Outsiders

Chapter 12

Elisabeth's POV

I woke up to the sound of snoring, the rhythmic noise filling the room. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Nash lying next to me, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on his face. I carefully moved, trying not to wake him, and sat at the end of the bed. My head felt strange; it wasn't a headache, but more like I was zoning out, my thoughts distant and unfocused.

I stood up, my movements sluggish, and walked down the hall. As I passed Josh's room, I noticed his door was shut tight, a thin line of light seeping from underneath. Entering the living room, I saw Alex sprawled out on the couch, his arm draped over his face as he slept. A sudden knock at the door caught my attention, the sound sharp and unexpected. I walked over, peering through the peephole but saw no one. The knock came again, louder this time. I turned around, my heart racing, and saw my father knocking on the window, his face pressed against the glass.

I slammed my back against the door, panic surging through me. "No! Go away! You can't make me join you!" I yelled, my voice trembling with fear.

My shouting startled Alex awake. He screamed, falling off the couch with a thump. He scrambled to his feet, his face etched with panic. "What's wrong?!" he shouted, his eyes wide with alarm.

I couldn't tear my gaze from the window, my finger pointing shakily. "My dad is standing outside," I said, my breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps.

Alex turned to look at the window, then back at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. "There's no one there," he said, his voice gentle but firm.

I glanced at him quickly, then back at the window where my father had vanished. My head spun, and I grabbed it, trying to slow my breathing. A nervous laugh escaped my lips. "Oh well, I must have imagined him," I said, my voice unsteady.

I walked over to the couch and sat down next to Alex. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his touch comforting. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

I stared at the ground, my mind racing. "I think so... my head feels a little funny, but it's probably a side effect from being controlled by Chloe for so long," I explained, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alex glanced at the clock on the wall; it was around 10 in the morning. "Oh shit, I should probably be getting home," he said, a hint of regret in his voice.

He pushed himself off the couch and walked towards the door. "See you around, Alex," I said, trying to muster a smile.

"See you, Elisa," he replied, reaching for the handle. He paused and looked back at me. "Hey, if anything happens, just give me a call, alright? You still have my number, right?" he asked, his eyes serious.

"Yeah, it's under 'Cheater'," I said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. He gave me a mock glare and flipped me off. I returned the gesture, and we both laughed as he left, closing the door softly behind him. I leaned back on the couch, attempting to relax.

"Elisabeth Baker! Come to papa!" The voice was sudden and chilling. My eyes shot open, and I looked around but saw no one. I got up from the couch, my body tense, and heard footsteps coming from the hallway. I turned to see my father standing there, rubbing his eyes as if waking from a deep sleep. Terror gripped me, and I began to back away.

"Elisabeth? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Stay away from me!" I yelled, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. He looked at me, bewildered.

"Baby?" he said, sounding worried. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to me.

"No! Don't move any closer!" I cried, my back hitting the door. I grabbed the handle and fled, racing down the stairs as fast as I could. I burst through the apartment door and ran down the street, my heart pounding in my chest. The early morning light cast long shadows on the deserted street. A few people were out, going about their business. I collided with someone, nearly falling.