CHASE
5

'Sofia.' He had said her name with such intensity that you would think he was talking about his long lost wife. I'd laid in bed for hours thinking about our very short conversation last night. It was the most he'd ever talked to me. Apart from his threats, his responses about his family got me even more intrigued. His sister was adopted. He killed his parents because they weren't any use to him but I'm sure that's not all of it. Something tells me, he took a big chunk out of the reason why he killed his parents and exactly who was Sofia to him? Why did he seem so pained to say her name? Everything about him was so mysterious yet it had me going back for more. I knew that it was none of my business nor my concern to try and figure him out but the more I tried to back myself out of it, the more I wanted in.

'Earth to Bella.' Dad waved his hand in front of my face and zoned me back into my reality. 'Are you even listening?' Annoyance was evidence in his sharp features. His brown brown eyes lacked motivation to continue the conversation with me, which I was very glad for. He'd been rambling on about how I shouldn't be visiting a psychopath because it's not safe. Pointing out each and every single danger that I could be in. Mum on the other hand, she sat back and observed us with a worried expression. 'I don't get the big deal Dad. He's literally locked up in a hell hole sick of his life, plus, I always have my heat sensor bracelet.' Even though every time I was scared, it never worked or alerted the guards but Dad didn't need to know that. 'I don't want you seeing him! Period.' He shoved on his jacket and strode out of the house, clearly irritated by my behaviour. 'Mum!' I turned over to her to complain. 'I'm 19 ok? Technically I'm an adult and can make my own decisions.' I knew I was being a baby but I really didn't see the big deal.

'Bella, hunny. Your dads right, you don't know what this man is capable of doing. I understand that being back in Becca's room makes you feel closer to her or maybe even talking to this stranger makes you feel somewhat closer to her too but it's not worth the risk baby.' I hated that they thought I couldn't defend myself if it came down to it. Yes he overpowered me by a lot but I knew how to defend myself. Being powerful didn't have to depend on strength, you could overpower someone with smartness and I don't want to brag but, I am pretty smart.

'Ok whatever, I'll drop by some time when I get the chance, bye mum.'

'Be careful sweety, love you.'

'Love you.' And with that, I walked out of the house, heading straight to where Dad had banned me from going. Internally smirking, I felt like a child being a rebel.

'Good afternoon, Bella.' I was surprised that Chase was the one to greet me first. He usually didn't say a word when I walked in. 'Well, that's a first, good afternoon to you too Mr Ashworth.' I shot him a sarcastic smile and set my bag down on the table then took my assigned seat on the floor. He must be wondering why I always sit on the floor, I'm not too sure myself. When I visited Becca, I always laid in bed with her and obviously I can't do that with him so I'd rather sit on the floor, using the chairs would feel.. weird.

'About that pizza.' He spoke out as soon as he saw me seeing the pizza box in the bin. 'You didn't eat it huh.' I finished off his sentence for him. He sure as hell didn't seem sorry about it. But then again, he's done worse and haven't been sorry about it.. or has he? I wondered if he was ever sorry about what he'd done. I know that psychopaths don't feel guilt but what if they do and they're just in denial? I watched him carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike him with my everlasting questions. I wasn't down for chit chat today either, I wanted some answers. God, I sounded like a therapist. 'What are you waiting for?' He folded his arms across his chest, the muscles on his biceps bulging out from beneath his short sleeved black t-shirt. The look of the veins scattered across his arms alone would intimidate a person, let alone his entire existence.

'What?' Lifting a brow, I tried to figure out what he was referring to but then he answered it for me. 'Your questions, what are you waiting for? Ask away.' Oops. Looks like I'd been caught. He barely knew me and yet he knew exactly what I was thinking, that scared me.

'What was your relationship with them like? Your parents I mean.' I jumped straight into it, not beating around the bush, he didn't seem like the beat around the bush type of person. 'Who?' He casually asked, I'm pretty sure I had just said, his parents.

'Your parents.'

'I've never had parents.' He noticed the frown on my face, he killed his parents so he obviously had to have one to kill one.

'They weren't my parents, Bella. I was an orphan and they happened to take me in.' I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. Although he seemed relaxed by his statement, it must've hurt. Not to have parents, to grow up without a real mum and dad. Every child needs one.

'I'm sorry.' I awkwardly fiddled with the tip of my hair, feeling like I was over stepping my boundaries with this man. 'No reason to be.' He stood up and yanked his shirt off, catching me off guard. My heart was pounding in my chest. I watched him carefully until I realised he was about to work out. Getting down on the floor he started to do some push ups, leaving me sitting here awkward as hell.

'What was the real reason you killed your parents Chase?' I tried to keep my mind busy and away from thoughts about the fact that his body was a piece of art. 'You're starting to sound like my therapist.' He dodged the question again, casually doing push ups with one hand and then switching to the other.

'What was the reason why you killed those eight other victims?' He glanced at me for a split second then let out a small laugh that faded way too quick. 'Victims.' He repeated, as if he was mocking my choice of words. 'What would you call them?'

'Nothing, they're not worth being named or titled.' Wow. He hated them that much? His hatred towards them was obvious, but the reason why? I had yet to replace out.

He stood up and started doing some other workout. Before he could continue, I had to ask him. 'What's that tattoo on your back?' His body tensed up at my question, clearly the tattoo was important to him, so I pushed. 'Can I touch it?' He turned and faced me, small sweat already forming on his glistening tan skin. 'No.' He stood there, daring me to try him, so I did. 'Why?' I stood up and inched closer to him, it was my turn to invade his personal space. 'I promise, it'll be one touch.' I stepped a little closer and I could already see every muscle in his body tensing up. 'I promise.' Repeating my word, I hoped that he wouldn't fight me. To my surprise, he turned around and stood there, my eyes scanned every detail of his back and his tattoo, he stilled when I ran my finger across his skin. It felt bumpy and hard, when I took a clearer look, there were small scars all over beneath the tattoo. So that's what he was hiding. The scars. I promised that I'd only touch once so I kept my hands to myself, but I stepped closer and studied the small scars, there was so many of them, just where the tattoo was. It looked like some sort of writing.

'What is that?' I slapped my hand across my mouth. I knew that this was something difficult for him, I didn't want to upset him. 'My adopted parents wrote on my back when they were bored.' My heart halted at his confession, I wanted to cry for him, that, that was not ok. It was difficult to make out what they had carved into his back, due to the tattoo covering it and the so many scars put together. He turned around and put his shirt back on. His eyes filled with anger and pain as he stared down at me.

'I'm so sorry.' I whispered, not sure if I could get my voice out if I tried. 'Don..' before he could finish off his word, I wrapped my arms around his waist, my head resting on his chest. I didn't care who he was or what he'd done, at this very moment, he was a young boy who had been abused. A very lonely young boy. 'Bella.' His voice was hoarse, I could feel his heart beating rapidly against my ear, I listened to it like he was the one meant to soothe me. I stood there for a few minutes just holding him, he didn't hug me back, I didn't expect him to.

When I let go and stepped back, he seemed more relaxed, not as tense as he was moments before. I wondered if the scar on his face was from his parents too, I didn't want to ask, not now. 'Do you want to talk about it?' I questioned him. Not sure if I should continue my interrogations. 'No.' He went and sat back down on his bed, clearly trying to avoid me. 'Are you sure?' Sometimes, people just needed a little push to empty their guts out to you. If he needed that push, I was here to give it to him.

'Nothing to talk about, they had their fun, I had mine. Now they're dead.' His statement was bold and harsh to take in, but I didn't want to judge him at that moment. They obviously hurt him, it was understandable that he would have so much hate for them, although ending their lives was way beyond not ok too. What I didn't understand is why he killed the other eight people. What was their involvement?

'Ok, Ok. So why did you kill the other eight people?' I felt like a detective, solving a crime. Honestly, a part of me just wanted to be there for him. I knew that he was a murderer, a rapist, a psychopath but I wanted to understand, what made him that way, who made him that way?

'All in good time Bella.' He clenched his jaw and looked away. I knew I was pushing too much and I was afraid he might never say a word to me again so I nodded and smiled at him. 'You're going to stink of sweat, best get showering.' I poked his chest, he looked at my finger like it was a blade. Was I getting too cosy for my own good? Maybe. He looked confused as I went in the shower and turned on the faucet. I let the water get warm enough before I headed back over to him. 'I left the shower running for you, I'll be back tomorrow. Sleep tight.' And with that, I picked up my bag and left. Left with all the remaining questions in my head. Who were the eight people? Who was Sofia to him? Whatever happened in his past, it was definitely not good, it didn't only create a psychopath but it created a man with scars, a man who hurt and a man who pained.