The Strange Tale Of Ayla Jae

Chapter Nine - "I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own"

The night passes slowly, with only the lonely drone of some sitcom in the background keeping my mind grounded.

I keep repeating Chloe's words to me. We didn't say much else after leaving Dave's, but it was late enough that she needed to get back to her step parents' house. I don't know if she was able to slip by unnoticed. Judging from her text 'Choco milk then sleep. Peace (thumbs up).' I assume she slept unscathed.

I've assumed an awkward yet slightly comfortable spot on the small couch I've come to call home more than the room I was gifted sitting down the short hallway. It's feels emptier than I recall.

There's a slight crunch emmenating from my mouth, but I'm not really processing the whole eating thing. It's just happening, while I disappear down another weird train of thought.

Chloe was right about something. Either one of us fully have the ability to just disappear from here and find some other place that wouldn't reject its newcomers like a bad parasite.

I'm starting to believe I am one.

I'm still drawing blanks as to why I do anything that I do. Throwing a wide, pale canvas out there doesn't really reveal much to anybody, but everything starts out that way I assume.

I suppose I've always been this way, but then again, much of my life has been a weird assault of blurred memories and vague recollections. Again, I'm painting with clear lacquer here, but all of this recent stuff didn't just come out of nowhere. I mean, honestly, how could anyone like me have a life really that interesting?

I'm basically adult age, but it's a miracle to me how I even got here. I feel like I had a childhood, maybe even similar to the way Chloe did, but I remember almost none of it. I constantly find myself asking whether it even happened at all based on how little there seems to remain of it. It's possible I've blocked it all out because of something horrible, but it just feels empty.

My phone suddenly buzzes deeply through the arm of the couch.

Chloe: The big sad. :/

Ayla: Same but different. Worried more than anything...need something?

Chloe: I don't know.

Ayla: Any word from Dave?

My hearts stops for a beat.

Chloe: Nothing yet. You gotta stop worrying. You know how cautious he is.

Ayla: I can't.

Chloe: Crap. Last txt to nite.takin my phone 4 the nite. Srry.

And just like that, I'm alone again for the night.

I slap my phone down, careful to hit the softest part of the couch arm just keep it alive.

I feel a loud thud and hear it echo and fill the living room. An unavoidable tremor hits my stomach as I look at the couch arm. That couldn't have been me?

THUD.

It's definitely coming from the door, but it's too intense. I shouldn't answer it, and I don't. The brief silence I experience is just the pepperoni on my dung pizza of night.

"It's Dave, Ayla. Dave?"

I still don't move, but for a second, my chest eases. Something's off, though. It's hard to tell, but Dave's voice usually isn't so gravelly. He would know better than to come pounding on the door this late.

"Ayla, please. Trust me. I need to talk to you. It's urgent."

It takes every twitch muscle in my body flexing to get me over towards the looming front door. The floor chills my feet, scaring my blue sparkle toes.