Afterlife - Stephanie Hudson Page 0,205

bunch and went back to exploring the room.

I walked over to the large mahogany desk that was now scattered with bits of my life. I moved the papers around until I came to two pictures that sent dread up and down my spine. It felt as though I was being electrocuted by a loose wire I wasn't holding. I moved to hold up the first photo, which was of me in the hospital taken by a nurse for the police. I looked like death warmed up.

I was an utter mess, covered in cuts and bruises marbling over my broken body. I had a sheet that covered my chest but my shoulders were exposed showing ugly red marks and angry welts that went across my neck and bruises, around my arms like bra straps only these were from restraints of a different kind. My face however, only had marks from where I was still traumatised as my eyes were red and sore from the tears that had flowed for days.

But this wasn't the worst sight. No, what made me feel sick to my stomach was seeing my arms both in bloody bandages wrapped up to my elbows showing where each cut had been as they were still weeping. I pushed it onto the floor in disgust knowing that Draven had seen these and it made my heart break a little. The other picture had the opposite effect. It was Morgan’s mug shot. Well of course Morgan wasn't his real name but during my experience it was all I had known him as, so this is how he remained. In this photo he looked like he did when he had taken me....pure evil. When I was in class I had once thought he looked friendly and even kind of handsome but now that memory made me feel sick at my foolish first impression.

He was young for a tutor, being only in his late twenties. He had bronze coloured hair cut back and short and he usually wore a trilby hat when first coming in to lectures. He had a longish face with a pointed chin and a long straight nose to match. However his eyes were the most outstanding feature, as no matter what feelings were behind the smile, his amber coloured eyes never lied. They were always cold as if frozen in a time of pain, one he wouldn't let go of.

I hadn't seen this face for two years but yet I could still remember the horror which it caused, as if it had been only hours ago. I felt as though I couldn't breathe, as reality hit me once more.

This monster was back and it was clear...

He was coming for me.

Chapter 36 - Locked between good and evil

“Are you alright?” Draven's voice broke the spell Morgan's face had over me. I turned still holding the picture in my hand. My wet cheeks showed my distress at what I held. He walked over to me slowly and he looked concerned at my hand which was now going white at the knuckles as I was crushing the paper in my fist. Before he could get to me I dropped the mug shot to the floor and kicked it under the desk before saying,

“Yes...I'm fine, let’s just get this over with.” I then walked passed him resuming my seat and I wiped the tears away with the back of my gloved hand, once I had my back to him.

“I'm not sure you're ready, why don't you...” He said but I cut him off sharply.

“Look, I just want to get this over and done with so I can get the hell out of here and unless you're going to let me go now, I think we should proceed!”

“If you wish” He said sitting, trying to keep his face neutral.

“Yeah, I didn't think so!” I said under my breath but from his expression it looked as if he caught it and its full meaning, but he didn't comment so I continued with my story.

“So where was I?” I asked out loud. For the first time since meeting Draven he looked uncomfortable. He raked his hand through his raven hair and I watched with wide eyes. It was unbelievable. Here I was telling the haunting truth behind my life of lies and I was fantasising about being the one to run my hands through his hair. Was it as soft as it looked?

“You were locking out Demons.” He stated calmly.

“Ah yes, well... now I had a