Butterfly Years

Chapter 10

“Mom…?” I whimpered, looking around the empty living room. I walked around the house, to find it completely bare of all furniture. I felt tears drip from my face as I wandered around into rooms I never knew existed.

I entered a room and saw Sabby, Tia, the twins, and…Ryan? What was Ryan doing here? The five of them were goofing around. I tried walking over to them but immediately I hit a force field, which pushed me away from my friends.

I turned around, the tears coming faster now. I saw my parents and Archie; the three of them were laughing and talking happily. I tried going to them but was pushed back again. I sank to the floor in tears.. never had I ever felt so alone. Suddenly my family and my friends noticed me, and they walked over to me and pointed at me, whispering among themselves. I screamed for help but they just began laughing and pointing at me, shaking their heads sadly and laughing some more.

I felt my clothes drenched in tears as I wrapped my hands around myself and my body shook violently…

I shook and shook…

And kept shaking…

Someone... someone was shaking me…

My eyes flew open and I stared up at my bedroom ceiling. I was aware of someone’s hands shaking me, and I sat up immediately, looking around. A dark figure was sitting at the foot of my bed. The hands remained on my arms and I shook them off.

“Who?” I asked, my voice hoarse, “Who’s there?”

“Syaz?” a familiar voice said.

“Ryan?” I yelped, drawing my blanket up to my chin and pulling my legs to my chest, “What on earth are you doing here? How did you get into my house? I’m -”

“No, Syaz,” Ryan interrupted me, scooting closer and putting an arm lightly on my hand.

I looked at him, actually looked at him, and could make out his features. He looked incredibly worn out and tired, there were dark shadows under his eyes and his voice was hoarse, like mine. His hand was cold against mine, and my subconscious mind ordered me to hold onto his hand, and so I did.

“Ryan?”I asked, my voice a bit gentler this time, “What are you doing here…?”

I tried to ignore the tingles that were shooting through my body as a result of my hand on his, and concentrated instead on what he was saying.

“Archie let me in,” he said quietly. I looked around my dark bedroom and could see a faint moonlight through the curtains.

“What time is it?” I asked softly, noticing that he was wearing black pajamas and a light grey bed shirt, and his hair was messy.

“It’s almost one,” he said, and tugged on my hand, “Come, we need to go.”

Immediately my body went into defense mode. “What?” I panicked, “Where are we going? Why?”

He sighed, letting go of my hand and standing up, his body towering over me, “We’re going to my home. Jen can’t sleep. She’s been crying since nine, and I don’t know what to do. She fell asleep for a couple of hours, but she woke up again and has been crying ever since. She was asking for dad…” his voice broke, but he continued, “and then asked me for mom. I told her that they were both away… I tried singing to her but she wouldn’t calm down. I’m afraid she’ll begin hyperventilating or something… she won’t stop crying and I’m scared. She… she asked for you and…”

I jumped up, slipping my hand into his and squeezing it, “It’s okay. I’ll come.”

He nodded and walked over to my bedroom door, pulling it open.