Masked (#Wattys 2016)

Chapter 11

Nina walked towards her home, her head hung low. The cold air wasn't doing her much good either.  She kept thinking about Demi.

What's wrong with her? She's taking this entire thing way too seriously. 

Nina couldn't sense the fact that someone was following her in close vicinity.

She kept walking,taking slow steps. She was about to cross the road to the other side when she heard repeated honks from behind her.

"What the fuck is wrong with this person?" She murmured turning back to see who it was.

Staring back at her was a familiar face, a face from her past, a face she would rather forget. A tall, handsome hunk walked out the black car. It didn't take her long to recognize him.

He still gives me those feelings, but it still hurts to feel.

"What the hell are you doing here, Archie?"  

Archie was the familiar face from Nina's past, someone who broke her. They were together, that is until Archie started coming a little too close to her mother. Nina couldn't bear this fact, Archie tried assuring Nina that she was only being paranoid, but Nina knew better. It's been a year since she last saw him around, it was the last time she saw those hazel eyes. 

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. You look good." 

"What are you doing here?"

"Whoa! babe, I'm only here for work."

"Why are you here?"

"I heard your dad went missing, it pained me to know my partner is missing."

Nina's ground beneath her shifted when Archie told her that he and her dad were partners in the same company. Her past has returned back to haunt her, this time ever more fierce and dangerous. 

"You're not here for work."

"No babe, i have unfinished business here."

Nina felt a cold shiver down her spine. She felt scared. She felt the blood rush up to her face, she wanted to punch him in his face real bad. Her fist curled up. 

"You son of a bitch." Nina put her fist in the air to hit Archie.

"Aren't you a little firework?" Archie held her fist mid way, locking her close to his body.

"Let go of me." Nina said authoritatively, trying to free away from his grip. 

Archie takes a deep breadth in, "Your hair smells amazing."

Nina moves side ways in an attempt to free herself, but it only made Archie's grip on her stronger. It was after repeated tries that Archie finally let go of Nina, pushing her away.

"You were anyway too immature for my liking, but Rose.."

"Don't you dare bring her name on your mouth!"  Nina said teary eyed.

Archie sighed, "Rose needs me, she's in such a mess right now with James gone."

Nina looked at Archie wide eyed, fear clearly written on her face. She didn't know what to do. She was confused, she was stuck. 

"Anyways, i have better things to do, so if you'll excuse me" 

Archie started walking back towards his car. Nina stood there like a statue, she had no movement in her. He halted his car next to her, rolled down the window,

"Check the doors and windows before you sleep, love" 

He winked and zoomed past Nina. 

Nina sat on the pavement with a thud, tears flowing uncontrollably through her eyes. Her hands cold and shaking. She tried to compose herself, but the tears wouldn't stop. The entire walk back home, she had an eye behind her, every car that zoomed past her reminded of the threat Archie gave her, she felt scared. Her phone kept beeping, but she didn't care about it. 

Time passed by quick and the lights on the pavement started flickering. She reached the corner of the pavement, when she heard her name being called. She turned back and it was Tristian running towards her. 

No, no, no not you, not now.

Nina adjusted her hair and wiped away her tears, she didn't want him to know. She didn't want him to console her. She didn't want him, not at this moment. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked rubbing his palms together.

"I'm going home" 

Tristian took a good look at Nina, he could sense something wrong in the way Nina hung her head low as she spoke.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes." 

Nina looked up to meet Tristian in the eyes, she felt a tear drop at the corner of her eye. 

"I have to go."

Nina started walking away from Tristian, he was perplexed by her behavior. 

"Nina! Nina!" he screamed from behind her, but she didn't turn, she kept walking.

"I'm sorry, Tristian" she said to herself as she walked away. 

She had a tear in her eye, there is something off about her. There's something she's hiding from me.