Whisper

Twenty-Three

I run as fast as I could back home. It's already past sunset and I still haven't gotten back home. I'm still in my school uniform and running in these leather black shoes were starting to make my feet sore. I can feel blisters starting to form on my feet.

By the time I reach home, I feel like a mess. My hair is in tangles from running and getting hit on the head a couple of time by a few branches, dirt stains on my legs and most likely my clothes too and of course a leaf sitting perfectly on my shoulder. I shrug the leaf off and stare at the door in front of me. I could hear dad's voice.

He's even more worried now and I can hear Lily trying to reassure him that I'd be home any minute. When dad's worried he usually sounds angry. People always confuse his worry with anger. He has the tendency to yell at the people who made him worry. I know from the tone of his voice, that he is very angry and that means he probably thinks I'm dead. Looking like a mess right now is not going to help.

"Does this mean we're not going?" I can hear Brian sounding hopeful.

I didn't want to walk inside. I'm going to get yelled at. I have no idea what excuse to even say. I don't think telling him that I went into a woods with a boy who ditched school to summon a creature that may wanted to kill us would be a good idea. Or telling him I was asleep in the woods with a boy watching over me was a good idea either. What could I possibly tell him? There is nothing that comes to my mind.

I could say I was hanging out with Dani and I fell which explains why I'm a little dirty. But why I was late? That is something I have no excuse to give. The only thing I could say is lost track of time.

I take a long deep breath and twist the door knob. I walk in and I hear dad storming to the front door. In seconds, he stands in front of me. His nose flares with anger and his eyes are wide. "Where were you?" he roars.

I look down at my feet. "I'm sorry," I apologise. I hear another sound of steps and I look up to see Lily and Dani standing by the archway. There goes my alibi. "I was..." I pause. I'm stuck. I didn't know what to say, I had no idea what I could even make up.

"I'll ask you again and you better tell me the truth, Senera. Where were you?" he repeats.

If only I had the powers to make excuses. Having Isaac's powers right now would be very helpful. I could just wipe their memory right now and tell them that I was with them this whole time and wasn't late. But I'm not Isaac and my ability is to hear dead people.

"I was at the library," I lied.

"Library?" dad frowns.

Crap, why did I say library? How was I able to get from school to the library when I wouldn't be able to say Dani took me since she's clearly here? I look at Dani and she mouths an apology. I don't blame her.

"Yeah, the library," I cough.

Dad didn't believe me. "What is going on with you Senera? These days you have been changing so much," dad says, his voice softening.

Well, I died for starters. "Dad, I'm sorry. I know it was wrong of me to not come on time and not call you. I'm sorry for making you all worried. It won't happen again."

"No, Senera. I received a call from your school today telling me that you have ditched school last week," he says. "You never ditch school, so why the sudden change now?"

Oh no. I knew it was a bad idea to ditch school. I just had two periods left, I didn't have to leave school immediately. I could've waited before we went to see the others.

"Please Senera, tell me. Why have you changed ever since we got to Havenwood? Don't you like it here? If you don't, you could've told me. If you really wanted to, we could've always just moved," he says.