Together Fallen [#Wattys2015]

8) Part One

Before you read on, make sure you've fully read the previous chapter - I updated it twice so you should have read both April's and Micah's viewpoints.

Dedicated to @TellMeADream for being so supportive of this xox

 8) Part One

~April~

I felt numb as I stood cleaning the dishes, the warm water lapping slightly against the sides. I'd asked my aunt so many times why she hadn't come out earlier when I'd called her. Each time she'd either brush me off or her eyes would glaze over as she mumbled something vague about not having heard me. Both gave me the creeps. It was just so unlike her – I'd screamed her name; I hadn't just yelled it. Usually she had acute hearing. Unless...

I inhaled the scent of citrus washing up liquid to calm my mind. I had a thing about citrus – always had. Lemons in particular. The scent soothed me.

Unless my aunt was in on whatever was happening to me, I thought. I tried my best to shake the thoughts away – I really did – but they wouldn't disappear. Worse yet, what if something was manipulating her?

The lapse in concentration caused a plate to slip from my fingers and fall into the sink. Slowly, I picked it up and scrubbed it with perhaps more care then necessary. If I'd thought about what had happened for any longer, I'd feared I would go mad. Outside it was almost pitch black. I couldn't see anything beyond the patio which was illuminated by the lights outside, it gave me chills somehow. Was whatever was stalking me out there now, watching me? Could they see me from amidst the shadows?

Giant tears fell from my cheeks, dripping into the sink water. After washing another plate I placed it on the dish rack before wiping my eyes with the back of my hand and exhaling heavily. After everything, I just wished I had the ability to shut off and become numb like they did in the films. Sadly, my survival instinct was still there, making that task near impossible.

I was sick of being weak, I moaned. Sick of it. For the past three years I'd spent the majority of my time looking over my shoulders and fearing. It was no way to live and it needed to change. Now.

This was a sick game it was playing, and I wasn't sure I'd win. Why me? It was the same question I'd asked myself a thousand times.

Pulling the plug out, I watched as the water drained. The sound of it gurgling down the pipes gave me something to focus on.

"Are you done?"

I whirled around to find my aunt standing in the doorway.

She held up a tattered games box, grinning. "I thought we could play a few of the classics before you went up to bed."

Not wanting to spoil the fragile mood that had settled between us since this afternoon, I reluctantly agreed to play. After several games of snakes and ladders as we sat in the living room and half a game of monopoly, I finally caved in and decided to call it a night.

"How's Beth?" Sarah asked quietly as we put the pieces back in the correct boxes. Strangely enough, she was hell bent on stating that Beth had gone home because she felt sick. It was almost as if she was brainwashed to think that, I shuddered to think.

"She hasn't texted me back," was all I said.

My aunt's face scrunched in sympathy as we finished up. "Just give her the night and I'm sure she'll text you in the morning. She probably just needs the rest."

I hoped that was it.

Placing the lid carefully on one of the containers I reluctantly agreed, "Maybe." Standing up, I handed her the box. "Night, Sarah."