Alluring Masquerade

Chapter 45 - Webs, Dust, & Spiders.

         As soon as Hira had lain down on her bed the tears that she had bottled up inside of her were finally coming out. She was crying inside her duvet so her voice would be as concealed as possible, because her sister was asleep on the top bunk. Her voice wasn't loud but her own ears could hear the whimpers that were coming out, and even though they were small, they sounded the loudest in the silence. She clamped a hand over her mouth when she heard the top bunk squeak.

         "Hira..." Hiba whined sleepily, "Stop talking on the phone ... I ... need to wake up ... early tomorrow..." Her voice faded away into more sleep.

         Hira mustered up the courage, and replied, "...'k." It was all she could mutter. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm down herself. She turned onto her left side when her sobs had calmed down and tried to get some sleep.

         The sleep wasn't coming; it was like it was torturing her. And it was indeed torture when tonight's memories bombarded her again. That was the reason she had been crying only moments ago, but she was trying not to.

         Danny's evil eyes floated in her mind and hers flew open in fear. His eyes were insane. His face was malicious.

         She mentally pushed him away and squeezed her eyes. Tomorrow is a new day, she thought, consoling herself, Danny is under police' authority and soon he will be locked away for good – I hope. Plus they had the CCTVs to prove that Danny had tried to kill me! Thank Heavens Alec was there to save me. She sniffled, and soon fell asleep. Her whole body hurt and ached as she turned from one side to the other. It was a long and restless one, but she had got at least five hours worth of sleep.

         It didn't even feel like two minutes before she felt someone shaking her right shoulder to awake. Their faraway sounding, muffled voice was telling her something that she couldn't catch. She forced it away, wanting to fall back into her dreamless sleep. But the stubborn voice was persistent and started to come into focus. Her hearing picked it up soon after that and she was torn out of her sleep.

         "Wake up, honey!" her mother's shrill, morning tone of voice said. She pulled away the curtains and the sunny weather pooled inside he room, lighting it up.

         Hira blinked her away from the sudden light emanating from the window outside. "No!" she whined sleepily and turned away, going back under the covers. She could feel the side of the bed pressing down from her mother's weight.

         Her mother was sat in the middle, on the side, and was brushing the back of her daughter's hair. "Lily, wake up!" she whispered excitedly. "A have incredible news to share!"

         "What is it?" Hira asked noncommittally. She turned onto her back and groggily blinked back up at her cheery mother.

         "I've invited Mrs. Xavier and her husband – along with their son – for dinner ... tonight," her mother explained. "Also, the most wonderful thing was that she was so nice and agreed."

         Hira sat up in her bed so quickly that her head hit the bottom of the top bunker. She hissed for the collision and lowered her head in her hands. Her mother cooed and rubbed her head, which irritated it more. "Ow!" Hira hissed. "Mum, please stop doing that!"

         Her mother stood up with a smile. "Here, let me help you stand up," her mother offered. She worried too much.

         Hira looked at her mother apologetically. "I'm fine now, mum, really," she nodded. "Just a bit sleepy," she added with a laugh. Wow, I can't believe that Kael and his parents are coming for diner, she thought happily.