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Umbra: Chapter Three

Gemini

By Amanda LyonsPublished 2 years ago 9 min read
1
Photo by Majestic Lukas on Unsplash

She turned back to the bathroom but the door was closed. Funny, she didn't hear it close. Toby wasn't stupid, she made for the door.

"Where are you going, Toby?"

Not turning to see where the foreign voice came from she yanked the door open only to have it slam back shut as a strong solid arm flew past her ear. Her hand grasped the doorknob again, however futile, as she tried to calm her breathing. The same arm that had shot past her ear now slinked down the door and it’s hand landed on hers, still gripping the key to her escape. It squeezed gently. There was a light sigh from behind her as the hand pulled on hers, eager for her to relinquish her hold. After this mystery person realized she had no intention of letting go, he yanked her hand away from the knob, simultaneously flipping her around so she came face to face with a dangerously beautiful man.

Her heart skipped a beat as she was forced to finally look into the eyes of her pursuer. He stood tall with a very annoying smirk as he looked down at her. The angles of his face were sharp, creating clean lines. His jet black hair complemented his icy blue eyes. That couldn’t be natural, she thought. Either he was wearing contacts or his hair was dyed. With her senses still on high alert and her muscles ready to fight or flee, she wondered where he came from as she studied his dark attire. He wore black jeans with combat boots and a tight black dress shirt. The top buttons were undone, so Toby could just make out his muscular form. Making a mental note of his possible physical strength, she looked back up to his eyes and noticed the amused look on his face. He stood there with his tatoo filled arms on his hips watching her study him for the longest time.

She straightened up, having realized that sizing him up could’ve been construed as ‘checking him out’. Keeping her eyes on the intruder she felt for the doorknob and found it. Then she did something that surprised even her.

“No.” she said simply.

She began to turn the knob when he took a few quick steps forward and put his hands on either side of her, trapping her.

“No?”

“Yeah, no. I wasn’t checking you out, asshole. You think any woman whose house you break into is stopping to check out her assailant? I was sizing you up, prick.”

Where this confidence suddenly came from, Toby couldn’t say, but she was so annoyed by this man’s presumptuousness that it brought it out of her unfiltered. But she had nowhere to go so this was a good distraction as she tried to figure out a plan of escape.

He looked at her seductively then faltered, “Ok, I dunno how to respond to that.”

“Well, what? You think I’m gonna go outta my way to help you with your little speeches?”

Toby had no idea what was happening. She had never dealt with an intruder, much less like this. Not that she was complaining, obviously, it’s just you wouldn’t expect an assailant to respond like that.

He looked truly confused.

“Who the fuck are you?” Toby demanded as she tightened her grip on the doorknob. Not once had she forgotten that she needed to get out.

The mystery man looked up after having sheepishly been staring at his boots. Seemingly finding his resolve he moved closer to her forcing her back up against the door. He stroked her cheek and ran his fingers through her dark hair. Her breath became faster as she felt sweat drip down her forehead.

"Relax." he spoke softly to her.

She just stared at him, "What? No! Who are you?"

“God damn it.” he whispered.

“Get out.”

In almost one fluid movement she took his wrist while opening the door and managed to push him out. Before she slammed the door in his surprised face she tried to hide her own. The only reason she was able to turn the tide in that situation was the way she spoke to him. Apparently it had an effect on him. She had no idea why he reacted to her that way but at least he was out of her room. Right as she was about to call campus security there was a knock on the door. She warily spied through the peephole, it was him! Why was he still here? She ran to get her cell.

“Wait, didn’t you get my notes?!”

As she picked up her phone her brows furrowed, “Why did you say ‘wait’?”

She sensed hesitation on the other side of her door.

“I can’t say.”

What?

"Why are you here?"

"I’m here for you, of course. I want you."

Toby leaned into the door and peered through the hole again. He looked apprehensive.

"But you don't even know me and I-" her fingers poised above the buttons on her phone.

"Of course I do. You’re Toby. I also know your stupid little boyfriend who thinks he can have you. Let me make you aware that he is in for a surprise, if not, a reckoning." She saw the spark of a fire in his otherwise icy eyes.

Still watching him she replied, “I’m calling campus security. Get the fuck outta here weirdo.”

She watched his eyes intently as the earlier spark faded almost instantly. His brows furrowed as he looked directly into the peephole, “I’ll be back. Your little campus security means nothing.”

“Then why are you leaving?”

He’d already started walking away when her comment made him turn, “Cause I don’t need the annoyance.”

“Hey! You wrote the letters?” he nodded. “What does the ‘G’ stand for?”

He smirked, “I’ll tell you later.”

Toby watched him disappear down the hallway outside her room as she locked the door.

Immediately, she dialed the number for campus security. After a brief conversation and description of the man she hung up. They’d asked her to fax a copy of her statement to them and said they’d send a rep later to check all the entry points.

Toby huffed as she walked to her bookshelf then back to her couch, settling in for a nice cozy read, she needed something to calm her. She pulled up the soft gray throw as she dived into the fantasy realm of her chosen read.

Some time later she awoke to a noise. A light tapping coming from somewhere in her room. Cautiously throwing her blanket aside and quietly placing the abandoned book on the end table, she got up. As she stood she concentrated on the faint sound. Looking at the clock, which read 5:45pm, she took a few apprehensive steps forward trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from.

Then it went silent. She heard whispering now. Turning her head frantically to catch any possible movement, she jumped as there was a loud bang on her door.

“Campus security! Miss Lerone, are you inside the premises?”

Toby tightened the sash on her robe as she scurried to the door, while mumbling, “it’s about time.”

“I’m so sorry-”

“No need really, I’m a patient man.”

It was the mystery man from before.

Instantly, she threw the door back to shut it but not before he stuck an arm through the space, pushing himself in with great force. Such force that Toby fell on the floor. This was not a position she wanted to be caught in. While he languidly closed the door behind him, she scurried backward until she could pull herself up against her bookcase. Her hand searched behind her for a weapon as she heard the lock click.

He chuckled, “Alone again, I see. If Orion loved you so much wouldn’t he be here?”

Toby looked at him indignantly, still searching for anything that might be used as a weapon, “He had a test.”

The man looked incredulous, “On a sunday?” He scoffed.

Now that she thought about it, that was weird.

The man looked around her room before settling his gaze on her.

“Only a robe? Were you expecting me?” he grinned.

“No, you fucking asshole and I’ve called campus security.”

“Yeah, about that…have they still not come round to check your entry points?”

Toby cocked her head a bit while squinting.

“I do marvelous impressions, y’see.”

“What the fu-”

“Name’s Gemini.”

Toby checked out. She was hearing him but not listening. There was nothing on that damned bookshelf that could be used as a weapon…except a book. What the fuck could she do with a book? Throw it at him?

Yes.

Before the stranger had a chance to react he was down on the floor. With heart racing and breath fast, Toby ran to the bathroom but not before grabbing her cell. Slamming the door behind her, she locked it. There was nothing in there to barricade the door with. And there were no other exits. Just her phone. She struggled not to drop it through her shaky hands but she managed to dial Orion’s number. As she heard it ringing on the other side, she wondered why she didn’t call the police or, at the very least, security. Her phone beeped. She held it out to see that the battery was dying. Of course! She’d fallen asleep and forgotten to leave it on the charger. Just as she put it back up to her ear there was a loud bang on the bathroom door. Surprised, she dropped the phone. Another loud bang, followed by a splintering sound. She looked around for a weapon but was too distracted while reaching for her phone. It was still ringing.

“Come on, come on, come on!”

Another loud bang followed by the splintering sound and movement from the door. She looked at the knob and noticed the wood was splintering and the door was coming away from the wall. The phone was still ringing. Her heart couldn’t have beat any faster in her throat. Breath was coming in short gasps. Just as the door flew open sending the angry stranger to the floor in front of her she heard a click.

“Hello? Toby?”

Series
1

About the Creator

Amanda Lyons

Eclectic stream of consciousness and dark surrealism. What photography does for life I do for thought, emotions, and experiences. The genres can range from romance to horror but my favorite is suspense.

[email protected]

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