2015 Prompt Responses - 8. Prompt 395 - Romantic Dinner?

I frowned as I pulled into my driveway. I didn’t remember turning on my porch light that morning. I usually waited until I got home in the evening before turning on any lights in the house. There was a faint glow of light emanating from my living room window, too. I must have been more out of it than I thought this morning.

Today had been a day from hell. I got into a fender bender on the way to work, so I was late for a meeting with important clients. They weren’t impressed and found nothing but fault with my presentation. Needless to say, we didn’t get the contract. My boss chewed me out for an hour in his office. He put the blame squarely on me, even though the majority of the ideas I presented originated from him. The only ideas of mine that my boss deigned to allow me to include were the only ones the potential clients were impressed by. Too bad it wasn’t enough.

To top off this horrible, awful, no-good, very bad day, the Chinese food I stopped to get for dinner ended up all over the floor of my car when I had to brake suddenly for some idiot who cut me off.

I scooped up my briefcase and the overturned Chinese food and headed into my house. I froze when I stepped inside the door. My normally ‘lived-in’ house was spotless; I hadn’t cleaned it in over two weeks. There was a meal sitting on my dining room table. The odors wafting my way informed me it was my favorite – steak and garlic mashed potatoes. Shadows played on the walls from the flickering light of the candles gracing the middle of the table. Looking past the dining room into the kitchen, I observed the bright yellow cheeriness of my favorite flower – daffodils – in a vase next to the sink. Soft, old-school, jazz made the romantic atmosphere complete.

There was only one problem. I was single and lived alone.

I set the bags down softly and turned to exit my house. I was afraid someone was still inside.

“Welcome home, Jason.”

A chill ran down my spine as I turned around to face the speaker. A well-dressed man stood beside the dining room table, holding a single yellow daffodil in his pale hands. He had jet-black hair which stood in stark contrast to his milky white skin. It must have been the way the light hit his complexion; no one was naturally that pale, even in winter.

He chuckled, a low rumbling sound that would have been sexy under other circumstances. “Aren’t you going to say ‘hello’?”

“Hi.” I looked directly into his dark eyes and trembled at the cold amusement I saw there. “Who the hell are you?”

“Manners, Jason, manners.” He took a step towards me.

I wanted to flee, but remained rooted in place. I have no idea why. My brain was screaming at me to run away.

“I’ve prepared your favorite meal. Come and eat it before it gets cold.” He pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit.

Despite every instinct in my body telling me to flee, I found myself moving almost mechanically to the chair and sitting down. The meal looked and smelled incredible. There was a filet mignon crusted with herbs and glistening with sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and broccoli with a cheddar cheese sauce. A glass of red wine accompanied the exquisite meal.

The man sat down across from me. “Dig in. Enjoy!”

“You still haven’t told me your name.”

“My name is Alexander.”

“Why are you doing this? I don’t even know you.”

“Oh, but I know you, Jason. I thought it was time we were properly introduced.”

“How did you get into my house?”

He clucked his tongue disapprovingly. “Let’s not worry about any of that. Eat! I went to a lot of trouble for you today. The least you could do is enjoy my efforts.”

I glanced at the door and weighed my options. I felt like a fool for not running the minute I realized that someone was in my house.

“I can make it to the door well before you can, Jason. I don’t understand why you aren’t digging right in. It is your favorite, after all.” He frowned.

I shook off the chill threatening to overtake me. I was terrified to eat in case the food was poisoned, but was equally as terrified about what this man would do to me if I didn’t. I cut into the steak and it was cooked perfectly – rare, just the way I like it. I have to say that the meal was phenomenal. If I wasn’t petrified, I would have been moaning with every bite.

Alexander was quiet throughout the meal. He sipped his glass of wine as I slowly consumed the meal, watching me the entire time. I hoped that I would survive whatever hell this man was going to put me through. I believed him when he said he could make it to the door before me.

I ate the entire meal because I was afraid not to. Every time I made a motion to set my fork down, Alexander looked at me with disapproval. After I consumed the last bite, he smiled.

“How did you enjoy your last meal?”

I froze. I didn’t expect him to be so direct about his intentions.

“Well?” he demanded.

“It was delicious. You’re a good cook.” I gulped. “What are you going to do to me?” I whispered.

He laughed. It was a chilling, malicious, horrible sound. “I’m going to give you a choice. One that was not offered to me.” He stood up and walked around the table until he was standing directly in front of me.

I was paralyzed with fear. He held out his hand and I felt compelled to take it. I wondered what the hell was wrong with me. His hand was ice cold. He drew me into a standing position and pulled me close to him. He held me and I was rigid in his embrace. His body was rock hard and his touch chilled me to the bone.

“Relax, Jason. I’m not going to hurt you.” He purred into my ear.

My body seemed to have a will of its own as I felt myself relaxing into his embrace, despite feeling anything but relaxed.

“That’s it…my love,” he whispered into my hair.

My love? I knew in that instant that I was going to die. I only hoped he made it quick.

“I’ve been observing you for months. You are so beautiful. That son-of-a-bitch Aaron didn’t deserve you.”

“You know Aaron?” I asked. Aaron was my ex who dumped me about three months ago before moving out of town. I now wondered if Aaron had actually moved.

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore. I took care of him for you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of what this monster had done to my ex. Aaron was a decent guy and didn’t deserve to meet any foul play.

“You mourn him, don’t you? I’m not surprised.” He lay his cheek on my head as he gently swayed in time with the music. “You’re such a caring soul. It’s part of why I fell in love with you.”

The tears cascaded down my cheeks now. Alexander pulled back from me and wiped them away with his freezing hands. “Come now, let’s get more comfortable.” He led me by my hand to my bedroom and my stomach roiled. I didn’t want to be raped.

He pushed me gently down on the bed and climbed next to me, pulling me into his side. He caressed the side of my face with his thumb and ran his hand down my neck. “You are exquisite. Seeing you close up only makes me want you more.” The hunger in his eyes made me want to scream. He leaned in and kissed my neck. He licked and bit his way up and down my neck, before nuzzling into my shoulder, breathing hard. He sat back and looked at me and his eyes were now red. Honest to God red! He smiled, revealing sharp canines.

“I’m going to offer you that choice now…”