Uninvited Part One
Title: Uninvited
Author: Twilight
Feedback: Always welcome
Summary: A quiet weekend with a friend turns into a waking nightmare. Can they survive the uninvited?
Notes: So I started this story a few years ago and then lost interest. I found it on a floppy, yes a floppy disk and thought now might be the time to dust it off and get ‘er done. Since this is supposed to be scary, I’m hoping to get it done by Halloween.
*~*~*
I saw her again today.
She was coming out of the little coffee shop on Chelsea holding two steaming cups of coffee. The Daily Grind was new to the U and lots of students and staff alike flocked through the doors on a daily basis, seeking a pick me up or maybe just a chance to socialize around the cozy little tables and soft leather chairs.
The place was crowded as usual, but that was okay. It let me get closer to her. I was just another faceless body in the crowd, accidentally bumping against her shoulder, nodding as she said a hurried ‘sorry’ and stepped down the curb and crossed the street.
I followed close behind but she was too engrossed in her own life to pay me much attention. She stopped in front of the large building near the quad. A huge flowing fountain drowned out her conversation with another beautiful blonde but it gave me the chance to veer around her and continue up the steps, stopping at the top and bending, pretending to tie my shoes.
She walked by me without a second glance, but I took her in, memorized her features once again as she crossed so close in front of me.
Her golden hair was a little longer then when I first saw her. And she was still a little too thin for my liking; no wonder considering she was always eating at that vegetarian dive at the end of her road.
That place should be condemned. The waitress’ always seemed to be high or maybe they were just all into that new age shit. Flowing dresses and greasy hair…Either way how can anyone survive on lettuce and tofu?
Just as the heavy entrance doors were closing, she glanced over her shoulder as if she sensed someone was watching and then she went up the steps instead of using the rickety old elevator.
I can’t really blame her. It was scary to be stuck in that box…The heat full blast. She had to take off her raincoat and then her sweater. I could clearly see her lovely assets through the light silk fabric of her shirt…pert breast and flat tummy. She had a fine sheen of sweat covering her throat and down the curve of her chest, disappearing into the yellow blouse…delicious.
But that was last week and I know I didn’t have a lot of time. So for now I’ll continue to watch…but soon…soon she’ll get to know me as I’ve gotten to know her. Over these last few months and I KNOW she’ll love me.
She HAS to love me.
They all do…
*~*~*
Blair closed the file he was skimming, stacking it with the others on his desk. "I think I'm calling it quits, Paula.”
God, this has been the longest Friday ever.
He was so ready to head home. The drizzle outside was threatening to turn into a downpour.
Another rainy day in beautiful Cascade.
“Um,” he looked toward his assistant, mustering his best seductive smile. “Why don't you call me this weekend and I’ll take you to lunch…as a thank you for all your help."
Paula pushed the file cabinet closed with her hip, the ancient metal sliders squealing in protest. She had been helping him out for a couple of months now and they’d been dancing around each other ever since. He had taken her on a few dates, but so far nothing had come of it.
She leaned against the cabinet, seemingly considering his request.
When they had first met, she was a friend of a friend; they had hit it off almost immediately. She was in her senior year, so a few years younger than him, but still, they seemed to have a lot in common.
And it didn’t hurt that she was drop dead gorgeous, long legs and shapely body, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Thanks,” she finally said. “But I've got plans this weekend.” She reached across the desk, brushing slightly against him to grab her coat, draping it causally over her arm as she stood. She smiled at him again, her pretty upturned mouth rounding her rosy cheeks.
Blair, being a student of human behavior, clearly read the signals she was sending him.
But he couldn’t muster up the strength to go out tonight. The past week was hard. He had his own classes to attend and some to teach and it took longer then he expected to write up his proposal.
What he really wanted was a hot shower, something hot in his belly and a good night’s sleep cuddled up in his grandma’s quilt.
But then she started to put her coat on, stretching the silk fabric of her blouse over her breasts. Something familiar and missing of late stirred in his gut and he considered asking her again, knowing that a little persuasion was all that was needed.
They’ve been playing this game of seduction for a few weeks now.
Maybe a compliment on her lavender blouse, which she filled out nicely he might add or maybe…at that moment she kicked off her high heel shoes and placed one bare foot on the visitor chair.
He watched in silence, all thoughts fleeing, as she pulled on her black leather boots, slowly, one at a time.
When she was finished fortifying herself for the weather outside Blair cleared his throat, "Umm…” But he really was tired and sometimes the thought of hearth and home trumped hormones. “…Maybe next week, than. I would love to pay you back for all your help."
He stood, pushing away from his cluttered desk, after a few awkward seconds and walked her to the door, gently taking her by the arm.
“Sounds great.” She said, but sounded disappointed. “I’ll see you later Blair and good luck.”
“Oh, thanks…I think I got it covered though and hey, thanks for the coffee. I haven’t been to the ‘Grind’ yet, but I hear good things.”
“It’s no problem,” she told him, turning to go. His hand dropped from her arm, back to his side. He watched her walk down the barren hall before returning to his desk to get his grant proposal.
File in hand he tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash, grabbed up his worn backpack, and dug into his pants pocket, searching for his keys.
Once his office was secure he took the elevator up to Shiller's office.
Debbie, Shiller's assistant, informed him that he had just missed the head of the department, so he left his proposal with her.
Back in the hall he waited for the elevator. Minutes later the door opened and he joined other weary faced people in the car, standing closest to the panel of lighted numbers. They all rode together in silence until the elevator doors parted, deposited them on the ground level of Hargrove Hall.
The rain picked up as he slid into his car, sheets streaked his windshield and his wipers could hardly keep up, but luckily traffic was pretty light since he had longed missed rush hour.
Treading down the hall to his home, he unlocked the door, but Jim wasn’t there yet.
The blinking light on the answering machine beckoned him and he pressed the little black button. Jim’s voice came over the line, letting him know that he was going to be working over, checking out a lead on a case he and Henry were working on.
Blair stood by the phone for a second or two, dripping onto the hardwood floor.
Why did it always pour when it was time to get out of the car? Never fails.
On the way home the rain had lightened a bit. That was until he had turned onto his street.
The space around him was still and quiet, only the ticking of the clock in the kitchen could be heard.
He hadn’t even turned on any light when he came in. A sudden chill swept up his spin as he moved to turn on the lamp in the living room. The light hardly illuminated the space, casting shadows in every corner.
The chill stayed with him as he went to the wall in the hallway, bumping up the thermostat, hearing the heat kick on.
He thought he’d only run it until he was out of the shower.
His room was the same mess as when he had left it early that morning. Clean and dirty clothes alike littered the floor but he didn’t have the energy to pick them up right now. Tomorrow was Saturday…he could clean up on Saturday.
Oh, who am I kiddin’. I can’t leave this room like this without hearing about it.
Reaching forward, he turned on his stereo. The soothing sounds of the rain forest filled the tiny space as he unbuttoned his shirt. Peeling the damp fabric from his arms, he also stripped out of his pants and boxers, tossing his socks and the rest of his clothes into his empty hamper.
The trip down the hall in his birthday suit raised goose bumps on his arms and legs, but soon he was in the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind him.
The water was hot as he stood under the stray, taking his time to lather his cool flesh and then rinsing off. He washed his hair, and then stood under the spray for a while until the chill left his body.
Blair went back to his room with a towel around his head and one around his hips, drying quickly to conserve the heat from his shower. He found some sweatpants and a hooded shirt, pilfered his closet, searching for his running shows, only to spot them sticking out from under his unmade bed.
He had time before Jim got home to do some laundry, maybe get his room into some kind of order. He grabbed his hamper and jogged up the steps to get Jim’s. Just as he was coming down again the phone rang. He picked up the receiver, balancing the hamper against his hip and the phone between his shoulder and ear, “Hello?”
“Um, hey Blair…it’s Paula.”
“Hey Paula! What’s up?”
“Well, you remember those plans I mentioned? I’m driving up to my parent’s house for the weekend and well…my car died. I don’t want to impose, but I was thinking that maybe you’d like to go on a little road trip with me. I can pay gas and buy you dinner for your troubles. Once we get there my mom will be happy to feed us…”
Blair thought about it as he grabbed some socks that here suck in the couch cushions. How in the world…Jim would have loved that.
He really didn’t have any responsibilities this weekend. Jim was working a case without him because he needed to get his proposal in. The most exciting thing he had planned was sacking out on the couch and watching a few movies. “I don’t have any plans,” he told her. “But are you sure your parents won’t mind?”
“Oh, no…they’d love to meet you.”
“Um, okay…when do we leave?”
Blair listened as Paula told him they needed to be on the road by six the next morning. The drive to her parent’s place in Tacoma would take a few hours. “Sounds like a plan.” He dropped the basket, detouring to his room to grab his overnight bag, figuring he could pack his clothes as they came out of the dryer. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
“Thanks Blair. You’re a real life saver.”
He hung up and took the hamper to the basement to start the wash.
He didn’t yet know it, but before the end of the weekend he would come to find that Paula’s parting words were a little too optimistic.
*~*~*
I come in here a couple of times a week, but only when he is on shift.
This bar is a real hole in the wall, but as long as I can keep an eye on my man...I'll endure.
He looked my way a few times and even poured me a drink, whiskey, neat. Of course I was so taken with him, I could hardly say thank you.
I felt so stupid and childish.
Right now he is flirting with some tart at the end of the bar. I don't like it...but for now, I'll just have to be patient and wait.
Soon.
Very soon, I won't have to be patient. I think I'll pay him a visit tonight.
He is so handsome when he sleeps.
*~*~*
As crime scenes go, this one was pretty bad.
The body was a bloody mess, the corpse still sat at the dining room table with his breakfast in front of him. He was dressed in a ratty robe and had on worn slippers. A thin rope was tied around his neck and he had several stab wounds in his back; one of which still had a steak knife protruding from it.
"Were you first on scene...Officer Mallory?" Jim asked, eyeing the officers name badge.
"Yes. The call came in around 5:00 this evening. His friend was supposed to pick him up for a poker game and when he didn’t get an answer he let himself in with a spare key given to him by the victim.
Name is John Parker, a bartender at the Roxie on 5th and Dale. Last seen leaving the bar after his shift at 2:30 this morning. The friend, Jamie Conner, last spoke with the victim at 11:00 this morning."
"Hmm...look at this.” Henry bent down and looked at the bowl and souring milk in front of the corpse. “A grown man eating Lucky Charms. Sure didn't bring him any luck. Shredded Wheat. Now that is the way to go.”
“Take Conner’s statement.” Jim told the officer. “I’ll be over to talk with him in a few minutes.” The uniform left to talk to the witness as Jim looked around, his eyes scanning but seeing nothing that would suggest a break in.
Brown had wandered into the kitchen as Jim looked over the living room for anything out of the norm.
He wished Blair would have been with him. At least then he might have found something using his…talents. But his friend was very busy this past week and Jim could understand…not that he liked it all that much.
Before long, Henry called him to the kitchen. “Take a look at this, man.”
In the kitchen on the counter lay a single long stemmed rose.
Brown picked up the red rose in a gloved hand. “Oh man…looks like he finally made his way to Cascade.”
Jim nodded, pulling out his cell and dialing into the station. He reported his findings, requesting the information be passed along to his captain and asking for an ETA for the coroner and forensic team.
“They’re about fifteen minutes out. There’s a bad accident on the I-5 so they have to take the back roads.”
Jim went outside in the rain, finding Officer Mallory standing under the awning, writing something in his field notebook. “I need you to start the canvas now. More men will be arriving soon to help. Check every house and question the Looky Lou’s too. When forensics gets here have them take pictures of the crowd.”
The man raised an eyebrow, but tucked his notebook back into his shirt pocket. “You got it, man.”
Back in the house he found Brown standing over the body. “You think it’s really him, man?” Brown stooped, looking at the bowl of cereal again. “If it is, his MO has changed. This guys a bloody mess, but if it’s the same perp, he got off easy.”
“Could be a copy cat, but the press hasn’t been given all the details.” Jim said. “They didn’t mention that a rose was left at the scenes in Seattle or Tacoma.”
Either way, it looked like they were in for a long night.
*~*~*
Part Two
Author: Twilight
Feedback: Always welcome
Summary: A quiet weekend with a friend turns into a waking nightmare. Can they survive the uninvited?
Notes: So I started this story a few years ago and then lost interest. I found it on a floppy, yes a floppy disk and thought now might be the time to dust it off and get ‘er done. Since this is supposed to be scary, I’m hoping to get it done by Halloween.
*~*~*
I saw her again today.
She was coming out of the little coffee shop on Chelsea holding two steaming cups of coffee. The Daily Grind was new to the U and lots of students and staff alike flocked through the doors on a daily basis, seeking a pick me up or maybe just a chance to socialize around the cozy little tables and soft leather chairs.
The place was crowded as usual, but that was okay. It let me get closer to her. I was just another faceless body in the crowd, accidentally bumping against her shoulder, nodding as she said a hurried ‘sorry’ and stepped down the curb and crossed the street.
I followed close behind but she was too engrossed in her own life to pay me much attention. She stopped in front of the large building near the quad. A huge flowing fountain drowned out her conversation with another beautiful blonde but it gave me the chance to veer around her and continue up the steps, stopping at the top and bending, pretending to tie my shoes.
She walked by me without a second glance, but I took her in, memorized her features once again as she crossed so close in front of me.
Her golden hair was a little longer then when I first saw her. And she was still a little too thin for my liking; no wonder considering she was always eating at that vegetarian dive at the end of her road.
That place should be condemned. The waitress’ always seemed to be high or maybe they were just all into that new age shit. Flowing dresses and greasy hair…Either way how can anyone survive on lettuce and tofu?
Just as the heavy entrance doors were closing, she glanced over her shoulder as if she sensed someone was watching and then she went up the steps instead of using the rickety old elevator.
I can’t really blame her. It was scary to be stuck in that box…The heat full blast. She had to take off her raincoat and then her sweater. I could clearly see her lovely assets through the light silk fabric of her shirt…pert breast and flat tummy. She had a fine sheen of sweat covering her throat and down the curve of her chest, disappearing into the yellow blouse…delicious.
But that was last week and I know I didn’t have a lot of time. So for now I’ll continue to watch…but soon…soon she’ll get to know me as I’ve gotten to know her. Over these last few months and I KNOW she’ll love me.
She HAS to love me.
They all do…
*~*~*
Blair closed the file he was skimming, stacking it with the others on his desk. "I think I'm calling it quits, Paula.”
God, this has been the longest Friday ever.
He was so ready to head home. The drizzle outside was threatening to turn into a downpour.
Another rainy day in beautiful Cascade.
“Um,” he looked toward his assistant, mustering his best seductive smile. “Why don't you call me this weekend and I’ll take you to lunch…as a thank you for all your help."
Paula pushed the file cabinet closed with her hip, the ancient metal sliders squealing in protest. She had been helping him out for a couple of months now and they’d been dancing around each other ever since. He had taken her on a few dates, but so far nothing had come of it.
She leaned against the cabinet, seemingly considering his request.
When they had first met, she was a friend of a friend; they had hit it off almost immediately. She was in her senior year, so a few years younger than him, but still, they seemed to have a lot in common.
And it didn’t hurt that she was drop dead gorgeous, long legs and shapely body, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Thanks,” she finally said. “But I've got plans this weekend.” She reached across the desk, brushing slightly against him to grab her coat, draping it causally over her arm as she stood. She smiled at him again, her pretty upturned mouth rounding her rosy cheeks.
Blair, being a student of human behavior, clearly read the signals she was sending him.
But he couldn’t muster up the strength to go out tonight. The past week was hard. He had his own classes to attend and some to teach and it took longer then he expected to write up his proposal.
What he really wanted was a hot shower, something hot in his belly and a good night’s sleep cuddled up in his grandma’s quilt.
But then she started to put her coat on, stretching the silk fabric of her blouse over her breasts. Something familiar and missing of late stirred in his gut and he considered asking her again, knowing that a little persuasion was all that was needed.
They’ve been playing this game of seduction for a few weeks now.
Maybe a compliment on her lavender blouse, which she filled out nicely he might add or maybe…at that moment she kicked off her high heel shoes and placed one bare foot on the visitor chair.
He watched in silence, all thoughts fleeing, as she pulled on her black leather boots, slowly, one at a time.
When she was finished fortifying herself for the weather outside Blair cleared his throat, "Umm…” But he really was tired and sometimes the thought of hearth and home trumped hormones. “…Maybe next week, than. I would love to pay you back for all your help."
He stood, pushing away from his cluttered desk, after a few awkward seconds and walked her to the door, gently taking her by the arm.
“Sounds great.” She said, but sounded disappointed. “I’ll see you later Blair and good luck.”
“Oh, thanks…I think I got it covered though and hey, thanks for the coffee. I haven’t been to the ‘Grind’ yet, but I hear good things.”
“It’s no problem,” she told him, turning to go. His hand dropped from her arm, back to his side. He watched her walk down the barren hall before returning to his desk to get his grant proposal.
File in hand he tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash, grabbed up his worn backpack, and dug into his pants pocket, searching for his keys.
Once his office was secure he took the elevator up to Shiller's office.
Debbie, Shiller's assistant, informed him that he had just missed the head of the department, so he left his proposal with her.
Back in the hall he waited for the elevator. Minutes later the door opened and he joined other weary faced people in the car, standing closest to the panel of lighted numbers. They all rode together in silence until the elevator doors parted, deposited them on the ground level of Hargrove Hall.
The rain picked up as he slid into his car, sheets streaked his windshield and his wipers could hardly keep up, but luckily traffic was pretty light since he had longed missed rush hour.
Treading down the hall to his home, he unlocked the door, but Jim wasn’t there yet.
The blinking light on the answering machine beckoned him and he pressed the little black button. Jim’s voice came over the line, letting him know that he was going to be working over, checking out a lead on a case he and Henry were working on.
Blair stood by the phone for a second or two, dripping onto the hardwood floor.
Why did it always pour when it was time to get out of the car? Never fails.
On the way home the rain had lightened a bit. That was until he had turned onto his street.
The space around him was still and quiet, only the ticking of the clock in the kitchen could be heard.
He hadn’t even turned on any light when he came in. A sudden chill swept up his spin as he moved to turn on the lamp in the living room. The light hardly illuminated the space, casting shadows in every corner.
The chill stayed with him as he went to the wall in the hallway, bumping up the thermostat, hearing the heat kick on.
He thought he’d only run it until he was out of the shower.
His room was the same mess as when he had left it early that morning. Clean and dirty clothes alike littered the floor but he didn’t have the energy to pick them up right now. Tomorrow was Saturday…he could clean up on Saturday.
Oh, who am I kiddin’. I can’t leave this room like this without hearing about it.
Reaching forward, he turned on his stereo. The soothing sounds of the rain forest filled the tiny space as he unbuttoned his shirt. Peeling the damp fabric from his arms, he also stripped out of his pants and boxers, tossing his socks and the rest of his clothes into his empty hamper.
The trip down the hall in his birthday suit raised goose bumps on his arms and legs, but soon he was in the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind him.
The water was hot as he stood under the stray, taking his time to lather his cool flesh and then rinsing off. He washed his hair, and then stood under the spray for a while until the chill left his body.
Blair went back to his room with a towel around his head and one around his hips, drying quickly to conserve the heat from his shower. He found some sweatpants and a hooded shirt, pilfered his closet, searching for his running shows, only to spot them sticking out from under his unmade bed.
He had time before Jim got home to do some laundry, maybe get his room into some kind of order. He grabbed his hamper and jogged up the steps to get Jim’s. Just as he was coming down again the phone rang. He picked up the receiver, balancing the hamper against his hip and the phone between his shoulder and ear, “Hello?”
“Um, hey Blair…it’s Paula.”
“Hey Paula! What’s up?”
“Well, you remember those plans I mentioned? I’m driving up to my parent’s house for the weekend and well…my car died. I don’t want to impose, but I was thinking that maybe you’d like to go on a little road trip with me. I can pay gas and buy you dinner for your troubles. Once we get there my mom will be happy to feed us…”
Blair thought about it as he grabbed some socks that here suck in the couch cushions. How in the world…Jim would have loved that.
He really didn’t have any responsibilities this weekend. Jim was working a case without him because he needed to get his proposal in. The most exciting thing he had planned was sacking out on the couch and watching a few movies. “I don’t have any plans,” he told her. “But are you sure your parents won’t mind?”
“Oh, no…they’d love to meet you.”
“Um, okay…when do we leave?”
Blair listened as Paula told him they needed to be on the road by six the next morning. The drive to her parent’s place in Tacoma would take a few hours. “Sounds like a plan.” He dropped the basket, detouring to his room to grab his overnight bag, figuring he could pack his clothes as they came out of the dryer. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
“Thanks Blair. You’re a real life saver.”
He hung up and took the hamper to the basement to start the wash.
He didn’t yet know it, but before the end of the weekend he would come to find that Paula’s parting words were a little too optimistic.
*~*~*
I come in here a couple of times a week, but only when he is on shift.
This bar is a real hole in the wall, but as long as I can keep an eye on my man...I'll endure.
He looked my way a few times and even poured me a drink, whiskey, neat. Of course I was so taken with him, I could hardly say thank you.
I felt so stupid and childish.
Right now he is flirting with some tart at the end of the bar. I don't like it...but for now, I'll just have to be patient and wait.
Soon.
Very soon, I won't have to be patient. I think I'll pay him a visit tonight.
He is so handsome when he sleeps.
*~*~*
As crime scenes go, this one was pretty bad.
The body was a bloody mess, the corpse still sat at the dining room table with his breakfast in front of him. He was dressed in a ratty robe and had on worn slippers. A thin rope was tied around his neck and he had several stab wounds in his back; one of which still had a steak knife protruding from it.
"Were you first on scene...Officer Mallory?" Jim asked, eyeing the officers name badge.
"Yes. The call came in around 5:00 this evening. His friend was supposed to pick him up for a poker game and when he didn’t get an answer he let himself in with a spare key given to him by the victim.
Name is John Parker, a bartender at the Roxie on 5th and Dale. Last seen leaving the bar after his shift at 2:30 this morning. The friend, Jamie Conner, last spoke with the victim at 11:00 this morning."
"Hmm...look at this.” Henry bent down and looked at the bowl and souring milk in front of the corpse. “A grown man eating Lucky Charms. Sure didn't bring him any luck. Shredded Wheat. Now that is the way to go.”
“Take Conner’s statement.” Jim told the officer. “I’ll be over to talk with him in a few minutes.” The uniform left to talk to the witness as Jim looked around, his eyes scanning but seeing nothing that would suggest a break in.
Brown had wandered into the kitchen as Jim looked over the living room for anything out of the norm.
He wished Blair would have been with him. At least then he might have found something using his…talents. But his friend was very busy this past week and Jim could understand…not that he liked it all that much.
Before long, Henry called him to the kitchen. “Take a look at this, man.”
In the kitchen on the counter lay a single long stemmed rose.
Brown picked up the red rose in a gloved hand. “Oh man…looks like he finally made his way to Cascade.”
Jim nodded, pulling out his cell and dialing into the station. He reported his findings, requesting the information be passed along to his captain and asking for an ETA for the coroner and forensic team.
“They’re about fifteen minutes out. There’s a bad accident on the I-5 so they have to take the back roads.”
Jim went outside in the rain, finding Officer Mallory standing under the awning, writing something in his field notebook. “I need you to start the canvas now. More men will be arriving soon to help. Check every house and question the Looky Lou’s too. When forensics gets here have them take pictures of the crowd.”
The man raised an eyebrow, but tucked his notebook back into his shirt pocket. “You got it, man.”
Back in the house he found Brown standing over the body. “You think it’s really him, man?” Brown stooped, looking at the bowl of cereal again. “If it is, his MO has changed. This guys a bloody mess, but if it’s the same perp, he got off easy.”
“Could be a copy cat, but the press hasn’t been given all the details.” Jim said. “They didn’t mention that a rose was left at the scenes in Seattle or Tacoma.”
Either way, it looked like they were in for a long night.
*~*~*
Part Two