The Others

Chap. 6 Even Showers Are Scary.

You know, we all have our inner demons. I, for one - I can't speak for you, but I'm on the verge of moral collapse at any time. It can happen by the end of the show.

-Glenn Beck

Here's a long one :3 x

It was about 3 in the morning when I awoke screaming my brains out. Reoccurring nightmares, the usual. Nothing new there. I couldn't really remember this one, everything seemed so dark and foggy but all I know was that I was running. Like in every nightmare I have, I'm always running and I'm tired of it. I brought my knees to my chest and sank into my pillow, grasping fistfuls of my knotted hair in frustration. I desperately searched and put my brain to work as I struggled to remember.

Everything was so black... there were deep voices, red eyes, not quite like mine, mine are a fiercely red tint and theirs were a spine-crawling bright scarlet, and blurred faces.

There was one voice I recognized though. It was dark and velvety, partly seductive but dripped with danger, the hair on my arms arose with goose bumps just thinking about it. I remembered straight black hair and eyes that weren't red like the rest, but a deep onyx. Phoenix.

"Why am I dreaming of a stranger?" I asked myself.

"Urghh!" I rolled off my bed and wobbled towards the bathroom. My hand fumbled with the light switch and my eyes shrunk as the bright light made them sting. I looked in the mirror and cringed.

"Boy, do I sure look like a mess," I mumbled. I turned on the old, antique faucet and splashed the cold water on my face.

I pulled a cup from the cupboard and filled it, taking a chug before it was even filled. I decided maybe it was best to have a shower, since I was sweating god knows how long while I was having that nightmare.

I started the shower as I grabbed my towel and shampoo/conditioner. I stripped and as soon as I set foot in the hot water relaxed my overly tensed muscles. My back, shoulders, calves, everything felt relief. I massaged my scalp and then there too believe it or not, I relaxed. I frowned as the water started getting cold, slowly washing away all the soap buds.

I cut off the water and reached my hand around the shower curtain to get my towel. I towel-dried my hair and wrapped the towel securely around my body. Since the curtains were translucent, I made out a dark figure leaning by the sink. My blood went cold and I felt like I just took a shower with icebergs.

"W-Who are you? Why are you in here? W-what do you want!?"

The figure trembled as they let out a chuckle. "It is I. No need to be frightened."

I ripped the shower curtains away and was suddenly filled with unknown anger and shock.

"What the fuck are you doing in here Phoenix?" I half yelled half whispered. Oh I'm having another nightmare. Or maybe it's a dream. It's not every day you get a super hot yet devious guy in your bathroom.

He cocked his head to the side and smiled a heart melting smile that made my knees go weak. Wait what?

"You're asking the wrong types of questions," he purred. "You should be asking how I entered this household. A circle was cast, was it not?" I was entranced by the way his strong jaw line moved as he spoke.

I shook my head violently and pointed towards the door, making all my anger show on my face as I clutched my towel tighter to cover my body. "Get out."

"You wouldn't want that now would you, Jade?" he purred again stepping closer to me. I took a step back and bumped into the tub, if it weren't for his strong arms catching me I would've fell backwards into it and embarrassed the shit out of myself. But I think that would have been better than the situation I was in now.

My body, which is naked besides the thin towel covering it, is pressed tightly against his soft, black wool long sleeved shirt that fit tightly to his muscled chest. He pulled my arms up around his neck then fastened his arms tightly around my waist. My heart's pounding so violently in my ears I can't hear myself think. I don't even think I can think right now.

His lips were at my ear and he whispered, "Be grateful it is I, my sweet gem, and not another one of us." His cool breath caused goose bumps on my flesh. "U-Us?" my voice trembled.

He pulled away from me to lean on the sink again. "Yes, us."

I didn't know what that meant, and he didn't give me time to ask. "Until the next time, my gem." He took a step closer and pressed his lips to my forehead, and then everything went dark.

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"Jade." I felt a nudge. "Jay!" another one, this time on my ribs. "Sis, c'mon!"

I groaned and rolled over, opening my eyes to see Jamie's big blue ones staring at me. "What is it?" I asked with a yawn. Wow, I slept really well. How odd.

"I'm hungry." Jamie pouted. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Go sit at the table I'll be right down."

He hopped up and skidded out of my room. I smiled. Jamie sure loves his food.

I lay in bed waiting for all my body parts to fully awaken. I took the time to analyze my room. This was my old room from when I was a kid, when it used to be mom, dad, Denise, Jamie and me living in this house. My old mahogany desk was still sitting in the corner with my old dial up computer. Eesh, that needs an upgrade. The walls were a faded pink; ten years ago they used to be neon. Everything was so perfect back then. I sighed and rolled off the bed, slipping on my sandals and walking out of my room towards the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face swiftly, then headed downstairs towards the kitchen.

I spotted Jamie lounging on the couch staring at the ceiling lazily, and Denise with her elbows on her knees listening carefully to the news. I glanced at the big grandfather clock that rested next to the enormous antique bookshelf by the plasma T.V. It was only 8:15. My nightmares are usually so horrific that they keep me up all night and I sleep all day.

As I debated with myself on whether or not last night was a dream or if it was real, I pulled out ingredients to make omelets from the fridge. As I juggled carrying a box of eggs, onions, mushrooms, orange juice, and cubed ham in one hand, I fumbled through the cabinets to get a pan and a spatula. Mixing the ingredients didn't take long at all, I poured the contents into the pan and leaned on the fridge, spatula in hand.

Last night was so real. But it couldn't be, I mean normal girls don't just have sexy guys parade into their bathrooms while they're showering right? Though I'm far from a normal girl I think it applies to me just the same.

What I couldn't get my mind off at all was the way he said my name. It felt.. right? Is that the word? Well it felt right to hear him say my name. As if my ears were used to it and depended on it. His voice and his eyes triggered something in my memories but I couldn't place my finger on it.

The smell of crispy omelet brought me back to reality. "Ah shit." I tried to save it and succeeded. I set the table and told the others to eat all they wanted. The looks on their face when I told them I was skipping breakfast was kind of funny, but I needed to think about things.

I walked up the stairs ever so slowly, my mind going around and around one subject: Phoenix.

I was determined to find out more about him, though something in the back of my mind told me I really didn't want to know. But screw it.

After all, I had the right to know about someone who appareantly seems like my stalker, right?