The Last Victim #JustWriteIt

CHAPTER TWENTY

He tossed and turned around in his bed. It was around two in the morning and God bless the exasperating storm outside his window, Jay could not get to sleep. He cursed as another thunder struck loudly outside his window, illuminating the scene outside. Jay sat up on his bed throwing off the quilt over him. He knew that the storm outside was not the only reason why he could not sleep. There was something else bothering him too. An echo, resounding in his mind. The most bizarre ideas founding on his head, which threatened his intellect. Nothing made sense. His judgment was starting to tire out due to the constant reflection over something which was so hard to believe, sounded peculiar even to him.

He laid down back on his back hands under his head, trying to clear his clogged mind. Dawn kept filtering through his thoughts, tampering with all other memories. But he tried to have her removed since it was really bothering her at the moment. There was emptiness, the conclusion he had hit upon a few days back seemed just as irrational and unfound as the fear of the native people here. No way. This could not be reason. He sat up back on his bed and crossed his legs. It was the third night in a row that he was in a sleep deprived state. He just couldn't get to sleep whatever he did. It was really stupid. Never had he, in his twenty one years of life ever experienced this shit. What the...?

He wished he could get to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a big night for him. Actually, he had to go to a masquerade ball. With Dawn. Made things easier for him. He had planned big for the night that followed and this time, he was going to make sure that Dawn followed him. He had discussed it with his parents and they were okay with it. They were extremely happy with his choice and had congratulated him endlessly. Even as he thought about it, for the first time that night, a smile touched his lips. Dawn. He had thought long and hard about his decision. Now he had it made. Dawn was the one he wanted for his eternal life partner. His smile deepened as he thought of her blond locks and large blue enchanting eyes. His heart did a weird somersault in his chest. He loved Dawn so dearly. He was going to propose her the next day. And obviously, going to her in a half drunken state was not exactly an option.

He could feel a bad headache sprouting and caressed his temples, while moving back and leaning against the bed crown of his huge bed. He hoped his parents and Aunt Millicent were alright. They had to leave early last morning due to an emergency. His father's only sister, Millicent had been involved in an accident and was in a really bad condition. His mother was a bundle of nerves as soon as she had heard the news; she and Millicent had been great friends half her life. In fact, she had met his father too, the same way. But his father had been calm and quiet. The various failures and pain he had suffered from all his life had med him a really strong man. He had calmed Emma Aston and then collecting a few things had gotten into a car telling Jay to keep safe and handle everything here. And then they had whizzed past him, to the airport where their flight was scheduled in an hour.

Jay knew why his dad had left him there. There was a masquerade ball going to be organized in hopes of raising some funds for the in-process school for handicapped children. It was just scheduled the next day and Emma Aston and Arive Aston were the guests of honour. One thing Jay's dad detested was to disappoint people who counted on him. Therefore, since he could not avoid this emergency, he told Jay to go to the ball in his place and invite Dawn to take as his date. That would be fine then. Jay had smiled and nodded, though he had wished he could visit his aunt too, he had always been a great son and would not desert his dad when he most needed him. After hasty goodbyes and kissing his mother and telling her to be strong, Jay had returned to his room only after his dad had handed him a handsome check to donate to the fund party. He had also told Jay to take Dawn shopping of she wished to.

Jay and Dawn had therefore spent a whole day, raving around malls. Dawn could not decide what to choose as her dress for the evening and had tried on at least a dozen before deciding on a beautiful, floor kissing ball gown. It entwined itself properly around all the appropriate places and was cut just the right amount. Jay could not wait to see her in this. She would look so pretty, she might set the whole room on fire. Jay had then dropped her home, lingering long enough outside her house to kiss her goodnight and promised to meet tomorrow. He had then returned to his unusually silent and at the moment- depressing house and had retired to bed.

Jay was jerked from his dream world as another bolt of lightning flashed outside his window, enlightened the panorama outside his window. He froze. What was that outside his window? Though it was dark, he could clearly see something outside. Long, ghostly pale hair... And a pair of the greyest eyes he had ever seen. The eyes stared at him.

Jay shuddered as a sharp gust of cold November air stole its way through his window ruffling his hair. He felt his body going cold, though he knew this had nothing to do with the cool air entering his room. The eyes had vanished replaced by what as far as Jay could see was – the side of a long gown.... A hand placed on the waist as models would while on a catwalk. What on earth was this? The figure moved until he could see it no more. Jay got up from his bed and rushed to peer out of the window. Nothing. All he could see was darkness and could feel the heavy pouring rain, leaving droplets on his face. His heart was still pounding with excitement. Maybe it was just a bird or something. He tried to lie to himself to feel better. Feeling quite steadier than he had felt a few moments back, he was just on the prospect of turning back to his bed when he saw something which turned his insides to ice. He had not that before. The window.................... Had no ledge on the outside. Meaning, whatever it was..... It had to be suspended in midair?