《.The Dark Stranger.》


 CHAPTER ONE - Moving in with a Mysterious box

    The Story opens with an Ashy- white two story house and a ''For Sale'' sign hammered onto the perfectly green lawn. This house, now owned by Quinn and Declan, is situated on a street called ''Macabre''.


    Quinn, a beautiful lady with blue eyes and jet black hair walks out of the house. With a ''Sold'' sticker in hand she plasters it onto the sign with a smile.


    She walks into the house and sighs. Boxes everywhere as it should be. These labelled boxes had just been dropped off, creating quite a claustrophobic sight. Quinn unpacks a few boxes and sets the belongings in the appropriate places.


    Declan, a tall and fairly muscular man with dirty blonde hair hoists an unlabeled, yet rather heavy box up into his arms. He walks down to the basement and locks it away in a cupboard. Not knowing that Quinn had followed him, he turns around and lets out a tiny yelp at her presence.


    "What''s that?" Quinn giggles causing Declan to narrow his eyes, but smiles anyway.


    "It''s just a box Grandpa Steve gave to me before he passed." Declan walks up to Quinn and kisses her on the cheek.


    "I wonder what''s in there. You don''t want me to touch it."


    "Can''t tell you, but I''m sure you''ll find out." Declan answers. He stares at the cupboard intensely and shakes his head. "Come on, lets finish up."


    "Should we order Take-Out?" Quinn wraps her arms around her partners torso. "It''s almost dinner time. We''ve been busy the entire afternoon."


    Declan shrugs. "I''m down if you are. We''ve got some champagne right?"


    Quinn furrows her eyebrows. "Yeah... but you''re not a drinker." She giggles.


    "We moved into our dreams house together. Calls for a celebration, doesn''t it?" Declan winks.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "You''re right. Let''s go!"


    ¡­


    Morning arrives and a quiet atmosphere dawns on inside the house. The only place alive is the kitchen.


    Quinn walks around the island in a robe and holds a bowl in her left arm and stirs with the other. While she prepares breakfast and hums a tune that sounds awfully eerie, Declan is still fast asleep on the mattress situated in their ''yet to be finished'' bedroom.


    The smell of pancakes has travelled into the room. Waking Declan from his slumber. Being half asleep, he drags himself to the kitchen and sneaks up behind Quinn. He purposely frightens her and causes her to burn herself.


    "Damn it Declan! You do this all the time." Quinn shouts.


    Declan laughs. "I''m sorry sweety. I had to."


    Quinn hits Declan with a dish cloth while he heads to the glazed pancakes. "My favorite."


    "Help yourself." Quinn points her finger at the pancakes before untying her robe. "Save me some. I''ll be taking a bath if you need me."


    "Yes Ma''am."


    Quinn giggles as she makes her way to the sunlit bathroom and runs the bath water. She adds a proper amount of bubble bath into the tub. Steam takes over her vision as she does so.


    The bubbles rises over the edge of the tub as she slides her body into the water and closes her eyes to relax. The bathroom suddenly turns dark, as if the clouds had blocked the sun from shining it''s light into the room. This causes Quinn to open her eyes in wonder.


    "Sweety!" Declan calls out to her. "The power went out."


    As soon as Declan mentioned it, a storm has arrived allowing the sound of the rain to echo thought the entire house. "Did you have a cup of coffee yet?" Quinn asks.


    "Not yet. I''ll go turn on the generator. Keep yourself warm in the bathroom. I''ll be right back."


    "Declan wait! You''ll get a cold!"


    No answer.


    "Declan!"


    Quinn wraps a towel around herself as she steps out of the tub and exits the bathroom. She carefully tries not to slip as she walks down the dark passage way. A screech startles her body to move and causes her to trip over her own feet. She lays on her stomach and opens her eyes, only to look straight into a hole in the wooden floor.


    "Declan?" She whispers.


    She sees her boyfriend unlocking the cupboard. He drags the unlabeled box into his arms and sits down in front of it as Quinn watches on.


    Declan takes out what happens to be two murder weapons with dried blood all over them. He then takes out two outfits, one for for a female and one for a male. Lastly, Declan reaches into the box to reveal a picture of a couple appearing to be his parents.


    "I''m s..sorry Mom and Dad." Declan sobs.


    Silence.


    "I just lost control."


    Quinn shrieks a little too loud for her own good and slaps her hand over her mouth. Hoping that her boyfriend hasn''t heard her.


    Declan drops the picture back into the box and stands up from the floor. He looks up while walking to the basement door. Quinn tries to get up, but her towel has hooked itself to a nail in the floor that does not want to let her go.


    After a little struggle, she walks into the first direction she can think of, but the passage now seems darker than before and awfully too long. Shocked and scared she tries to find her way, but bumps into a figure right in front of her. The passage light flickers on to reveal Declan holding an axe causing her to scream.


    Quinn jolts awake to find herself in the hot tub. She lets out a sigh. Relieved that it was just a nightmare, but yet still terrified.

 CHAPTER TWO - Not expecting the Unexpected

    Quinn catches her breath as she recovers. Declan knocks on the bathroom door.


    "Quinn! We''ve got a guest. He''s our neighbor, a very funny and friendly man." Declan states.


    Quinn''s body tenses. "I''ll be right out!" She stutters.


    "You okay?"


    "Yeah. I''m fine. I just fell asleep in the bathtub."


    Declan rests his head on the door. "Damnit baby... I told you not to do that. Something bad could''ve happened to you." He frowns.


    A sigh escapes out of Quinn''s mouth. "Sorry... anyway. I''ll be right out."


    "Okay. We''re waiting."


    ...


    Declan rubs the palm of his hands against the fabric of his sweatpants before adjusting the blinds. Allowing the sun to brighten up the room. Declan walks over to the neighbor seated on the couch and joins him. The two men engages in conversation.


    Quinn hears the laughter and chatter as she walks towards them. A basket wrapped in blue gift foil catches her eye. Declan notices Quinn''s presence and introduces her to the neighbor.


    "Oh.. Edward. This is my wife, Quinn Leto."


    The neighbor now known as Edward stands up and holds out his hand. "I''m Edward Vegas. Nice to meet you Quinn. You''re right Declan... she sure is beautiful." Edward pats Declan on the shoulder.


    Quinn smiles. "Aww.. thank you Edward. I''m so very pleased to meet you." She points to the couch. "Please... have a seat."


    Declan walks to the doorframe slitting the kitchen from the living room. "You two should get acquainted. Would you like something to drink, Edward?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Edward nods his head briefly. "Sure, why not?"


    Declan heads off to the kitchen as he laughs. Quinn notices his laughter and kindness. She wonders why she had that awful nightmare about him.


    "What''s wrong?" Edward asks. Interrupting her thoughts.


    "I''m sorry. I just have a lot of things running through my mind. Please don''t let me bother you with them."


    "No worries."


    Silence fills the air, but shortly gets interrupted by Quinn. "Soo... You''ve got a very interesting surname." She smiles. "Tell me about it."


    Edward turns his body towards Quinn''s direction. "Well... to be honest. I really don''t know why my surname had to be ''Vegas'', but I''m not complaining."


    Quinn stifles a laugh and shakes her head. "I kinda like it. It''s a cool surname."


    Declan returns with a tray of three cups filled with black coffee and takes a quick glance at Quinn. Edward speaks up as Quinn hands him a cup of coffee. "Did you guys hear about the serial killer that escaped Parker Asylum?"


    Both Declan and Quinn shake their heads


    "No."


    Edwards thanks them for the coffee cup and holds it close to his chest. "A group of kids found his uniform laying on the side of the road a couple of blocks away from the asylum."


    "Which means he''s on the run?" Quinn grabs the tray from Declan and sets it on the coffee table in front of Edward.


    "Nobody was hurt... thank God. One guard almost lost his life." Edward states.


    "Do you know where he is?" Quinn joins Edward on the couch.


    "I don''t know much. It happened two days ago at about 8:24 pm and the News doesn''t know much either."


    Declan whispers to himself. "Jesus... Sweety we will have to check the internet." He sets his cup on the coffee table.


    Quinn sips her coffee. "Declan, wasn''t that the same time you were out?"


    Declan rubs his face and scowls at his wife. "Yeah... and?"


    "Excuse me?" Quinn scoffs and secretly glances at Edward awkwardly shuffling in his seat.


    Declan sighs. Realizing the tone that he used on his wife. "I''m sorry... I''m sorry." Due to embarrassment, Declan excuses himself and walks out the front door.


    Edward notices the tears forming in Quinn''s eyes and hesitates to comfort her. He finally rubs her back. "Don''t worry."


    "Not again.."


    "What do you mean ''Not again''? I don''t mean to be nosy, but has he yelled at you before?" Edward sets his cup on the coffee table next to Quinn''s and hands her a handkerchief.


    "Thank you.. Uhm. No I mean it''s the second time today that I''m scared of him.."


    "What are you talking about?"


    Quinn wipes her eyes and let''s out a long sigh. "I had this... I had a nightmare earlier this morning."


    "A nightmare?"


    "Yeah. I don''t know if I will be able to tell you without being creeped out." A shiver travels through Quinn''s body. She takes a deep breath


    "You don''t have to tell me.. it''s o-"


    "The dream was about Declan." Quinn blurts. Edward hands Quinn her coffee and takes a sip of his own. "How so?" He asks.


    "I dreamt that Declan confessed that he killed his parents and that he was not in control of his body and it''s actions."


    Edward raises his eyebrows in shock. He then clears his throat. "So.. what do you know about his parents?.. It''s just a dream."


    "He''s adopted."


    She remains silent for a while before wiping her eyes once again and speaks up. "The thing that bothers me is the fact that I''m able to see what he sees in a dream."


    Quinn lets out a chuckle. "We were best friends in high school... it happened in Junior year. We clicked and we had that bond ever since."


    "Do you mind tellin-" The screeching of car tires stops Edward from speaking and startles Quinn.


    "My son''s home. Uhm... I will have to go." Edward apologizes. "He''s a reckless teen. I can''t leave him alone."


    A smile spreads across Quinn''s face. "It''s okay. I understand." She holds her hand out to Edward. "Thank you so much for coming over. Thanks for the goodies."


    Edward bids her goodbye as she watches him cross the road to the house on the opposite side.

 CHAPTER THREE - Overthinking

    Quinn giggles at the sight of Edward yelling at his son even though the sadness and fear of this mornings nightmare still runs through her body.


    She spaces out at the thought of Declan, but suddenly shrieks at the sound of the mounted clock on the wall as it strikes twelve pm. Quinn shakes her head and walks to the kitchen to find herself a tub of chocolate ice cream to calm down.


    Her feet then leads her to the lounge to see Declan shoving his wallet into the back pocket of his sweatpants and grabbing his phone shortly after.


    Quinn gulps the cool treat. Half regretting it as her throat burns. She decides to question Declan. "Where are you going?"


    He ignores her and slams the door shut.


    Quinn''s P.O.V


    "Please be safe, baby. " I whisper after hearing our car pull out of the driveway.


    Declan has never spoken to me like that. Ever.. I don''t get why he got so defensive towards me about pointing out where he was. I was just trying to point out how something eventful can happen at the same time as something else completely different.


    I guess a part of me tried to call him out?? No..?? God I don''t know. This is completely ridiculous! I mean... I... saw what he dreamt about. He probably knows that.


    The ice cream tub begins to feel lighter. Causing me to look down at it. "Fuuuuck... "


    The ice cream tub is almost empty.


    I dig the spoon into the left over ice cream and set it on the coffee table in front of me. I rub my face in frustration. I can''t stop thinking about that nightmare.


    What the hell is in that box? I wonder.


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    Without wasting another second in my thoughts, I head on down to the basement. This place scares me so much. My own footsteps remind me of how Declan walked out to catch me.


    The cupboard where I saw Declan put the box in catches my eye. I open the doors and pull the box into my arms.


    "Here goes nothing.." I say.


    I take a peak inside of the box hoping to find something. "What the hell?! Are you kidding me? Nothing?!"


    My hands scurry through the items. There is nothing but old car parts in here. The box flies back into the cupboard with a swing of my arms. I close the doors before holding my head.


    Am I okay?


    Of course not! I''m puzzled. I''m stupid.. This is just way to damn confusing.


    "Get yourself together, Quinn." I tell myself and dust my clothes off before exiting the basement. The house sounds awfully quiet... It''s just an illusion. I''m all by myself and bored... and scared.


    I take a small stroll back to the lounge to finish the last bit of ice cream left in the tub.


    "Hmmm... wonder if Morgan is at home." I grab the landline on the table next to the couch and dial her number.


    "Morgan? Hey, it''s Quinn..."


    "Oh my God, Quinn. What''s up sister? How''s the new house?"


    "I''m just sitting around here. We moved in yesterday and currently boredom has me by the ass." I sigh while looking around the house.


    "..but where''s Declan then? Can''t he keep you company?" Morgan asks.


    "He st, urrh.. he went out for a while. Needed some home office supplies."


    "Well.. okay. Want some company? We can meet somewhere.. or I could come over??"


    "Not right now honey. I need to take a nap."


    "Too much ice cream?" She stifles a laugh.


    "You know me too damn well. I''ll call you later, okay?"


    "Sure thing."


    Morgan hangs up, allowing me to drag myself to our bedroom. A whiff of Declan''s cologne catches me at the door. It instantly makes me smile. I kick off my shoes next to the bed and notice that he left the bed as it was this morning.


    I''m so tired that I couldn''t care less about it. My body slumps itself on his side of the bed. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.


    ...


    I wake up in the darkness of our room.


    "Shit!"


    I immediately grab the alarm clock on the nightstand.


    8:43 pm


    I set the alarm clock back down and turn on the lights.


    "Declan!"


    No Answer.


    The house is so dark. I hope I''m not dreaming again. I shiver. Wait! Mirror... Mirror! If I can see myself in a mirror, it means I''m awake.


    I run up to the mirror next to my side of the bed to take a look.


    "Thank God." I let out a breath of relief as my reflection stares back at me. A tear slips from my eye. I quickly wipe it away, not wanting to cry tonight.


    I step into a pair of morning slippers and walk to the kitchen only to see that nobody''s there. It seems like my husband is not home yet. Dinner would''ve been on the countertop already. He always cooks dinner when my naps get a little too long.


    My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter. Alerting me with a very annoying ringtone.


    "Stupid." I say while going through my notifications. ''2 Missed Calls from Mr Leto??''


    He tried calling me.


    I hold the phone up to my ear while his number dials. It''s ringing too long. "Hey! Declan Leto speaking. Leave a messa-."


    Ugh!.. Voicemail.


    My thumb hovers over Morgan''s contact. I need some company. I tap on it and wait for her to answer.


    "Hey Morgan."


    "Hey! I was wondering when you''ll wake up." Morgan laughs. "What''s up?"


    "Is it too late for that visit? I need some company." I pout as if she could see me.


    "Not at all. I''m on my way... I''ll bring some ready made cocktails."