The needle scratched the top of the vinyl, creating just the right sound. Ash cranked the gramophone after replacing the vinyl. In this generation, no one makes CDs for gramophones, but Ash explicitly requests them from the artists of the songs he wants. He prefers using old-fashioned machines, which, no doubt, suit his personality. Inside his apartment, the lighting was dark, the curtains were drawn, only letting a little light get in through a tiny gap. That streak of sunshine shone across his face from his eyes down to his lips. He was in the drawing room. The ceiling was high, the walls were concrete, and there was but one thing which provided colour: the lavish, green vines which climbed the wall to the window walls though hidden by the drawn black-out curtains.
Ash sat on an armchair, his head drawn back, eyes closed. The gramophone lay on a square marble table next to the armchair. The atmosphere seemed dark and lonely. His only furniture in that big room was the armchair and the table which were placed in the middle, facing the wall where the vines started. The window which reached 4 feet from the ceiling to the floor was on Ash's left. The exit was on his right. The doors were double glass French doors with black lining. You could not see what was inside or outside. Getting a glass door for him was useless if he was just going to tint them this much.
The spine-chilling melody filled the empty room, drifting into the lone listener's ears. The music was loud and disturbing yet he still sat on the armchair, right next to the horn, as silent and as calm as the dead as the intro played.
The singer started,
"Welcome, won't you come inside?112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExtZspMg9V
Oh I fear the passing year did not deserve you"
Ash's blank face changed in a second. His calm eyelashes fluttered open. His lips were drawn back into an eerie grin, revealing a set of perfectly aligned, jade-y white rows of teeth. His right which was clenched into a fist on the armrest revealed the secret within. He held a white handkerchief which looked a little bit soiled.
"By some devious design112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWKdlZ2kRz
Suddenly you're very near, as I prefer you"
It was stained with blood as red as crimson. Its rusty odour easily latched onto the skin of whoever touched it. But that was back then. Now, the stain can still be seen but it was almost fading. Normally, if one kept a handkerchief for that long without washing it, its stench would eventually grow more unpleasant. But, somehow, Ash kept the original smell of rain from several years ago. No one knows how he does it, heavens, no one knows anything about him.
"Soaked and shivered from the rain112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg6d4VTzST
You have always been a delicate disaster"
He brought the cloth closer to his nose. It wasn't a very fine smell, it wasn't sweet nor very pleasing, and that's what he liked about it. The thought of the person who owned the handkerchief being weak and vulnerable excited him. The smell of that person's blood constantly reminded him of that fact.
"Fine in fire and of frame112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H6m0Kq0vt
Me and you are overdue for fiendish laughter"
He stood up from the chair and waved the cloth softly as if he was dancing with it.
"Oh dear, let me see those smokey eyes112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxct8hOn13k
'Cause you're a villainous thing112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfCkAnmOPq
And we can't have you living a lie"
A gentle caress, pretending to hold the person in his arms.
"Oh dear, let's remove those pretty clothes112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXL9qCMcoh
'Cause you're a villainous thing, oh112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssayQ8xDo1
And I don't think anyone knows, oh oh oh"
The record he was listening to had been playing the same song over and over again. It was an album which contained a lot of songs, yet it was as stubborn as its owner, playing whatever it wants, refusing to do what others request of it. Its owner, of course, was as broken as itself.
"Waste no worry for the world112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmqli0xy5t
Let it be a tragedy of love and glory112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyqkiECNNW
While they wait by gates of pearl112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7maBrZGAB
We'll be building palaces in purgatory"112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQN60WrSB0
For a second time, he brought the cloth close to his face and sniffed it. He closed his eyes, trying to go back to the past. His eyes opened with a glare. He would do anything to take that person for himself. To him, that person was like a beautiful bird, but who would be so foolish as to let go of a rare bird? Would one not lock it up instead?
"Oh dear, let me see those smokey eyes112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0c9OeoJfw
'Cause you're a villainous thing112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IqUuOSjgs
And we can't have you living a lie"
He wanted him. He wants him. He needs him. But... He brought the stained part of the cloth to his mouth and licked it.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUqbzOPT1H
"Not yet, my darling..." he whispered, his eyes dimming, "but soon, I swear."
The record had been scratched multiple times before. It would, at times, act like a spoiled child and refuse to play the song.
" d...r, let's re-m-e those pre-ty clothes112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjblh18Fl2
'Cause you're a vi-villainous thing, oh112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDzgvq3vfX
..nd I don't think anyo-"
It started screeching, like a child throwing a tantrum. Ash was too deep in his thought to care. He 'cradled' the piece of cloth, humming.
"Maybe so, my love. Pray it be sooner... Hmm~"
.End.
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-112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn27eye8l4
[Do Not Proceed if you don't want to ruin the mood]
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112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIWgZOT5AW
Sorry for the late chapter this time. But at least I published two chapters in a week, right? Aha... ha ha... hah...
I was also weirded out while reading this, don't worry. You're not alone.
ns 15.158.61.21da2
