Is This Safe?

Prologue

I thought the worst was over.

I thought our lives could resume and be normal again, but no. It hasn't and it will never be the same. The nightmares still come and haunt us day by day. Whether they arrive in the early rays of morning or by the shadows of the late night, they're always there lurking in the shadows waiting to pursue their prey. They'd always pursue and they would never stop. Lying in our beds, we'd toss and turn each night as our bed sheets became soiled with our fearful sweat. With blankets upon our heads, we'd silently pray that nothing would harm us. Our hearts pounding fiercely, our fingers would ache from the tight grip on our blankets. The darkness was too dark; the quiet was too quiet. We couldn't take it, but it never stopped. We only had each other to hold and care. Our heads screaming with only dark thoughts and memories.

"Why us?" We thought. "Why us?"

~Four months later~

"Do we have all of our bags?" I ask, glancing around the four of us.

"Yeah--"
Ann answered while adjusting her Red's baseball cap, looking extremely swag in the process.
"--I think so."

"I have mine!"

Chelsea slung her pink duffle bag across her right shoulder before wheeling her suitcase upright. I could only imagine what was inside.

Maggie, who was standing beside me, simply nodded her head.

"Are we ready?"

Sighing, my left hand reached for my suitcase that was resting on the ground.

"Yeah--"

Glancing around the busy airport, bustling people hurried past us. Some were chatting on their phone, others had children who lazily slung on their parent's arms begging to buy that certain something at the gift shop, others looked worried or frightened by the plane's enormous size or the fact they hated heights or airsickness, and finally, there were others who paced around impatiently for their late flight. Our flight; however, was right on time:

Ontario, Canada.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up my suitcase and stared at my friends who were looking back at me expectantly. After all, this was my idea and they assumed I was the most responsible one--which I sometimes I'm not. I'd say Ann was the most responsible, no offence to everyone else.

"Okay, let's do this."
I said as my friends grabbed their bags and headed in the direction that we needed. I stayed behind just a bit to keep an eye out for them, but I walked slow anyway. I liked to look around at my surroundings anyway, but busy places like cities or airports fascinated me much.

All of my friends were extremely quiet this morning for some reason, well, I didn't blame them. They were a bit mad at me for some reasons. If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't even be going on this trip, but I hope we weren't making a mistake. I'd hate to find out that I put my friends in danger like--well, last time.

I squeeze my blue eyes shut for a bit before opening them back up noticing I was way behind everyone else. Walking a faster pace, I suddenly felt like I was in some crime movie being some secret agent looking for a thief or something in a busy airport. Or maybe some mass murderer placing a bomb in an indiscreet place or a lone black suitcase full of money.

See where my imagination takes me?

Feeling suddenly insecure, I stop walking and turn around slowly. As I expected, no one was there and it seemed no one was following me. I stood there for a good few seconds before continuing back in the same direction as my friends.