Maud’s eyes slowly flashed open, on a bright and early Sunday morning.
Although she slept kind of late the previous night, here she was, up and early. She thought that was probably embedded in her DNA. Waking up early no matter what. Even if she barely had two hours of sleep. Although she knew getting less than two hours of sleep could reduce her life expectancy, and so against all circumstances, she always tried to get enough sleep every night. The only things that always kept her up at night, were reading and horror movies. She didn't do either the previous night, yet she was awake as early as seven in the morning. She’s a natural early bird.
She stretched wildly on her bed, a yawn following through, and her morning breath up in her face. Her eyes blinked a few times, trying to catch the young rays of sunlight, that spilled in from outside her window. She could already see it cast over the roofs of the houses near theirs. It was quiet outside. Typical Sundays.
She sat up right, duvet still across her legs. She forgot to change into her sleeping clothes, and so she was still in her oversized hoodie. With the realization of that, memories of last night began flooding her mind. Lyn made her go to some Halloween party that she never wanted to go. She watched her roommate and her boyfriend practically make out before her. And almost every other person at the party. She watched Lyn get as drunk as shit. The last time she got that drunk, was at the freshmen party. She was starting to think that was how Lyn usually got drunk at parties. Or was it Cole? Was Cole the bad influence that was rubbing off of her? Well, that was a mystery for another day. Back to last night. Like a wing woman that she was, she helped drunken Lyn home, watching her display all kinds of act that one would expect from someone who'd had too much to drink. And then, there was this... creep. This creep with the pumpkin mask. What did he say his name was again? Jack the blacksmith? Maud stretched her eyebrows quickly. What was she even thinking, bringing such a creep in for questioning. Because he crushed a couple of her pumpkins, or fell unconscious in their yard? That was enough reason. Why would he do that. And then his mask. So creepy and so realistic. She kind of admired it, though. Now who was weird?
She yawned again, and slipped out of bed, her feet landing on the cold floorboards. She gazed around for her flip-flops, badly wishing they were within reach, so they'd warm her feet. Well, next time she'd try to be more like Lyn. She probably had her flip-flops by her bedside every morning. She glanced at her nightstand. Her phone wasn't there. Then at the far-off reading table. It wasn't on it, either. And her laptop too. She almost forgot. They should be on the desk in the living room. She stretched again, very briefly this time, and walked out of her room.
On her way, she glanced at Lyn's door. It was closed, and her guess was that Lyn would still be fast asleep. She thought to check in on her, and so she pushed her door open. To her surprise, she was met with a mildly roughed bed, with some clothes splayed on it. Where was Lyn? She stepped inside, instantly doused with a combination of floral air fresheners and perfumes. Lyn's signature. She walked to her ensuite, rapped on the door, but got no response. She turned to face Lyn's queen-sized bed. Those were the clothes she wore last night. How come she was up that early. Maud thought she ought to still be dealing with a hangover, but apparently she was wrong. And if she wasn't in this room, there was only one place she would be. On the streets, jogging. Yeah, Lyn was kind of the most athletic Asian-American that Maud had ever seen. Whenever Lyn wore dresses, she always looked like a runway model. Unlike Maud, who was almost plus-sized, and still couldn't get over junk food. She sighed, and walked out of Lyn's room, with all the sweet scent making her stomach churn.
The living room was the way it was last night. The coffee table pushed to the side, and a chair with some ropes on another end. That’s definitely the first thing Lyn’s gonna talk about when she gets back if she missed this in the first place, she thought. She walked over, to pick up the shredded ropes and the chair. The chair belonged to the kitchen area, and the ropes. Well, they went to the trashcan. She did just that and then looked to make herself a cup of tea. She’s going to need all the energy she could get.
She browsed a nearby cupboard, for her box of teabags. She pulled it out, and an exasperated sigh ensued. She was out. She glanced at the open cupboard, and she could see a small box. She usually sees Lyn bring out that box whenever she wanted to drink tea. She'd once told her it was black tea leaves. Though she'd never had a taste. Well, she had no choice at the moment. She needed something warm for her stomach, and black tea it was. She threw the empty teabag box onto the trashcan and missed. She sighed, and pulled out the black tea leaves, and looked to make herself a cup.
*****
That black tea wasn't so bad. It was almost as good as her flavored teabags. Or maybe better. The ginger, honey and sugar all melting down her palates as she took small sips, whilst glancing at her laptop. She carefully placed the mug on the table and looked to focus on her laptop. She browsed her folders, bringing up compiled documents. She was only halfway done with it, and it would be due tomorrow. What was she going to tell Mr. Herrings? Give her more time? She rubbed the beads of sweat that had begun to build up on her forehead, and then reached for the mug of tea. She took a tiny sip, eyes glued on an empty document page. She took another sip and some sudden shriek almost made her choke, on hot tea. It burned her mouth, and quickly she put it down. The shriek broke out again, and this time she recognized it. Lyn? Her eyes went wide, and so she darted out of the living room, with curious interest.
Right there at their porch, she was met with a sweaty and freaked out Lyn in her matching gray jogging outfit. And standing at the same spot on their yard was the creepy dude from last night.
YOU ARE READING
The Redemption of Stingy Jack
Paranormal|| 2X FEATURED || Stingy Jack is back, and all soon changes when he's found unconscious at the door step of two college students. ***** After a wild Halloween party, Maud and her d...
