Why Me?

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

We stayed at Pierce's until late that afternoon before heading out. After we got back to my house, Eve stared at me but decided that it wasn't the right time, she was right.

Later that night, I leant Eve my car so she could go get Andy from Lizzy's house. They came back with Andy slightly in a sour mood. He had a frown on his face, his hair pointing in every direction, like he was constantly tugging at it and didn't say anything to anyone as he walked upstairs and into his room.

I looked at Eve with a question in my eyes. She sighed and tossed me the keys.

"I don't know," she said walking towards her room. "He wouldn't tell me, I'll just wait until he's ready to talk." And the door closed behind her.

I stood in the hallway looking at both of their doors. Then I looked at mine and a feeling settled over me. I didn't want to go in there, I didn't want to be left alone with my thoughts. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes and slowly walked toward the door. The feeling grew and grew but I ignored it as I walked inside and shut the door behind me. The feeling crowded around me, basically cutting off my air supply and I didn't know what to do. I gripped the door handle tightly, ready to bolt but... I couldn't let this control me, I just couldn't. With that thought, I took in the largest breath that I could take and walked to my bed, climbing in.

The darkness settled over me and the air was heavy. I closed my eyes, willing myself to go to sleep. Simple enough, I fell asleep, but the nightmares wouldn't leave me alone.

***

Monday, the cloudy sky made my room seem dark and I wondered if it was morning yet. I reached a shaking hand to lift my phone from the nightstand and pressed the power button.

6:34 AM.

Why on earth is it so dark outside? It was nice and sunny this weekend. I sighed and shook my head, it didn't matter. I looked up at the ceiling, wishing I was gone. Where? I didn't know,  just anywhere away from here.

I jumped out of bed and went to take a shower. When I was done I walked into my room and changed quickly.

6:51 AM.

I walked over to the window, peeking outside. A strange feeling grew inside of me but I cleared my throat as I ignored it and turned around.

6:53 AM.

When I left my room, no one was out in the hallway. It was dark and quiet enough that I could hear the soft hum of the AC. I walked downstairs, into the kitchen and saw that it was empty as well.

"Mom? Eve?" I called out, turning in a circle, confused. Then the TV in the living room cut on. When I walked inside, the TV was showing that black and white static, the sound rising from a low level to a higher level until its screeching in the small living room. I glanced around again, slowly walking towards the TV and cut it off. When I turned my back, it came back on, the sound worse than before and my ears felt like they were bleeding. I covered my ears, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart and at the same time relieve the pain in my ears that were now traveling throughout my own body.

Then it stopped. I glanced up, slowly uncovering my ears to hear.

Silence.

Complete silence. I couldn't even hear the AC anymore.

I got up, just realizing that I somehow ended up on the floor. Something's not right. But what is it? What's going on?

7:12 AM.

The strange feeling from earlier came again. But I wasn't sure whether to listen to it or ignore it. As I was contemplating the latter, I heard footsteps running up the stairs. I sprinted out of the living room, looking at the stairs. But I was a little too late, I was only able to see feet leave the stairs and long black hair.

"Hello?" I called up. "Eve, is that you?" Nothing, no response. I ran up the stairs and saw the black hair fly into my room before the door shut. "Eve," I said trying to stay calm. "Eve, this isn't funny anymore!" My voice shook and I could feel my hands get clammy. I wiped them on my sweats and walked forward, laying a hand on the doorknob to my room. But before I opened it, this weird sound started emitting from behind my door. I pressed my ear against it, the sound very soft and distant.

Crying. That's what I'm hearing: crying. I twisted the knob and opened the door just wide enough for me to slip in and shut it. But there was nobody in my room. Although I could still hear the crying, still soft, still distant. Then I glanced at my closed closet door, I don't remember shutting it before I left.

I mustered the courage to walk forward and stand in front of the door. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and in the middle of my closet is a girl. A little girl, with long black hair and pale skin. She had on a pink nightgown. I held my breath, too scared to move. She was crying so much, so quietly but I don't know why. Then I moved. My body taking control as I press myself against the interior walls of my mind. As if something is controlling my body instead of me and I have to sit back and watch.

My hand reached out and touched the girl's shoulder. She flinched violently away from my hand and quickly turned around. She looked up at me, tears still falling down her face. Her eyes were the color of the sky before it rained. The way outside looks like now.

I kneeled down, finally taking control over my body.

"Hey Sweetheart, why are you crying?" I asked and glanced down at my phone for the time.

6:34 AM.

I stared at the screen in disbelief, I woke up at 6:34. Looking towards the little girl, I saw that she was in a ball, still crying.

"Sweetheart, you don't need to cry." I try to cheer her up. "I have chocolate ice cream in my freezer, why don't we go get some?"

But she ignored me, rocking back and forth, back and forth. Then she starts talking quietly to herself and I lean in closer.

"What?" I asked her. Then she looks up at me, our eyes connecting and I realize that there is something familiar about her eyes.

"It's my fault," she says louder and before I can piece anything together and try to comfort her, a black hole appears underneath me. I look down and am suddenly plunged into darkness, falling.

I was reaching out everywhere, trying to grab hold of something solid. Then a thunderous pound echoed from around me.

Pound. Pound. Pound. Poundpoundpoundpoundpoundpoundpound!

***

I was startled awake, quickly sitting up in my bed looking around me. The sun was shining through my window. My body was still recovering from that awful nightmare. It was so different from what I was used to. Usually it would involve some kind of memory with either dads, but there was no one except that little girl. The pale little girl with the long black hair and pink nightgown and dark grey eyes. Why did she seem so familiar?

Shaking my head and trying to focus back to reality, I realized that the pounding was coming from my door.

"Aab! Get your lazy butt up and get dressed! We're going to be late to school if you don't hurry." Eve yelled from the other side of the door.

"I'm awake!" I responded and quickly got dressed, trying to mentally prepare myself for the long day ahead.

It's my fault.

I looked in the mirror, finger combing my hair. Wondering what that little girl meant, and where she came from.

It's my fault.

Grabbing my keys and backpack, I closed my door behind me. Walking down the stairs, Eve tapped her foot impatiently by the front door. Andy was sulking off to the side, staring at nothing with a frown on his face.

"Well?" Eve opened the door, leading the way, "let's go before we're late." Andy was next to follow and I was last, shutting and locking the front door behind me.