Secrets of an outcast

Drained

As soon as I stepped foot outside I noticed the wind had begun to pick up in the short time that I had spent in the bar, and my headache had still not ceased. In fact it got considerably worse; all I wanted to do was curl up on the sofa with a good book and a cup of mint tea. So the quicker I got home, the quicker I could do that.

Setting off with a fast walk I scurried back the way I came, the wind whipped at me and my headache was getting worse by the second, but luckily, not more than 5 minutes later I was outside my door, yanking it open with all the energy I had left in my body. My heart rate was through the roof and I could feel my veins pulsing in the back of my head with the force of a pounding drum, I knew I needed to lie down so I grabbed The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and collapsed onto the sofa were I would stay for the rest of the evening, my Rolex watch displayed 9:30pm.

As I sunk into the chairs warm embrace, I felt my muscles relax.

I heard a knock at the door; it seemed too late.

This better be good.

After I hauled myself off the sofa I opened the door and Stacey came into view.

Her eyes were weary, red and drained of all life. Her hair was dishevelled; her clothes were stained with blood that was pouring down her forehead and onto her white dirty tshirt.

"Stacey!" I cried out in alarm.

"I just...Had to...Get... a-away." She stumbled over every word, voice becoming more panicked with every badly pronounced syllable.

"Stacey, what is it" I cried out again.

"He said... he said...kill." She stuttered

I stared at her face in bewilderment.

"He killed me." An evil smile spread across her face, her features contorted, and they meandered until I saw this was not Stacey.

This was the man at the bar.

I jolted upright from where I must have fallen asleep. My book fell to the floor and broke the tense silence

My heart pounded a rhythm as swift as racehorses thundering hooves, my body was coated in sweat and I trembled all over.

It wasn't real, it wasn't real, it wasn't real, just a dream.

I waited for my heart rate to slow to a human pace and try to get hold of reality. That was the most unusual dream I had ever had in my life.

Checking my watch again I noticed I had slept for a solid 11 hours, It was time I got ready for work, I sighed inwardly; rose to my feet and headed to my wardrobe.

In total it took just an hour for me to appear presentable and to be sat down in my spacious office ready to face whatever life throws at me today - which would no doubt be utter chaos.

I recalled my strange dream from earlier, all of a sudden I needed to see Stacey just to clarify that it really was a dream. I know that it's irrational for me to think that, taking into to consideration that I woke up,but it felt as if it was real following the way her features had morphed into those of the male at the bar yesterday, but I just needed to see that she was out of harm's way. Well, really I just wanted to see her, but I was not going to admit it.

I got up from my seat, about to turn the door handle and search for Stacey but I was interrupted by a chaos outside, shouting rose piercingly loud, doors crashed against walls and profanities ricocheted off the walls. I opened the door with vigour to see what all this commotion was about.

Waste bins rested on the floorboards, the contents scattered as far as I could see. A window on the far right was shattered, shards of glass lie all across the floor. Many panicked faces surrounded me.

Responding to this I darted into Stacey's office, not giving any thought into what I might be interrupting.

Stacey was huddled in the corner of the office, her knees were tucked in and she was hugging them.

"Stacey?" I said softly.

She peered up at me though her wet lashes; I offered her my hand and helped her to her feet.

"Yes?" She replied just as softly.

"Are you ok? Did anyone hurt you?" She looked fine, more than fine she looked beautiful, despite the faded gashes that still ran across the length of her cheek.

"No, just a bit scary that's all." She was still looking into my eyes, they glinted with trust.

All I wanted to do was take her pain away. If I could put myself in her position and make it me who suffered I would jump at the chance. I just could not understand why anyone would want to hurt such and beautiful, innocent woman. Or anyone in fact.

"Do you recall what happened?"

"All I know is that Cameron came In here furious, blaming me for all manner of things and he left with a box filled with lots of paper."

"Hmmm, I will have to look into that." I said, hoping my voice wouldn't give away the panic bubbling inside of me.

Stacey and I exited the building together after I had decided everyone should call it a day after the earlier mayhem, I had given her my jacket for the second time just before we went outside as the wind had picked up and it whipped against us with so much power I thought it might blow us over.

"How are you getting home?" I speculated out loud.

"I'm walking" She didn't seem entirely please with this fact.

"So am I, may I walk with you?" I asked.

"Of course, you probably will want to put this on." She shrugged halfway out of my jacket before I stopped her and pulled it back over her frail shoulders, felt the bones underneath her skin.

"No, keep it on its freezing."

She was about to object but I found myself starting to kiss her. Her lips opened against mine eagerly, deepening the kiss, I snaked my right hand around her waist and we reversed until her back was pressed against the brick wall, I raised my left arm and pressed it against it.

Her heart was hammering in her chest, I knew I should stop, this was wrong, but frankly I didn't want too. All my care had blown away with the wind. She ran her hands through my hair, pulling me closer; wanting more

I had to break the kiss to draw in a breath; a delicate shiver ran through her although I wasn't sure if it was due to the kiss we just shared or it was from the icy wind.

We both stood for an immeasurable period of time looking intently into the depths of each other's eyes; hers a gleaming icy azure, mine crispy emerald.

"I'm sorry..." I sighed, ashamed of what I had just done.

"Why are you apologizing?" She looked completely at loss.

"For what I just did! I don't know what the hell came over me" I thrusted myself away from her.

"I didn't mind."

I gave her a ludicrous grin and guided her forward; as she started to walk I took a step to the side so I was walking alongside her. Although it was in silence, it was a companionable one that we always seemed to share. While we walked I decided to take a chance.

"Are you up to anything this evening?"

"No" She hesitated "My roommates out somewhere, I have no Idea where but he said he'll be back at 8, he never tells me anything."

"Well, how would you feel about coming over mine for a while? I mean I hate to see people on their own, I know what its like."

Stacey audibly gulped.

"I'm not sure..." She trailed off.

I watched her intently as we walked, her face showed excitement, but also a hint of fear.

"You know what? I think I will" She looked up at me with eyes full of promise.