by Dawn White
Bleed For Me
By- Dawn White
Published by Raven’s Seduction Press
Fort Wayne, IN. 2015
Text Copyright © 2015
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not,
by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated,
hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior
written consent in any form of binding or cover other than
that in which it is published and without similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the
subsequent purchaser.
Copyright © 2015 Raven’s Seduction Press
All rights reserved
Published by
Raven’s Seduction Press.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Edited by: Penney Todd
Cover by: Brandy Dull
Formatting by: Raven’s Seduction Press
www.Ravenseductionpress.com
Prequel
I rushed through the staircase of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I had just finished my daily trip to the mail center. Yet again, I had another package from my secret admirer, this is the second one this spring semester. I kept telling myself— two more semesters. The creepiness has reached a whole new level. I rushed through the corridor of the dorms. And pushed my key forcefully into the slot, and tossed the box on my bed. I grabbed my black leotard, and stockings off the hook, and hurried to put them on before my roommate came in. After I finished dressing I grabbed my pointe shoes off the back of the door, slid my clogs on, and headed out the door making sure I locked it behind me. The corridors quickly filled up with students.
As congested as the hallway was, the common area near the stainless steel front entrance was empty. As it always was for some reason. I smiled as I pushed the double glass doors open and transcended the stairs to the half empty parking lot. My black Hyundai Sonata was left undisturbed as I crawled in, started it, and quickly turned the air on. As I pulled out, I saw my roommate Sarah was walking away from the dorms with her gym bag. I stopped, rolled down my window, and asked her, “Sarah, do you need a ride?”
She smiled, nodded, and without saying a word hopped in. I smiled back at her and realized she was already dressed for dance. The trip to the dance studio on the other side of campus was a quick one, and we were more than happy to take it in silence.
I looked at Sarah’s tights, and noticed she had quite a few runs in them. I cleared my throat and said, “I have a whole drawer full of leggings if you need any, you’re more than welcome to have a few.”
Sarah looked at me embarrassed, and tried to pull the leggings down to hide the holes. She answered softly, “I might have to take you up on that. I can barely even afford ramen noodles to eat.”
I nodded and answered, “Well my parents left me a pretty decent inheritance, so if you need food also, just let me know and we can go out and eat together every night– my treat.”
Sarah smiled and looked like she was about to cry. I pulled into the dance studio’s parking lot and turned the car off. I quickly returned her smile. Sarah leaned in and gave me a huge hug. I patted her on the back, as I pulled back and opened my door.
There were only two other dancers there when Sarah and I walked in. We said our hello’s and sat down on the old wooden bench to lace up our pointe shoes. I finished my last lace before Sarah, and tossed my clogs into the open cubbies next to the door. I pulled one of my black hair ties from my wrist and put my black hair up in a messy bun to get it off my shoulders. Sarah looked to her wrist for a hair tie and realized she didn’t have one. I pulled my extra one from my wrist and tossed it to her, and smiled as I said. “It won’t match your hair like it does mine, but it’ll do the trick.” Sarah smiled and silently mouthed, “Thank you.”
Sarah quickly followed, as I walked to the balancing bar to stretch. I waited for a second for her to finish putting up her white blond hair into a bun on top of her head. We both leaned down and put our hands on the floor to stretch our hamstrings. I transitioned immediately and grabbed the back of my ankles. I practiced my breathing, and slowly came up so I didn’t get light headed. I reached forward and grabbed the barre to stretch my back, and my arms. Sarah and I were in sync as we both put our toes on the barre and did our calf stretch. We faced each other and smiled as we were fluid in our motions.
I broke the silence of our mundane routine as I said, “I got another package today, from the creep.”
Sarah nodded and said, “Yeah I saw a wrapped present in your mailbox when I went and got mine. I was half tempted to see if it was from him. Do you have any idea who he is yet?”
I shook my head no and answered her. “No, I thought maybe it could be Mike from linguistics, but he graduated a week before the last one was delivered. So it’s not him. I have caught a few guys staring at me, but I think it’s because I won’t give them the time of day. So I’m still at a loss about who it is. I can tell you right now though, if this package is anywhere near as creepy as the last, I’m going to the campus police.”
Sarah nodded at me and lowered herself to the floor to do a jazz split. I pulled my leg down, and followed her to the ground.
I quickly changed the subject, “Did you get your paperwork in for the internship with the Pennsylvania ballet summer internship program? I know they’re only accepting five candidates. I sent mine in yesterday.”
Sarah shook her head no as she answered me, “Not yet. I was going to write a few papers for other students to get the money for the application fee.”
I stopped stretching and looked at Sarah before I said. “I’ll give you the money. Get yours in before the rest of the department does.”
Sarah looked at me before she said, “How will I ever pay you back?”
I patted her on the shoulder and answered her. “You don’t have too. Friends help friends when they need it. You’re my best friend, and I couldn’t have gotten through the loss of my parents our freshman year without you. When we get out of practice let’s grab something to eat. ” I said as I smiled at Sarah. She gave me an undecided look and leaned in for a big hug. I gently kissed her on the cheek before we were interrupted by Madam Lauritz.
Madam Lauritz walked slowly through the glassed room, with her light wooden rod tapping on the floor with every step she took. She always wore the same leotard, a black body suit, black tights, and an opaque black skirt that flowed to her ankles. She always had her black and grey hair pulled up in a severe bun on the top of her head, and an almost unkind look on her thin, frail looking face. If I didn’t respect her, there is no way I could stare at this woman for 16 hours a week.
Sarah snickered when she stopped and tapped Adam, the only male in our class, on the back of his leg. He wasn’t doing a proper rail stretch. I waited on Sarah to tell me what they’re saying, “He says he pulled a muscle yesterday, and he is far too tight to do a proper stretch. Madam Lauritz doesn’t care. She’s saying that’s what the stretching is for.” We both turned at the right time as Madam Lauritz glanced in our direction. As I had my forehead on my knee for a proper stretch Madam Lauritz slammed her stick on the wooden bench in the front of the room. We all jumped as if it was right upside the back of our heads.
“Adage! Looking up here! We’re going to be doing a proper arabesque today. It will show me how well y’all have been stretching in your off time.” She said as she gave a condescendin
g look to Adam.
We took our positions and she guided us to the middle of the floor. One at a time she went down the line, tapping in front of us as she wanted us to go into form. But she didn’t give us adage (at ease) at all. We stood in arabesque until we felt our muscles starting to shake. I kept whispering to Sarah, “The pain won’t last. It’s just conditioning us. Hold it a little longer.”
I didn’t even know how much longer I could hold it, much less give someone else advise. But I lasted. Madam Lauritz snapped the same bench again, and gave us a brief adage before we were interrupted by a knock on the door to our dance studio.
“Adam, get that. And make sure you inform whomever is disrupting us that we are never to be bothered by their nonsense again. The rest of you stretch until Adam comes back.” Madam Lauritz said in her bitchy French accent as she smacked her stick on the wood again.
I walked briskly over to the barre, and pulled my left leg up until I felt the welcoming stretch. It always felt good to stretch after the Madam makes us warm up with arabesques. Just as I lowered my head to feel the stretch in my thighs, Adam called my name. I turned my head slowly with my cheek still rested against my thigh, and saw he had a large vase of flowers.
“Lauren, these are for you.”
I turned beet red, as I pulled my leg down and walked over. I glanced at the card, and walked it straight to the garbage can and tossed it in.
Adam had returned to his spot on the barre, and made sure to make a smart ass comment.
“Remind me never to send you flowers.” Adam said with a snicker.
I leered at him as I walked back to my spot on the barre. Sarah looked at me with worry in her eyes, but said nothing. That’s what you do when you have someone stalking you for over a year now.
The rest of class passed without an incident. As I finished putting my clogs on Madam Lauritz called me over to her. I whispered for Sarah to wait in the car, and I tossed her my keys.
Madam Lauritz patted the bench right next to her and I sat quickly.
“You know I’ve been your teacher for a long time now Lauren. I know when something is wrong, because when your mind is elsewhere it shows in your dance. And you my dear have been clearly distracted. Is everything ok? Do I need to get the university involved or do you have it under control?” Madam Lauritz said as she patted my leg.
I shook my head, and tried to fight the tears that were threatening to over flow my eyes. “I’m fine. I have some random guy that has been following me, sending me stuff. Sending me my own clothing he somehow got. Just really weird stuff. He leaves flowers, and chocolates in my car. Which is always locked by the way. I’ve brought it up to campus police, and they can’t do anything unless I know who he is. And I don’t know. I just simply don’t know.” I said with a barely audible defeated voice.
Madam Lauritz rubbed my shoulder, and gave me a look I had never seen from her cold eyes. Pity. She shook her head as if she was thinking and said, “Well you need to always have someone with you. No matter what classes you have make sure someone is there. You need to talk to the dorm mother and let her know that you should probably have extra security in your wing. Doesn’t your dorm have cameras?”
I shook my head and responded promptly. “We have cameras but unfortunately my room happens to be at the end of the left side of the hall, and the last door, is mine– and doesn’t show on camera. So he or she can come and go as they please, with no fear of being discovered. I’m not going to let some freak jeopardize everything I have worked so hard for. I’ll make sure I stay safe no matter what is going on.”
*Stalker*
I leaned around the door frame in the art majors wing, Lauren’s room is all the way at the end of the hallway on the left. When I was working in the assignment office it wasn’t a coincidence that I put Lauren in that room. After last semester I almost got caught, and that just isn’t acceptable. How exactly am I going to get her to be mine if I have to worry about cameras everywhere? Fortunately for me no one is in the hall at this time of day. Most are in class or eating in the cafeteria. When I got to Lauren’s door I used the key I had made, and walked in quickly shutting the door closed behind me. Her bed was still messy from this morning. I walked directly to her bed, and laid down with my face buried in her pillow. Her perfume leaves a really sweet smell behind every morning. I closed my eyes, and imagined what it would be like to have her wrapped around my body. Being able to lean in and kiss the curve of her elegant neck and smell her beauty up close and personal.
“I will have you one day Lauren. I will find a way to make you mine.” I said as I looked at my watch. I pulled her present out of my pocket and laid it on her pillow. It’s the same bracelet she lost the night she got in the car accident with her parents. I was able to find it at tiffany’s and was glad they had it in stock. It’ll be worth it when I see her smile. I attached the note quickly, added my small remote camera to her teddy bear on her lampshade next to her bed, and turned and walked out. Checking the hallway before I slipped into the fire exit staircase. After the red fire door closed, I put my back against it and pulled out my galaxy cell, and linked the camera in Lauren’s room. It picked up her bed, and the floor area right next to it.
Chapter 1
*Lauren NYC*
3 Years Later
The last three years have been hell. I have been ran through the ringer repeatedly between the constant police reports, multiple denials of my concealed carry permit, and being chased out of every home. Regardless of the fact that I have the three threatening references that are required, they keep bringing up that I don’t know who my stalker is…Does it make it any less scary, in fact I think it makes it worse, because it could be anyone.
After a long rehearsal at the David Koch Theater I am beyond exhausted. Tonight I came home and found a small box on my pillow. I knew the system; this has happened a hundred or more times since college. I immediately picked up the phone, and called the cops. After my monthly call to the station, I always checked the doors and windows.
Psst. As if it matters, he finds a way in even with everything locked.. I don’t know why anything surprises me anymore. I held the small box in my hands, and waited for the lobby to call me and tell me the cops are here. I didn’t have to wait long, about two minutes later, Max rang my buzzer to tell me the cop was on his way up. I sat at the end of my leather sofa, and placed the small present on the coffee table in front of me. Just as I finished tidying up my table, when the cop knocked on the door.
“Coming.” I shouted for the cops to hear.
I opened the door, to the same two cops as I always do. Officer Mike smiled and said, “What’s going on this time Lauren?”
I dramatically turned and sat on the arm of my couch. After I rubbed my fingers through my hair I said, “I came home from rehearsal, and as always there was a present on my pillow. Yes all the doors and windows were locked. He finds a way in somehow, I just don’t know how.”
Office Mike wrote it all down in his little notebook like he always does. I’m pretty sure over the two years I’ve lived in the city, Officer Mike has at least filled one notebook with just my calls. It’s slightly comical if you think about it. After Officer Mike clicked his pen closed he put it back in his shirt pocket, and said, “Lauren have you thought about getting a dog? Pretty girls like you should have some kind of protection. Not that I don’t enjoy our little meetings, but I would feel much better if you had a line of defense.”
He said with a smile. Then went about his normal routine, and checked all the windows, and looked for any damage to the door.
He stopped in the doorway to my bedroom, turned and said, “Is anything missing that you’d notice?”
I nodded yes, and with embarrassment rising to my cheeks I answered, “Yes, my red lace bra, and matching panties from Victoria’s Secret.”
Office Mike nodded, and pulled out his notebook, jotted it down and put it away. After he put it in his pocket he walked to the table and retrieved the pre
sent. He pulled the red silk ribbon, and slowly pulled the top open. He put the box on the table and pulled out his pen and removed the red lace from the box. After I had a chance to look at them, I realized it was a red Chantilly lace thong. Those are very nice, and certainly not cheap. The inside of the box read in beautiful Calligraphy, “Wear Me.”
A chill cascaded down my spine, which made me twitch. Officer Mike narrowed his honey colored eyes at me. I smirked and said, “I had a chill.”
Officer Mike furrowed his eyebrows as he said, “I’m going to have to take this for evidence.” I nodded and walked to the kitchen for a drink. I opened the fridge, grabbed two diet cola’s and walked one to Officer Mike as he was putting the present in an evidence bag.
“Thank you.” Officer Mike said as he finished sealing the bag. I smiled, then sighed as I sat back on my soft blue couch. The cushions welcomed me, as I felt the world crashing in on me. Officer Mike signed the bottom of his report and pushed it towards me to sign. I put my soda down on my coffee table, grabbed the pen and quickly scrawled my name across the line.
“I think that about does it. If you need anything else, you know how to find me. Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?” Officer Mike said as he headed towards the door.
“No, I’m going to stay right here. My friend wants me to go out. I might just take her up on her offer.” I said as I got up, to lead Officer Mike out. Officer Mike patted me on the shoulder as he opened the door, turned and walked down the narrow hallway. I waited until he got to the elevator before I closed and locked door behind me.
The frustration was too much for cola to handle. I grabbed my soda can, and walked into my little kitchenette. I opened the liquor cabinet above my fridge, grabbed the whiskey, and a tumbler. Shakily I poured myself a decent amount of liquor, and dumped a little soda in just for flavor. Apparently putting a little soda in your liquor doesn’t make it seem too bad.
