Wrong Time

Chapter 3: Who Are You?

·Grace's POV·

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened. I felt so captivated and attracted to the boy behind the correctional's window.
The day passed by in a blur. My family was deep in discussion when I decided it was time for me to go to sleep. I kissed everyone goodnight and went upstairs.

.....

There it was, St. George's Juvenile Correctional. I run and run until my lungs felt like they were on fire. As always, I heard a voice telling me to quicken the pace. This time, when I was almost at the entrance I saw the owner of said voice. It was him, the boy. He looked at me with fear in his eyes. As if it was possible, that fear increased when he glanced behind me.

"Grace! Take my hand, hurry up!"

I tried to explain that I couldn't run any faster, but my vocal chords weren't functioning. Before I could feel my hand in his, the darkness took me away.

.....

I looked at the clock on the nightstand. 4 am. My brain wasn't rationalizing anymore, I had to look for answers. My instinct told me that the boy would still be in St. George.

I put on a hoodie, shorts and trainers, took my mobile phone and went to the doorway. My family would be sleeping soundly right now, although that didn't stop me from being quiet. Who wants to get busted? Not me.

While I was walking to my destination, I was thinking about how I don't recognize myself anymore. Never have I been this rebellious nor this reckless. "But it's for a good reason" - I kept telling myself.

Ten minutes had passed when I finally visualized St. George. Ignoring the terror running through my veins, I continued walking. When I reached the entrance, all it took was a single push for it to open. It felt like I was inside an Edgar Allan Poe novel, honestly.

As I suspected, the door was heavy and creaky, making it difficult for me to enter. Once I did, I investigated my surroundings.

Wow.

This place is astonishing in all its dark glory.

In spite of the shock, my body continued moving without my consent. It was too surreal. I started climbing up the stairs, trying to work out the way to where I last saw the teen. As soon as I reached the second deck, I heard a sound at the end of the corridor-just as if something had fallen to the floor.

Quickly, I hid myself behind a wooden column. Yes, my survival skills are messed up. I've never been the best hide and seek player anyway.

"Come on, get a grip. Maybe it was your imagination! She couldn't possibly have seen you."

Here he was, right in front of the column I was hiding behind. He was talking to himself, trying to calm down. Was he thinking about yesterday's incident? There is only one way to find out.

"Maybe she did see you."

There it was, the astonishment showing on his face.

"What... How... Huh?!?"

"Yesterday, I saw you staring at me from this exact window. Who are you?"

Trying to recompose from the shocking encounter, he answered:

"Archer Gray Sutcliffe. And you are?"

"Grace Marie Lancaster. A pleasure to meet you." I extended my hand for him to shake politely.

Instead he took it and kissed the top of it in an affectionate way. He admired our hands touching as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. I heard him mutter: "Am I able to touch her?"

"The pleasure is all mine. Not everyday do I find someone who I can speak to."

"Oh, you mean because of the fact that you live in an abandoned building?"

He let out a small laugh, making his dimple show. Hmm interesting, he only has one dimple... Grace focus!

"Oh, how I wished that was the true reason."

"How so?"

"Grace, you are the first person who has been able to see me after a long time."

"Because you're hiding here or...?"

"Or it's because I'm a ghost." He said bluntly.

What the heck?!?!

"You're kidding."

"Not at all. I wouldn't joke about something as serious as this."

"I... I don't feel very well." I stated while resting my back against the wall.

"Hey, breath in and out. In and out. Very good, like that." He tried to help me.

Surprisingly, it worked.

"If you really are a ghost, how is it possible for you to touch me? And how can I see you?"

"I'm afraid that those are two questions I don't have the answer for."

"Okay, let me get straight to the point and the reason why I'm here: Do you have anything to do with my nightmares?"

                              *****

A.N: Hii!! Finally they've both met. This is the beginning of one hell of a ride, I can assure you. Stay tuned!
Love,
M³