Falling Apart

Chapter 1

Running away again.

" Are you really doing this to me, Annalise? You promised you wouldn't leave me like this. You told me we were okay and now I'm standing here alone... I don't understand how someone as flighty as you could convince someone you love them. Hope you're happy!" the text on my screen taunted me.

Happy? I was about as happy as the stupid donkey from that show with the silly chubby bear that was obsessed with honey. A deep sigh escaped my lips as I lift my head from my phone to see several of the strangers around me staring at me.

" what the fuck are you looking at? Can I fucking help you?!" I yelled before straightening my dress and looking forward as the eyes wandered away.

"Such a pretty young lady. You know, my dress looked similar to yours on my wedding day, except mine had crushed peals all over the bottom half and it had sleeves. I'm glad that others still enjoy looking like a princess on their special day. " an elderly woman said from behind me.

I turned to throw my legs onto the rest of the seat and turn enough to meet the gray-haired woman's eyes. I gave her a smile as I looked over her features. She reminded me much of my own grandmother. Her long strands intertwined to make a braid that draped over her left shoulder and sat in her lap. Her hazel eyes encased in soft wrinkles that cradled a lifetime of experiences.

"My grandma actually picked it out. It was her dying wish that this be the dress. I'm not really a dress girl to begin with. " I told her as I leaned against the window.

"Well, she's a lady with good taste. You're very lucky to have her. You actually remind me of my own grandmother, that fiery hair looks a bit longer than hers. She didn't like the dress I suggested either" she chuckled and I couldn't help but to laugh with her.

My hands stretched up to find my hair pinned in an up do and work to release it. My ginger strands fell in curls down to my waist. There were the looks again.

Why was I running? I am in love with the person who has wanted for so long to see me walk down the aisle towards them. Right? No. True or not it was too late. Everyone knew I was gone and now I had no choice but to follow through on my decision. I watched as the other people lived normal everyday lives. Getting on and off the bus without so much as a word. At one point I waved goodbye to the elderly woman, Clementine, as she exited the bus leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

As a child, I played this game with my mother. We would travel through our day and as we saw strangers going about their day we would make up stories as to where they were going and who they were. a small smile tugged at my lips as I thought of my mothers until the image of her crying into my father after realizing I had run away interrupted the moment. I quickly replaced it by playing our game as I viewed the people around me. One couple was going to pick up their new daughter. A tall handsome guy was going back home to his mother's basement. That one kind of hurt to give because with my luck it was true. He was pretty cute though.

I instantly felt bad for having even thought that. I just abandoned someone at the altar and that was not okay. I watched as the world rolled by through the windows until I slipped into sleep. I woke to a dark figure lurking over me on the now dark bus. My heart began to race and a blinked the sleep from my eyes.

" Last stop. You've gotta get off here." Here? Where was here? I didn't answer him, but I sat up in my seat and looked out the window. Outside the night was dark, the streets looked cruel and unwelcoming, there was a phone booth, no people walked the streets, it felt as if he was leaving me in a ghost town.

I looked back at the man. " Where are we?" I asked. He seemed to be frustrated with me as he told me we were on the outskirts of town.

" Do I have to get off? Can I just get off at the bus depot?" I questioned not wanting to go out into this sinister night that seemed to only promise horrible things. The man practically lifted me over his head and shoved me off the bus.

I tiptoed like a ballerina to catch my balance and preserve the dress before promptly turning to flip the driver off as he pulled away from the curb. When the bus was no longer in sight I took stock of my surroundings. There wasn't much here. A liquor store closed for the night, some apartment buildings, a bench that looked out of place, and a phone booth.

I glanced at the now-dead phone in my hand with a sigh and made my way over to the phone booth and stepped inside, closing the door behind me, grabbing the phone off the hook, and began to dial hoping that someone would answer my collect call.

"Hello?" A familiar voice came through on the phone and I took a deep breath and smiled.

" Hey you, remember how you said to call if I ever needed anything? Well, I badly need a ride... And a place to crash, if you don't mind.." The question floated through the phone line and lingered for what felt like an eternity.

" Of course I'll pick you up." A sigh of relief escaped me when I heard those words.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" My excitement was bubbling over into the phone. I told her where I thought I was and after a quick search on her end, she said she'd be there as fast as possible. Stepping out of the phone booth into the night was frightening. The lights didn't do their job well. Making my way over to the bench, the most visible thing on the block as it sat beneath a street light which would allow Delilah to see me once she got here.

I sat inspecting the details of the beautiful white dress that clung to my body. White lace over white silk, crushed pearls, princess style. I had spent a year looking for a dress before finding one in a small dress shop while on vacation in Vegas with my mother.

I suddenly felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It felt as though someone was watching me. I began searching the area for anyone around. The streets were eerily empty but I couldn't shake this feeling that someone was watching me.

When a single pair of headlights aimed at me I stared in shock still listening to my surroundings. The car was down the road but approaching fast. When it reached the street light I knew exactly who it was. Delilah.

Relief filled my core as I lifted the bottom of my dress so I could walk and made my way to the car. As I neared the car and gave a small wave to the woman in the front seat I began hearing a low guttural growl. I practically jumped out of my skin. My heart was racing, palms sweating, and I couldn't catch my breath as anxiety began to seep into my bones.

I hiked the edges of my dress up and began moving quickly towards the car and gave a small wave to the woman in the front seat the sound rang out again this time more ravenous. I stopped in my tracks frantically scanning the area for what shadows.

A figure began to appear from the alley way behind the bench I had just been sitting on. I slowly began inching towards the car again keeping my eyes on the alley as a figure started to come into view. It seemed to be a man about six foot two, two hundred pounds. His movements were awkward and didn't seem natural. He raised his head to look at me before taking off in my direction.

A scream threatened to erupt from me as I turned and began to run, being as careful as I could not to get entangled by my dress. I dared a glance back at the man, no, not man, this creature and the scream that I was holding back came full force past my lips. I grabbed the edges of my dress hiking it up higher trying desperately to not have it trip me. The creature was close behind me gaining fast.

Delilah must have finally noticed the man because her car began to speed up and she was soon right in front of me. I swung her door open in time to knock the creature clear in the face, knocking it onto the ground with a loud crunch.

I jumped in the car and screamed hysterically for Delilah to drive. My dress was hanging out the door but I didn't care; I just wanted to be far away from this nightmare. As Delilah sped away I looked behind us to see that the figure was still on the ground but was twitching.

Good.

Hopefully, it doesn't get back up.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR:
Hey everyone! I am so thankful that you took the time to read my work! I plan to upload weekly and work my way up to twice a week! I have a few chapters already done so I won't fall behind if I have a tough week! I am very open to tips, pointers, pointing out any mistakes I may have made! I really hope to get a lot of that kind of feedback actually! Let me know how I can improve. I am just getting back into writing and am really rusty!😅 I will also be posting other books in other genres soon so please keep and eye out and enjoy!