Out of Time

chapter 9 - blood

Eyes are burning holes in my back; the people in this house are staring, no glaring, straight at me.

The construction I am currently in is somehow cold and glorious at the same time. There is a distinct lack of life in the hallways and despite the yellowy light, harsh shadows cast jaggedly onto the barren walls. Aged walnut panelling lined the walls, without expensive paintings being casually flaunted for a passer-by. The ceilings are high, although they too are shrowded with stark shade.

Why are they all at a castle and not a company building?

I continue to stare at my feet, letting Dillon guide me to wherever we need to go. I am pulled through a maze of rooms, long hallways and stone stairs until we reach it. An emerald green door with matching green armchairs on either side.

A golden plaque sits in the middle of the door at eye height. "Kieran Wright," it reads in beautiful calligraphy. My arm is beginning to ache from Dillon's hold, and I can tell that a bruise will appear tomorrow. Dillon had been silent up until now.

"When we go in there, a lot of people are gonna look at you," he declares whilst staring deep into my eyes, "so, naturally ignore them."

"Nah," I begin sarcastically, "I am going to start another fight."

"Ha-ha very funny,"

"Well, you never know,"

The door opens with a squeak. "Ah Dillon, your finally back," a high but mature voice follows.

"Mum!" he says as he pulls her into a hug.

"I assume this is the girl," she replies, scanning me from top to bottom. I sigh.

"I'm not the most liked person here at the moment," I say, examining her, "for some unknown reason," I mutter the last part.

Even though she looked exhausted, with bags under her bloodshot blue eyes, she looked radiant. Happy to see her son, it seems, or some other exciting news has put her in a good mood. She is very tall, around my height, and has brown hair similar to Dillon's. She is thin but has fierce undertones in the way she acts. Like she is ready to fight whoever she wants. She first looks over to me with a flash of annoyance but then puts on a sympathetic face. Her eyes soften, and her eyebrows crease in the middle.

I laugh in my head as I remember Dillon doing the same thing. He must've picked it up.

"Yeah," she says dryly, "us people are too quick to judge. My name's Annabelle, but you can call me Anna if you want."

"You got that right. It's nice to meet you, though," I say, flashing my pearly whites.

She turns to Dillon, who looks a bit confused, "he's waiting for you." She then whispers something in his ear, and then whatever he is confused about makes sense. Just as I was following Dillon through the door, something hit me. Not physically, a thought did.

I killed someone.

Ice fills my veins, freezing me in place. My heart beats erratically, and the goosebumps that appear sends shivers through my whole body. I try to walk again, but my legs feel like lead. I take an uneven breath. And then another one.

In, and out, in, and out...

Dillon lets the door swing close in front of me, unaware of my abrupt stop. I stare dead ahead. I'm scared that someone will come out and avenge the man I killed if I even look at a different place.

"I killed someone. Oh my goodness, I killed someone," I mutter out loud. An audible sigh from behind snaps me out of my daze.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your staring competition with the door, but some of us have to use it."