Fear of the Unknown

Chapter 1 What Are You Talking About?

Copyright © All Rights Reserved . Zadie245 2015
Cover ©Zadie245 2020

*Editing - wrote this when I was 15 so I know there will be some extensive editing needed. Please feel free to point them out to me as well! Enjoy! 😊

"Bethany! BETH!" My sister yells at me from the living room. I groan and turn to look over at my clock. It shows 3:00am. What is she doing up so early?

"Come quick!" Cora yells.

This better be good, I thought. She is definitely going to get something from me if this is some kind of joke to wake me up this freaking early. I understand she feels lonely sometimes, ever since our dad died in a car crash three years ago, our mom has been distant. She barely even registers that we're in the room with her. My mom is constantly moving us to different places, never settling. She is on a constant endless loop of guys. The type of guys that 'hit it, then quit it'. It makes me sad and angry at the same time. Why can't mom be happy? Why does she always sleep with almost any guy she finds attractive these days? She used to be so loving and caring. Now it's like the life has been sucked right out of her.

I see Cora at the stairs by the kitchen. She jumps up and down squealing. Her finger is pointing towards the tiny storage room under our vintage wooden stairs.

"What is it?" I groan rubbing my eyes roughly.

"There's something in there!" Cora yells.

My eyes snap open, its probably nothing. But I walk over and start to open the storage room slowly. I brace myself for impact, my heart thuds wildly in my chest. What is it? Something scurries out of the room lightning fast and I let out a bloodcurdling scream. What the hell was that?

"I got you! You were scared of a mouse. Oh my gosh, you were terrified." She laughs.

"Cora, you scared the absolute shit out of me, don't do that ever again! Don't you know it's three in the freaking morning? What were you thinking?" I yell.

Cora's coral blue eyes start to form tears. She starts bawling her eyes out.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I miss mom, she hasn't been home for two days. I'm worried Beth, is she okay?" Cora asks.

"I don't know Cora, we just have to wait for her to come home just like always. She's probably with a different guy right now." I scoff.

"What are you talking about? Mom isn't like that." Cora asks.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that Cora is only six and doesn't fully understand yet. I hold out my arms in gesture for a hug. Cora willingly hugs me, I run my hands through her cornsilk, brunette hair. She has the prettiest features in this family. Her stunning blue eyes from our dad, and her beautiful hair from our mom. I'm completely opposite, with hazel eyes and blonde hair. My hair is naturally curly and wavy while Cora's is naturally straight.

"It's okay, she'll come home. She always does." I soothe while crossing my fingers hoping that what I say is true. That she'll show up any minute now.

It was as if God heard my prayer. The door rattles and I can hear a key being put in and turned.

"Mom." Cora and I say at the same time.

"What are you girls doing up so early in the morning?" She asks amused.

This is unlike her. My mom is usually not this cheerful. Her hair is slightly disheveled, her mascara sticks to her face. She seemed to be in a good mood and that's very rare. I decide to go along with it hoping that her mood will last for a while. But my anger gets in the way.

"Where were you mother?" I ask in a stern voice. I glare at her angrily. Cora tugs on my hand trying to comfort me.

"Don't!" Cora says.

I shake her hand off still glaring at mom. She had no idea how worried sick we've been the last two days she decided to disappear. Cora was sick all night the day mom left. I was scared and I thought I was going to have to look after Cora all by myself. But I guess that wasn't the case at all.

"Listen honey, let me explain." Mom says.

I raise my eyebrows at 'honey'. She only says that when she's nervous to tell us something. Here we go, I thought. I brace myself for the possible impact of what I'm going to hear next. Nothing could've prepared me for what she said.

"I met this guy honey, we been together for a bit now and he proposed! We're moving to his house! Exciting right?"

Now I am completely wide awake. My face blanks out in speechlessness. What? My mom is marrying this guy and she wants to move! Again? When will this escapade ever end? The one thing I've grown to hate is moving. Especially when we move almost twice a month. Mostly its because of my mom's lack of politeness towards neighbours that got our family leaving towns and cities with our tail between our legs.

I shake my head angrily. This is just like her, always meeting a new guy and moving in with him. Does she not remember the time where she walked right into physical abuse? Why won't my mom ever learn that?

"How can you trust this guy? Do you even know him? Like really get to know him?" I ask with such hostile and venom that my mom flinches.

"I know him, he won't hurt us. We're in love." Mom reasons.

"Please don't leave us again!" Cora cries.

My mom looks up surprised that Cora spoke up. She smiles at her.

"I won't I promise." Mom promises.

I hope she did not just lie to us. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if she did.

"Begin packing your things girls, a moving van will be here later this morning."

"Where does this guy even live exactly?" I ask.

"In Florida, he bought this beautiful home that was very cheap." Mom answers.

My eyebrows arch even higher. Florida! That's a four hour drive from here. Oh boy, this will never end will it?

"Does this mean we are going to finally settle?" Cora asks eagerly.

"Yes!" Mom exclaims.

Cora is grinning from ear to ear ignoring all warning glares I shoot her.

"Get some sleep, it's going to be a long day." Mom orders.

"Fine." I grumble.

I pull Cora with me and led her to the bedroom tucking her in. She looks at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry Beth, really I am. I won't do that again." Cora says.

"It's alright, get some sleep."

I turn to leave. Before I could leave, Cora stops me.

"Can you stay here?"

"Sure."

I open the covers and lay next to her. My mind is spinning endlessly wondering about mom's guy. Then I fall to darkness.

****************