Walking Through the Time Capsule

Chapter 39

Walking Through the Time Capsule

Chapter 39

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Niall...

We ended up staying in the basement for an hour. We discussed basic plans and set up certain precautions to use. We created a system to make sure someone was always with her. Very basic plans, but still very much effective. I was mostly going to be with her, being her boyfriend and all. Being home was the easy part, but when went out, we would have to be much more alert. We agreed to try to leave the house as little as possible by planning movie days, game days, pool days, and stuff like that. That way it would seem like we were just having fun at home, when really, we were trying to keep her locked in the house. 

But obviously, going out was unavoidable. We were in Los Angeles for goodness sake! There were so many things that she wanted to do, and denying her requests to stay in would seem weird and make her question. For example, the other day we finally planned a trip to Disneyland with our year passes we got for Christmas. None of us had ever been, and Annabelle was probably the most excited of all. We planned for Thursday. If we all of a sudden told her we weren't going, there was not an excuse in the world that would justify our reasoning without seeming suspicious. 

So yes, outings were gonna be inevitable. Luckily, the way around that was to go out during the day only, and to only go to places with loads of people. I knew Nick, Connor, Logan, and her father were dumb as hell, but they were not dumb enough to do something in public. Although, I wouldn't put it past them. With that being said, we were shooting our previous 'split into pairs' system out the window, and all staying together no matter where we went. After all, they do say strength is in the numbers. If there ever was a time we split up though, I would always be with Annabelle. That was an easy decision we agreed upon. 

So yeah, that was our plan. We all felt confident about it for the most part, but that didn't mean the nagging fear was leaving any of us alone any time soon. I just prayed we figured out a way to catch them and turn them in to the police so this could all be over. It was making us all uneasy knowing they knew where we were, but we didn't know where they were. They could be lurking around anywhere, peeking in through any window. It made me feel sick. 

We all stood to go back to bed, giving each other hugs of encouragement on the way out. I was the last to leave the room, lingering behind to calm myself before going back to bed. On my way up the basement stairs, and through the kitchen, I couldn't help but glance out the windows to the street. Part of me feared I would see a sickening pair of eyes staring back at me, but there was nothing. All I hoped for was that I wouldn't lose my mind by going into complete paranoia. I couldn't keep Annabelle safe if I was on the verge of going crazy.  

As I passed by everyone's bedroom doors, I silently thanked them for being such good friends, and for fighting this fight with me. After everything I'd done in the past, I was surprised any of them even considered me a friend anymore, Annabelle especially. When I reached for my door's handle, that brought another haunting thought to my mind. The inevitable digging up of my monsters was still to come when Annabelle remembered. I could only hope she would be as forgiving as she was the first time, even though I knew it would still be a hard memory to relive, for the both of us. 

I pushed open the door just as a harsh cry emitted inside through the darkness. I quickly rushed in, closing the door behind me, and raced over to her just as the heavier sobs started seething out. I immediately scooped her up in my arms, leaned against the headboard, and started rocking her gently. Her hands clutched my shirt in tight fists, like she was afraid to let go or be pulled away.