The Impostors

Chapter 10: Help

"Jayden!" I laughed into the phone, "You're going to school, no excuses."

He grunted, he already told me he had no way of getting there. "Ava, I told-"

"We'll pick you up." My calm voice chimed faintly.

"No!" I flinched at the harshness of his tone. "Sorry it's just-"

I interrupted him again, "Well," I paused, "Were already here."

He sighed reluctantly and hung up the phone. Goodbye to you to, I thought. My hand pulled the car door open and I stepped out into the fresh air. Immediately, my eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment at his house. The outside was empty- no chairs, no tables, nothing. No signs that anyone had been here in months. Slowly, I made my way to his front porch hoping to get a better look at the inside.

"Ava." My heart jumped and my body turned to face the masculine voice.

"Geez, don't do that! You scared me." I folded my arms across my chest and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Didn't know it was a crime to sneak up on someone." He laughed and walked by my side to my mom's car.

I caught one last glimpse of his house as we pulled away, something was strange about it. He said he has lived here for his whole life, but by the looks of his house, that's impossible.

Jayden cleared his throat, attracting my attention. My eyes met his and I smiled.

The sound of wailing sounds snapped me back to reality. You have to hurry, Ava, they're getting closer. A voice inside my head warned. The police would soon be sweeping the streets searching for their suspect- it's only a matter of time before they know it's me.

My shaky hands trembled with fear. My heart rate accelerated as I reflected on the crime I had just committed. I took my hood off and swept my hair into a ponytail. The sirens of a police car turned the corner a street away from me. Run, Ava! A frightened voice commanded. Immediately, my aching feet pounded against the cement below me. I darted around an old man picking up his newspaper and dashed through his backyard to the next street.

My head whipped around to find the police car skidding around the corner of the same street I was on, the headlights targeted my body casting a shadow ahead of me as I continued running. Don't stop now, Ava. My breaths became painful and shallow, it felt like my lungs were rattling inside of my ribcage. I have to stop and catch my breath.

I took one last deep breath and ran as fast as I possibly could- my life depended on it. Ahead, less than 20 feet in the distance stood a small white wooden shed. Moments later, my feet landed on it's only step. I pried the creaky door open and stepped inside. It shut with a thud behind me making my heart jump. What have I gotten myself into? My back slid against the wooden wall until I sat lurched over on the floor. Will I be deemed a criminal? Have pending murder charges? I pressed my forehead in my knees, clenching my eyes and fists shut and waited.

My muscles stiffened, but my feet still carried me. The police are in my house, taking pictures of bodies I left dead. A chill shivered its way throughout my body making the hairs on my neck rise.

I pushed my cynical thoughts away as his house came into clear view. It was a one story white and brick house that sat in the middle of a rectangular lawn which had been recently mowed. Bushes sprouted evenly apart aligning the front yard, bearing against the house. A large Oak tree rested in the front, it was semi-wilted over from the harsh conditions winter had brought.

My body moved closer to the last window on the right that reflected light from a TV. The weatherman was displayed across the screen repeating the weekly forecast from yesterday. There was a chance of snow almost every day for the upcoming week and on the others it would be cloudy and cold- perfect.

My eyes shifted around the confines of the room hoping it was Jayden's. Posters of video games and random sports teams were pinned to areas on the newly painted white walls, trophies aligned a shelf on a wooden bookcase that stood in the back corner, jeans, boxers, and hoodies were in several piles sprawled across the floor- it was enough to confirm my question.

I brought my fist up, pecking it against the thin layer of glass in the window loud enough for it to wake him up. A dark figure turned over in the bed, but remained limp. Come on Jayden, wake up. My fist hit against the glass again, this time twice as hard as the first time. Instantly, the figure shot up, turning his head left and right. I smirked at his ignorance as he quickly approached me.

"Ava? It's 6 in the morning, what the heck are you doing here?" Jayden scowled, studying me quizically.

My gaze shifted behind me, the sound of a siren was approaching from the distance. My eyes grew wide as panic set in.

He briskly pulled me inside, breaking his usual calm facade. Jayden's eyes were drooping from getting no sleep. He rubbed them anxiously, "Ava, what's going on?"

"I need your help." I quipped impatiently.

We sat in silence and my hands rested anxiously in my lap. Jayden slid his hand on top of mine and gripped it tightly.

"Ava," A serious look slid over his face as he contemplated what to say next, "I will be with you every step of the way."

My jaw fell slightly open. Immediately, my eyes shot up to his. He smiled a sweet smile and let go of his grip on my hand.

"I need to pack a few things," He got up and retrieved a duffel bag from his closet, "And then we'll leave."