You Are So Not a Fallen Angel

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

I sat on my bed and stared at the grey sky outside. It had started to rain a few minutes before, and I watched as the raindrops drifted past my window.

There was a gentle tap on the door and Flora pushed the door open.

“Are you alright?” she asked. “You looked a little shell-shocked.”

“I’m fine,” I said, giving her a small smile.

“Your mother called five minutes ago to say she won’t be back until late, and neither will your dad.”

“Okay, thanks.”

She hesitated for a moment. “Look, are you sure you’re alright? Do you want some tea or... Should I go and get Mum?”

“No, that’s okay. But thanks.”

She nodded and backed away, closing the door. I went back to staring out of the window.

I was only beginning to get my nerves under control again. After Aubin had disappeared down Mayen Street, I had limped the short distance back to my house, suddenly aware of the pain in my knees and hands now the adrenaline rush had subsided. Glancing down, I saw I had scraped the skin off both knees and the heel of my left hand, as well as tearing several nails. There were also a couple of long scratches on the back of my calves.

Once home, I locked myself in the bathroom and spent a good twenty minutes under a hot shower. I rinsed the grit out of my knees and hands then lathered on a large quantity of soap and scrubbed until I was bright red. I wanted to erase all traces of those monsters. I wanted to get rid of every skin cell they had touched or breathed upon. I could still feel their hands on my arms. I got out of the shower and brushed my teeth for about ten minutes, and scrubbed my fingernails until there was not a speck of dust remaining.

It wasn’t until I returned to my room and lay down on the bed that the shaking started. I shivered, inexplicably cold all of a sudden. I wrapped the duvet around myself, pulling it tight. My teeth chattered.

It was as if I was only now beginning to realise what had just happened. I didn’t doubt for a second those things, whatever they might have been, would’ve have hurt me had they had the chance. I was nothing to them, just a way to get to information about Lorris. They probably wouldn’t hesitate to use force to get that information.

Also, I was beginning to think associating with Lorris was more dangerous than I had previously thought. Twice now ‘people’ had demanded information about Lorris and what he was doing. Py hadn’t exactly threatened me, mainly because I had left before she had the chance. I hadn’t thought going out with someone of supernatural nature would be ordinary, but I hadn’t thought it would be hazardous to my health.

I lay down on my back and sighed. I was no longer trembling, but I didn’t feel at ease. The world had changed today, and not for the better. Would I ever be able to amble along the river bank again? Not for a while, I was prepared to bet on that. I was prepared to deal with that when it came up. Right now I was more interested in getting the truth out of Lorris. Aubin had said he would come and explain, and I would wait up all night of that’s what it took. I was hoping he would bring Lorris with him, and he had better tell me everything I wanted to know, or I wouldn’t be answerable to the consequences. He had dragged me into this world and this mess, and he was going to explain what was going on.

My better self was telling me Lorris hadn’t had to do that much dragging. In truth, I had followed him quite voluntarily, I had taken what he was offering. If I hadn’t been so star-struck, I would have realised there would be a price to what he was giving me. Well now I was paying it in full.