The Survivor

Chapter 5: Normalcy

A/N: Hey guys! This is just a "filler chapter". You know, the ones that make you go "uhhhgghhh when is there going to be action?" I promise, if you keep reading there WILL be action. This is unedited, all of my work on this story so far is. And also, a big thank you to Grace for being so kind and helping me realize that I shouldn't quit writing! Stay true, guys. You're all lovely. -Mia

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Two days later, her parents were back at work. Walking around the house, she realized it was the same. It was the same brown leather couch that sat next to the same brown leather chair that was next to the same big screen TV. Nothing moved had moved or changed, except for her. She was the one who had changed, and she felt a sick wave of nostalgia.

For how can one have a longing for a time that is difficult to remember and only shows up once or twice in a nightmare?

It was the adrenaline. Or maybe she just missed the feeling of endorphins from running. Either way, she decided to go for a run. On the track at school, of course. Football season was coming to an end, but luckily there was one last game coming up. Which meant that there would be lots of people out on the field practicing, lots of witnesses if she were to get stolen.

She pulled on a white tee-shirt and pink running shorts, then decided to pull her messy brown hair into a high ponytail. Going for a run was the last thing on her mind, but she made the choice to try and live a normal life again.

If that was possible.

This morning she woke up sweating again. But it was just the same dream. Over and over, like it officially ran out of its tape and was playing re-runs.

Rose was still in her memory, but for the moment she couldn't do anything about it. Brett and Haley tried to go on with their lives as well and were currently at school.

Before her parents left for work, they reminded her to do her homework. She fake smiled and promised that she would get to it. But their idea of homework and her idea of homework were two completely different things. For one, her "homework" was hidden in her art studio under a white sheet. Any other kind of homework didn't seem fitting.

And for another, she thought it best to go for a run. To jog her memory, or maybe just to clear it. When she was finished putting her hair up, she walked downstairs and opened the fridge. There wasn't much inside; her parents were vegetarians, and didn't agree to anything that wasn't a product of soy. Or organic.

Looking past the tofu cutlets, she reached in and grabbed a fruit punch Gatorade, her parents one allowance for sugar in the house.

She slipped the car keys onto her ring finger and slid out the door, getting into her car and starting it, placing the Gatorade on the passenger seat. Drops began to splatter on her windshield, warning her of the downpour that was about to occur.

Washington, she thought. You gotta love it.

Twenty minutes later, she was on school grounds. Since the weather was almost always overcast, football practice was almost always never cancelled.

Therefore she safely got out of her car and stretched. Grasping onto the keys, she jogged over to the track, the cold drops of water feeling nice against her face and legs. After a few minutes, she upped her pace to a slow run. Her eyes glanced at the football players running rampant around the field. They take that sport way too seriously, she shook her head to herself.

She was pleased that one, she could actually run and not feel winded. And two, looking at the trees that surrounded her school didn't make her want to vomit.

"Hey!" someone yelled, breaking her from her small triumph.

Turning to the source of the shout, she realized it was her old english teacher, also "vice" football coach. Josh Patterson. He was only twenty two, right out of college. Apparently he decided to come back to high school and coach his favorite sport. He was hot, to say the least; it was a shame he didn't go big.

"Hiya." she said, slowing down. They never talked much when she was at school, but of course, she was big news now. Survivor, the news had called her. "Alive and apparently well." What do they know?

"How are you kiddo?" Josh asked. His dark blue eyes were full of sincere worry.

She sighed, "I'm fine."

"What are you doing out here in this crazy weather? We miss you at school." he started to walk the track, and she followed his lead.

"Random," she laughed. "But I just needed to clear my head. And, uh... I've kind of missed school as well. My mom signed me up for online classes. I've had a few breakdowns, and she's scared that I'll officially go nuts if I'm at school."

He nodded and ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair, "That makes sense. Everyone would be wanting to know all the details."

She nodded right back, not wanting to say anything to that. He seemed to catch on, and they walked in silence for a moment.

"Well, I better get going," he said, looking over at the field. "They just got started and they need a real kick in the butt if they want any chance of winning their last game."

She smiled, "Alright."

"It's good to see you!" he called, running back toward the field.

"You too." she said aloud to herself.

She ran around the track a few more times, enjoying the feeling of ache in her legs. The last time she felt this was when she woke up in the hospital.

Clue 1: she was definitely running.

Every dream, every vision she got she tried to tie bits and pieces together. Kelly and Sergeant Williams needed answers soon if they were going to do anything about this man. After a while, the killings will just be shrugged off as horrible accidents because there will be no one to blame.

Maria thought about this all the way home, and all the way up to her bed where she flopped down, continuing to think.

Her biggest motivation to tell them anything sooner rather than later was Rose. Pulling out her phone, she looked at the locked message again. The "unknown" sender glared at her, mocking her.

Everything about this was frustrating. Her memory, the killer, the message, the police. But she knew, deep down, that it was just the beginning.

Sighing and closing her eyes, she did the only thing that she did best. She slept.

This dream was completely different than anything she has dreamt the past three weeks. Her mom was there, and Brett. She struggled to keep her eyes open; they felt so heavy.

"Brett! Oh thank goodness you're here." her mom was crying.

"No problem." there were tears in his eyes, and his voice sounded gruff. "What's the verdict?"

"I have no idea," her mom choked.

She realized they were outside of a hospital room. Their faces were illuminated by the lights in the hallway, and the only face right in front of the cracked door was her moms.

"One question." he asked.

"Anything, darling."

"Why did you call me?" his voice sounded weary, or maybe just unsure.

Her mothers eyes were red from sobbing, "She asked for you."

Her eyes opened wide, "Brett."