Silence

Chapter 9

"Okay, let's go home,"  Mom says when I smile.

Forcing the smile to stay on my face, I say, "Actually, can I use the bathroom before we go?"

"Of course, dear," Mom hurriedly responds. "The restroom is just around the corner there." She points down the stark white hall to her left.

I take a step in that direction when I notice that Alex's arm is still around my waist holding me up. "It's okay. I can get there myself."

He gives me a worried look and glances down the hall like he is trying to decide if I can really make it that far without him.

"If you could take me to the girl's bathroom, you wouldn't be my boyfriend," I joked, putting emphasis on 'boy'.

His lips twitch up in a smile before dropping back into a worried frown. "Are you sure?"

"No, I'm Molly," I continue to joke.

This time, he manages a full smile before shaking his head and letting go of me. "Okay smart one, just hurry back." He leans down and kisses my cheek before stepping to the side. 

I stride off to the bathroom, almost limping from the weight of the mystery paper in my pocket. It won't be a mystery for much longer. I think to myself as I pick up my pace.

Once safely inside the bathroom, I am pleased to find that it is the single person type and turn to lock the door. Leaning back against the now locked door, I take a deep breath before taking the note from my pocket. 

MEET ME AT THE PARK NEAR YOUR HOUSE AT 1AM,

~J

I sigh before tearing the note up, flushing it, and going back out to my family.

The street is dark and peacefully quiet at this time of night. A few streetlights are the only source of light among the dark windowed houses I pass. One of the lights on the corner is even blinking rapidly in true horror movie fashion. 

I pass under the creepy light as I turn right and head towards the park that comes into view just down the street. The dark silhouettes of the swing set and small jungle gym can be seen from this distance. As I get closer, I can make out the rusted, metal slide faintly reflecting the stars and beautiful crescent moon in the clear night sky. 

When I come to the edge of the park, I stop and let my eyes look around the area. They flick across the basketball court and mini soccer field, scan over the benches circled around the pirate ship styled playset, pass over the trees clustered at the back of the park, and finally come to rest on the several small picnic tables set up in the shade of the leaves where I can see the figure of a man sat among the shadows. My feet start to move toward the shadow of the man I have cowered under for the last two and a half years. 

As I step ever closer to the devil himself, I can feel his stare on me making my skin crawl. Stopping right in front of him, I chance a glance into his eyes before looking back at the ground.

His eyes are darting all around but keep landing back on me before he smiles a tense yet dominating smile. He has given me that smile before, in the car before the crash and before he took me through the hall.

All the guys were enjoying themselves at the buffet. Even some of the girls looked a bit happy as the guys that picked them allowed them to eat and chat with each other. Jay has allowed me to eat quickly before I start walking around gathering the dirty plates like usual. I've started to enjoy going around and getting the dishes to wash. Not only am I not chained up, but Jay has enough trust in me to behave that he isn't hovering over me as I weave my way through the crowd.