Lost Time

Chapter Eight- Dark Tunnel

I woke to the feeling of cold asphalt underneath my body. I sat up and tried to make my eyes refocuse on the world around me, but it was like everything was rotating around me. I felt sick and my mind felt foggy, but I couldn't remember anything. I was leaving the mall and I felt scared. I was walking and... and.... I was chased. I ran down this alleyway then just blackness. I looked around me and saw a combination of trash and what looked like a puddle of liquid. My face went cold and the blood rushed to my heart, but I could seem to react.
"I'm.... I'm tainted." Tears streamed down my face and I tried to calm myself. I found my phone beside me and dialed Malcom's phone number.
"Hello?" A feminine voice answered.
"Who is this?" My foggy mind couldn't understand what was going on.
"Malcom phone." I heard a bit of mumbling in the background.
"Hello?" Malcom answered.
"Who was that?" I knew who she was, but I wanted to hear him say it.
"A friend..." I heard more mumbling and hushed tones.
"Of course." I felt myself trembling. "Tell your friend that ya'll can date now.
"It's not that, Lily." He paused. "It was just a mistake."
"It thought that you had changed." I took a deep inhale. "But you're still the same scumbag I left before."
"Li-" I ended the call.
I pulled myself up off the ground and began to walk into the mainstreet.
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I finally made it home and the place was barren. Samantha's room was clear with none of her stuff to be found. I pulled out a liquor bottle from under the counter and took a long, hard swig from the container. I made my way into the bathroom and peeled my clothes off my body. I burnt my skin under the temperature of the shower water and scrubbed my body raw. I exited the shower and put on a oversized t-shirt with some cotton socks. I looked at the liquor bottle and pills in my hand, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"This is what they want, Lily." I stared at the bottles. "I was never one to give people what they want." I threw them in the trash and left the kitchen with a new bravado. I called my mother and waited for the phone to be answered.
"Hello?" My mother's sleepy voice asked.
"Hey, mom." I felt a lump in my throat.
"What's wrong sweetie?"
"I need you to come over and bring a doctor please." I expected questions, but was shocked.
"I'll be right over." The phone clicked off and I sat in silence.
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My mother showed up and came into the front door, as I called to her. She was in a silk pajama set with house slippers on, but she still had that classic beauty in her features.
"What's wrong?" Her voice sounded so concerned.
"Mom." I collapsed into her arms, as sobs violently shook my body. I proceeded to cry for a hour as my mother held me and rubbed my back. I, eventually, told her and the doctor she had brought about the incident and samples were taken.
"I'm so sorry." She squeezed me tight.
"I'm need to leave." I looked up at her. "I need to move somewhere new. Somewhere... fresh."
"Where?" She stroked my hair.
"Anywhere but here." I fell deeper into her arms.
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Two weeks later, I smacked the manila envelope down on Chad's desk. He looked up to see my face and seemed to be confused or surprised.
"Here's the case file. Make sure it's solved." I turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" He stood.
"I have a plane to catch." I shouted. "I'm leaving this shithole."
I called a cab and made my way to the airport while sweating in its backseat. I had already packed and my parents were shipping my belongings to my new aparment. Sam cried when I told her the news, but I left her with a quick goodbye kiss and a forlorn heart. Malcom tried to apologize and I knew it wasn't sincere at all, so I burned his photos on the front lawn and proceed to roast marshmallows. I ate every single one. I basically just transfered my credits to my new university and most of my other loose ties were too frayed to fix.
"Where you flyin' to ma'am?" The cabbie asked.
"I going to the beautiful city of angles, hon." Watch out L.A. here I come....

Hello everyone,
I really felt like changing scenery would help the story. Plus it really is good because Lily's about to have a major personality change. I hope you liked the chapter. Look for book two (Sunny Dreams) soon!
Much love,
The author