My Soul To Take

[two] My Soul to Take

“Ashley! What’s wrong?” I heard Gina’s frantic voice getting louder as she grew closer.

I had sunk to the floor, my hand still on the door that Mandy had been standing in front of moments earlier. 

 At this moment, I didn’t know what to think. My brain was still processing what had just happened.

It had been her. I knew that for a fact! But where did she go? Mandy hadn’t exactly looked like herself either. And why didn’t she say anything?

She looked right at me with a haunted look of fear.

“Ashley, honey, please tell me what’s wrong!” Gina begged, crouching down so she could place her hand on my shoulder.

“Mandy—she was standing—screaming –but she was silent—help.” I muttered, knowing I was jumbling the words up but my brain needed time to grasp what I had just seen.

“Calm down, Ash. What did you see?” Gina stated calmly, rubbing my shoulder gently. “Look at me. What did you see?” she asked gently after I didn’t respond for a few minutes.

“I saw Mandy.” I looked up at Gina, my lip quivering.

“Where’d she go?” Gina’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“She disappeared into thin air.” I replied. Even as I said it, I knew it sounded ludicrous.

“Maybe you need to get some sleep. I know it’s been a stressful couple of days—“ Gina started, looking at me with concern clearly written upon her face.

“No! I’m not tired. I’m not seeing things either! I know this sounds crazy but I know what I saw.” I argued, slightly hysterical.

I knew that I probably didn’t look like the sanest person right now but that was of no concern to me. I needed Gina to believe me. I needed her to understand.

“I didn’t say you were seeing things.” Gina replied gently, trying not to upset me again. “I just suggested that you get a little sleep. You look a little tired.” I could see the disbelief and concern clearly on her face, even though I knew she was trying to hide it.

“Maybe you’re right.” I reluctantly agreed. Maybe I had just imagined Mandy.

It had seemed so real though. But then again, I hadn’t gotten much sleep in the past couple days.

“Of course I’m right,” she smiled kindly. “I’ll drive you home.”

I nodded in agreement and stood up with the help of Gina’s hand. She locked the door behind me as I stepped outside in the direction of Gina’s ancient, tan car.

As I slid into the passenger seat, I couldn’t resist turning to look at the spot where I had seen Mandy.

Or imagined her.

But for some reason I don’t believe that I had imagined all of that.

Her normally tan skin, a pale ghostly white that looked nowhere near natural. Her hair, which is usually as dark and shiny as mine, hung limply and had taken on a grayish, dead color. Her eyes, the same mint green as mine, were filled with tears. Her pupils dilated so much that you could hardly see the green.

I doubt I could have imagined all that in such great detail.

The car was filled with silence as Gina drove towards my house. It wasn’t exactly an awkward silence but it surely wasn’t comfortable either.

I could tell Gina was still worried about me. She kept shooting glances my way as if she expected me to start freaking out at any second.

When Gina finally pulled into the driveway, I could hardly wait to get out. I loved Gina and her motherly ways but her concern was starting to overwhelm me.