Don't Text Back

Chapter 5

I was awakened by the sound of someone mumbling. It was coming from outside of my door, so I got up to check it out. The hallway was dark, but someone had the kitchen light on downstairs. Before getting to the stairs, I stopped and peeked out from behind the wall. I saw Rebecca standing over the counter with a light shining down on paper.

"Leave us alone," Rebecca was whispering. "It was an accident, can't you see that."

I didn't have any intention to bother Rebecca; however, I wondered if bipolar people talked to themselves like that. I wasn't tired anymore, but there was nothing else I could do. I was about to go back in my room when suddenly, Rebecca faced the front door. She started talking as if someone was actually standing there. The more I looked, the more I made out an enormous silhouette behind the shadows. I know it makes little sense, but I saw something that looked like an enormous figure. I rubbed my eyes, making sure I was sure of what I was seeing was correct.

By the time I stopped rubbing my eyes, Rebecca was standing over the paper again, talking to it. "Just leave us alone," Rebecca kept going. "Take her instead."

Scared of what I was hearing, I decided to walk back inside my room. On my way to the door, I had this horrible feeling that something was standing over me, towering me as I walked. I didn't dare turn around, but my insides shook with fear. Before I went into my room, I heard something behind me whisper in a dry, raspy voice.

"Remember."

I whipped my head around, screaming for something to get away from me. The lights came on, and I saw Ameira standing there with a small rug in her hand.

"Hey," Ameira put out her hands. "It's just me."

I put my hand on my pounding heart. "I thought I heard something."

She smiled. "I just was going downstairs to pray."

I tried calming myself down. "I'm sorry."

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"Kind of awake now," I said.

"Come downstairs," she said. "We'll talk."

I followed her downstairs. Rebecca was nowhere in sight. I figured she went into one of the other girl's rooms. Had she switched rooms with Ameira? Ameira's room was downstairs, and Rebecca's room was upstairs. Inside the living room, Ameira kept on the counter light and turned off the one upstairs. I watched as she placed a small rug on the floor and began praying. The only reason I knew she was praying was that I had seen it in a history book once.

When Ameira was done, she plopped down on the couch and let out a sigh. "I guess you must think I'm really religious," she said while smiling at me.

I smiled. "I wouldn't know."

"I'm not," she said. "I don't pray as often as I should." Not knowing what to say, I nodded my head and let her continue. "My parents were very strict with the religion, but I never had a chance to enjoy it until I got away from them. Which was just a few months ago. I'm not strong, but I'm still learning, you know?"

"I guess."

"Sorry," she said. "It's just everyone has this expectation for me to be a perfect Muslim but forget I'm human. When people see a Muslim, they think religious. Highly religious. The truth is, I wished I was, but I'm not."

I put my hand on her shoulder, feeling some sympathy for her. She was obviously upset about her parents or something I didn't know about. "It'll be okay," I said.

She looked at the floor. "I feel like a terrible person for bringing you here."

"Why?" I asked. "You don't have to feel bad about that."

She continued looking at the floor as if she was in deep thought. I sat back and sighed, unsure of what to say. She shouldn't have felt bad for bringing me here. My parents would get over it. I hoped she didn't blame herself for my parents being mad at me.

Ameira stood up then grabbed her rug. "Sleep well," she said, then walked back upstairs.

I got up to go upstairs, but she asked me to turn off the counter light. I listened, went over to the counter and searched for the light switch. It took me a while to find, but when I did, I noticed that the paper was still there. Before I turned off the light, I read it. There was a number.

803-921-1120 Text me back. Liza.

I examined it. I wondered who Liza was and why Rebecca wasn't texting them back. Leaving the note, I turned the light off. As soon as I did, I heard the front door creak shut.

It hadn't been closed?

I quickly turned on the light, scared out of my mind. Ignoring Ameira's request, I left the light on. I pushed the door to check if it was closed and it was. With fear in my heart, I headed back upstairs and drowned myself in season three of The 100.