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?117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiT7GghBdE
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 design117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWo5LYi7AF
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 rain117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yBJ7iBMEI
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 frame117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XMQV8Tj3x
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 eyes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi0yGcKSXN
'Cause you're a villainous thing117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43c7stf4S9
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 clothes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBa1Q3Mysd
'Cause you're a villainous thing, oh117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XS7MbKv2E
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 world117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAak9i5rCr
Let it be a tragedy of love and glory117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYALg1RhO0
While they wait by gates of pearl117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEIuNYEbsP
We'll be building palaces in purgatory"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFarc1eNTAF
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 eyes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bsIN62wBI
'Cause you're a villainous thing117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVyMtaOUdq
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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliwyEg3Nhi
"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 clothes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLjO65B8Is
'Cause you're a vi-villainous thing, oh117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgCLWitA1Q
..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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-117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0iNucHrBY
[Do Not Proceed if you don't want to ruin the mood]
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117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DqVjO3WGa
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 15.158.61.19da2
