Page 168 of Pareidolia

Not that there’s been any consequence for what Nox and I did in the dark of the forest. I’ve heard a few people whispering about a waitress leaving, about Janine and how she’d always had dreams of running away.

No one suspects that she ran to the forest and straight into the arms of a monster.

No one thinks she’s dead.

No one but Nox and I know what she looked like as the life left her eyes.

There’s something almost intoxicating about it, holding that secret in my chest. Just thinking about it makes my hand lift, pressing to my sternum. When I look down and concentrate, I can see the black thread trailing from me and into the distance.

To the forest.

To Nox.

He’s not going to be happy when he realizes I’m not staying there after all.

“Thanks… it would be great to work here.” It sounds ridiculous, like a platitude I learned when I was trying to figure out how to blend in, but the smile she gives me shines. The roll of delight spilling off her is enough to make my body twitch.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the job.

Fuck.

A job.

A house.

A… well, not exactly a boyfriend. A monster I’m tied to? A relationship. Something that runs deeper than any word I really have for it—a connection forged in shadows and blood, death and pain.

Something that makes me feel like I belong to another being. Something that makes me feel seen for the first time in my life.

It’s easy to pretend that I’m like everyone else when I know I can be myself without having to worry about what Nox might think of me, what he might do, or how he might turn on me.

I fought so long against the thought of finding a home, but it turns out home wasn’t a place after all…

It was an eight foot fucking moth monster who seemed fine with the fact that I get off on killing and nearly being killed.

Go figure.

Ewan Daniels looks amused when I pull my van into the driveway of my parents’ house the next day. I had to wait until Nox finally left the cabin to hunt to pick up the shit I could carry and leave. I have a feeling I’m not going to get away from him for long, but the best course of action I can think of is to act out now and suffer the consequences later.

Thinking of consequences makes my stomach clench, and my cock jump in my jeans. I’m glad the hood of the van is between me and the old man’s line of sight, or he’d get an eyeful.

“Hey neighbor.” I try to mirror the smile that I’ve seen a thousand times on television. Warm, happy to be here. Inwardly, I silently curse the fact that he hasn’t moved and wonder if Noah still lives at home with his dad after all these years. Hadn’t he said I could find him here? I don’t see his car parked in the driveway, but that doesn’t mean anything.

“Glad you finally decided to come back to where you belong, Alex.”

I cringe at the name, but manage a nod. “Yeah… you can only stay out in the forest for so long before you miss running water enough to seek out civilization.”

That and I needed an address. Roots. A job.

I want to stay here because of what’s in the forest. I want to stay because of the black line trailing from my chest and leading back into the trees.

It’s ridiculous, and I’m still not convinced that the police aren’t going to come to my door… but…

Well…

I think maybe Nox is worth it.

My hand presses to my chest, gloved fingers clenching on the fabric of my jacket. I can feel the soft, pulsing squirm beneath. It’s been more tolerable today, and I wonder if it has something to do with that black thread. I’m sure that whatever Nox did, whatever he intended, he didn’t want to give me the ability to stay away from him… but I’m here, and I’ve been here all day, and nothing bad has happened.