The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

CHAPTER FOUR

   My first night here wasn't so bad, despite the part where I couldn't get much sleep. I might doze off for 30 minutes but it's never for long. When I got here yesterday my father had messaged me. Still not giving me anything answers.
 
   I'm worried, and upset. I need to know what's going on. I have to help anyway I can. Staying cooped up in this house won't do anyone any good and it won't prove my dads innocence. Sitting upright in bed I look over at my nightstand at the clock. It's 3:00a.m. I've been up since 7:00a.m. Yesterday, too worried to sleep.

  I sigh, there's too many thoughts swarming in my mind to ever get any sleep.
 
   Looking around my room, I try and focus on something remotely happy. My eyes land on a picture of my mother in her majorette uniform before a football game. I still can't get over the fact that my mom lived here. She was in this room. She grow up here, cried here and was happy here.

   Looking at everything that was her makes me feel warm inside and somehow closer to her. But it also makes me sad. This room looks like how I imagined it would. Everything in here screams my mom.

   It just makes me miss her more.

  I am too awake, too worried and sad to try and sleep now. So I get up from bed and turn on the bedside lamp. As light fills the room. I head to the closet and pull out a robe, and slip on some fuzzy socks. I can definitely tell it's getting colder my feet feel like ice cubes on the wooden floor.

   Looking into the mirror I am satisfied with my comfy look for now. Even though I am comfy, I look kinda dead.

   The dark circles under my eyes growing bigger everyday and I swear I'm getting whiter, thinner. I need something to do with my time here. It's unhealthy to worry so much and sleep so little.

   If I want to help my dad, I have to start by helping myself. I won't be of any use if I'm ill.

   I shrug and make a mental note that later today I'll go look for a job, and head out the door and down stairs for some coffee.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

   It's been a while now still tired but still awake. It is now 7:30 a.m. The warm sun is coming through the living room window and everything seems so peaceful here.

  I better knock on wood.

   Of course as soon as I think it's, so peaceful, no noise to bother me, no one coming by to pick up rent. A knock at my front door makes me sigh.

  Nice job Aria you just had to think it.

  Getting up from the arm chair. I tie my robe a little tighter and open the front door. Of course, Clark is standing there with a huge grin on his face.

  "Good morning." He says.

  "Hey Clark." I answer with obvious dread in my voice.

"Oh look here, you know my name. Been doing research on me?" He laughs.

"Ha ha ha so funny. Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked hoping to get rid of him.

"Nope princess my dad sent me. Told me to give you a tour of our town." He answer.

   Shit. I need to come up with a lie. I'm not ready to go out yet and not with him.

   "You know what, I'm not feeling too well I think I'll stay in today. Maybe some other time." I said coughing a little. I don't really think he's buying it.

   He gives me a little smirk and looks me over.

   "Oh I think you're right. You look awful. You need to stay here and rest. I'll stay with you make sure you're alright. How about I go make you some soup." He said with fake concern and a little laugh.