Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 22

Mark

Since we're going to that direction anyway, I drive straight to my place. It's a house my parents bought for me. I come here every time I want to rid myself of the stress and pressure from my parents and Casey. 

"C'mon." I hold out my hand to Annie. She takes it and steps out. But, not even a second, she goes back in the car. "Nobody else is here." I assure her. Maybe she's thinking my parents would be here. "It's my place. We have to go inside." I look over my shoulder to make sure none of the things I've witnessed earlier are happening again nearby. 

"I can't." She says, looking confused. 

"Why not?" I ask, getting more and more worried as the clock ticks. "Those ... monsters ..." I can't get myself to tell the woman's name. "Whatever they are ... are gonna catch up on us anytime soon. Your friends might not be able to hold them back. We have to get in." Why I even made it plural ... I don't know. I just feel like Lheann wasn't alone back there. 

"I literally can't, Mark." She pulls her hand away. The house is shielded. 

Shielded? What does that even mean? I look at the house and back at her. But, since I didn't actually see her say that, I go back to the driver's seat and drive to the nearest place I can think of. Fortunately, the care taker hasn't left for the day yet. 

As Annie fixes something for us in the kitchen, I take out my phone and send messages to my parents telling them not to worry and that I would explain everything when I get back. I send Jackson a message, too, telling him I'm with Annie and giving him our location since he's the only common friend Annie and I have. I start to wonder why she doesn't have a phone ... how she doesn't even know how to use one. I want to laugh at the thought but decide not to. 

I message Casey, too. I'm sure she'd be storming in my parents' house to tell my mom I ditched her. It's actually a surprise she hasn't called yet. 

"I just told her I'd be away for a while." I say out loud when I see Annie coming in the living room and she eyes the phone with what looks like curiosity or ... something else. 

You won't hurt me, would you?

I look up from the food on the table and at Annie who's sitting across from me. But, she's bent down on her own plate, poking at her vegetables with her fork. Did she just say that or is it just my brain again?

I lean closer, trying not to be so obvious, so I could see if she's moving her lips or not. 

What would you do to me? You're not gonna .... have sex with me again, are you?

I can't help but chuckle at that. It's just the voice and my dirty imagination. Or is it? What I saw earlier .... Lheann .... the flying rocks ... the balls of fire ... the lightning .... - What are all those?

I go back to my food and more of her voices just pop out. One name comes out very often. Jinyoung. Who is he? Could it be the boy earlier? Who is he to her? 

My chest starts to clench as an unknown feeling emerges. I feel like I'm on fire. I cool myself down with the ice cold water beside me. 

Do you even know what you are, Mark? You can't deny it now. You're one of us. You're a warlock.

That word again. Warlock. What does that even mean? I know it's a male witch, but, she doesn't mean THAT, does she? I AM NOT THAT. They don't even exist. 

But, what did I see earlier then? Annie is a witch? Lheann, too? And those two others back there? What does that make Jackson? 

FUCK! This is just a rather loooonnngggg shitty nightmare.