Athanatos; The Awakening

Chapter 1: the hooded man

Chapter 1: The hooded man

Alaska

"Kelley," Dad exclaimed. "Look at me at my eyes when I'm talking you."

I bit my lip, and slowly I lifted my gaze from the floor to his green stern eyes. My Dad stood in front of me, towering me- he's like 6 feet tall. Mom stood beside him with her arms crossed.

"How many times this have you repeated this mistake?" he asked rather harshly.

"Three times," I politely said.

"Then why do you keep doing this again and again?"

I kept staring at his eyes, not saying anything, because I know my answer would not appease him. Probably it would make him angrier- and that would just worsen the situation.

"Answer," he demanded.

I was forced to reply: "because I forgot.""

"And is that a reasonable?"

"No," I mumbled.

"Kelley, I just don't know what to do with you anymore- it's your third time forgetting about those car keys. What will you do when someone stole it? Would you just let it be and let us just buy another one?"

"Sorry," I said.

"I don't want your apology," he retorted, "I want you to change your attitude."

Feeling more crushed, I pressed my teeth more into my lips.

"Her class starts about ten minutes from now- we should let her leave," Mom said, finally speaking.

"You may leave now. Go and find those keys." Irritated, Dad walked away, leaving me.

I walk towards the door, gluing my eyes on the ground- I don't want to make eye contact with Mom. I need to get out of this house, yet it's not because merely want to get away from my parents. I just need some time to think.

Opening the door, I exited the house; then, I walked on the icy sidewalk, heading to my university. Relief flushed through my veins- I just feel too suffocated there.

Frigid wind of brushed my face, making my brunette long hair swing to the left side. I stared straight forward- yet I know that I obviously had my thoughts elsewhere: of course, about what just happened a while ago.

It's my fault, I thought. Dad has every reason to get mad at me. I should have been more cautious- and if I did, this shouldn't have happened. Possibly, left my car keys in Math class- and this is the third time. Knowing that this is a stupid and repeated mistake I made, I don't blame Dad for getting mad; actually, I'm the one to blame. He has every right to get mad of me.

In anxiety, I placed my hand over my forehead. And if I lost those keys, I'm so dead. Dad will definitely kill me.

"Kelley"- the voice startled me, coming from below me. I looked down- a little blond haired girl is looking at me with concerned eyes.

"Elyssa," I said. "What are doing out here alone?"

"Mommy and Daddy is just over there"- she pointed at the nearby shop- "and why do you look so sad?" She said with her adorable voice.

I smiled; she looks so cute. Elyssa- she's my adorable seven year old neighbor. I carried her.

"Who are you calling sad?" In the happiest tone I can muster, I said. " Look- I'm so happy."

"Stop pretending."

Smart kid.

"Has your Daddy been mean to you again?"

"No," I corrected her," my Daddy isn't mean- it's just because Kelley has been a bad girl that's all."

"Did you release the bad wind on them?"

"What?"

"I did that once. Mommy was sleeping and she didn't want to wake up- So I sat on her face and farted at her."

"You really did that," I asked laughing.

"Uhuh. Mommy was like"- in a very silly voice she said, "'Oh my gosh. Did you just farted on my face? Wait- I taste something.' Then she really got angry after that."

"Remind me to not to sleep when your around."

She grimed mischievously. "It will taste like chocolate," she teased.

"No, thank you."

 Something got my attention- a man staring at me from across the road. I think he has been observing both of us. He wore a black jacket, with his hood covering his head and his eyes. I could see short facial hair covering his chin and jaws. His frame is considerably bulk. He has looks, yet that doesn't change a fact that he's a stranger.

 I stared back at him, not wavering- I am not going to show fear. Probably noticing me looking at him, he turned away, walking to the other direction.  A strange man, I thought.

 "Do you know that man Elyssa?"

 "No, but I heard Mum and Dad talk about him once- they said that the man keeps to himself."

 "Hmmm." We do live in a small village, so it's normal here for everybody to know each other. Therefore, if you're new here, everyone notices it.

 "Is he new here?"

 "Nope. He does not go out in public that much- that's why he does not look familiar to you."

 "Right. Now, go back to the shop. I need to go now- I have to go to school." After making sure that Elyssa went back to the shop, I ran to the direction going to my school: Alaska University.