Run

5

We were driving up to a dull-colored building.

The second the car stopped in front of, I throw open the car door and ran into the lobby of the apartment building. The headache had gotten exponentially worse, which got me frantically pressing the elevator button.

"Frick frick frick frick." I hissed.

The door opens.

"Morning, lil' lady."

Frank, my 60 year old next door neighbour, nods warmly as he steps out. I was so concentrated on my pain I jump at his greeting.

"Heya, Frank." I winced as I got the words out.

He raises his eyebrows in knowing and ushers me into the lift. He presses the our floor number. He steps backwards out the lift, murmurring softly before the lift door shuts slowly. "Feel better soon, now."

I wanted to thank him but I couldn't even move my mouth anymore. That man has put up with so much over his life; including those years he had spent to tolerate me even as a horrible neighbour. His recently deceased late-wife, who suffered from breast cancer, used to make me cookies all the time. My mom helped hold a small funeral for him. It was meant to be for 6, but only the 3 of us were there. Guess his children had time to travel the world, but had no time to visit their dying mother.

Or even if they had the time, they believed their parents weren't worth it.

I winced again. The lift door opens. I rushed down the hallway to my door, my legs all wobbly. I felt like I was about to fall at any time. I fished for my keys but realised I had left it in my bag in Alice's car. I dry heaved out of a sudden, acid tasted on my tongue. Shit-take mushrooms. I got on my knees and lifted the side of the rug when a spare key was hidden. Thank goodness for mom's laziness.

I quickly unlock the door and drag myself to the kitchen, when I heard heated murmurs. Strange, mom is supposed to be at work now.

"You did make sure she ate one ealier right." A voice, sounding like an old lady says, a little panicked. I don't think i've heard her before.

"Yes, I told her to take one right then and there like you said." The voice of my mom is confused. They must be talking about me taking my medication. I breathed in heavily. I probably should have taken it. The saying was true, I guess. Mom is always right.

"She needs an increased dosage." The old voice says firmly.

I tried to move a little closer to hear better but was met with silence.

"Andrea?" The old voice calls out after a while.

I almost jumped again. I didn't realise I was eavesdropping.

"Mom." I groan out for help.

Two faces appear before me. Mom, and...

"You didn't your medicine." The young man notices, his voice suddenly sounding a middle-aged adult. I blinked again. Before me was an old woman with her head tilted to the side. A low growl like earlier, except more feral, escapes from my lips. I covered my mouth with my hands in shock of her and myself.

"She needs two pills." The man/old lady's eyebrows raised as she studied me. She looks at mom. "Now."

Mom looks at me once over and rushed to the drawer where we keep the pills.

A hand presses against my feverishly hot forehead. A snarl causes the old lady to tut at me. She thinks out loud. "This is not good. Her wolf is too strong. It was meant to last her till 18."

"What do you mean 'wolf'," I ground out.

She snaps out of her own thoughts. She blinks at me, taking my hand and pulling me towards the sofa. A voice goes through my head. It sounded very much like the man I got a glimpse of earlier.

In due time, young one. It will all make sense.