The Shadow in the Dark (Part Six)

 

I woke slowly to a warm shaft of sunlight streaming through the dormer window, teasing my face.

 

It was one of those lazy mornings when I sensed instinctively that I’d enjoyed a really good night’s sleep, with vivid dreams that faded the moment I left the lands of Morpheus. Above me, pinned to the sloping sides of the attic roof, a poster of Elsa from Frozen looked down at me. There was a quote on the poster that read:

 

‘Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show.’ 

 

For some reason the quote stirred a momentary pang of frustration as I lay on my back gazing up at it. 

 

Don’t let it show.

 

I mustn’t ever let it show.

 

The thought came unbidden into my head, and just as quickly vanished.

 

I became aware I was lying under a Frozen bedspread that I’d partly kicked away as I’d tossed and turned in my deep sleep. And continuing the Frozen theme, I wore a silky bedtime slip with Elsa printed on the front. I didn’t remember dressing myself in it, but then I didn’t remember much from last night, just vaguely stumbling in fatigue as I walked to Rosemary’s car parked on the forecourt of the diner. Was this Rosemary’s home? She had said something about staying with her overnight?

 

From where I lay in the single bed I could see other pictures from Frozen pinned to the walls, often with motivational quotes from the cartoon film.

 

My eyes focussed on one of them:

 

‘The best way to get what you want is to just be who you are.’

 

And there on the attic door was Elsa imploring me to ‘let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore.’

 

My left hand strayed to the silky slip where it settled against my breasts. It wasn’t real silk, of course – just some synthetic silky material, but it felt strangely nice. I didn’t normally wear such things to bed, so it was a new sensation. 

 

My fingers brushed the silk that lay against my left nipple and that felt nice, too. I smiled a guilty smile as I lay there and began to stroke both my nipples through the silk-like slip. I felt content, good with myself, happy in my body as I lay there, waking up slowly.

 

With the arrival of bright daylight, all the fears and anxieties and the stress from last night were gone. I didn’t know what time it was for there wasn’t a clock in the tiny attic dormer bedroom, but I allowed myself the luxury of stroking and fondling my nipples for a while through the slip. This wasn’t something I normally did, but this morning it felt comforting. I thought of Martin, and pictured him frantic with worry when finally I’d make contact with him, later today. I pictured our reunion – all thoughts of the silly argument last weekend gone in a flash as he put his arms around me and held me to his body, telling me how worried he had been.

 

Thinking of Martin made the stimulation of my nipples nicer still. I lay back, gazing up at the Elsa poster as I felt those nipples swell to my touch. 

 

I could…

 

I could always…

 

I smiled a semi-guilty smile. My other hand strayed to the hem of my Frozen slip that was rucked high up on my thighs, almost revealing my sex. I slipped my hand beneath the hem and touched my lips, gasping a little at how easily they parted to the first probing touch of my middle finger. I was surprisingly wet from my nipple stimulation. 

 

I took little sharp gasps of air as I began to slide my finger gently inside of me, rotating the tip, not going deep, but just enjoying the easy stimulation. 

 

This felt good.

 

This felt so good.

 

I lay there and parted my thighs a little more.

 

“Elsa, bad girl, you shouldn’t be watching me,” I whispered to the poster above my head. “Look away, please.”

 

I gasped again. The stimulation was coming surprisingly easy, and I began to think of men; strong, broad shouldered men with smouldering eyes, men who were looking at me in a way that men didn’t normally dare look at a woman. 

 

I swallowed and then began to stroke myself with increased passion. 

 

“Martin…” I whispered softly. I could imagine him now pushing me down onto a bed and parting my thighs. I could imagine him wanting me, taking me by surprise, off guard. “I’m not sure about this, Martin…” and then for some reason I pictured him taking hold of a wrist and pulling it to the side of the bed and tying it in place. “Martin, what are you doing? Please, no…” and then he takes my other wrist and I know now he intends making me helpless before he puts me to use, and…

 

I gasped and suddenly sat up, pulling my hand away from under the hem of my silk slip. A feeling of complete shame suddenly washed over me, ruining the moment.

 

No!

 

What was I thinking! I drew my hand away, despite the burning heat between my legs. 

 

Shame

 

Shame

 

Shame

 

I felt giddy, confused, still aroused, but now mixed with a burning embarrassment at allowing myself such feelings. I looked at my fingers. They were wet, slick with my juices. 

 

My nipples were still aroused.

 

I got up out of the bed and went to a small porcelain sink where I splashed cold water on my face to calm myself down. What had got into me? Easy, girl. You need to act professionally this morning. You need to get to the bottom of what exactly happened last night.

 

I brushed my teeth with a plastic Frozen toothbrush - this obsession of Rosemary’s daughter was off the scale – and then I regarded my reflection in the small mirror that was fixed above the basin. 

 

Fire crotch.

 

The word came unbidden in my mind. I blinked and looked at myself again. I ran my hands through my red hair, arranging the locks about my shoulder, and about the thin spaghetti straps of my silky bedtime slip. I took some deep breaths and found my early morning arousal had passed. Okay. Rosemary would probably be downstairs. I needed to get to the diner this morning. Sheriff Root would be meeting me and…

 

Tall

 

Broad shoulders

 

Muscular

 

Handsome

 

A true man

 

I felt momentarily dizzy, but it was just for a few seconds. I leaned against the basin and took some more deep breaths. Perhaps I just needed another hour in bed? But, no, I had work to do this morning. There had been a naked girl running through the bushes last night, and…

 

Naked like a slave

 

Slave naked

 

I closed my eyes again and shook my head, feeling my long locks of hair sway about my shoulders and at the base of my neck.

 

There should be a collar

 

Focus, Ashlee, focus. I looked about the room and saw that Rosemary had been in here at some point to lay out fresh clothing for me. But it was hardly better than the garments I wore yesterday. There was a pair of pink denim shorts, a white long sleeved sweater with Elsa and Anna from Frozen hugging one another, with the words, ‘I love warm hugs’ beneath the pair of girls, and a pair of white ankle socks with a fringe of lace around the ankles, and a pair of pink and white sneakers. The silk underwear I had worn yesterday was now replaced by simple cotton underwear and a plain bra, and there was a fresh clean pair of light grey woollen pantyhose. 

 

Okay, enough with the Frozen clothes for kids. I would be on serious business this morning and had to look the part. If necessary, Rosemary would have to drive me quickly into town and I’d buy something that would make me actually look like a responsible adult. I walked down the narrow steps from the dormer attic and followed my nose towards the kitchen where I could hear sounds of Rosemary moving around as she cooked some bacon and eggs. 

 

“Good morning sleepy head,” said Rosemary, as I walked into the kitchen. She was tending some pans as she looked me over and smiled. “I was beginning to wonder whether I’d need to scoot upstairs and wake you.”

 

“Well I’m up now, and…”

 

“Morning, Elsa.”

 

I suddenly froze, feeling a palpable sense of alarm as I recognised the voice of Sheriff James Root. He sat at a kitchen table, drinking coffee, and there was an amused smile on his rugged face as he saw me standing there dressed in nothing more than a short silky cartoon slip.

 

“Sheriff Root…” my voice stammered as I was literally frozen with embarrassment. 

 

“Doesn’t she look adorable,” said Rosemary. “Reminds me so much of my young Ada. It was lovely to have Ashlee in the house last night. I do so miss Ada.”

 

“I…” I could feel the heat from my cheeks as I tried not to meet his gaze. 

 

You do not have a nether closure!

 

You stand before a man and you do not have a nether closure!

 

I swallowed hard and shifted my balance from the ball of one foot to the ball of my other foot. “I didn’t know you were here…” I stammered. “I wouldn’t have…”

 

“Got tired of waiting for Rosemary to open up the diner. It’s gone past ten. Thought I’d call round and pick you up. You’re still on for showing me where you abandoned your car last night?’

 

I nodded, feeling tongue tied. I just couldn’t look at him, not while I was barely dressed. Not while a thin piece of silk was all that I had to wear. 

 

“I should get dressed…” I said as I took a couple of steps backwards to the doorway.

 

“Not until you’ve had breakfast,” said Rosemary as she intercepted me before I could leave. “Sit yourself down at the kitchen table. Come along, Ashlee Ellis. Chop-chop.” She actually patted my bottom to propel me into the centre of the kitchen.

 

“It’s fine,” said Sheriff Root. “I promise not to stare too much.”

 

“Just so embarrassing…” I mumbled as I sat down on the chair opposite Sheriff Root and folded my arms.

 

“You ever seen Frozen?” asked the Sheriff.

 

“Yes. But I was twelve at the time.”  

 

“Must have left a big impression,” he said with a grin.

 

“This isn’t my choice of night wear.” Before I could explain further, Rosemary set a bowl down beside me, followed by a cup of coffee. 

 

“Now I remembered you said you were vegan, and of course I don’t have anything a vegan might eat,  but I remembered we have some Nutri-girl back at the diner, so I went and got you some.”

 

The bowl contained an unappetising mush with the texture of cold porridge.

 

Over on the counter was an open box with a happy woman tossing her long, glossy, healthy hair and smiling at the camera. The advertising logo read:

 

You don’t think you’re a Nutri-girl? Perhaps it’s time to think again!

 

Nutri-girl Special-K breakfast pouches, now available in Cherry and Banana flavours. Good health has never been so tasty!

 

“Rosemary, I don’t really want…”

 

“You’re so hungry, Ashlee Ellis,” said Rosemary, and, you know what – strange as it seemed, I suddenly realised I was VERY hungry. Where had that come from? I felt my stomach rumble as I realised how little I’d eaten in the last twenty four hours.

 

“It’s banana flavour,” she said, “but I have strawberry for you tomorrow, honey. That is if you’re staying a second night?”

 

I was actually feeling really hungry now. Rosemary set a spoon beside my bowl and stroked my head. “Eat your Nutri-girl, Ashlee Ellis. All of it.”

 

I was chewing the first mouthful of Nutri-girl Special-K breakfast before I realised I had even picked up the spoon. 

 

“You love the taste of Nutri-girl, Ashlee Ellis,” said Rosemary as she watched over me.

 

Actually, it wasn’t at all bad. I took another spoonful. It was a bit like eating a banana yoghurt, only a little thicker and lumpier.

 

“What?” I could see the Sheriff was watching me as I quickly spooned another mouthful of banana flavoured Nutri-girl. 

 

“Nothing.” He smiled again. 

 

“I get the impression you’re laughing at me, Sheriff.” I tossed my head, angrily. I was a professional  FBI woman, for God’s sake!

 

“Not at all, Miss Ellis. I’m taking you very, very seriously.” He produced a folded map of the regional area and laid it out on the table. “From what you said last night, it sounds like you were driving along the Miskatonic river. I spoke to Henry after you left with Rosemary, and he says he found you here.” The Sheriff placed his finger on a lonely stretch of road that curved in a serpent-like shape through heavy woods.

 

“If you say so.” I took another spoonful of Nutri-girl as Rosemary beamed her approval.

 

“It’s tasty, isn’t it, Ashlee Ellis?” she said.

 

“It is, Rosemary. Thank you.”

 

“You’d better watch yourself,” said the Sheriff with another good natured smile. “Girls get addicted to that stuff once they feel the changes it brings to their bodies.”

 

“Glossy hair,” said Rosemary with her comforting smile, “soft skin, good teeth and bones and nails, and it’ll redistribute your fatty tissue. Add a little shape to your breasts and bottom, honey. Won’t that be lovely?”

 

“Well, it’s just one bowl,” I said. “I’m not sure I’ll actually be going on a Nutri-girl diet.”

 

“All the girls say that at first," said Rosemary. “And then they see how the boys take a renewed interest in them, and they never look back.”

 

“Rosemary,” the Sheriff offered her a friendly smile. “I’ll need to run through a few things with Miss Ellis. If you don’t mind?”

 

“Of course, go ahead Sheriff. You have such a busy morning ahead of you.”

 

“Much obliged.”

 

I had finished the bowl and was feeling a sense of contentment at having eaten the Nutri-girl. There was still a little of the paste smeared on the inside of the bowl. I suddenly had an urge to lick it clean, but of course I couldn’t do that with the Sheriff watching, so I slid the bowl to one side, feeling uneasy that I had left some of the Nutri-girl uneaten. 

 

“Are you okay, Miss Ellis?” The Sheriff seemed slightly concerned.

 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I glanced at the bowl. Traces of Nutri-girl remained.

 

“I know Rosemary can be a bit, well, intense at times.”

 

I nodded. I glanced again at the bowl. Something about leaving the unfinished paste was nagging at me. I felt I should really lick the bowl clean. I fidgeted in my seat and touched my long red hair as I tried not to meet the sheriff’s direct gaze. I felt on edge, slightly pensive as I nibbled at my lower lip. I had left some of the Nutri-girl in the bowl, and that made me feel anxious. Was it allowed? Was it permitted?

 

What?

 

I suddenly realised the stupidity of those thoughts. Allowed? Permitted? Why had I even thought that? Angrily, I pushed the bowl further away, but Rosemary did not move to take it. I glanced up at the Sheriff and felt momentarily dizzy.

 

So handsome

 

So strong

 

Like a Master

 

I took a deep breath. 

 

He was watching me with what seemed genuine concern.

 

“Everything is fine,” I said. I was NOT going to lick the bowl clean. There was no way I’d demean myself like that. 

 

I felt Rosemary’s eyes upon me the whole time. 

 

I had left food paste in the bowl.

 

I began to feel a mounting sense of anxiety because of it.

 

A slave would be whipped for not licking her bowl clean.

 

“I think I need some fresh air,” I said, abruptly.

 

“Plenty of that where we’re going. I’ll give you a few minutes to get changed and I’ll be waiting outside by the car.” The Sheriff rose and, with a last look of concern, left the kitchen.

 

I waited until he was gone and then quickly took the bowl and began to lick every last trace of Nutri-girl from the inside rim.

 

“Good girl,” said Rosemary as I licked up every last morsel of paste. “You’re such a good girl, Ashlee Ellis.”

 

And suddenly, just like that, my anxiety disappeared, and everything was fine once more.