Red Kisses

Chapter 3

The night was dark and eerie. I gripped the coarse blanket, as I twisted into a comfortable position. Who am I kidding? Whichever way I turned on this bed, it was always uncomfortable.

The full moon shone through my window, illuminating my bedroom.

I glanced at my clock. The red block numbers read two o’clock. I groaned, and buried my head in my pillow.

The strange noises in the park had really made me nervous, so I left. It could’ve been anyone like a killer or a murderer, which are the same person right?

Shutting that thought out, I resumed my mission to get to sleep. Before I knew it, the silence was replaced with my snoring.

The morning had come faster than I had anticipated. I managed to make myself roll off my bed. My drowsy eyes made it hard for me to see where I was going, so I walked into the wall.

The bush walk was tomorrow, so I needed to get a signature from someone. I could get it from Miss Jones, my next door neighbour. But she had signed my notes in the past, and I think she’s getting a little annoyed.

I finally decided I had to do it this time. After getting changed, I grabbed my note from my school diary and unfolded it. Luckily, I remembered how my mum did her signature. I retrieved a pen and wrote her name; Andrea in cursive letters.

After a few minutes, I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. Hopefully he wasn’t waiting down there with a gun in his hand.

I was thankfully wrong when I heard Matthews snoring coming from the couch. I quickly got some food from the fridge and bolted straight out the door.

I wanted to go to the park or someplace to think before school started, just to clear my head. I sat on the park bench and laid my bag next to me, as I listened to the silence of the atmosphere.

Despite last night, I actually liked it here. It was quiet and I felt like I was blocked off from the rest of the world. I breathed in the clear but polluted air, and rested my head on the park bench.

I still had about fifteen minutes until I had go, so I just let go of myself.

When my mind was completely clear and I was relaxed, I was about to get up when the sound of crunching leaves reached my ears.

Oh damn.

My eyes shot open and I jumped up from the bench.

“Hello?” I called out. “Who’s there?”

There was no answer, but the crunching sound became louder, like it was close by.

Was it a murderer?

Or a killer?

Or a…

“Hey Ella.” I chirpy voice said from behind me. I jumped, but then turned around to stare at a very bubbly Zoe.

“Zoe!” I panted. “You scared the living daylights out of me.”

“Sorry.” She smiled meekly. “What were you doing anyway?”

“Oh you know; stuff.” I blurted. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

I grabbed my bag from the bench and started walking, with Zoe trailing behind. “Are you coming to the bush walk or not?” I asked.

“No, I’m not. I have to study for an exam we have on Monday.” Zoe panted, as we walked slowly through the chilly street. I honestly knew Zoe would pick studying over connecting with nature. This was typical of her.

We arrived at school a few minutes after the bell, which meant only thirty seconds to get to class. I frantically ran into my classroom, and found a seat at the back, just when the teacher walked in.