Watched

Taken Future

Chapter 3: Pandora

I remember my dream, so warm and light, full of energy. Then I woke up, to the world where people get raped and murdered, or even just kidnapped. That was my worst fear, murder, you were dead, no more pain, rape, you survive, but being kidnapped was the worst of all because you survive in your own personal hell. My hell is being trapped someplace; the police had practically placed me on house arrest, as well as Jade, because we needed to be “safe”. As if, they were most likely trying to keep the community from wide spread panic, which would be even worse than having us be taken away. I thought of poor Socks, sleeping at the end of my temporary room’s bed, purring. I remember getting him from a shelter when he was a year old, still small because he was the runt. He looked so adorable with his orange stripes and white under coat, even purring and curling his feet to express his love for the warmth of my feet.

I pet him lightly, still not disturbing him, and move my tired feet. All day, Jade insisted that if we were to stay inside, we might as well be productive. We did many chores like vacuuming, scrubbing out stains, cleaning counters, and organizing her disorderly house, which happens to be my safe house for the moment. After all the day’s work, the sun finally set, leaving me and Jade to rest and watch movies. Many of which were finally action movies, not so many romantic-comedies. I wish Jade hadn’t gone to sleep early; she really didn’t have that much endurance for an eighteen year-old. I don’t like to be alone, even if the person that keeps you sane is right next door.

Through the door, I could hear her brother, keeping watch over us. Silently waiting until the blur, which is what I decided to call it, struck. He had his metal baseball bat, and swung it around as if practicing for the time when he could protect us. Which I think was his dream. Protecting his sister, and me, while doing it with a baseball bat like in the zombie movies. I knew her brother well; we had been friends a long time, even though he always pushed my buttons. But reminiscing didn’t always seem to keep me distracted, good old conversation might, but I think her brother wanted to be alone. So I just crept, slowly, up the stairs to their office, and played little computer games until I felt tired.

Even with feeling tired, I couldn’t fall asleep, nervousness kept me from sleep. So I decide to give up the whole idea, and I pull an all-nighter, until about six o’ clock when I dose off, seeing the early morning sun.

I feel my eyes being pulled open. “Gah!” I fall off the bed, staring at Jade’s slippered feet. “Why did you wake me up?” I ask.

“It’s 12:30, which is about time you get up. You look like crap, go take a shower.” She half carries me to the shower, turning it on and stripping me down. There truly are no boundaries in friendship. I think she could tell I stayed up late. She spoke through the shower curtain.

“Let me guess, all-nighter?”

“How’d you know?”

“I just had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to sleep. You could have woken me up you know. I wouldn’t have cared…” She turns around, picking up a bottle of soap, and hands it to me.

“Thanks…but I know for a fact that you would go all Medusa on me. What with your crazy hair, and mean attitude when you’re woken up before eight o’ clock.” I can sense her grinning.

“Probably right, but what are friends for.” She smiles as she says this, you can hear that in her voice.

“Yeah, but friends should also know when to clean someone’s house up. You house always seems to be a mess…” I mumble.

“Of course, I would have it no other way.”

I turn off the shower, and she hands me a towel, sensing that I feel fully awake at this point. She turns away, and gets out a brush. At times like these, when I was too tired, she would brush my hair. Jade has always been too nice to me. After brushing my hair, I send her down to breakfast, and assure her that I will make breakfast. She then skips down the stairs singing “Like a Virgin” by Madonna. I made Poptarts, and French toast while she sang, and realize that the feeling that someone is watching me comes back. I freeze, but don’t want to aware Jade of this too early in the morning, so I continue to make breakfast.