Science or Shadows

Chapter 2

I walked on, not turning back to see Haden. Inside, I felt like a pot about to boil over with anger.

I kept going in a straight line.

It was quiet behind me, but my heart was racing. Haden's usual footsteps were missing, leaving only silence in their wake.

It seemed like he wasn't there anymore. He wasn't following me. And that felt right. He had no business trailing me. No right to even think about it.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. My hands shook as I reached for it, struggling to catch my breath.

Mom's name lit up the screen. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

"Hylen! Where are you? We've been trying to reach you for so long!" Mom's voice crackled through the phone, sharp and impatient.

It wasn't the worried tone. There was a hint of anger in her voice, a simmering frustration that mirrored my own.

What did I expect?

I'd always tried to shield her, to protect her from the world's harshness. But I couldn't seem to find the love I craved in return. Maybe that was just how life worked.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me, leaving me feeling drained and heavy.  But I knew I had to pull myself together.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. I had to think of an answer, a way to explain where I was and why.

"I... I fell asleep..." I mumbled, the truth slipping out.

"Where are you?!" Mom's voice shot back, sharper than a knife.

My body trembled, a wave of fear washing over me. I should be used to this by now, to the sharp edge in her voice. But it still drained me, left me feeling small and vulnerable.

"At my classmate's house..." I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

"You should have called us!" Mom's voice snapped through the phone.

"S-sorry Mom..." I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.

"Freaking waste our time. Go home, already!"

The call ended abruptly, leaving me in a silence that felt heavy and suffocating. I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

No, I shouldn't cry. I shouldn't let her get to me.

She should ask if I'm okay. She should care. But... whatever.

I sighed, the sound heavy with frustration and exhaustion. This version of myself, this Hylen, had to end.

I continued walking, my footsteps echoing in the quiet evening air. A figure emerged from the shadows, a man I couldn't quite make out. Was it the guard? My heart skipped a beat. 

Quickly, I found a hiding spot behind a large oak tree, peeking out from behind its rough bark.

I glanced at my phone. 7 pm already. The campus would be closing soon.

I peeked out again, my heart pounding in my chest. The guard's flashlight beam swept across the area, catching me for a fleeting moment. I ducked back behind the tree, my breath catching in my throat.

Thankfully, the guard didn't come closer. He continued his patrol, his light bouncing off the buildings and trees.

"Help..."

The whisper sent a shiver down my spine, a chilling echo of the fear I'd been trying to outrun. I spun around, searching for the source, but found nothing.