A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

It felt like the world's longest staring contest. Her mother wouldn't say anything as the flower twirled in her hand. A petal fell loose and descended to the floor slowly and gracefully. (F/n) watched it, and she forced herself not to gulp. She looked back to her mother, who started to shake her head. Disappointment was written across her countenance.

Her free hand rested on her hip. "(F/n), the horrors that you must've gone through down in those tunnels troubled you greatly. I know that's an obvious statement to make, but your father and I are beginning to witness the true extent of them." Concern took over her mother, and her grey eyes looked out the living room window. "I imagine that down in the tunnels there was no fresh air."

"No, there wasn't." (F/n) could describe the awful smells that were there, but she didn't want to give her mother nightmares. "I apologize. I know that it wasn't safe, but it's just hard to sleep when I know that the creature is still out there and probably hunting me down." She forced the truth away from her mind, not wanting to give anything away.

"Then, you understand that you could've been killed out there." (F/n) gave her mother a firm nod. "Alright, I'll let this go. Just don't go outside again in the dark. I can't ..." Her mother looked to the television. Resting her free hand on her mother's shoulder, (f/n) shook her head to indicate for her not to think about it. "Right." A heavy sigh left her, and her mother's gaze fell on her coffee. "I think that I'm going to need some of that."

Laughing now, (f/n) motioned over to the kitchen. "I made a fresh pot. I just need a glass anyway. I'll be in my room." Her mother smiled to her and turned away. Relief washed over (f/n). That was the case until her parents' room door opened.

Confusion was on her father's face. "(F/n)? I thought that you were in the bathroom." He pointed back to her room. "I could hear the water on when I was washing my face." Her mother glanced back to her, and her heart rate picked up.

"Ah! I left the water on. Sorry!" Before anymore questions could be asked, she hurried to her room and shut the door behind her. She set her coffee on her desk and rushed into her bathroom. Her thoughts were only on her parents discovering the creature, not on the fact that he was in the bathroom.

Thankfully, the bathroom door wasn't locked. She burst through and rushed to the shower. Without even thinking, she reached her hand in and shut off the water. Only when she heard a giggle, did she remember the dangerous male behind the curtain. The curtains pulled back slightly, and he peered out. "Oh, don't ..." Swiftly, she moved and placed her hand over his mouth.

"Keep your voice down," she whispered, "my parents might hear you. You'll need to finish your shower when my parents aren't up here." His right hand reached up and removed hers before he dropped it and pushed back some of his bangs. The creature's expression was unreadable, and his pale eyes unnerved her.

Several quiet giggles left him. "Well, what if I don't want to wait?" A smirk stretched on his lips. "Tell them that you decided to take a shower. You can join me, and I can see more of your delicious flesh." He licked his lips, and she took a cautionary step back. Her cheeks didn't flush at the comment. Rather, she only a felt a chill race through her veins at the thought of being eaten in her shower.

"I-I ..." She couldn't help the stuttering; she only took another step back. Several more steps and she regained her ability to speak. "I already told my parents that I'm heading out. And, you'll need to sleep somewhere else for today." At this, he dropped the curtain and pulled it back. Her eyes stayed on his face, and she took a fearful gulp.

"Are you breaking your deal with me?" A grin stretched on his lips, and he giggled. She now stood by the doorframe. Water droplets sounded against the ground, and their noise reminded her of blood droplets.

"N-no, it's because ..."

"(F/n), I forgot to remind you!" her mother called out from the other side of her door. "The people for the window bars are coming today. They shouldn't need to come into your room, but I thought that I would let you know."

"Thank you!" she called back before she heard her mother walk off. (F/n) looked back to the creature. She remained nervous and pointed towards her door as if that would clarify things further. "That's why."

Amusement covered his face. "You should've said that sooner." He stepped out of the shower and ruffled his locks with his right fingers. Water was flicked through the air, and his took on a messy appearance. "I'll wait on my shower, then, and sleep somewhere else." The creature giggled. "But, it seems that we're going to be locked up together even more now."

Taking steps towards her, she backed up and was tempted to close the bathroom door. He blocked it too soon, though. Her face was aligned with his bare chest. If he weren't some human eating creature, she probably would've blushed at his dripping wet, well-toned chest, but she was only shocked at how much it made him look all the more human.

He bent down and picked up his clothes. His eyes traveled back to her, and a smirk traveled across them. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for your shopping trip? I thought that you were going to get me new clothes." The creature held the old ones up before her. "Or, did you decide that you like these better?"

His questions broke her out of her stare, and she abruptly turned from him. "I didn't. Just get dressed already and find somewhere else to sleep." She headed over to her desk and took a sip of her coffee. Her bathroom door didn't close; she only heard soft footfalls head back into the bathroom. After several sips, she retrieved her purse and left her room. Hopefully, the creature would go sleep in the mausoleum from before, and, maybe, he would get caught there.

Heading into the kitchen, she set down both items and went to work on her breakfast. Her mother was at the table and reading the newspaper. A cup of coffee was nearby. Next to the older woman was her father. He had another section of the newspaper and was filling in the Sudoku table. "So, your mother tells me that you're planning on going out. Where to?" her father asked as his gaze stayed on the paper.

"Shopping. It'll be a nice break after the tunnels and hospital." She grabbed a box of chocolate and marshmallow cereal before she retrieved a bowl. (F/n) didn't look back at her father. Otherwise, he might catch that something was up. His pencil stopped, however.

"Just be careful and be back before dark. Don't go in any secluded areas either. And ..."

"Dad, I know. Don't worry. I can handle myself." She was going to say that she had escaped the tunnels, but she had been in the hospital for a week after that, and she had almost died. "And, I'll have a flashlight, but I doubt that the creature will go that deep into the town. There are too many lights and people. Besides, I'm going out during the day."

"Okay, but ..."

"I'm not going to drive by the woods to get into town. Even if I was, it'll be light out. Nick and I had been traveling down it in the dark. You're worrying too much."

"Fine, you're right." He muttered something under his breath and returned to his game. As she turned to grab some milk, she saw her mother rest a hand over her father's. They shared a glance before they returned to their individual activities. (F/n) was just happy that she had convinced her mother earlier. If they both became too suspicious and concerned, she might never leave the house until the creature was caught, and she didn't want them finding him in their home. She didn't wish her parents to find him at all.

With her breakfast prepared, she put the other items away and grabbed a spoon. She joined her parents at the table and went to grab her phone to scroll through some posts online, but she remembered that her phone had gone missing back in the hospital. The creature was in her room, and he had presumably taken it. Maybe, he had saved it, but she doubted that he would give it back to her. Her mother looked over to her.

"Are you going to get a new phone today?" she asked, noting how her daughter looked at her empty hand. "It wasn't your fault about your old one. Your father and I are willing to replace it for you."

"Thanks, mom and dad." She was about to agree to the idea, but she realized that the creature would most likely find and take it again. If she lost a second one, her parents would wonder what had happened to it. "But, I'll wait on a new one. It's probably best that I hold off on communicating for right now. It'll give me some peace, and I don't need any more news reports on the creature."

"Well if you're sure. Just let us know if you change your mind." (F/n) nodded and hoped that would be soon. Once the creature was gone, she could face her nightmares and truly get rid of them.