DAHLIA I gasped at his words. The pain and regret he felt was clear in those gorgeous hazel eyes of his. I felt a wave of sadness wash over me for Elizabeth. "Did they ever catch the culprits?" I asked. He shook his head. "She refused to go to the police. They wanted to send the video to her parents and demand a ransom but she told them to send it to me instead. She didn’t want her parents to see that. Her mother is a heart patient, and any stress can be fatal." I frowned. That was understandable, but she could have told the police and kept it confidential. I felt sorry for Elizabeth, however, I couldn't shake the feeling that something didn’t add up. The guilt that consumed Dane was clear. "It wasn’t your fault." I said firmly. "It was, I left her there-" “It wasn’t your fault Dane, you did not leave her there knowing that would happen. You didn’t commit that horrific act against her, they did.” I said firmly.

DAHLIA Sparks. Strong tingling sparks rushed through me when his lips met mine. I gasped as pleasure consumed me. It was the first time we kissed when we weren’t drunk, or in my case, angry. It was consensual and I wanted this. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged him closer, trying to remember not to press against his arm. It was everything I could wish for and more. My entire body felt like it had been lit by a tingling sparkler and my core throbbed as his lips caressed mine. A soft moan fell from my lips. He tasted of fine wine mixed with fresh mint. I wanted more, needed more. He deepened the kiss as if understanding what I needed, his lips dominating mine. I didn’t care when I moaned sensually. He was doing things to me, and he had only kissed me. I boldly ran my tongue along his lips, I wanted to taste him. He parted his lips and I slipped my tongue in. Exploring every inch. I felt him groan quietly as he sucked on my tongue. I s

DANE After the kiss we shared on Saturday night, I had thought that maybe we were going to go forward from here. I was ready to push aside my own issues and not judge Dahlia for the way other people of her status behaved. But then yesterday she said something was missing from her memory, something that took place twenty-three years ago… Was it coincidental that my aunt was driven to commit suicide or was killed? There were too many coincidences surrounding Dahlia, this house, the timing… I didn’t want to believe it, but how much longer could I ignore the facts? I couldn't take things further, not until I knew the truth. That kiss shouldn’t have happened. I needed to look around the house for clues and then I needed to get out of here. As soon as possible. It was now Monday and Dahlia had left for work. I decided I really needed to look around, the only problem were the staff. Someone or other was always around, but I couldn't waste any more time. When the mor

DAHLIA   I opened the box gingerly, slipping my finger under it and flipping it up. I breathed a sigh of relief, seeing it just contained packaging foam peanuts and a few polaroid’s stuck in the middle - I really didn’t want to have to face another dead rat again. I reached for the pictures, scooping them up. I gasped as I felt something tickle my finger. I was about to brush it away when I saw a horrifyingly large spider crawl up my hand, scarily fast. It was two inches long and my heart plummeted. Fear drowning me, I let out a piercing scream, whacking it off. I felt a sharp sting on my hand before it went flying. My heart was thumping wildly as I stumbled back, seeing another crawl out of the box. "Mama!" I heard Aria call. "I'm ok, I just slipped." I lied, backing away from the large atrocities. My hand stung but I was too focused on thinking about how to kill them. Hurrying forward, I crushed the first spider beneath my foot.

DAHLIA   I said it, wording the feelings that inflicted and caused a storm within me. I couldn't stop myself. Seeing the worry and concern in him as he held my hand, made me falter. When he told me he’d be there for me, I wanted to believe it. To hope he’d never get angry and leave. I was terrified of having my heart broken again but I was also terrified of losing him. I’d hold on to him for as long as possible, to hope I could win his heart someday. His thick lashed eyes were filled with surprise at my words, before they seemed to darken, and I saw the emotions in them. "I’m sorry for getting angry." His deep voice came. He let go of my hand and instead caressed my hair. Leaning forward, he placed his forehead on mine. My breath hitched and my heart thumped at his closeness. "It’s ok, you had every right-" "No. I didn’t. I didn’t let you speak and left when you needed me. There were other things that were bothering me." H