Darkness of the Moon

C16: Stressful Mornings

HARPER'S POV

I wake early the next morning, rolling over to find the bed cold beside me. I can hear water running in the bathroom and assume Alec is having a shower. The past few weeks have been rough, I can barely remember half of it, but I know there is something I have to do today. No one can help me with this, I have to do it myself.

I hear the water stop and a few moments later Alec walks through the bathroom door with shorts on and damp hair.

Damn, Lisa comments, haven't heard from her in a while.

He comes and lays by my side, "Hey, how are you?"

"I'm alright, I guess. Thank God for werewolf healing or I would be miserable right now," I give him a small smile.

"It works wonders," Alec agreed.

"Alec, I was hoping I could just be alone today?" I ask cautiously, already knowing his answer.

"I'm not leaving you alone until I know how to help you," he says referring to the...incidents.

"I just need some time to think about, well, everything," I explain, curling on my side facing him.

"Well, you can do as much thinking as you like, but I'm not going anywhere."

"But you'll distract me."

He move closer to me, "you mean like this?" He kisses my jaw softly.

"And this?" He peppers kisses across my cheek.

"And this?" He presses his soft lips to mine gently.

He rests his hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer. Just as I kiss him back he pulls away, "like that?" He smirks.

I glare at him playfully, "exactly like that."

I push him away from me and stand up.

"Where are you going?"

"To shower," I flip my hair over my shoulder and skip into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

I look around to try and find an exit, the window. I run the water in the shower and walk over to the window. Unlocking it, I lift it open slowly, hoping it doesn't squeak. I let out a sigh of relief as it fully opens without a sound. Leaning over, I look down to see how far the drop is. Two storey. My eyes scan along the wall to find a vine of ivy cascading along the side of the house. Reaching out to test its strength, I tug at the vine to find it sturdy. I climb down the wall as quietly as possible and sprint towards the forest.

ALEC'S POV

I relax when I hear the shower running, she seems ok for now. I don't know what I'll do if she tries tearing herself apart again. I lay for a while, staring at the ceiling, letting the sound of the running water sooth me.

"Harper?" I call out, starting to get worried, she's been in there for around twenty minutes.

I get up and knock on the door gently, "hey, are you ok in there?" I only hear silence in response.

"Harper?" Still no reply, "Harper, answer me sweetheart. Are you alright?"

I try knocking on the door again, "Harper!" -nothing, "Harper if you don't open this door right now I'm gonna bust it open."

I listen closer this time, letting my enhanced hearing take over. There's no breathing, no heartbeat, just the sound of running water hitting the tiled floor. I take a step back before ramming my shoulder into the door, desperate to open it. I hit it one more time and it breaks open.

I search frantically around the small room for her, only to find it empty with the window open.

"Jason!" I yell through the house, not moving from my spot in the doorway.

His footsteps thump hurriedly up the stairs as he runs to my room.

"Is it Harper? Is she alright?" He yells, coming up behind me.

He stops and takes in the empty bathroom. He sees my frantic expression and automatically understands the situation.

"Shit."