I Survived The Witch [#1] ✓ [Follow Freelove to Read]

## Alice 3

I mis counted, there are two more parts after this!  Private chapter after.

Just a note, there will be no video clip between chapters 27 and 28  (but they will be posted 2 a day apart)- instead after 28 will be an extra chapter talking about the release of the next book and my time tables.  Editing away right now!

 

I look down at the next tape sitting on the table in front of me. That name sends shivers down my spine.  That’s a name I’ll never forget.  It may be a name I honestly never want to forget.  It’s also a name I have no interest in looking into just now.  I glance down at the bottom corner of the TV.  The small clock says it is five pm.  I’m hungry and realize I haven’t eaten since the fruit bowl I had for breakfast.

I think I’m due for another break, food being the highlight of this one.  I also know I still need to put out that blast for tonight, an easy task I’ve simply yet to do.  I depart from my study and quickly walk down the spiral staircase, not paying much attention to the details this time as my stomach rumbles, letting me know just how hungry I actually am.  I take a left after crossing into the kitchen and go over to the small table in front of the half circle of chairs sitting in front of my projector. 

There’s a handful of buttons on the table and I push the one labeled “p”.  The top of the table flips and a large touch screen appears.  The screen lights up with a diamond logo before a menu appears.  There are several options but I click on the one that looks like an envelope. A text box appears and a digital keyboard below it.  I look at the blank page for a bit before I start typing.  “From Alice,

 Party tonight all invited, free entry, booze and entertainment. Bring a friend, hook em up. Party starts at 10pm, ends when the last person crashes.  Expect to see you soon!

You know where it is!”

I then click the button for “all” and hit send.  That text should go out to around 200 to 300 people, I know most won’t show since it’s midweek and I sent it out five hours before the start time but people will come and people will bring their friends.

That finished I slide over to another menu, this one shows a list of liquors and party favors, I scroll to the bottom and find the one I always choose, this is a package of everything needed for a guest list of 200 plus, great thing is this company does same night delivery and the bar tender will serve all night.  Eighteen grand with extra charges if the distribution or head count is above a certain threshold?  That’s not my problem.  I push to order and wait for the confirmation email.  That comes a minute later.  I’m confirmed.  The truck should arrive around 9:30, with a full bar, a chef, waiters, and snacks. 

That done I look over at the empty fridge, I know it’s empty except the few beers in the door but go over and open it anyways.  I really should keep this stocked for times like this.  I huff and close the door.  I go back to that touch screen.  I could order food.  Pizza? That would just ruin the fruit bowl I had this morning, may as well at least try to stay healthy.  I mean there’s no man out there I’m trying to impress, but eating poorly just makes me sick.

I think for a moment and settle on that place that does whole food delivery.  I open the phone tab on the tablet and dial the number.  I order boiled chicken with a salad.  The man on the phone says the delivery should arrive in twenty minutes and I hang up.  I close my eyes and stretch my neck before pushing the “p” button to hide the screen.  I walk back towards my front door but take a left down the hall under the staircase.  Here are mostly guest rooms but at the far end is the room I sleep in.

I open the door and step into my bedroom.  I want to change out of my lazy clothes before this guy shows up with my food.  My bedroom is dark, it’s always dark.  I do have windows but I have heavy blinds that block out every spec of light.  I have to use the switch to brighten up my room.  I like the dark, I like not being able to see or have a sense of time in the room. This complete darkness helps me forget what happened to me.  I figure I can’t fear what I can’t see, so if that underworld ever came back to me at least I wouldn’t have to have that fear of seeing it coming.

The light goes on.  My room is bare except for the large bed directly in the center.  There is no other furniture. I don’t have a wardrobe, dressers, nightstands or anything.  The room looks entirely empty and a person coming in to it would think I don’t even have clothes.  I know, however, that the wall to my left has a hidden slide which opens to an array of clothing from the exotic and expensive to the thrift store sweats. 

I like the room like this, empty, that way nothing can be hidden and I always know exactly what’s around me—nothing.  Just how it should be and how it should always be. Even my bed is simple.  It’s made of oak and has white sheets and a white comforter which I always make sure to tuck into the sides when I awake, making it look completely flat.  I have two pillows which spread across the expanse of the top.  The bed is so simplistic and clean it reminds me that this is my sanctuary and no one or no thing shall ever violate it. This is my place and no one can take that from me, ever. 

I cruise over to my walk in closet wall and open it up.  A light comes on automatically and I walk in to rows and rows of clothing, most of it I’ve never worn.  I study the rows for a while before deciding on staying a bit modest tonight and going for the beige blouse and gray dress which ends just past my knees.  I’m not feeling the fire tonight, not after recalling all those horrible things that happened to me, those memories just bring up the grouch in me and tonight that grouch is going to show in the colors I wear.

I finish with the outfit just as the bell rings.  I walk out, closing the door gently behind me and head to the front door.  A man in his early twenties with a red shirt and spiked hair shows up with a little care package and I pick it up, saying my thanks and paying him with a considerable tip.  I bet these guys love coming up to the houses on the hill cause they know the rich bastards that live here don’t know the difference between a fifty and a twenty and could care less about ever getting change.

I move back to the kitchen and see a flashing orange light on the table.  A missed call? I set the food down next to the grill and walk over to check who called.  There’s a voicemail.  I look down at the name and snarl.  Of course it is.  In the caller ID is one name I keep forgetting to remove from the text blast, “Samantha.”  I nearly decide to just delete the message before listening to it but curiosity gets the best of me.  I click to hear the message.

“Hey uh, looks like I just missed you.  Is Steven or James going to be there?  I might actually try one of your get togethers if one of them is there.  Please call me back… please…” 

No hard feelings huh?  The way she begs for me to answer.  Hell, I’ll dance.  I push to call.  The phone hardly even rings once before that squeakily little voice comes on. “Alice! Hey! I didn’t expect you to actually call.”

“James is going to come.” I ignore her enthusiasm.

“How do you know? You sure? He seems to be hard to talk to.”

“We shared a beer; the entire thing was his idea.”

“Steven?”

“I have no idea.”  I do however know she has a little crush on him.  Maybe it’s his badass appearance, which is odd with how pink and frilly she dresses when not in the lab.  Something about those plugs and the vivid tattoos covering most his chest and back that has her all melting on the inside.  Poor thing, the guy doesn’t even see her.  Can’t blame him when she looks like a twelve year old.  I bet that childish body of her scares away most of her crushes.

“Well, I’ll come for James. See you tonight.”  She hangs up.  Great, she’s coming.  What an annoyance.  I really don’t want her here, but it should make things more interesting.  I think we both know I still haven’t forgiven her, and I honestly don’t think she’s truly forgiven me.  She just knows that Steven sometimes comes to my parties, and she knows it may be the only way she can get into a room with him without being instantly looked down upon. 

I go back up to my food and open the container.  I decide it’s best to eat at the counter, if I go to the TV to watch something while I eat I fear that may turn into a slippery slope and I won’t go back up to my study to start the video of the one I learned to fear and love at the same time.  I have to watch that video and I can’t hide behind my friends forever.