DEAD INSIDE

(17)

As soon as I was safely locked in my room, I let out a relieved sigh.

Alone, at last... I thought and let myself slide down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

As I replayed everything that had happened that day, I felt really down for the first time in months.

I was tempted to get the letter out of the bedside table drawer and read what my father had to say about his two-year absence but I wasn't sure I could deal with any more crap today.

I groaned when I remembered I had homework to do.

I slowly stood up and froze when I saw the folded piece of paper on my bed.

I went to get it and blew out an angry breath when I read the threat psycho had left on my bed.

Tick tock tick tock... 13 days left... ;-)

Then I remembered the video surveillance system. Surely he'd got caught on camera this time!

I walked back to the kitchen where I had left my phone and caught a glimpse of the note my mother had left for me on the fridge.

Sweetie,

I hate to leave without having settled things with you. We definitely need to talk about all this tomorrow. I hope you'll understand why I did what I did. How about we have pizza and movie night afterwards?

By the way, I fired the cheap surveillance company who did such a good job on Saturday and they came to remove all the cameras this morning. Another company – recommended by a trustworthy friend - will set up a new reliable system tomorrow or Thursday.

Don't forget to go and collect your car at the repair shop. Officer Jenkins told me he'd pop by tomorrow afternoon at around five. Be there...

I know you must feel confused and probably very angry at me but I love you, Ali so I really hope that you'll find it in you to forgive me once all is said.

Mom xoxo

Way to be cryptic! I grunted feeling angrier now than before. And of freaking course she had to have the cameras removed just today.

But still, how could the psycho know there weren't any cameras anymore?!

Surely he'd heard about Gregory's revenge video so had gathered there had been some, no?!

I huffed as unwanted memories of what had happened on Saturday afternoon resurfaced.

How could I have let him talk me into going to his place after he'd burnt most of what we'd left of Samuel?!

And why had Scott come knocking at our door after the conversation we'd had the night before?!

Oh, and I had forgotten about his theory that the psycho threatening me now had been threatening Sam too. What the heck what that about?!

Nothing made sense, I thought as I let all the tears I'd been blinking back out. Nothing made sense and bad news kept piling up.

I felt dumb when the thought of going for a run popped into my mind as the only way out of this downward spiral my mind seemed stuck into, but chose to text the girls instead.

Knock knock... I texted Mel, Marla and Deedee.

Less than a minute later, I'd received three identical texts.

Who's there?

A sad clown that needs cheering up... I texted back and I knew this would lead to my three best friends calling each other to decide how they'd proceed to do just that.