The Other Side

No going back

With the darkness as my cover I squeeze through the gap in Richard's fence that together we had used many times before, nothing but memories now. Once in his garden I look up again at his window, the lights are out completely. I quickly and silently as I can run over to the steps leading to his back door, I swiftly take them two at a time. When I reach the door, I slowly try the handle only to find that it's locked.

I check the time on my phone which reads 20:49, regrettably I retreat down the steps and hide behind the side of the house against the wall. A memory flashes through my mind of Richard and I only a week before what happened. We were watching TV when Richard's dad walked past in the hall with a cigarette. I had asked Richard "I didn't know you dad smoked?" He had continued to tell me that his dad smoked in secret, his mum strongly detested it however she would always go to bed at nine every single night. This is when Richard's dad chose to sneak out and smoke a few and then some more again before she woke up in the morning.

I test my idea and simply wait, remaining silent and hoping that somehow nothing had changed with Richard's dad's secret in the time I had been away. After counting in my head, I check my phone again, irritatingly it reads 20:55. Time was crawling by, god knows how much mum and dad would be freaking out right now. What if they had called the police? I quickly unlock my phone and notice I have fifteen unread messages from her. 

"Hi mum, sorry I haven't texted. Everything's fine, I'll be home before 11" I text, hoping she will just leave it at that.

Within seconds my phone begins to buzz, before I even answer I know what she will say.

"Ava, how dare you! Come home immediately, your father and I have been worried sick. I'm trying to understand but I swear if you do not come home now, we will call the police." Hate boils through me as her last words rings in my ears.

"Do it. See if I care because if you do, I will run away. You will never see me again so it's up to you." I hiss into the phone before disconnecting, not feeling in the slightest bit guilty.

I wait and within seconds a message appears in my in-box. "Please just come home soon, I don't know what to do." I smile with satisfaction as the fact that I've won sinks in.

I quickly tuck my phone into my trouser pocket as I hear the back door open, I peer round the corner as Richard's dad quietly walks down the steps and turns to walk towards my direction.

I duck down and hold my breath as he walks past me and into the front garden, I wait for a moment, unable to believe that he hadn't seen me. It was pretty much pitch black but I had no cover yet he hadn't seen me.

I don't waste anymore time and quickly run up the steps and try the handle again, thankfully it's open and I step inside the house, quietly closing it behind me. I look around the kitchen before running through to the hallway and up the stairs, I barely make a single sound. When I reach the landing, I peer round the corner to check if by some chance Richard's mum is out of her bedroom before finally walking across the hall to Richard's room. 

As I pull open his door, James screams fill my head, I ignore him and slip inside before closing the door behind me.

"What are you doing Ava?" Richard sits on his bed, a sad expression on his face.

"What am I doing?" I whisper, stepping towards him eagerly.

"Yes Ava." Richard shakes his head and stands up, I take a step back but he takes both of my arms in his hands. 

"I don't..know." I whisper, tears filling my eyes as I look down to the floor.

"You need to leave Ava, If my mum sees you then she will call the police. For the sake of how things use to be, I won't tell her, you have my word."

"Your word?" I sneer, pushing him back. "Your word means nothing, you ruined my life!" I cry, wishing I hadn't come, wishing I hadn't been so stupid.

Told you so.. James whispers inside of my head.

"Ava, you need help. You don't need to be ashamed of it, what you told me about what you went through those years ago, that would damage any person. I understand but you can't keep doing this, it wont work out well for anyone. You need to decide, make a choice about what you are going to do." 

"You..you tried to kill me." I whimper, clutching my head as it stings with intense pain. 

"Ava, I forgive you for what you've done. You're not who you use to be, once my dad comes back up the stairs i'll help you leave." 

Richard pulls me into a hug, I hold my breath and my body goes rigid being so close to him. Tears stream down my face and I bite my lip so hard it starts bleeding. 

"I forgive you Ava." He whispers, saying the words again that fill me with so much black rage that my body shakes but confusion at the same time which clouds all of my thoughts, making me doubt myself.

Authors Note:

I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Thank you for reading :) Please comment, vote to let me know what you think.