Page 4 of My Demon Neighbor
Codie
He was coming over again.
I tightened my coat around myself, and watched through the security feed as he came closer. Yesterday, he'd left me a note asking me to keep my music down at night. I hadn't realized it was loud enough for him to hear, and I'd felt mortified. I hadn't played any last night, and I was still a little shaky from the nightmare it'd triggered.
I didn't know why, but listening to music tricked my brain into letting me sleep without interruption. It helped me ignore everything but the words in the song, even while I slept.
What did my neighbor want now?
When he'd left the note yesterday, I'd been in my studio and hadn't seen him do it, so I'd played back the security feed, even though he'd left his name on the note.
Watching him, it'd almost looked like the pen and notepad he'd used had appeared out of thin air, but it must've been a glitch in the recording. He really was handsome, and I'd found myself rewatching the moment a few times after that.
Now, he stood at my door again, his lips pursed as he eyed the note he'd pre-written. He sighed loud enough for me to hear through the thick door, then eyed the keyhole. For a moment, I felt like he could see through it, that he knew I was standing on the other side.
Then, he leaned down and slid the note in, along with a set of... were those painting brushes?
I picked up both things, needing to tug the brushes since they were just thin enough to get in but not enough to do it easily. I was confused beyond measure. How did he know I painted? And where did the brushes come from? I'd seen his hands a moment before he slid the note in, and all he'd had was a piece of paper.
Was I losing my mind?
I eyed the brushes, realizing they were of high quality and not the simple ones you could find in every hobby store. I felt unnerved for a moment before remembering he'd met Nessa yesterday. Had he noticed the canvases she'd brought me and come to the right conclusion?
But why had he even given me these?
I read the note, hoping it would shed some light on this weirdness.
Hello, neighbor!
I would like to rescind my earlier request and ask that you please continue listening to your music. I don't mind it as much as I thought I did. I hope you have a good day.
-Pythor.
I was even more confused than I'd been before I read it. Just what was up with this man?
I hadn't told Nessa about yesterday's note, but since she was the only person I could talk to, I fired off a few texts explaining what had happened and then showing her today's note and 'gift.'
Instead of replying via text, she called, and I answered quickly.
"I don't know what to say about this," she said, and I snorted.
"Right? I'm so confused."
"I guess just use the brushes and play your music again?"
I hummed, feeling just a little weirded out by the whole thing. For some reason, Pythor's attention didn't scare me, which made me nervous. I had a healthy dose of fear when it came to people, but especially when it came to men, and Pythor was everything I was usually afraid of. He was so much bigger than me, and he was strong. He could easily overpowerme, and that should scare the shit out of me, but it didn't, which in itself scared me.
"I have a suggestion," Nessa said, her voice hesitant.
"What is it?" I asked, my eyes still on the note. His handwriting was messy, with the tail ends of theys andgs dragging far too much, and I liked it for some strange reason.
"You know how you've been wanting to learn how to protect yourself?"
"Yeah?" I asked, hoping she wasn't going to suggest another class, or worse, gym. She'd only tried once, and we'd even driven there. It was months ago, after I'd gotten done with my PT but before I stopped leaving the house completely, but the moment we'd walked inside and I'd seen all the strong, large men around, I'd had a panic attack. Nessa had had to basically carry me back to her car, and she hadn't tried again.
"Well, Pythor teaches self-defense. You could ask him to teach you."
"Like at the community center?"
