Pathways

Chapter 10

Instead of resting when I get home, I make a list of all of the people who would want me dead. I need to stop cowering in fear and grow a pair. If someone wants me dead they can try it. I dare them. I can only think of one person right now. I may be overreacting but if Jake had enough energy to push me to the ground and grab my wrist he would certainly have enough energy to want to kill me. I know suspecting your boyfriend of murder isn't necessarily healthy but I'm grasping at straws here. I reach for my phone about to go to the police when the letter's warning rings in my head. I can't afford to make any more bad decisions. Best to listen to my stalker so I can hear whoever it is out. When I finally find out who it is I doubt I'll keep quiet to the police about it. After everything that's happened, there's no way I'm letting my stalker get off the hook. I doze off on my bed for what seems like a few minutes but when I look at the clock it reads five p.m.

Suddenly, I hear a loud crash in the kitchen and rush downstairs. My mom threw a wine bottle against the ceiling and It crashed to the floor scattering wine and glass everywhere. She turns to me her eyes bloodshot. I stare at her in horror. Not another one of her episodes. That's the thing with my family. They're unpredictable.

"Get out." she slurs.

I freeze wondering if she's talking to me because she's not looking in my direction. It's almost like she's looking past me. My mother takes a shard of glass from the ground and slowly starts walking toward me. That's when I know for sure. She's on something. I slowly back up. I mentally put my mother on the list of people who could be trying to kill me. I contemplate if my own mother is actually going to hurt me. The letter never said if my death was an accident. It just said I would be murdered. What if my own mother is going to be the one to do that? My gut feels like it's being dissected with tiny knives. I feel nauseous again.

"Mom..." I whisper, "What are you doing?"

Suddenly she throws the shard of glass on the ground and starts stomping her feet like a two-year-old. " I said... I SAID GET OUT!!" She screeches. I scream as I run out the door as fast as I can. I contemplate staying outside in the driveway but my mother seems too psycho right now and it's too cold so I go to the only place I know I'll feel safe.

William runs his hands along his perfectly square jaw as his green eyes meet mine. "Anna?"

"Can I come in?" I plead.

He nods and steps aside letting me in. Against my better judgment, I wrap my arms around him in a warm embrace. He smells nice, like pine trees and mint. He wraps his arms around me and we stay like that for what seems like an eternity. I feel something I haven't felt in a long time. I feel safe with him. I think about my mother. What if she tries to kill me in my sleep? I try to say something but my hands start shaking really bad and tears fall down my face. I've never been so scared. William's beautiful green irises lock with mine and it's like he put a trance on me. He soothes me with just his eyes and I find myself calming down a bit. Just enough to talk.

" C-can I sleep with you?" I say. Crap. That came out wrong, I meant can I stay the night? He's so attractive it's distracting me.

"Anna-" He begins but I interrupt him.

" No, no that's- it sounded weird. I mean I'd sleep like. I mean not that I wouldn't want to sleep with you. You're a very attractive person, Oh god what am I saying? I mean I don't feel safe at my house. I'd like to stay here if that's okay. You're the only person I trust right now. " I stutter trying to get the words out but it's no use. I'm so nervous now.

William smiles down at me and I punch my stomach not allowing myself to feel butterflies. He grabs my hand and I swear I feel electricity all throughout my body.

" I would very much like to sleep with you, Anna." he grins.

"That's not what I meant-" I try to say but before I can even finish my sentence his warm lips lock with mine. He slides his tongue into my mouth and I melt into him feeling my world ooze away like lava. All my problems, all my worries, this man sets them aflame. His flames reach my lips, my heart, my very soul as I stand there and kiss him. That's when I realize, I really like him. Christ, Jake. I push him away. This is so wrong, on so many levels.

"Jake," he whispers. He pulls me in for an embrace and even though every part of me is telling me this is wrong. I let him. William feels safe with him no one can hurt me and I want to treasure this feeling. I want to bathe in his warmth hoping it can heat my icy chills. I try to stay in the embrace for as long as I can but I just feel so wrong that I back away.

"I need to use the bathroom," I whisper.

William smiles, " It's upstairs to the left."

I walk up the stairs leaving my scrambled thoughts on the lower floor. Walking down the vast halls of the upper level of his giant house, I come across a room with boxes. I slowly look behind me to see if William has followed me. The halls are dark and I don't want to turn on the light so I let the darkness engulf me as I step into the dusty room. It's hard to make out but I see a picture frame. In it is a miniature version of William. I see a woman with identical black hair and his face shape. I assume it's his mother. I run my fingers along the picture frame. On the other side of William is a man with brown hair and green eyes similar to William's. That must be his father. I frown remembering something. Didn't his father sue mine? I don't know much about my father after he left my mother.

My father was a heart surgeon. He was doing surgery on William's father and something went wrong. I don't know the details but I know Mr. Ray died. My father was sued for a devastating amount of money and his career basically ended. I wonder if William and his father were close. I suddenly feel a chill down my spine as if someone's watching me.

"We were close." I almost jump out of my skin when I hear William's voice. It's as if he could read my mind. I spin around and almost collide with his tall dark figure. " God you scared me. Back up." I whisper. Embarrassed he caught me snooping. He takes a step back and continues.

" I loved my dad. The surgery was supposed to help him. If that stupid doctor didn't screw up. Some people say you can't change the past. But you can certainly make people pay for their mistakes. Like your father right, in my opinion, he didn't pay enough. He will soon though." William clenches his fists as he glares at me something dark in his eyes. Vengeful. I take a step back.

" What do you mean he'll pay?" I ask.

"Karma. Someone takes someone from you then they get someone close to them taken from them." He trails off looking into the distance.

I frown and shake my head, " Alright, I still have to go to the bathroom so I'll leave you to your vengeful hopes and dreams."