AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Levi took a step back from the door and listened carefully as the sound of footsteps descended, then made their way toward his cell. His heart was beating so hard he half expected it to burst from his chest.
“Well, good morning, my little sweet,” a cheery Peabody greeted, peering in through the cell door.
Levi heard the jingling of keys, then the door unlocked and opened. Peabody stood there holding a tray with a plate covered in his hands.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked, walking in and locking the door behind him. “Oh, don’t panic. I just lock the door behind me so that we can talk together without me having to worry that you will rush off the second I step away from the door. I promise I won’t hurt you. We’re friends, after all,” the man said, grinning from ear to ear.
Levi stared at him suspiciously and took another step back. He had never seen this side of Peabody before. The smile, the confidence. It was all so… different.
“Friends don’t lock friends up in dungeons.”
Peabody glanced around the room as if seeing it himself for the first time.
“Well, I guess it is kind of gloomy. Let me know what you want to decorate your room, and I’ll get it for you tomorrow. Lamps, posters, books, whatever you want, just give me a list,” he said, still smiling.
He sounded like a hotel concierge, and it was his job to make Levi’s stay as comfortable as possible.
“But I thought you didn’t allow for such stuff?”
Peabody’s eyes narrowed. “I take it you’ve been talking with the others. Well, between you and me,” his voice drifted off as he leaned in Levi’s direction. “You’re my favorite.” He straightened up and took a step back. At least the man understood personal space and comfort levels.
“You know you can’t keep me down here forever. Matteo will come looking for me.”
A sinister smile emerged on Peabody’s face. “I’m sure he will, but as you know, there is no evidence to suggest that you came home with me last night. You came over in a taxi, remember?”
Levi’s stomach sank. Shit. So that’s why Peabody didn’t wait around for him.
“Also, don’t count on that big, brutish man of yours coming around again. That man stormed through my house last night, looking for you. He even ran by the entrance without even a second glance. Honestly, why is it that sweet guys like yourself go for such stupid men? Does it all come down to muscles and good looks?”
Making his way around the room, Levi watched closely as Peabody sat down on the bed and straightened out the cover.
“Over time, you’ll get used to things and see that I am not a bad man. I take care of my friends,” the man waved his arm toward the hallway. “And my friends have grown to love me.” Peabody stood up and walked to the door. “You’ll see. Eventually, we are going to be best friends, Lee.” The man smiled one last time before unlocking the door and exiting. He waved at Levi through the bars, then disappeared down the hallway.
Unable to control himself any longer, he slid down the wall and began crying into his folded arms.
27
CHASE
It was just after seven in the morning when Chase decided to slam his laptop shut and head out to the back patio for some fresh air. He’d been up all night combing through the journal and scouring through his notes, trying to find something… anything that might help him locate Levi.
Stepping out into the morning air, a wave of sadness quickly fell over him. It wasn’t right that he was able to feel such a wonderful warm breeze on his face, yet Levi was off suffering, God knows where. Once again, God was proving what a cruel and fucked up world they were really living in. First, his sister was brutally raped and murdered and taken away from this world; now Levi, the most beautiful unicorn he had ever laid eyes on, was missing, being held captive by a monster, who knows where.
Seriously, how can anyone say that we live in a just society when bad things happen to good people all the time?
No, we lived in hell, and eventually, after all our suffering, we either get rewarded with a light at the end of that tunnel… or we continue our suffering in that burning inferno underground.
Life was a cruel joke evil gods played on humanity.
“Morning,” Matteo said, flipping through something on his iPad. “Come sit and have some coffee.”
Chase grunted as he pulled up a chair next to Matteo. He was in no mood for pleasantries. The man he loved was missing, and he hadn’t found a fucking clue all night.
Before he could say anything, a server appeared next to Chase and asked him what he wanted for breakfast. That was one of the perks of living in Matteo’s magical kingdom—you lived like a fucking king.
“No thanks,” Chase mumbled, reaching for the coffee and pouring himself a mug.
“Yes, he’ll have a three egg whites spinach omelet with extra cheese, three sausages, and a slice of whole wheat toast on the side. And a glass of orange juice, too, please,” a voice ordered to Chase’s left.
