Midnight Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter 2

The walk to school was usually something I find peace in. I would walk half the way to school on my own from my house then the other half, I walk with Karissa.

Karissa is a girl I met a few days ago. She moved into one of the houses I walk past everyday and we started walking together. I was happy when she told me I would be her first friend here. She's really sweet and a lot of fun to talk to.

But today the walk didn't seem so pleasant. I felt like I was being watched or maybe even followed, but no one was around l. I can't decide if I'm just being paranoid or if my uneasy feeling is well deserved. Either way, I was going to keep walking.

As I got closer I could see her looking for me out the window of her upstairs bedroom. Just as her smiling face disappeared to come meet me downstairs, someone grabbed me with one arm around the waist and covered my mouth with their other hand.

Immediatly I start kicking and screaming to try and get away from whoever was holding me. Eventually I manage to squirm away from them but they grab my arm. They swirl me around to face them, my heart sinks as I reckognize the terrible person squeezing my arm unnecisarily tight.

"Long time no see."  Mark sneers sarcasticaly.

I'm frozen as Karissa finally arives beside me. "Hey Shay!" She says cheerfully. She looks at me then Mark. "Is everything ok here?" her voice was now full of concern and curiosity. Mark lets go of my arm and I hold myself back from reaching up and rubbing the area where he had gripped me so tightly. If I did, then he would know how much it hurt and I didn't want him to have thay satisfaction.

He turned to Karissa, "Yes, everything is lovely. I was just asking Shay if maybe I could walk to school with you two ladies?" he asks her innocently. Before I can shake my head and come up with a reason as to why that certainly would not be ok, she says yes and we head down the sidewalk.

All I can think about as we walk down the street is how badly I want to run away from the two of them. I would too if it was just Mark but there's also Karissa and I could never leave her alone with him knowing the things he might do to her.

*Flashback*

I was so happy my father had passed out earlyer than usual today. I would have just enough time to get ready, sneak out, and come back before he ever woke up.

It's cold outside but the walk isn't that long and it'll deffinatly be worth it when I get there.

I walk across the lawn to the front door and knock lightly. A moment later Mark opens the door and welcomes me inside.

"You look beautiful." he says as he pulls me by the waist toward what I assume is his bedroom. He closes the door behind us and I look around. It's his room just as I had thought, there was a small and short bookshelf in the corner and a few band posters on the walls. I'm still looking around when he comes up behind me and hugs me. It was such a sweet gesture and I'm instantly glad I came.

*End Flashback*

"Shay!!" Karissa yells. I snap out of my little memory and look a her with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Were here, Mark was saying goodbye and you didn't answer him." she informs me. I look at Mark and he looks into my eyes and I swear he knows exactly what I was just remembering.

"Oh..um sorry. Bye Mark.." I mumble to him as I look down at the ground.

"See you around Shay." he says to me with a wink and a trecherous smile.