He didn’t know when this strange affliction had started, but ever since he’d lost parts of his memory, the dark had begun to trigger something deep within him – a suffocating fear that made him want to escape.
Just as he was battling to maintain control, Allison emerged from her room, towel in hand, drying her damp hair.
“Power outage, huh?” she remarked casually, oblivious to Kellan’s turmoil. “I heard the power here never goes out. Guess our luck ran dry.”
Kellan stood motionless, his back still to her. He forced himself to speak, hoping his voice wouldn’t betray him.
“It’s been years since we’ve had rain like this in Ontdale.”
Allison paused mid-motion, still drying her hair.
Though Kellan’s voice was steady, there was a subtle tremor she recognized. After spending so much time together, Allison could sense that something was off.
“Kellan…” she asked bluntly, “are you afraid of the dark?”
Kellan coughed, a little too abruptly.
“No. I’m not a child.”
But his quick denial only made it more obvious.
Allison’s lips curved into a slight, knowing smile.
“Ah, I see. I must’ve misread the situation. After all, how could you be afraid of the dark? In that case, relax here. I’ll go find some candles.”
“Wait.” His heart skipped a beat. If she left, he’d be alone.
Seeing her start to feel her way toward the stairs, Kellan acted on instinct, standing up from his wheelchair with surprising urgency. Forgetting about appearances, he spoke awkwardly.
“It’s dark upstairs. You might trip. Why don’t we look together?”
Allison raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t miss a beat.
“Sure. Just keep up.”
He moved slowly, matching her pace. She hadn’t intended to leave him alone in the first place.
Though he couldn’t see her face in the dark, Kellan was certain she was smiling.
“There’s no shame in being afraid of the dark, you know,” Allison mused, her voice soft and amused. “Everyone has their weaknesses. I just didn’t expect that yours would be-“
“I’m not afraid of the dark,” Kellan interjected, his tone more defensive than he intended. “You’re jumping to conclusions, Ms. Clarke.”
Allison chuckled softly.
“Sure, sure. Stop coughing like that, or I’ll start thinking you’re actually coming down with something.” She extended a corner of her towel toward him. “Here. Hold onto this so you don’t lose your way and trip.”
“Of course I can keep up,” he muttered, but despite his words, he reached for the towel.
It was still warm, slightly damp from her hair. The realization hit him – she’d just come out of the shower. The thought lingered, making his fingertips tense involuntarily.
In the darkness, Allison rummaged through the drawers, muttering to herself as she felt around.
“I could’ve sworn the candles were in here…”
But without any light and the curtains still drawn, she was practically blind. Just as she finished speaking, her foot slipped on the hardwood floor, and she stumbled forward.
“Damn. Talk about speaking things into existence.” Expecting a painful collision with the floor, she braced herself, but the impact never came. Instead, she found herself wrapped in a firm, warm embrace.
“Careful, Ms. Clarke!”
Kellan had been watching her closely. The moment he saw her stumble, he reacted quickly, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back into his chest to steady her.
But neither of them pulled away immediately. In the darkness, their breathing intertwined, shallow and close.
Kellan caught a soft scent – something floral, clean, unmistakably Allison. He didn’t even notice the oppressive darkness anymore. Instead, his attention was drawn to how small her waist felt under his hand, his fingers brushing the fabric of her shirt as a strange thought crossed his mind. How could her waist be this small?
Allison, her cheek nearly pressed against his chest, gritted her teeth.
“Mr. Lloyd, have you hugged me long enough?”
Kellan snapped back to reality, releasing her instantly.
“Ah, my apologies!” They separated with an awkward politeness.
Allison ran a hand over her waist where he had held her and smirked.
“I didn’t expect you to take advantage of the situation and still be so courteous, Mr. Lloyd.”
Kellan chuckled softly.
“Now, now, Ms. Clarke, no need to tease.” Quickly shifting the focus, he knelt down beside her and helped her search for the candles. The soft flicker of light soon filled the room as they lit one, the warm glow illuminating their faces. The sight stirred something in Kellan – a memory of that day in the cave. The way Allison’s face had been bathed in firelight – both dangerous and captivating. The same feeling washed over him now.
“Finally, some light,” Allison murmured, breathing in the familiar scent of gardenias from the candle. It tugged at her own memories – the underground parking lot and the kiss that had followed. The thought, intoxicating, lingered.
For a moment, neither spoke, the air thick with subtle, unspoken tension. The memory shared between them hung there, fragile and electrifying.
Allison was the first to break the silence. She leaned down and placed the candle on the bedside table, her voice casual but with an edge of playfulness.
“Mr. Lloyd, you can sleep here tonight. I’ll take the room next door.”
Kellan’s reply was immediate.
“No.”
Surprised by his own intensity, he paused, then continued more smoothly,
“It’s storming outside. How could I let you sleep alone in the next room, Ms. Clarke? What if something happens?”
His tone was nonchalant, but Allison could see through it.
“So, how about this?” she suggested, her voice light. “You sleep on the bed, and I’ll take the floor in here. That way, I’ll be close by if anything comes up.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.