Back To Black

Real Eyes Realize Real Lies

I drove straight home. There was no looking back, no detours, no hesistaion. The fear of being caught pulled at my heart strings, causing the adrenaline to pump through my body like some kind of machine. I had been so blind.

The night I ran into Kendra at the club, the thing that stood out most about her to me was the crazed look in her eye, the rawness of the fear that entagled her now became my own. Was I becoming her? Was Danny doing to me what he had done to her?

It seemed that no matter where I was, where I went, I was always being. At the mall, there was Danny, at the club there was Kendra, at the fun house there was Darla. They always popped up like flies that surround a dead corsp. They were watching me. Somehow, someway they had eyes on me at all times and no matter where I was, I would always be there prey.

How did Jace find me? The thought never occurred to me until after I had gotten into my car and he pulled off. I was so caught up in the fact that I was being saved, it never wrapped around my mind that I was in Danny's abandoned house and Jace was the one who saved me.

When I arrived home, I practically ran out of my car, locking it and rushed inside the comfort of my own home. Something strange is going on and apparently everyone I know is in on it. What have I gotten myself into?

At the sound of my cell ringing, my feet froze to the floor. I hadn't spoken to anyone lately except for Kendra and all that came from that was her meeting me at an abandoned house and locking me in an attic.

What if it was Danny, did he find out that I was in his home, invaded his privacy? I took the phone out of my bag and stared down at the bright screen: Mom.

It completely eluded my mind that my parents had left Ava in my care. I hadn't heard from her in weeks, let alone seen her. Although, it was pretty nice to not have to be around her, fearing for my life, I had to admit I feared what my mother would say when she found out that I kicked my sister to the curb.

"Hello?" My voice was quite shakey as I spoke into the reciever.

"Jessa, honey. I haven't heard from you in quite some time, is everything okay?" I pushed back my hair, tucking it behind my ear, leaning into the phone.

"Mom.....hey.....everything's fine. I've just....been so busy. How are you and dad? How's the trip going?"

"It's going pretty good. I was just worried about my girls, wanted to make sure you all were alright." I remember how my mom acted when Jessie disappeared: staying up late, loud sobs, the nonstop tears, calling his name repeatedly in the middle of the night, hoping he'd answer. Not knowing where he was or what happened to him tormented her. Losing Ava would kill her.

"Listen, mom......"

"Ava's not there." My eyes widened in shock.

"W-what?"

"Ava's not there. I know Ava's not there with you. If she was, you would've called me a long time ago to talk about her."

"I'm so sorry mom. I just couldn't take being with her. I tried..... I really did. I just...."

"I know, Jessa." She sighed heavily. "I know. It was crazy for me to think that I could leave her with you. There was just part of me that hoped that maybe things would be different. Ava's a different person now."

I shook my head. "She might be a different person in front of you and dad, but that still doesn't replace who she truly is. The way she acts in front of me. It doesn't replace the memories that I have of her."

"I get it, Jess."

"I hate to tell you, but I haven't spoken to her either...."

"I've gathered that. Don't worry, I talked to her. I'm glad Kennedy was willing to take her in for a while. You know, Kennedy told me aboutbher concern for you. She said you haven't been yourself lately, are you sure everything's alright? How's work going down at the café?"