A Hidden World

Chapter 3: Who's Lying Now?

I ran inside and slammed the door shut. Breathing heavily I leaned my back against the door and sunk to the ground. My cat, waffles, slunked around the corner and heaved himself on to my lap. I stroked his fur softly. 

   " I bet you don't have to worry about crazy, impossible things like making someone go insane by touch, getting their memories and to top it all off, seeing things that no one else can." Waffles put his paws on my shoulders and meowed in response. " I think I'm going crazy." I muttered angrily.

Beep! My phone's screen lit up and blinked blue light into the room. One new voice mail from Mr . I pressed play.

Hey honey, your mother and I heard about the huge traffic jam. Just letting you know that we're stuck in it as well so we'll be home in 15 minutes. Be ready for dinner! Luv u! They had finally replied my text. Earlier on the bus I had told them that I was going to be late due the the traffic jam. I sighed and hastily pushed Waffles off my lap and went upstairs to take a hot bath. 

                                                             Later at dinner

I picked at my food unappetizingly, pushing the mashed potatoes into a dissarayed swirl before messing it up again and starting over. My father must've realised something was wrong because I a moment later I felt his warm, large hand close over mine. I looked up and found myself staring into his concerned eyes.

" Is there something wrong?"  He asked, stealing a panicked glance at my mother. I saw her give a shake of her head so fast I almost missed it. Weird. 

"  No, there's nothing wrong. Everythings great. Really it is." I said, forcing a tight smile on my face. My mother pursed her lips.

" Well, if there was something wrong you would tell us... right?"  She asked, taking my other hand though her grip was much more firm then my dads. I twisted my hands out of theirs and nodded my head, indicating that if something was on my mind I would tell them. Then I excused myself and left the table. Jeez, why were they acting so worried I thought. I mean its not like I skipped school to go to a club or anything. Suddenly a thought crossed my mind and I froze. What if they knew what was going on but didn't want to tell me? It would definetly explain how they raised me as a child.

I never had much freedom. There were always nannies, babysitters, helpers, I was contantly under careful watch and never let out of sight. My parents set so many strict rules for me and even as I got older they had trouble letting me walk around by myself like a normal teengager. I was 21 now and they wouldn't let me get my own apartment yet. There was only one way to find out. I bit my lip, reluctantly turned around and made my way back down stairs. 

" Hey!" I exclaimed as I pulled my chair out and plunked down on it. I pasted a bright and cheerful smile on my face, trying to sound upbeat and cool. " Actually there is something that I wanted to ask you."

" Oh!" my dad nodded at mer, enouraging that I go on. " Sure." 

I hesitated for a moment and then gave in. " What if you could ... see or do things that no one  else could. Is that even possible?"  There was an immediate reaction. My father choked on his wine and my mother's fork clattered to the plate with loud bang. They tried to cover it up but I saw it.  My mother took a deep breath.

" Well, honey, everyone is different-"

I cut her off. " No, I'm not talking about personality, I'm talking about things that might seem impossible! That ARE impossible in some ways! Can't you just give me a clear answer?" I swung my head to look at both of them, waiting for an answer. Half of me hoped that they knew what was going on and the half hoped that I probably didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about.

" Why? Did something happend today?" My father asked slowly, his voice quiet but without the trace of his usual gentelness. Just a cold and hard sound, so different from the man who had taught me to ride a bike and used to tuck me before I went to sleep.

" No, nothing happened." I raisied my chin defiantly, as if challenging him and leveled my eyes with his. 

" You're lying." My mother snapped as she crossed her arms and leant back in her chair. " Just like you lied about where you were today."  I opened my mouth but she put up a hand to stop me. " You said that you were caught in traffic and that you were going to be late but your father and I were stuck in the same traffic jam as you were. Which means that you and I would've arrived at the house at about the same time except we didn't. You came here almost 30 minutes BEFORE US! The only ways that that is possible is if you somehow got OFF the bus and walked the rest of the way home." 

I didn't know why but I felt myself raising my voice as I retaliated to her accusation. " So what? I got off the bus because I didn't want to be late! And you're lying too! Your reaction to my question made it obvious that you were alarmed and knew something. And based on the fact that you're staring at me in shock and you're  not saying anything only confirms that I'm right!" 

I stomped back up to my room and buried my face in my pillow. I heard a noise out side and went to the window sill. Carefully lifting up the glass, I peeked my head out and look out. I gasped and fell back. Hanging on a tree outside was a hankerchief that I had lost nearly two years ago. It had a strong stench and it was stained red. WIth the metallic smell of blood.