Chapter 3

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I woke up to the sound of my stomach growling. Rubbing the remains of sleep from my eyes, I tried to remember what happened before I passed out. Maci I thought, remembering the horrible things I said to her. Reaching across my bed to the nightstand, I picked up my phone and put in my password. ‘One new voicemail’ greeted me again, and I made a note to check it after I finished making a call.

            Six rings and an automated voice messaging system later, I hung up, not bothering to leave a message. She was probably too mad to even listen to it. I glanced up to the corner of the screen at the clock. 3:07; oh, that could be a factor as well I thought. Rolling my eyes at my stupidity I punched in the code for my voicemail and listened.

            “Aubrey, you’ve got to remember me,” the voice pleaded. It was a voice that in the past 12 hours I had committed to memory- Aiden. I listened as he continued. “I’ve only got so much time left, and I’m running out of options here. There’s only so much I can say; you’ve got to want to know in order to remember. Please, don’t… I’ve got to go” The message ended abruptly.

            “How am I supposed to remember someone I’ve never seen before in my life?” I wondered aloud. I racked my brain once more, knowing that there would be no way for me to forget someone as… unique… as Aiden was. He definitely was unforgettable.

            My stomach growled again, and I whimpered softly at the ache that followed. Well, I thought, not more sleep tonight. Groaning audibly, I rose and made my way to the bath room. Stepping on the scale, I held my breath as I looked down. 101, I exhaled sharply and a small grin crept across my face. “Six pounds,” I whispered. “I lost six pounds in a day!”

            Rushing into my kitchen, I looked for something to quiet my insides. Celery, I thought, reaching for the stalks in my fridge, negative calories. I’ll be okay with that. With the food tucked into the crook of my arm, I trekked back to my bedroom, munching away.

I froze in place, celery falling to the floor as I took in the scene before me. Even in the dark, I noticed a hooded figure in the corner of my room seemingly captivated with the pictures that decorated my wall. “Maci?” I whispered. The figure turned towards me.  What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, my voice faltering when she didn’t answer. “If this is your way of trying to scare me, it’s not working” I said, my voice breaking. I took a step closer, towards the person.

“Oh, really?” A voice that was not Maci’s questioned me, apparently amused.

            “Who are you?” I asked, my voice stabilizing a bit, recognizing the voice as familiar, but not enough to place it.

            “Are we really back to that?” He asked, annoyed. “I guessed we’d moved past that earlier today.”

            “Aiden? How do you know where I…? How long have you…?” I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts, and tried a third time. “What are you doing here?”

            “Finally, a logical question.” I raised my brows, though he couldn’t see. “Don’t look at me like that,” he scolded me. Oh, well maybe he could.

            “I can do whatever I want, this is my house, which brings me back to why, how, and what are you doing here?” I practically screamed at him.

”Do you remember when I used to be here every night? Back when you used to beg me to stay with you; was it that long ago, Bree?” I flinched again, more confused than surprised. He noticed. “Do you really not remember?”

            “Get out.” I whispered. He smirked back at me.

            “Is that really what you want?” he shot back, challenging me.

            No, what I want is answers, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. “Get out.” I repeated, more firmly this time. He raised his hands in a withdrawing fashion, backing up towards my window.

            “One way or another, Aubrey, I’ll get you to remember me.” He said and ducked out. It wasn’t what he said; it was the way he said it, like a warning or a threat, that had me shaking where I stood, long after he was gone.

            Coming back to my senses, I turned to pick up my snack, but hunger wasn’t the cause of my churning stomach. The familiar taste of bile rose up in my throat, and I recognized it as a feeling I thought I had lost long ago, fear. I was afraid of Aiden. I was scared of him, and I’m sure he knew it; why else would he appear in my bedroom at three in the morning. I glanced across the room to the clock on my nightstand; make that four in the morning.

            Shaken and exhausted, I crawled into bed and let sleep mercifully wash over me. I drifted into darkness, letting all my thoughts, fears, and worries fade into nothingness.

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