The Dark Roads: The Complete Story

Chapter 5: The Monster

October 28, 2023

~Present day~

It had been over a month since that horrible dream. That nightmare. Ever since then, it was all I could think about. It was in my mind day and night, that horrible moment.

This morning I was tangled up in school work. It was hard to concentrate on my assignments with my head constantly working against itself. My thoughts always distracted me from the outside world. This helped me in some occasions, but not in this one. I've had some late assignment that I am not proud of, but I cant just tell my mind to focus on one thing. Its practically impossible for me, if you couldn't tell by now.

I finally saw Tracy today. She had been on a couple of college tours in Oklahoma over the week and weekend. I approached her with the same boldness I do with everyone. If you couldn't tell, I'm being sarcastic.

"Hey" I said shyly

"Oh my gosh!" She yelled. Giving me a long hug.

"Its been forever" I comment.

"Maybe for you...but for me... It has been an eternity!" She said excitingly.

Tracy is so different from Lindsey. Compared to Tracy, Lindsey was like the most boring person ever. Maybe that is a little harsh, but it is how I feel.

Tracy is like the fireworks at the end of a firework show. Lindsey is like a firecracker that you use to scare people. The thing about Tracy is that she was always so happy and excited about life. Lindsey was just really dull, like me, and her only emotion around me was being romantic. Tracy wasn't like that. She loved life, something that I wish I could do.

"Has anything happened while I was gone? Anything happen to you?" She asked.

I didn't want her to know that the only thing that happened tome was that I talked to Lindsey, so I lied.

"Well I got some assignments done and talked to a couple of my friends. Besides that, nothing much. I'm glad your back"

"Thanks, I'm glad nothing too crazy happened without me" She remarked.

"So what do you want to do since you are now officially back?" I asked.

" Oh right, so you know that party that everyone got invited to? The one at Trent's house?" She said.

"What do you mean everyone? I didn't get invited to this stupid party." I had no idea who Trent was in fact. He sounded like someone I didn't need to know.

"Its not stupid, its just a party. You've gone to parties before right?"

She immediately covered her mouth as if what she said was blasphemous.

"Sorry, I know that is a touchy subject but I was just..."

"It's okay Trace" that was my nickname for her sometimes.

She smiled and apologized again before continuing about the party.

"Well I was planning on going to his party, and I thought you might like to join me. As my plus one." She said.

My feelings were in conflict with one another at this point. I didn't want to go, purely because I'm not a party person and the last party I went to was horrible. I also didn't want Tracy to go by herself. I didn't want this relationship to become like my relationship with Lindsey. So I answered her question rather quickly.

"Sounds great, I'll pick you up. I cant wait." I said this with enough enthusiasm for it to sound like I truly meant it.

"Awesome! See you later Chris!" She responded.

For as long as I've been friends with Tracy, which is a very long time, the words "plus one" had never been used.

I needed to make sure that I was around her whenever she needed me most, not only because I liked her presence, but because I wanted to make sure she doesn't make the same mistake Lindsey did. She is like my princess locked away in a tower, and I was her protecter. I was her knight. The second I slack off duty, before I know it, the monster will take her away. My past will take her away from me. I cant let it happen again.

Word Count: 662