping passersby from seeing them.
Then the vision shifts again. She’s standing in her office bathroom and the faucet pours out blood. Jan, from accounting, is talking to her, but Lisa cannot hear what she’s saying. Stepping out the door, she finds Samuel watching her with his red eyes.
The vision changes again and Lisa is looking at herself in the mirror, a hooded man appearing with her in the reflection. He lowers his hood and reveals himself…Samuel. Images of Lisa and Samuel having sex flash so quickly in her mind, she wonders if it really happened. Samuel’s face begins to contort and shift. His nose draws in, leaving a hole in his face, and his skin shifts in color. His serpent tongue flicks across her skin.
Lisa gasps, then everything changes again. She’s standing in a black room with no walls or ceiling. Alex appears next to Lisa and she turns to him. His white wings erupt into a dark blue flame. She screams and they extinguish, becoming a leathered texture. He lowers his head and a few tears stream down his cheeks. Looking up at her again, his eyes are completely black. Lisa’s eyes widen as he pushes his blackened wings out, black feathers growing across them. His arms rise in the air in some sort of triumph.