One Winter Night (on Hold)

Chapter 11

It’s been a week since Susan and I fought and we still aren’t talking to each other. Christmas break has started but everything is still so silent.

I got into my car which mom got repaired for me and drove to the nearest store since mom wanted some Christmas lights for the tree. I wasn’t very enthusiastic about this Christmas because this was my first Christmas without Jessica.

I turned on the radio trying to clear the fuzz coming on my mind. One of my favorite artists Gabrielle Aplin was on the radio.

“’Cause they say home is where your heart is set in stone

Is where you go when you’re alone

Is where you go to rest your bones

It’s not just where you lay your head

It’s not just where you make your bed

As long we’re together, does it matter where we go?

Home Home Home”

I turned the radio down, needing sometime to talk to my inner self; is home really where my heart is? Or the place I like to go when I’m alone? I pushed the thoughts aside and parked in the parking lot.

I walked into the store; the warm air hugged me as the smell of something sweet hit my nostrils. I walked into the electronic section and grabbed one coil of Christmas lights and box of chocolate milk and walked up to the checkout counter.

An old lady maybe in her forties was reading some trashy magazine, she had ginger hair and a tan completion with a hit of bronze, I coughed to get her attention, she swiped the card my mom gave me for the groceries and handed me my stuff in a brown paper bag.

I put the things in the back seat and closed the door and locked it. I walked around the cold air would whisper in my ear as I walked.

I looked over the horizon the sunlight looked pale against the amount of snow around, the sky was a pale orange with a hint of yellow. Little kids were ice-skating on the frozen ponds; I kept on walking looking over the lights on houses and so many anonymous smiles passing by.

I sat on the snow looking at everything around me, I pulled my coat closer to me and breathing in the cold air.

I saw a man in black running in full speed which was unlikely in this neighborhood; he was wearing a black leather jacket with black shoes and jeans and a black mask on his face. I found this awfully odd so I decided to follow him.

I got up trying to keep up, staying behind him so he doesn’t get suspicious. He would turn around every now and then and I would pretend I was talking on the phone. He turned into an alley it too had red brick walls and leaky water pipes. He stopped in the middle and I turned inside a lane in the alley. I held my breath, trying to keep my heavy breathing to a minimum.

He turned around back on his heels and I saw something in his hand, a gun. My body froze and I bet the colour from my face was drained, I felt Goosebumps on my arm but I tried to shake the feeling off.

I peered into the alley again he wasn’t there, he must have moved forward. My brain told me to go back and pretend this never happened but my heart says to follow him and find out what’s going on. I gathered the courage in me and walked back into the alley.

It was dark but I decided I could use the dark in my favor so I would not be seen. I carefully walked in the alley; the only noise was the crunching of snow under my feet and my heartbeat.

There was a turn in the alley, I carefully took a quick glance and saw that man but two others standing there.

I quickly whipped my head forward, my breath increased as the cold enveloped me. I stayed there trying to eavesdrop on their conversation, partially because I couldn’t move and I was curious.

“You know the cops are after us David”

“Let them, it’s not like they’re ever going to find us”

“How are you so sure? This is all because of you David; did you have to kill the girl? You could rob her or kidnapped her but no you had to be Mr. big shot” I did not recognize the voices but who were they talking about? Was it Jessica?

“She put up a fight unlike her weak friend or sister whoever she was” I gasped but I quickly put my hands on my mouth, they were talking about me; they were talking about that winter night.

The voices stopped I bet they found out I was there; I got up and started to run I didn’t go far because both men were on my trail. I forced myself to look back, David the guy I followed was still wearing his mask, the other man did not, and he had brown hair; that was all I could see because I forced my legs to move faster than ever.

I ran as fast from this isolation as fast as my legs could carry me but it wasn’t long until one of them held my hand.

I screamed loud and kicked the guy with the mask in the gut and he let me go while the other guy cut my cheek with a knife, a piercing pain spread across my cheek as I saw my own blood fall on the snow. I bit his hand and started to run away, I ran and not risking looking back, by the time I stopped the coast of clear. I panted as I sink the to the ground, I touched my cheek; cold red blood fell from my face.

I grabbed some snow lying on the ground and put it up to my cheek, the coldness making the cut prickle more. I walked back to my car and sat there for a minute trying to catch my breath.

If I went home mom would ask about my cut, if I go to the hospital they will call my mom, if I go to the police station they will tell me I was stupid to follow them and then call my mom, either way mom is going to be involved. There was one place where my mom would never find out, Sean’s home.

I drove to Sean’s home fast but carefully, I parked in front of his house and ran to the door. I banged for a while and rang the door bell; I heard shuffling from inside and the door opened and there Sean was standing a little angry.

“What the hell happened to your face?!” he asked shocked as he opened the door wider

“Hello to you too”

“Madeline what did you do to your face! There is a big cut if you haven’t noticed”

“Yeah um how do I put this?”

“What did you do?” He asked a little angry

“I um followed this guy who was all dressed in black in an alley and he had a gun so I started to eavesdrop on his conversation with another guy and they killed Jessica because they were talking about us and I started to run away and they found out I was there and one of them cut my face and I bit his hand and yeah ran away” I blabbered as fast as possible.

“You are stupid you that right?” he said going into the kitchen and getting an ice pack.

“I was curious” my excuse was not strong enough but it was true. He handed me the ice pack and I put it on my cheek.

“Why is it that you always go looking for trouble?”

“I wasn’t looking for trouble I was just curious” I mumbled

“Ever heard of the phrase curiosity killed the cat? You might want to take the literally in your case”

“Ever heard of shut up?” I snapped back

“Hey it wasn’t me who thought you know that guy all dressed in black and has a gun why don’t I go follow him maybe he might have rainbows”

“You don’t have to be sarcastic with me”

“If you understood proper English you wouldn’t go wondering around dark alleys”   

“I better get going” I said as I got up and grabbed my car keys.

                               *****

I opened the front door and walked inside taking my coat of hanging it on the coat hanger and walked into the living room.

“Mom I’m home” I shouted, my mom walked in and dropped the vase which was in her hand when she saw my face; I gulped hard and looked at her angry face.

“MADELINE JAMES COLLINS WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!”

Oh boy.