Chapter 1 Dead man

LYRA

It was already past three in the morning as I made my way down the empty alleyway, my hand clutching the taser in my bag, ready for any unexpected trouble.

I was completely exhausted after ending my night's shift at the club I worked. The only thing I could think about was going home, taking a hot bath and falling asleep on my extremely soft bed.

The street lights by the side of the road flickered suddenly, making me jerk away in fear. The whole street suddenly became more eerie.

I clutched my purse to my chest, already regretting the decision I had made earlier to pass through a shortcut.

Walking forward in hurried steps, my eyes brightened as I saw my apartment complex just a few feets away.

Home sweet home.

My steps grew faster and faster, I could already feel the hot water running down my body. My body tingled in anticipation.

"What the fuck!!!" I screamed as I clutched my chest, my heart almost leaping out of my mouth as I cursed.

What the heck?

I had stumbled on a black figure lying lifeless on the ground, my teeth just inches away from being intimate with the hard, concrete floor.

Crouching down, I stared at him hard. Long slashes ran down his stomach stopping just inches away from his torso

I gulped, my eyes moving to his face. He was covered in blood and dirt, making him look even more scary but that wasn't enough to hide how attractive he looked.

Did I just call a dead man attractive?

"Hello?" I called out my voice a trembling whisper. I pulled myself up. I stared at him for a second, then poked him with the edge of my stilettos while adjusting the taser in my hands.

No answer.

My heartbeat grew louder and louder in my ear. What would a lifeless man be doing close to my apartment?

Glancing around the empty street, I decided to mind my business and go home. Sidestepping him, I moved to walk past but a hand grabbed my ankle.

I froze, my heart leaping out of my mouth. I let out a small shrill that got caught in my throat as the hand tugged me so hard I lost my footing and fell onto the concrete floor next to him.

I barely managed to catch myself before I completely became one with it.

Ouch

I tried to crawl away quickly but his grip only grew tighter around my ankle. I kicked him hard on the head and he groaned in pain.

Shit!

I stared at him for a while, my chest heaving as I tried to consider another method of escaping.

Without thinking about the wet ground from the rain that fell earlier, and his grip on my leg, I pressed the taser in my hand onto his skin sending burst of electricity through his body.

The electricity traveled through his hand to my legs and I dropped it immediately. He loosened his grip on me just enough for me to wiggle out of his grasp and scrambled to my feet, running straight to my apartment.

As I ran up the stairs, my adrenaline pumped high. I fumbled with my keys, pushing it hurriedly into the keyhole.

Click!

The sound felt like salvation, I was about to push the door open when I felt a cold metal press against my back, the clicking sound of a gun bringing me out of my stupor.

I froze

"Open the door." A gruff, hoarse voice said. His arms wrapping around my waist as he pressed the gun deeper at my back.

I whimpered, shaking my head. "Shhh" he shushed me, his bloodied hand pressing against my lips, I could taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. I gagged.

Remembering I had a bat inside, just by the door, I complied. Pushing the door slowly, I walked into the dark space and turned immediately, grabbing the bat in one swift motion.

I hit him hard on the head, the bat breaking into two from the impact. He hissed, stumbling backwards as he fell just by the door. His back pushed the door hard, making it shut in the process.

Is he dead? Did I kill him? Where do I hide his body?

Hearing him grumble, I sighed in relief, I hadn't killed him.

Wait... what did he say?

"Uhm...hello?" I called out softly, my grip tightening around the half bat in my hand.

"Shut the fuck up..." He grimaced. "Who do you think you are? Fucking James Bond?" He gritted out.

Taking a step back, I asked" What do you want?"

"From you?" He eyed me, scoffing as blood dripped down from his head down to the side of his sharp jawline.

'What did he mean by that?'

Grunting, he stood up, staggering towards me like a predator.

"Lock the door." He gestured towards the door with his gun.

I shook my head, I wasn't going to lock myself in my apartment with a complete stranger. I wasn't ready to be on the news the next day about 'how a beautiful young lady was found lying dead in the pool of her own blood, in her very own apartment.'

"Lock the fucking door!" He barked loudly and I flinched as the cold muzzle of the gun pressed against my forehead, his index finger tapping on the trigger threateningly.

"O...okay, fine." I stuttered out, rushing to lock the door and turned back to him immediately.

"What to you want?" I asked again, gritting my teeth.

"Do you have a first aid kit?" He asked, already moving past my small living room and into my bedroom.

Oh hell no!

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked as I ran to stand in front of him, my hand spreading to block him from entering the room.

"Move aside!" He said coldly, his face filled with anger.

"This is my house, you have no right coming in here acting like it's yours!" I countered, my chest rising and falling as I breathe out in anger.

"You're quite stubborn, aren't you?" He smirked, the expression making his blood covered face looking even more scary and sexy.

'Sexy? Did I just say sexy? What was I thinking?' I screamed internally, shaking my head so I could regain my senses since it seemed to have left me since the moment I met this handsome looking dangerous man.

Raising his free hand, I flinched, thinking he was going to hit me, but he didn't. He pushed me out of the way effortlessly and opened the door with a loud bang before sauntering straight into my bathroom.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked again, following behind him stubbornly, I had totally forgotten about the gun in his possession.

Turning on the light, I watched him as he washed his face in my sink, blood staining the white tile and wall.

Sighing, I shook my head, walked towards my cupboard and brought out my first aid kit.

"Come here." I called out, patting the side of the bed beside me.

He stared at me suspiciously before moving towards me slowly, his gun still tightly held in his right hand.

"Sit let me treat your injury." I said softly, my heart pounding in my chest.

He raised an eyebrow, his bright emerald eyes staring into my soul.

"Why?" He asked, his voice deep and breathy, sending a tingling sensation down my spine.

"I'm not a saint if that's what you're thinking. I just want you to get the fuck out of here faster." I eyed him, frowning as I noticed the blood dripping on the floor. "You're spilling your blood everywhere!" I hissed, glaring at him sharply.

He chuckled. He fucking chuckled. Does he think anything's funny right now?