C2: Into the Dream

“Sin, why don’t you get a job?” I asked as we were lying in bed, facing the ceiling. A whole Saturday had passed in an instant, and the man had been amazing. He had cooked, washed the dishes, did the laundry, cleaned the apartment and all without getting exhausted. I hated chores, but as there was nobody else renting the apartment, I had to do it all myself.

“Can’t find one,” he said with a laugh, turning to look at me, but I pushed his face away. The sight of the shirtless man, especially with his seductive stare that set me on fire, was too much for me to handle. Going by my principles, I never sleep with the same person more than once. But just hours after waking up in bed with him, it had happened again.

The worst part had been that it didn’t feel that bad at all. For a man to have that kind of control over me made me feel insecure. It reminded me of how weak I had been when I was in the gang. Once, they ordered me to reward one of the male gang members with my body for his success in a gang fight. 

I hated how the man had asked me if the size of his appendage please me. I felt cheap. Later, he had asked me to have a rendezvous with him, but I turned him down with the excuse that Aunt Flo was visiting. He soon saw through my tricks and led a few other male gang members to ambush me and force themselves on me. 

I would never be that weak again. No man should be able to exert their control on me, no matter how good in bed they are. I don’t belong to any man. 

“Hey, Scarlet. You okay?” he queried me, probably reading the painful expression on my face. I quickly erased the look on my face and smiled falsely.

“Nothing. Just lost in thoughts.” His eyes were on me, and he had moved closer to inspect my face of any misery. Feeling a rush of heat through me, I tried to push the bolster between us. “Hey, you’re too close, Sin.”

“What if I want to be close to you, Scarlet?” He poked my nose with his finger. “Why can’t I?”

I glared at him angrily. “Sin, what nonsense are you saying? What we had was just a one-night-stand. I don’t even remember anything between us that night! How can you say that?”

“Then why am I in your bed, Scarlet? You could have let me sleep in the guest room,” he argued obnoxiously. “Don’t deny it, Scarlet. You like me doing all those things to you. Since you say you don’t remember it, why don’t I help you remember?”

“No, Sin.” I attempted to hold my ground. Sin was not getting any step closer. His words had made sense, but I knew in my heart why I had allowed him to sleep in my bed. I was afraid of the dark and fearful of being alone. Maya’s death made me fear the darkness. I slept with the light on every night, but his presence made me feel more comfortable. The other thing had been the utility bills. The fewer rooms in which I switched on the electrical appliances, the less it would incur to my bills. 

“You can go sleep in the guest room,” I cut him off, annoyed. 

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?” I slammed my pillow down on the bed furiously. His eyes twinkled as he saw my rage.

“Scarlet, you know, you’re actually exquisite when you get angry. It makes me want to…”

Then everything fell silent. I was dizzy for a few seconds before I realised what was going on. 

I found my arms being held down by two muscular arms. Sin had pinned me down easily and his lips were on mine, dominantly conquering them with his fiery mouth. I struggled to move, but an unexplainable, powerful force had me immobilised. My body convulsed, trembling with desire. 

“Scarlet, give in,” he whispered, as if he was chanting an incantation. I felt my arms numb, and he let go abruptly, letting them fall to my sides. His deep gaze in my eyes, which sapped my energy away enthralled me. 

How could a man have such captivating eyes? I screamed in my mind. His hands crept around my bust, slipping down to unbutton my nightgown. The slick movements he made on my body swept through me sensually. While I enjoyed having one-night-stands, none of them felt like what I was going through now. Like earlier, my body craved to be satiated.

Sin, stop it! My mind was yelling, but my body wasn’t listening. I felt my body responding to his every touch on my skin. It was pure torture. How he ran his fingers along my torso, tickled my tips with a feather (which I did not know where he got) and wet me with his fingers. I screamed and cried, begging him to stop and give me the actual thing. The sheets below me were damp now from all his playing.

“I told you.” he smiled and pulled me on top of him. Closing my eyes, I refused to acknowledge that I was crazy for Sin, to take me as hard as he could. I tried to imagine that he was another man, a random sexual encounter, picturing him with an unfamiliar face. But try as I might, I could not. Sin’s face continually bugged me inside my mind, leading me to climax again and again.

“Enough?” Sin nuzzled me after I almost collapsed from exhaustion. I nodded weakly, knowing I could not argue with him.

“Not yet, Scarlet.” 

My knees shook as he took me from the back this time. Really, what had this man just taken? An elixir? His energy seemed so limitless, like he would not run out! Also, the more he did his naughty stuff with me, the more I craved it! Now, what dark twisted magic was that? 

“Scarlet, how was it?” I felt him push his seed deep inside me, and I had no energy to object. Perhaps it would be no worry, since Aunt Flo had just left from her visit less than a week ago. 

“I don’t wish to answer that.” I closed my eyes and pulled the blanket tightly around me. 

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I mean, are you developing feelings for me just yet?”

“I am The Girl Who Will Never Fall in Love. How can I ever like someone?” I mumbled under my breath. 

He seemed to hear me clearly because he replied, “I want to be your lover, Scarlet. I don’t care. But remember, Scarlet, I’m not a gentle lover. I’m a very possessive lover. If someone dares to challenge me for your attention or tries to steal you from me, I won’t hesitate to strike him down.”

I yawned, refusing to listen to a single word more of his nonsense. “Are you done? I’m going to sleep.”

“I mean it, Scarlet.” He kissed me on the lips. “Other than me, I don’t know who can take care of you and healing your wounds. Let me be your lover, Scarlet.”

“Whatever, I’m not listening.” I closed my ears with my hands and turned towards the wall to go to sleep. This Sin had to be out of his mind, I thought. With my tiredness, I soon drifted into slumberland. However, the slumberland I saw was not one of those pastel-coloured dreams filled with clouds. It was dark and lava was oozing over the black earth. Above me, bats circled the black, empty sky. 

Where was I? Was I in Hell?

“Scarlet, I’ll take care of you.” I recognised Sin’s familiar voice and stretched a hand out to him for help. I didn’t want to die yet. I had to make it out of that place alive, even if it meant needing his help.

I heard footsteps as Sin approached, but as he drew close, it flabbergasted me to realise that apart from his seductive eyes and charming facial features; he was not the same Sin I had in my bed. His striking deep red hair reached down to his shoulders, enamouring me with a demonic charm. And on top of his head, I saw what seemed to be… horns?

“Sin, you are...?”

“You’ll understand one day,” he whispered, embracing me tightly. “In your world, humans and demons co-exist, yet you know nothing of who are the surrounding demons. A demon is just as much a citizen as you are, and we live our lives following strict rules. Do not fear, Scarlet.”

I was speechless, unsure what to make of his words. They echoed through my mind a few times, confusing me over and over. Out of the blue, everything around me spun, and my vision turned pitch-black.

“Scarlet, forget what you have seen.”

When I woke up again, I was back on my bed, my body entwined with Sin’s. I scratched my head, but as on previous nights, I could not remember my dreams.

Staring at the fast asleep Sin who had his eyes closed, I returned to sleep.