Homebound

Chapter TwentyNine

"Everything alright, honey?" mums voice makes me jump. She had left the kitchen and moved into the lounge room while I had been outside.

"Yeah, yeah" I mumble as I walk past her, into the kitchen. I shove my phone into my bag and take it with me before walking back into the lounge room again.

"You're going?" mums face drops when she watches me walk back in with my bag. She had made room on the couch for me to sit next to her. "Didn't you need to tell me something?" she asks.

I can physically feel my face drop when I remember I was going to tell her about dads unfaithfulness. I take a minute to weigh up the options. I have to tell her, but I can't just dump it on her and then rush out the door and leave her by herself. On the other hand, Hex wanted me to get to Harley's as soon as possible.

"I'll tell you another time mum, I'm sorry I have to go" I rush out as I lean over the back of the couch to give her a kiss on the cheek while she remains seated.

"It's okay honey, be safe" she wishes and then I'm out the door.

My nerves are shot as I expect someone to jump out of one of mums flower bushes and take me or run out from behind the side of the house as I make my way to my car. Are Amos and Ace going to blame the death of Aaron on Hex? Do they know who did it and are they going after them like they are Hex?

I'm halfway to Harley's house before my common sense kicks in. I can't live out of my bag and only one set of clothes for who knows how long. I also can't leave Teddy to fend for himself. I hope Harley doesn't have a problem with cats.

I have another cautious look around me before exiting my car when I park in the apartment car park. I look around, keeping myself alert but stop in my tracks when I see the smashed front window of my apartment.

The curtains blow in the wind and show the inside of my apartment, all the way through to the kitchen. I don't see any movement but I'm not going to risk going inside, especially alone.

A meow from inside can be heard before Teddy's face appears behind the broken window. Some of the panic in my chest ceases knowing he's okay but the human sized hole that wasn't there when I left this morning stops me from taking another step forward.

"Teddy" I call and pat my hands on my thighs. Once he sees me he walks through the broken window and over the smashed glass, somehow not cutting himself before he comes to me and I scoop him up in my arms and make a mad dash back to my car.

I lock Teddy and myself inside before calling Harley.

"Hello?" her chirpy voice answers.

"Harley" my voice comes out shaky.

"What's wrong?" her voice turns serious instantly when she hears my panic.

"I-I think someone is in my apartment" I say as my eyes are locked completely on the broken window, waiting to see any movement on the inside.

"Someone broke in?" I hear her grab her keys and a door close through the phone.

"I just got home, someone broke the front window" I explain. Teddy meows when he realises he's trapped in the car as he looks out the back window. I shh him in an attempt to calm him but I don't think it works when he continues.

"Poppy, you need to call the police" I hadn't even thought about bringing the police into this. Is it going to piss off Amos and Ace futher? I want nothing more then to call Hex; he'll know what to do. But I can't and I have to make this decision on my own.

"Okay" I gulp down a breath.

"I'm on my way" Harley hangs up as I hear her start her car in the background.