Eminence

Chapter One

September 3

Do you ever have one of those moments where you're not fully awake, yet your brain is more alert than your body?

I felt the light brush of fingertips go slowly down the side of my face, tracing the outline of my jaw until reaching my chin. It left a tickling sensation. My eyes felt heavy with sleep as I tried to open them. When I finally managed to there stood a dark figure looming over me. Startled, I sat up faster than a striking lightning bolt, and in return my vision failed me.

I blinked repeatedly in order to focus my vision, but by that time whatever it was had vanished. I rubbed my eyes and continued to look around my room for a few seconds. It could have been some kind of lucid dream.

Or not.

The thought sent a ripple of uncontrollable shivers down my body causing goosebumps to form on the side of my arms.

I reached underneath my pillow for my iPhone to check the time. Surprisingly, it had just turned eight. That gave me enough time to get ready before Milo made his way over.

I patiently waited as I started up Pandora before I could do anything else. Music was my coffee. When I got some music to play I decided that I needed to take a shower. I felt sticky and gross all over, and the fact that I had fallen asleep that way made me strip my clothing right then and there. Soon enough I made my way over to the bathroom.

I reached towards the hot and cold knobs, turning them ever so slightly to balance the water temperature from scathing hot or freezing cold. In a hurry I turned and grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste to take in with me.

Carefully I made my way into the shower, positioning myself right underneath the warmth of the water. Every drop came crashing down recklessly onto my back, occasionally spraying my face. I stood there for a while just thinking. Not only was the water flowing down the drain, but so were my stress and worries.

After a successful shower I wrung the excess water out of my hair. I then reached for my towel and wrapped it nice and snug around my body. I quickly made my way to my closet to find an outfit. It was a rather gloomy day out, so I stuck with black leggings, a knitted beige cardigan over a white tank-top, and to be paired off with some white converse.

While humming the tune of "Bridges" by Broods, I walked over to my bathroom once more to apply some makeup. Quickly but efficiently I applied some eyeliner and mascara. As if on cue my phone buzzed and I read the single worded text Milo had sent me.

Here.

Right after there came a knocking that echoed throughout the empty house.

Reminding me that I was all alone.

I raced to the door as I managed to slip my credit card into my back pocket. Upon opening the door there stood Milo with a slight grin. He was tall and lean. His dirty blonde hair was slightly tousled, and he wore a grey t-shirt paired with jeans.

"Diezń dobry," Milo announced as he took a step inside.

I took a step to the side to let him walk past me, gazing up at him I replied, "Good morning to you too."

"Are your parents still in Seattle?"

"Yeah, they won't be home until the fourth," I shrugged as I studied his expression.

A huge grin spread across his entire face, "Why don't you stay with me? I'll keep you safe."

"Shut up," I replied as I playfully pushed him back, "let's go before I change my mind."

I had already began to walk towards his car, and all I could hear was his chuckle that eventually dispersed into the nothingness.

As we made our drive to Marysville, we stopped by the local market to get some breakfast. I continuously laughed at his lame jokes as I ate my breakfast burrito. I almost even made him spit his coffee when I retold the story of when we were eight. He had shoved me off my bike into a nearby pond. Because of that I had to ride my bike half a mile home while I was dripping wet and covered in mud.