Lilith

Chapter 3 - Aaron

That night I sat in my bed for what seemed like hours, trying to process the events of the night.

**********

I woke up with dark circles under my eyes, I got changed and washed my face before my mother called me downstairs. "Dalton, come downstairs please." My mom called from the kitchen before I stumbled down the carpet covered staircase.

"I thought it would be nice to catch up a bit, so I made breakfast for us all." My mum smiled as she put a plate of toast and a carton of orange juice down on the table.
"Sure." I say before pulling a chair out and grabbing the carton of juice.
My dad placed his newspaper down on the table. "So, how's this semester going so far? Meet any new friends?"
"Not really," I chuckled. " I started talking to Marcy again."
"Oh that's nice, we haven't seen her for a few years." My mum smiled before taking a bite out of her toast.
"Yea." I smiled.

After breakfast I went to wash my hands before I looked at the time and realised I had five minutes before school started.
"Oh shit, I'm gonna be late!" I panicked as I shoved a sandwich in my bag and ran out the front door.
Quickly I jumped on my bike and sped down the street to school.p
Thankfully I got there just in time for class to start.
There were no seats left except opposite to Marcy, so I put my bag down and pulled out my chair.

"Hey" she said.
"Hey, how are you?" I replied before grabbing my pencil and bookwork.
"I'm good," She smiled. "Are we still on for coffee tomorrow?"
"Of course." I replied, not looking up from my book.
The lesson dragged, and we didn't really talk much. When the bell rang for break I hurried out of class and found Zac and Drew.
"Dude that party was so good." Drew laughed.
"I can't even count how many times I puked," Zac laughed before pretending to puke over Drew's sandwich.
"How was the party for you, Dalt?"
In the corner of my eye I saw Lilith sitting on the other side of the cafeteria, drawing.
"Uh.. interesting," I said while staring at her. "I'll be right back." I quickly get out of my seat and walk towards Lilith.

"Hey, I didn't catch you at the party last night, you promised you'd go." I joked.
I looked down at her and saw she was drawing someone. Then I looked closer.
It was me.
"Um, sorry something came up." She said as she quickly shut her book.
I sat down opposite her. "Well if you're going to draw pictures of me, at least let me get to know you better."
"Oh no really it's fi-" She said before I cut her off.
"No. Please. Let me take you out or something. How about we go to the new arcade?" I smiled.
"Tonight?" She looked up from the table.
"Yea. Come on, it'll be fun." I said.
"Okay." She said as she tucked her dark hair behind her ear.

********************

That afternoon I had swimming. I sat down on the bleachers and listened to my coach rant on about his personal problems.
"Wow, isn't this the most interesting thing you've ever heard?" A boy sitting next to me suddenly whispered to me.
"Haha yea, pretty darn interesting." I laughed.
"Im Aaron, by the way." He smiled and held out his hand.
"Dalton," I smiled back and shook his hand. "Are you new here?"
"Yea. Just transferred from Newsbury." He stated.
"Wait, the private school?" I asked.
"Yea haha." He chuckled.
"What made you transfer from there to this shit hole of a school?" I laughed.
"My family just moved house, so I thought maybe I might enjoy going to a normal school for once."
"You liking it so far?" I ask.
"Yea, it's okay so far. Don't have too many friends though, I should probably try to make some." He laughed.
"Well you're welcome to come meet my friends tomorrow if you want, you'd get along with them nicely." I offered.
He smiled. "Thanks."
After practise I said goodbye to Aaron and grabbed my bag.

********************

The ride home was pretty normal, until it happened again.
I heard a camera shutter.
This time I didn't shrug it off, I got off my bike and shouted, "Who's there? What do you want?!"
I got no reply.

After a few seconds I heard a rustle in the bushes behind my neighbours house and I didn't hesitate to follow them. Practically throwing my bike on the pavement, I ran towards the bush where I heard the sound and assumed they went into the woods behind the house.

Quickly I ran into the woods and tried to watch my step. After a few minutes mud and leaves started to build up on the cuffs of my pants and sweat started to trickle from my forehead as I tried to follow the noise.
Then I saw them.

I ran faster to try and get a better look, but before I could, I tripped on the stump of a small tree.
Everything went black for a split second before I got up and my head was pounding. I pressed my fingers against my forehead and saw blood. Shit.
I brushed off my shirt which was now covered in mud and leaves, and ran back to my bike and went home.

As soon as I got back I ran up to my room and grabbed a pen and note pad.
Quickly I scribbled down what I saw.

-black hoodie
-black pants
-Red mask

I thought about the mask for a while. It covered their whole head. I only saw the back of their head so I didn't get a very good look at the mask. It could've been anything.

I walked downstairs and grabbed a cloth from the cupboard, proceeding to dampen it with water.
I pressed the cloth against my forehead and let it soak up the blood. After cleaning myself up, I had a shower and got changed. When I finished getting ready for the arcade I went downstairs to grab something to eat.

My mum walked in and saw my head. "Honey?! What happened to your forehead? Did you get in a fight or something?"
"No mom it's fine, I just tripped on my way home."
"Are you sure?" She asked worriedly, grabbing my face.
"Yes, really. Thanks mom." I said, prying her hands off my face.
"Okay honey, well dad is going to be home later tonight, he has a meeting." My Mom explained.
"That's fine, I was going to go to the arcade with Li... um, I few friends soon anyways." I stuttered.
"Okay honey, stay safe." My mom smiled.

I quickly downed a glass of water before heading out the door to the arcade.