Secrets

Chapter Twenty

"Anna?"

"Anna? Okay, this is bad,"

"What did you do to her?"

"I- I don't know what I did! I swear!"

"Anna?"

"Think again! Think again!" I shook my head and I was on the floor. I had a big headache and everything was blurry. I saw people looking straight at me. There's Jayson. And Suzan. And Suzy. And Mom. "What happened?" I said under my breath.

"When he said that to you, you didn't really- Well, you looked- How do I describe it?" Mom said.

"You looked like you didn't have a brain." Jayson finished. "No eye contact, no response. You kinda got lopsided then fell to the floor."

"That's creepy." I told him, standing back up. "Yeah, it was. Then when you fell you still had your eyes open. And you didn't even put your arms out to help you when you fell. You just... Fell." Suzy said. They all helped me stand straight, because my head was aching and I was losing balance. We all sat on the couch and Mom quickly got an ice pack. I thought she was going to put it on my forehead, but she didn't. She put the ice cold pack on my chin.

"Why on my chin?" I say. "Because it's bruised. You fell hard sweetie." Mom told me. I touched my chin and my hand flinched back. Ouch. I quickly put the ice pack back on. Now that I felt the pain, the bruise stings with the ice pack on it.

"Mom, can I just rest for a second? Light headed, very light headed. So much stuff happening." I say, fanning myself with my hand.

"Sure. Jayson, Suzy, Suzan? You guys can stay here for the night." Mom directs them to where they can sleep while I walk upstairs. I lay in my bed and think about how Mr. Joelton said he was always watching Jayson...

I get up and quickly close my curtains. I quickly peek out and see...

Absolutely nothing.

My stomach turns, and I go back to my bed. I turn my head at the window one last time, then look towards the ceiling. I let out a quiet sigh and shut my eyes. All I see is darkness.

"Anna, psst. Anna." I hear slightly. I open my eyes, sit up on my bed, and look around. Nobody here. I jump from my bed and sneak to my closet. I peak through the door and flick on the light. Nobody here either. I shut the closet door and dash to my bed, jumping to it, avoiding contact with anything under my bed. I lift my feet up and wrap my arms around them. I take another sigh, and lay back onto my bed, letting go of my legs.

"Anna." I here when I close my eyes. It sounds like... I don't know, someone familiar. A boy for sure. Not Jayson, maybe Turner? Parker? It can't be Joelton. I open my eyes and glance at everything. I quickly jump off my bed again and crack open my door. I let out a soft "Hello?" and take a look down the stairs. It doesn't seem like anyone's awake. All lights off, no sound, doors closed. All seems right.

I shut the door slowly and run back to my bed. Before I jump back on it, I quickly take a look under the bed. I can't see, it's too dark. I grab my phone and use the screen's light to help me see. Nothing under here. Who's saying my name? I shut my eyes once more, and-

"Anna..."

I ignore it and shut my eyes harder. I try to focus on me getting rest, rather than the mystery voice. The word gets louder and louder and harder to sleep for me. "Anna. Anna. Anna! Anna! ANNA!" I keep hearing. It must be in my head, because nobody's waking up or asking if I'm okay.

I grab my head, twist and turn on the bed, and let out a yelp. "STOP!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I open my eyes and everything goes quiet. My breath start speeding up, and I try to catch my breath. I keep my eyes open and look toward the ground. My hands slowly let go of my head.

"Anna? Are you okay?" I hear Mom yell. Footsteps clang on the stairs and get closer to my room. Mom opens the door and runs to me. I start crying, but I stop myself immediately.

"What happened? Why did you scream?" Mom told me.

"I, I'm fine, you must have heard something else. Like, uh. The heater kicked in and made a weird AHHH sound. Just go back to bed, I'm fine. And we need a new heater-" I skipped through.

"Stop lying. I'm your mother. I can tell when you're lying, and I can tell when my daughter screams." Mom snaps.

"Okay, I'm sorry. But... But I wasn't lying. Not go to sleep. Okay?"

"No. Tell me the truth! Or you... You will stay home with no food. All day!"

"Fine. Whatever."

"Okay! I didn't mean it, sweetie! Just... TELL ME!"

"Okay! Okay! I did scream! Just leave me alone!" I snapped.

Mom took a sigh as her eyes trailed away. "Just tell me what happened." Mom said softly.

"I..." I took a sigh as well. "Just heard voices..."

"That made you scream?"

"Well, I couldn't make out who it was. Just a person saying my name. Over and over again, louder and louder and-" I started raising my voice.

"It's okay, it's over now, you'll be okay baby." Mom gave me a hug.

"No it won't. It happens whenever I close my eyes. Every time."

"Just sleep, sweetie. I can sit here by your bed until I hear snores." I chuckled and nodded. I don't want her to stay here the whole night! I lay back down and control my breath again. I shut my eyes, and faintly here, "Anna..." I shut my eyes harder and focus on sleeping. I hear, "Anna... Anna... You'll never..." I couldn't hear his last words. Then, I let out a few fake snores to signal Mom out of the room.

"I know you're awake. You never snore, I said that to see if you'd fake it. I guess you want me to leave... I- I get it. You need alone time. But I'm not leaving till you are asleep." Mom whispered, starting to raise her tone. I just made a snore, then some more, and then slowed it down to temporary breathing. I don't think she'd believe I'm asleep, but it's worth a shot. I give a yawn and slide to my side. I pull the blanket up and sigh. Mom frowns and kisses me on the cheek. I hear footsteps trailing out of my room and assume Mom is gone.