TIME

TIME - The Stranger

Chapter 11 - The Stranger

Tana

The house we were going for dinner was just a couple of blocks away so we decided to just walk our way to our destination. Their house was more like a farm house with a neatly trimmed lawn and a nicely maintained garden. It was not as huge as ours but it was pretty. As soon as we rang the bell Mrs. Harper opened the door. She was tall and slender and pretty well maintained. Her face though looked tired but she had a grace in her. Her smile could light the entire house and her glistening eyes were welcoming. She hugged me and my mom and ushered us inside the house.

"Mrs. Harper thank you so much for inviting us to dinner" i said curtly and in a formal tone.

"Don't bother honey. And you can call me Evelyn." She said in her ever so cheerful voice.

"Evelyn you said you had a son. Where is he?" Mom asked. Exactly the moment i was waiting for. Love you mom.

"Oh he is upstairs. Never came down since school. I don't think he is even aware about the fact that you all are here for dinner. Honey why don't you go and see him. He is upstairs." She said looking at me.

"Yeah sure I'll go check him." I said clearly trying to hide my excitement in my voice. This dinner is turning out to be perfect exactly as i wanted it to be.

Curtly following my orders i went upstairs. The door was just partly open so i decided to just slither in. Knocking doors was not really my style and that too of teenagers. The room was dark and in the corner was a figure sitting on a chair with a desk in front. There was a dimly lit lamp in front of him making him just enough visible. He had his back towards me so decided to walk towards him. Scaring him from behind would be starting on a fun note i figured. So slowly without making a sound i slid towards him.

"Shouldn't you be knocking the door before barging in like that." Came a sharp voice from the direction of what seemed just like a dead body in that dim light as it still refused to make any movements whatsoever.

"Evelyn invited us for dinner." I managed to stammer clearly taken aback.

"Dinner is downstairs i assume." The voice shot back.

"Yes but i just came to check on you. I am new in town and since we go to same school i thought i will meet you and maybe we could be friends." I said this time more confidently.

"Yes you came to check on me without knocking. Is that what all do in the city." He shot back in a stern voice.

"How do you know i am a city girl?" I inquired clearly baffled as Evelyn did not even mention about us being here.

"It was obvious. Now get out." Came the voice.

"Not until you tell me." I replied mustering all my guts.

"I also know that you are from New York. Your mom is a single Mother raising you. You lost your dad recently and you still miss him alot. You have recently shifted to the old villa of your grandfather running away from the memories of tour past in New York as they all remind you of your late father. You and your mother are here to start a new life away from the city while you are trying seek comfort and stay busy making new friends and school. Tell me i am wrong Tana."

"No you are not. Who are you and how do you know about me and my dad?" I said controlling my emotions. At the mention of my dad i felt weaker again as all those memories rushed in. But now the more important question was who is this person and how does he know about me?

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Took a long time to get there but yes the mystery finally begins....

This new character will he be a friend or foe?

Was he keeping a watch on Tana or was there something else something far more intricate?