CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR;

If Only The Laughter Wasn't There,

The Words You Whispered

Can Make Me a Fool.

— 

Morning came.

The sun started illuminating the east of the whole mountain. The light glisten when it touched the water droplets on the leaves of the plants and trees. The morning in a damp forest gave off a mystical feeling.

This time in the morning, the maids of a certain mansion on top of that mountain are busy preparing breakfast and cleaning the kitchen and living room. Some washed the clothes and hung them one by one in the backyard.

Although they are busy and working fastly, they didn't make any unnecessary noise nor they did chatter. They moved carefully and hurriedly as if trying to escape from a monster that is lurking nearby.

Meanwhile, Agnes was standing in front of the door of her room. She can't hear the bustling noises of those people downstairs but she knew they all began working.

Agnes looked at the clock on her bedside table. It was nearing 8 in the morning. It is past breakfast time for her and she was hungry but she didn't dare to go out. Not yet. She can't go out until he's gone. 

With batted breath, she waited for the clock's hand to strike 8. The wait stretched like infinity.

[Tick, tock, tick, tock]

While waiting and listening to the continuous sounds makes her recall everything that happened yesterday.

***

She again saw herself running and panting. She heard a gunshot and she jolted in shock. The sound of the gun was near, he was near.

Before that happened, she was only silently sitting in their living room. He suddenly barged into the mansion with a dark face and stern expression. Instinctively, Agnes knew the monster had appeared again.

 He fished the pistol out from his side and pointed it at her before pulling the trigger. With a pale face, Agnes stood up and stared shakily at the hole where the bullet dug on the sofa. The bullet was near, it almost hit her shoulder.

 Agnes can't forget the expression in his eyes that night. It was like the calm before the storm.

And with a chilly tone and voice, he told her; "Run."

She ran and ran while making her ear listen to that children's song. It was the timer. After the song ends, he will start to hunt.

So as long as the song was still singing, she ran.

***

[KNOCK, KNOCK!]

Agnes jolted and whipped her body to face the door. Her heart was beating loudly against her ribcage that she feared it might escape from her throat. She heard the painful throbs of her heart in her ears.

She stared at the door with wide eyes and a pale face.

"Ma'am?" She heard a muffled sound coming behind the door. Her tense body relaxed and she slowly calmed herself down.

It was just a maid, just a maid.

She repeated it like it was her mantra before exhaling a large amount of air and calming down. "Yes?"

"Breakfast is ready." The maid answered.

Agnes nodded even though she can't see her and glanced briefly at the clock on her bedside table. It was already 8:05, she was drowning in the flashback she didn't even notice the time.

"I'll come down just a minute." She answered and proceeded to tidy her hair. She heard her answer a small 'yes' then her footsteps that were getting further and further away.

Agnes soon opened the door and walked slowly down the corridor. She was vigilant and her eyes were sharp. If her younger self saw her like this, she will surely laugh.

She wasn't her at all. She was completely different.

She didn't let her guard down until she reached the dining area. No one suddenly sneaks behind her back and snakes their arm on her waist, no one suddenly pulled her somewhere and no one suddenly walks towards her and hurts her. No one did, meaning; he wasn't here.

Agnes watched the dining table in relief. Once her guard was down, the aroma of the freshly cooked dishes entered her nose. She started to salivate.

The foods are generously placed on the table. In her 19 years of existence, her parents weren't able to give her these luxuries. He was the only one.

She's been experiencing this kind of luxury even before their wedding. After the day that they first met, he was sending food and items that her family can't afford with their measly income. She felt funny just remembering how she was impatient about marrying him before.

Agnes started feeding herself slowly. She was finishing up when someone suddenly sneaked behind her back.

"Oh, what's this?" A voice asked from behind. Judging from its tone, the person was smiling. Agnes froze in her seat. "What a rare sight."

Without even looking back, Agnes knew it was him instinctively.

Leon watched her freeze with a small smile painted on his lips. He let out a small and low laugh then leaned down. He sneaked his arms on her waist and hugged her from behind. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent. After smelling the familiar scent, he smiled. "Smells good."

Agnes jolted from the contact and she dropped the fork she was holding. It clanked against the floor. She bit her lips to suppress the moan she was about to let out when his lips touched her skin. Unconsciously, she tilted her head to give him move space.

Leon laughed again after she did it and stood up, his gaze was digging in her body.

Agnes flinched and she went back to her consciousness.

"Too bad we can't do it today. I have work on weekends too." Leon said with regret lacing his voice. Agnes took a sneak peek and confirmed that he was wearing his suit.

Agnes didn't reply or talk about anything. She just hung her head down and stayed silent.

Leon frowned from the lack of response. A cold glint flashed in his eyes and he forcedly used his hands to make her face him. He saw the shock in her pale green eyes.

"Do you know what a proper wife will say at this moment?" He whispered in her ears, taunting. "Come on, Agnes. Say it. You're my wife, aren't you?"

Her inside trembled and she grabbed the hand that was gripping tightly on her jaw. "G-good b-bye...?"

Leon stayed silent for a while before letting out a laugh. He loosens the grip on her jaw and caresses her face with both hands. "And? What's more?"

Hearing him ask for more, Agnes forcedly made her mind think. "... S-stay safe? Break a- uh, a leg?"

"And?" This time, his thumb was caressing her lips. It was still chunky, but better than yesterday night.

"... And?"

He laughed at her cluelessness. "Don't tell me you've already forgotten about what you always say before and after we got married? Oh, right, come to think of it, you haven't said that phrase for a while now. Come one Agnes, say it."

Agnes bit her lips when she finally remembered the phrase he was referring to. He worriedly made her lips part and told her not to bite them because they will bleed. Agnes remained deaf to his words. Her mind was in tormoil.

"Agnes? Didn't you say that you'll do your best to be a better and more suitable wife for me? Why aren't you saying it?" Coldness flashed in his eyes. Agnes panicked that her breath hitched. "Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

"I-I" she said reluctantly. She was scared and she was visible palling. She can't afford to provoke him, especially now that his urges calmed down. She can't let that monster appear again.

Resigning to her fate, she closed her eyes and told him with a small and barely audible voice. "I love you."

 In the next second, she opened her eyes in shock.

Leon pressed his lips to hers. He was kissing her. Agnes froze and she failed to respond to them but he didn't mind. The kiss didn't last long. Their lips parted and he stared at her dead in the eyes. "I love you too."

He stood up and started to walk away, leaving his words still hanging in the air. Agnes stared blankly at the door where he left and smiled bitterly.

Leon, if only there wasn't laughter in your eyes when you uttered those words, I could have believed them.

—

Her day passed like a flash, and night came.

Agnes was already fast asleep on her bed when the mattress next to her sunk as if someone was stepping on it. She groaned and her consciousness was fighting between sleeping and staying awake.

Suddenly, warm hands were snaking their way into her clothes. Agnes was pulled awake and she jolted away from the perpetrator but he caught her arms and brought them up to her head.

Agnes stifled a cry and she can only flail her legs to fight him when he climbed on top of her.

"Shh." Said the low voice. She recognized it in a matter of seconds.

She shouted a name inside her head. 'Leon?!'

Leon's face was illuminated by the moon's ray that was peeking from the gaps of the curtains. He was smiling down at her. Because of the light, she noticed that he wasn't wearing anything but pants.

"Hello Agnes, sorry if I'm late." He started off slowly. "I have come to get what I want earlier but can't because of work... So, please be obedient and just lay down."

Before she can even say anything, he leaned over and kissed her. Her eyes widen and she struggled in horror.

She knew, clear as day, that it will begin again. Her hell.

—