"A story for my love."
A bell chimed loudly in the cold afternoon air, harkening the time at 3:15pm. The train station upon which this exquisitely ornate clock-tower stood had been rather slow as of late. As the industrial age had dawned, swiftly reaching its peak, there was far less reason for people to visit such a small country village. Valhaven had all but resigned itself to a quiet, desolate existence; even the proudest locals had long since left. The passage of time had not been generous to this village, and it truly showed in this train station.
There was a time in which the golden leafed clock-tower sang chorus to the busy everyday life of those that called this place home. The trample of many feet had left the once-pristine mosaic floor a scuffed husk of its former self. The myriad gods that adorned the tiles had become obscured and dull; nothing about this station retained any shine, any life. Even the few staff that remained had given up, damn-near abandoned life, and it showed.
On this particular day the only sign of movement was the now seldom seen "3:15" from London. The train itself only pulled a singular carriage, although the beauty of its architecture was entirely out of place in Valhaven. As if compelled by some higher force with a particular fetish for solo digits, the beautiful red and golden carriage had but one passenger. A rather displeased passenger; one whom felt as though she had no place in such a "filthy little hell-hole". To some, this place had a sad, sombre, solemn sort of beauty; but those sorts of people had other reasons to lurk upon a near-abandoned station platform, concealed in the shadows.
Mary gave a displeased huff as she took a step off of the carriage, her rather expensive black heels creating an echoing crack as foot met tile and her icy blue eyes sweeping the immediate scene. Running her fingers through her flowing blonde locks, and clutching her worn novel to the bosom of her wolf-skin coat, she shuddered. It wasn't the cold that gripped her, however, it was the eerie sense of total seclusion and a growing silence as the train's booming coal-engine chugged away into the distance. "Why would he wish to meet me here?" she thought, "And no luggage? Does that ruffian think a lady simply wakes with a perfectly made face?" Mary could scarce understand why Dimitri, the man she had been compelled to seek, would remain in such a dead place.
***
It was not until the monolithic clock called out a rude four chimes that Mary was snapped out of the hypnotic state that her choice of book had cast. Despite her almost ferocious desire and ambition, the woman had a softer side, and a particular fondness for romance novels. When she had first met Dimitri she had felt her heart stop in her chest. The initial picture of perfection had soon faded, however. The man had all but stopped seeing her, no longer visiting her at unholy hours, turning up unannounced; and it was late, always after 11pm that she saw him. Even so, Mary could not deny his beauty, a true prince framed by a dark, macabre aura. The poor girl's mind had begun to wander to thoughts of him, something that often occurred throughout the day.
Mary pressed her legs tightly together as a familiar ache began to creep up on her. She was so close to hating that man, so furious whenever she thought of him, yet he had her in his grasp; he occupied her deepest desires and brought them to the surface, even when sat on a lonely bench in the middle of an empty train-station. She shook her head angrily as a deep blush caressed her cheeks, and a new thought became her, "How could he make a lady wait? Had I not this novel, I'd be close to violence"
Enough was enough, Mary had never been a patient girl and was far more prone to brash spontaneity than playing the part of the prim and proper lady, it was how she had managed to progress in the male-dominated business world. Folding her book over the red ribbon page-marker, she stood abruptly. As the woman's mind caught up with her emotions, she realised that she had no idea where to begin looking for that "accursed scoundrel". With a frustrated sigh, Mary expelled all worries and set off toward what seemed to be the exit; a rather intimidating tunnel with a single flickering light bulb mid-way through. For all her flaws, she was at least a brave girl.
A once-magnificent archway of marble framed the entrance to the tunnel, though it had certainly seen better days, and now flakes of marble had cracked and littered the floor. Nothing about this thoroughfare was left appealing, and to any typical person the lack of light and absence of a visible exit would have alarm bells ringing. Taking a few steps inside, every hair on Mary's porcelain skin leapt to attention and a chilling shiver raced through her spine. It did not matter; she was stubborn and kept onward.
After a good five minutes of walking, passing various crippled doorways with no indication of life, Mary stopped. No logic could explain this action; it was complete and total instinct. Something felt entirely amiss all of a sudden, as if the shadows that flickered around her like dark flames had taken on a personality; a sort of physical being.
She had not even had a chance to scream as a cold hand clasped shut over her mouth mid-exhale. Mary's entire body became stiff, her mind raced to find a reassuring explanation of what was occuring, but reality quickly dawned on her; a man was grasping her to his body with an iron grip.
In an instant, Mary's heart had sped to a painful pace and threatened to break free of her ribcage. Moist breath cascaded over her left ear, and the dark tones froze her blood in her veins. "The darkness has many eyes, ma belle pêchê." were the stranger's words, precise and clinical; familiar yet alien. "Why is he doing this?" Mary thought, but everything she had ever been told about the cruel and gluttonous nature of men cried a loud response in her head.
It was for a long moment that the man kept Mary restrained, unmoving and with presumably sinister intention, yet a familiar feeling began to occupy her loins. This restraint, this impending danger, was thrilling her in a new way. It could not be allowed to dominate her, however; she was prepared to retake her senses.
