TURN THE LIGHTS OFF

CHAPTER 2

AFTER A WEEK:
I decided to tell her about camping as soon as I completed my work on the lawn. After an hour, I entered home and heard my mom yelling at Hanna. I guess something toasted up the heat but I was unclear what it was about.
"I said no Hanna, no means no. Don't argue with me. You knew about that place and still wanna risk yourself at it? We are finally having peace now."
"Mom! He doesn't exist anymore", argued Hanna.
I was over hearing the conversation.
"It's just two days of camping to Kern river", shouted Hanna.
When I heard the word kern river, it shook me off.
"What? Kern river ah? Hanna is going there with her friends? But why?" I vexed. But that was not my problem. Why is mom not allowing Hanna for camping?
I soon figured out that the problem is not Hanna going camping, it's Kern River! That place is worrying mom. But why is that? Is she afraid of something? Is there anything else? Or is it that mom doesn't want Hanna going out with her friends? All these thoughts just made me confused and they were surrounded by silences. I didn't know when they stopped talking. Did they see me overhearing them? Why now silences? Did Hanna decide to drop out?
I saw Hanna furiously coming out of the room and I ran towards the door so that it seemed like I didn't hear any of those arguments. I decided not to talk about camping to mom as it is a very bad timing right now.
Next morning, I ran downstairs for breakfast. I slowly peeped out to see whether everything is alright or not, yes it is. There is a smile in my mom's face. I talked about camping and all the stuff.
"Where are you guys planning to go?" asked my mom. I started shaking as she will definitely get mad when I tell Kern Rivers.
"Split and fall campground mom!" I said and clicked my tongue. I lied to her. I got no options left rather than lying or else she won't let me go. I went to my room to start packing up, I got my small yellow suitcase and packed t-shirts, pants, hat, camera and everything we needed for the trip. But I found something strange in my closet. I was about to pick it up but Hanna knocked the door and came in.
"Oh! Hi Hanna!" I said indistinctly.
"Hey? Do I look like a ghost? Haha, are u alright?" said Hanna strangely.
"Yeah, yeah I'm alright. So... Ahh.. I mean you are...You are not going?" I hesitated.
"No, no." she moved her eyesight away from mine and glanced out to the window. I know she wasn't ready to answer it but I wanted to know why mom doesn't want her to go over.
"Do you know why mom doesn't want you to go?" I asked.
She ignored me completely. My phone popped up with a message from an unknown number
"Meet me at Tactile Coffee for an hour Amylo".
Hanna knew something strange was happening around.
"Who's this? And why is that person calling you Amylo?" shouted Hanna.
"Ahh...It's...it's Cyril... Why are you shouting at me right now?" I said.
"Why would Cyril call you by that name? The only one who calls you by that name is da..." She paused. "Amy ... If I got to know that you are leaving with that man then, just don't think of talking to me again. The consequences are real; it's for your own good". Hanna rolled her eyes and slammed the door wildly.
I was speechless, why would she rage on me? Who is that man? What is she talking about?" But my thought moved away as I was excited to visit him.
I met him at tactile coffee. We both talked for a few minutes about the camping and he went to refill his coffee. Hanna was following me all the way just to prove that I am fooling around. She entered the café and found me talking to a guy . She wasn't able to define him because he is blocked from her view. She came a little bit closer, even a bit closer to have a perfect view but she was interrupted by Cyril. If Cyril is here, then who is she talking to?
"Hi, Cyril. I was just checking on Amy. Did you guys come alone? I mean she said you all are going for a camp", Hanna asked doubtfully.
"Yah we want to book a cottage so I called her out. Is everything okay?" Cyril suspected.
"Yes. Everything's fine." Hanna sighed. "I will leave now. Bye ".
Cyril suspected something but he ignored it. Hanna kept thinking who that guy I could be talking to.
I left the café. My phone bleeped again leaving another message - "YOU FORGOT THE CLOSET". I ran to my home, entered the door, opened the closet and found a wilted rose attached to it was a small card. I remember the rose. It was the same wilted rose in my nightmare. I was panicking and something was written on the card. It says,

I was encountered menacing by someone. But who is that someone? Why could someone send me this? Is it he or she? Or is it just pranking or real threat? That was the biggest question mark for me. I am totally confused. I kept rolling the nightmare again and again to get a clue about the man who was trying to hurt my mom. I could get the whole scene but not the face. I tossed my head and jumped to bed. I wanted to sleep as it was a long day but I couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking why me? And what does that mean coming after you?
Next day, I went to Sasha's home. She is my unpaid therapist. I told her everything that happened and even showed her the wilted rose and the card attached to it. She was petrified and the way she acted was insane. I thought she could handle it smoothly and find the clues connected but no. She was just the opposite of smooth, freaked out more than me, walking randomly here and there. Then I realized I shouldn't have dumped all these things on her. Maybe I am hallucinating things but I got proof here. So the only thing I'm clear off is I am not hallucinating. I told her to relax and will figure it out later. Nothing weird happened that day lately.