The Last of the Old Ones

Amber

Chapter Four

About half an hour later I had slipped into some silky black pajamas I found in the closet; the set was made of shorts and a long sleeve button up with white piping. I had also made a dent in unpacking my skin and hair products into the vanity and shower as housekeeping had delivered most of my stuff during dinner. I was never very good with beauty products, but I would say my mom, well foster mom, always made sure I had skin and hair care products to take care of myself. Now knowing what my skin really looked like, I supposed it made sense. If I was meant to fit in, she had to do her best to hide how pale and sensitive my skin really was. I felt a whole other level of respect for her, knowing she had to have gone through so much to keep me hidden for so long. I couldn't help but wonder what my foster parents were doing right now. Were they mourning my absence or were they relieved that I was now under more protection? Had taking care of me put them at risk of being hunted as well? Sitting up in the middle of my bed surrounded by pillows (they one thing I had asked for upon Elizabeth dropping me off as I knew I wouldn't feel secure enough to sleep without being surrounded), I hit the intercom button to call her up. I knew wasn't actually ready for what was to come but I also knew I had to do it. As I waited, I thought about how my life had turned upside down today. I had called who I thought were my parents before I settled in. They told me I did in fact belong with these people and even though this was going to be a big change I needed to trust them. I sighed to myself, I could do this, I had to be strong. At least here, according to everyone I had met so far, I would be safe. Although, that seemed a little unfair, before today, I hadn't even known I wasn't safe. Not to mention the fact that I had literally been chased to the doorstep of this house. How could I be certain this "forcefield" would hold up and those people wouldn't get in? What was stopping them from waiting just outside?

"Are you all ready, Dear?" Elizabeth's sweet voice broke my thoughts, stopping my mental spiral as I sat there. She wheeled in a little trolley with all the medical tools and my own portable IV stand. Something about it made me feel completely on edge, I couldn't help but wish Colin was here to hold my hand like he had earlier... We may not really know each other but he was the only thing left of the life I left behind at the start of the day.

"Of course." I said, knowing I just had to start adjusting to things and how they would be now. How long would I have to live in fear? Would this just be how I had to live from now on, hiding from whatever was out there? It didn't seem fair to have to hide from people who didn't even know me yet hated everything I was. I rolled up the silky black sleeve and held out my arm for her. At least finding my veins was very easy now, I had that going for me. I took a deep breath as she cleaned all her tools up and wiped my arm with an alcohol pad. I squirmed a little at the sight of the needle that was about to be in my arm. I looked away and took a deep breath. I might have to do this, but I didn't have to watch.

"Okay Sweetie... 3... 2... 1." I felt the IV go in without a problem and the iodine began to flow through my veins. I watched as my blood began changing from blue to red like all the others. "This IV will be temporary, we'll put in a more permanent port once everything calms down around here. But that will be a conversation for another day, you have had too much thrown at you for today." Elizabeth added, something about the look she gave me made my stomach churn in uncertainty. How much more could there possibly be? Maybe tomorrow I would ask more about my birth parents, but judging by how everyone treated the subject, asking how they died would not be a good bedtime story.

"Okay, that wasn't bad at all." I forced a smile at her. She smiled back and said she was going to turn in for the night and suggested I did the same on account I had a long day, and I would have another long day tomorrow. With that she turned the light off with my permission and shut the door behind herself. It didn't take me long to realize how exhausted I was and quickly fall asleep.

*******

I heard a sound in the night that woke me up, a soft rustling outside my door. I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and slid on my slippers. I grabbed hold of my IV holder and slid it across the floor as I walked. Slowly, I opened the door to my room and headed out into the dark hallway. My feet were heavy, like they were leaden with sleep. The wind was whistling outside the window, I turned to look outside. I saw a strange figure in the distance. It appeared to be cloaked in black, whether from the dark of the night or if its clothes were actually all black, I couldn't be sure. I rubbed my eyes and looked again; it was moving toward me now... It was the same horribly blank mask we had run from earlier. My heart raced and I began to scream, but the louder I screamed the faster it approached. The figure's boney hands outstretched toward me, it felt like it was choking me without even touching me.

******

Waking up, I felt the scratchiness in my throat, I could tell I was actually screaming. I realized I had my own hand closed on my throat which explained the suffocating feeling. I had been terrified by my dream, it just seemed so real. Those people couldn't possibly have any sort of power, could they? I tried to control my breathing, I heard my doorknob turning and the creek of the hinges. I pushed myself back up against the headboard and tucked my knees to my chest as if somehow that would protect me from the incoming intruder. I was still panting from the fear that woke me up.

"Are you okay Amber? Sorry, my room is right next door, and I heard you scream," His voice soft as the words tumbled out, his hands now up in the air as he walked cautiously closer to me, noticing the fear on my face and how I was trying to make myself smaller. "I won't hurt you, and I won't let anyone else hurt you either." I felt better hearing Colin's familiar voice. I couldn't explain the security he made me feel. Just like earlier, the thought of him being the last familiar thing in my life came racing into my head, I tried to steady my breathing. He came nearer and sat on the edge of my bed. "Nightmares are common the first night, it's always very overwhelming," He paused. "Do you want to talk about it? It might help you fall back asleep." He added.

"It was just... I got out of bed and went into the hall; I looked out the window and there was one of those people in a blank mask walking toward the house. The louder I screamed, the faster the person came at me... They were choking me without even being in the house... It's stupid but it scared me I guess." I explained, taking a deep breath. Running the silk fabric of my sleeve between my fingers to calm myself, not even caring how disheveled I must have looked after that nightmare.

"Those guys can't get you here, I don't really understand the science behind it but there's a force field of types around this place, something in our skin puts it down and reactivates it. I grew up in these houses and as a child I always had nightmares about it. But I do promise you are safe here. I don't know a single person in this house who wouldn't give their life for you." Colin added. For me? They didn't even know me.

"But I don't ever want it to come between my life and someone else's..." I trailed off, "Can you please just talk to me for a little while to stop my thoughts?" I asked gently. He nodded and began talking about his childhood and all the pranks he had played on housemates growing up. He told me stories of his childhood friends, James and Dillon, as the rhythmic touch of his fingertips running up and down my arm lulling me back to sleep. He sat at my side as I drifted back off to sleep, I prayed my brain would focus on his words long enough to keep anymore nightmares away for the night.