Barely 21

Chapter 6: just a cold?

I walked back through the town several hours later, I didn't want to explain to anyone where I'd gone, even though I knew I had to. The streets were busy and young children ran past my feet, followed by their apologetic mother's, "It's alright." I told them, I still needed a bit longer to clear my head, so I headed to the market up the road. As I got there, the smell of fresh bread hit my nose. I pulled a cloth over my head (hiding my identity) and walked over to a small stall that was selling bottles of mulled wine. I bought a bottle and headed across the road. I drunk the the herb scented liquid as I watched the stalls' men as they packed away their goods for the night. I sighed knowing that Tommy will have been worried at my disappearance, I felt a hand on my shoulder as I went to stand up. My head shot around, I gasped, "Danny?" The man looked at me- completely disoriented.
"They're coming." He stated, grabbing my elbow and hurrying us both to behind a pile of old tires.
"Danny." I comforted him, "No ones coming, you're safe now. The wars' over."
He looked at me, his eyes were completely out of it.
"I'm going to take you home now, to your wife and children." I told him, walking him back to his house.

I opened the front gate and he followed me, his head still shooting in all directions. I knocked on the door, his wife answered it- she looked relieved to see that he was back. "I hope it's alright, something looked off with him. So I decided to take him back to his house." I told her, as Danny walked into the house.
She smiled at me, "Thank you Anna, I really appreciate it. You are the nicest Shelby out there."
I lightly laughed, 'I'm not a Shelby yet." I told her, "I'll be on my way, good night."
We waved to each other and left to be on our separate ways.

I arrived back at the Shelby household minutes later, I walked straight (wearily and tired) up the stairs but I was stopped by a loud calling of my name. I rolled my eyes dramatically moving my head and shuffled into the kitchen, to where I saw a very pissed looking Tommy, a Polly, a scared Ada and John. "Need something?" I asked them, leaning against the wall- the wine seemed to have a faint affect on me, usually I couldn't feel it but today it was strong and made me feel weak. "We have a code Anna." Tommy mumbled, lighting a cigarette and fumbling with it in between his fingers.
"Fuck." I whispered to myself, suddenly feeling an intense nauseous feeling hit me like a horse and carriage.
"Anna? Are you even listening?!" Tommy stood up from the stool that he was sat on and banged his fists onto the table- I jumped and my breath hitched. I knew if I didn't get out of here soon that I was going to be sick.
"Tommy, can we talk about this tomorrow? I think I need to-" I tried to excuse myself, the feeling spread to the back of my throat.
"No- Anna this is serious. Anything could have happened, you know everything that is happening right now!" Steam was  almost coming out of his ears, I looked at Ada she sensed that something was off. I saw her glance at Polly who nodded before I made a run for the stairs. "Anna!" Tommy shouted, running after me, "This is serious!"
I saw Polly contain Ada and John in the kitchen, as my boyfriend roughly grabbed my arm and turned me to face him- before I reached the first step.
"Tommy, just-" I felt a sour taste blossom in my mouth, I attempted to release myself out of his grip. But I was of no avail, he was too strong. One of my hands rose to cradle my throat as I felt myself vomit. Tommy stepped back, out of the corner of my eye I saw him glance at Polly who smiled at him. "Fuck." He swore under his breath, gathering my hair behind my head until the content of my stomach had emptied itself.
I dropped myself to the floor, quickly covering my face with my hands. This was embarrassing, I shouldn't have drink the alcohol (as there must've been something inside it). I felt a presence appear beside me, they rubbed my back calmingly and picked me up.

We didn't speak as Tommy carried me upstairs and placed me down in the upstairs bathroom (that we all shared). He tied back my hair and sat me in the bathtub. I removed my clothing and he run the water, then he took off his blazer and waist coat and kneeled beside me. "Anna? Darling?" She whispered, stroking my hair.
"I needed space Tommy-"
"I was just worried about you, I thought Kimbers had taken you." He told me in his raspy voice.