Anne-Maria (Completed)

Exploring the Other World

I woke up in a dark room, being held by Kevin. I was close to him and it was very quiet, so quiet I could hear his heart beating slightly out of rhythm. I tried to break free from his arms, but he didn't release me, so I just sat calmly, listening to the sounds of children who had just come back from their lunch recess. I understood what was happening at that point and realized we were hiding from the children and teachers. I stayed quiet, as well as Kevin, for the next 30 minutes. I had almost fallen asleep in Kevin's arms. His hug was warm and comforting. I felt like I was a normal person and that everything was going to end up being okay. After the fundraising assembly and after all of the classes had left, we walked to class, without being noticed.

We walked in as quietly as we could and hoped the teacher hadn't noticed us. Lunch ended 10 minutes ago, and our class started right after lunch, so we knew we would be in some trouble. We were asked to come to the front of the class once we walked in, and Kevin started talking and apologizing like he was a failure or something. I stepped on his foot to try and shut him up, because we were already in enough trouble, but he wouldn't stop talking. "We are very sorry that we are late, we understand the mistake we made. It's just that a teacher going to an assembly had asked us for help to carry some boxes into the auditorium because her students were too young. We said we would help the substitute teacher as much as we could, and she accepted our help. That is the reason we are late, again we are very, very sorry." I was so thankful he shut up, and because he was sort of a teacher's pet in this class, the teacher believed us. 

After school, Kevin decided to walk home with me in case something happened again. My legs were very tired because we had chosen to take the walk through the mini-forest, which took about ten more minutes of my time than the boring walk along the regular road. "Today was a very interesting day, if I have to say so myself. Don't you think?" Kevin asked, talking in a very thick Asian accent. "What, I don't understand you?" I said back, with a fake accent. We both laughed and I answered him, "Yeah, at least we didn't have to sit in boring history class for the first 10 minutes of class." 

We stepped in perfect synchronization as we walked up the steps to my two story house. My house had four bedrooms, but there were only three people living in it, my mom, dad, and I. One of the rooms was turned into a "man's cave" for when my dad and his friends get together for the Super Bowl, and just any other sport games that played on the weekends. As I opened the two glass doors, my cat purred and rubbed against my leg, wanting out of the house. I let the cat out of the house and walked into my living room. In my living room there is a flat screen TV and three feather-down couches. Kevin and I took a seat on the biggest one that was meant for three people and kicked off our shoes. My feet were small and dainty, like my hands, but on the other hand, Kevin's feet were huge, well they looked normal on him. Kevin was a tall boy for a thirteen, almost fourteen year old. His birthday was in a week, and we were planning to go to the water park will a few of our other friends, including Allison and her sister, Caden. 

I turned on the TV, and Kevin instantly asked where everyone was. "At work Kevin, they always work, my mom gets off in twenty minutes though. We completed our homework after watching some shows on Netflix. Kevin waved goodbye to me at exactly 6 PM, when my father was on his way home. My mother was in the kitchen cooking some sushi and rice. I was excited because Tom was going to come over with his expecting wife, Raina. I haven't seen her since we discovered she was pregnant. Since we are all half Korean, I couldn't wait to see the baby of Raina and Tom (Who looked more Asian than European). My mom was European and my dad was one hundred percent Korean. I looked more European than Asian, which was funny because when I was younger, Tom would always tell me that I was adopted. 

I smiled as my father arrived and walked through the front door with flowers for my mom and mini cupcakes for desert.  I helped him carry the cake and surprised my mother giving her a hug from the back as she cut up pieces of salmon for the sushi. They kissed each other and my father put the beautiful pink and red roses into a tall blue vase. After we ate the wonderful meal and had eaten desert, Raina and I decided to talk about some things. 

"So, what about Kevin, have you guys kissed yet?" Raina asked, rubbing her belly. She winced and I could tell she was in pain from carrying around that extra weight. "Kevin and I are just friends Raina," I said, giving her a smile. She always played around with me like that, for Raina and I were like best friends. Tom had dated Raina for almost 6 years now, and now that they were married, we were even closer. "Oh, the baby is kicking, do you want to feel?" I placed my hand on the spot that my sister-in-law directed my hand to. I felt the baby kick, and I was in awe. How could one person, be holding a baby in there? It was truly and amazing moment and realization. 

After Tom and his wife left, and my mother and father were sound asleep, I had gotten up to get some water. I couldn't sleep again, but luckily once I laid back down on my bed, and everything was really quiet, I had fallen asleep, only to wake up a few moments later. 

I got up and realized I wasn't Maria, I had become Anne-Maria again. I turned on my light and saw myself in the mirror that faced my bed. This is what I was, I had to accept that, but I let out a slight shriek as Kan had appeared beside my other body. "What a beautiful little girl, so innocent, so cute," He said, caressing my cheeks. I believe he did so to taunt me. I walked over to him and slapped his hand away from Maria's face. "Who gave you the right to touch me?" I asked. I was whispering because I had thought that my parents would be able to hear my voice. 

"Why are you whispering? You sound so silly, follow me," Kan said, signaling for me to exit the room. I tried walking through the door, and luckily made it through. Kan stopped me as I backed away from my door, "Don't you want to see what your neighbors are up to at this late hour? They won't ever know we were ever in their house." 

I looked away and told Kan that he needed to leave me alone. But I did grow curious about how the night looked at night, being free to do whatever I wanted without being noticed. In order to continue this entire night, I had to protect the petals of the white rose in my pocket. Those petals were my time limit, I had to keep them intact with the stem in order to stay in Anne-Maria's body. Kan grabbed my wrist and led me down the stairs, he was so pushy and controlling. I broke from his grasp and hit his head as hard as I could. 

"Stop grabbing me like I am your property!" I yelled. "Shush up, you are so loud sometimes Anne-Maria, May I grab your hand?" He asked, politely. He didn't let me answer and grabbed my hand anyways and led me through my front door and to a nearby house at the end of my street. He hand was warm, and it reminded me of Kevin's warm embrace. I jerked my hand away and walked a few steps behind him. 

"We are here, at Mrs. And Mr. Norkin's house. Isn't it lovely?" He said as he led me through the front yard and through the door. All of the lights were off, instead for one of the rooms on the first floor. The house was very lovely, and it reminded me of my grandparent's house. The spacious house was very clean, but very empty. Kan led me through the door that led into the lit up room. My eyes had to adjust to the light, but as soon as they did I gasped.

I looked at Kan and back to the helpless person lying in the bed. "I am living in a nightmare that won't end, Anne-Maria, will you help me wake up?"