The Love of a Stranger

Mystery

My eyes shot open, my breath hitched and I sat up realising that the horror that seemed convincingly real was all a dream. I placed my hand over my mouth shocked that my mind would come up with something as sick as that; suicide. But I was here sitting on the couch with Dan who was thankfully continuing life like he should be infront of me. I whimpered seeing that he was actually alive, it gained his attention.

"What's wrong, are you okay? Why are you crying?" he asked concerned. Shit was I crying...again? I didn't even comprehend that he asked me a question, I reached over and hugged him as tight as I could grateful that for once, my dreamworld wasn't my reality. My fingers combed through his soft hair while I hid myself underneath his shoulder. Him being completely oblivious to my dream, he still hugged back rubbing circles on my back.

"Sorry." I mumbled, sniffing.

"What for?" He laughed making me laugh too. I shook my head and rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see. I pulled away when I thought that he thought I was getting weird hugging him for nearly 5 minutes.

"Bad dream. A really, really bad dream." I explained drying my eyes from the tears.

"It must've been if you woke up like this." He chuckled. "What was it?"

"You don't want to know..."

"Of course I do, c'mon just tell me."

I gave up knowing that there was no way out of this one.

"I saw you lying on the floor dead, exactly where Jack died. And I just couldn't live myself knowing that you were dead, so...I-I hung myself." Thinking about it, it sounded pretty grim. Dan looked at me with disturbance, but also with sympathy. Probably thought I was depressed. I looked away from him pursing my lips and shaking my head still repeating to wipe away any excess tears. I was going insane.

"Wow Laura that's-"

"Worrying?" I interupted. He nodded his head and placed his hand on my cheek.

"I know the situation that we are in with your mum is difficult, I know, but I promise you I won't let anything bad happen." He comforted. I nodded my head.

"Dan I just want you to know, that if it ever comes down to that one bullet, you have to let me take it."

"I can't guarantee you that." He said shortly after, which made me scared knowing that Dan was willing to give up his life for me, it didn't seem right. He still has so much to live for, a future to look forward to, places to be, people to see but for me; nothing, only the uncertain time where death would come to my arrival.

The morning after the terrifying ordeal it was obvious to see that we both needed some encouragement. I asked Dan if he wanted to go to the cinema, it had been a long time since I'd been and all the really good looking movies were coming out. He agreed and we left together. It was only just the two of us, the guys were either busy or doing something with their girlfriends. After half an hour we bought our tickets, snacks and drinks and settled into our seats already kicking out feet up on top of the seat infront and munching away at the sweet flavoured popcorn. Then the adverts began...I hate adverts, too long and too boring, they take up like 40 minutes of your time that you could be using to actually watch the film, so I took the opportunity and started to daydream staring blankly at the wall. Sometimes I would stare at someone and not even realise that I'm doing it making me look like a creep. I watched others walk round the corner and head to their seats just in time for the film to start. I was only able to think of the thing that refused to leave my mind; mum. She was on my mind constantly. I made a mental whiteboard with her picture in the middle and questions spired around her.

'Where was she now?'

'What and when will her next move be?'

'Me or Dan? Or both?'

'Will she be stopped in time?'

'Is she working alone?'

I could go on, but then I would have no more room on my mental whiteboard.

Dan brought me out of my blank stares and nudged me to say that the film was starting. I didn't know what it was about but it had the best reviews and it was the next film on so we thought; why not?

The speakers were on full volume, the big screen showed scenes of men fighting other men, damsels in distress waiting to be saved by their loved ones, it was all too cliché. Dan was totally lost in it, subconsciously picking up popcorn one by one and placing it in his mouth barely having the time to blink.

"I'm gonna go to the toilet." I whispered, he didn't face me, just gave a slight nod of the head because the film was more interesting that me apparently.

I went down the three flights of stairs, out into the corridor and into the ladies toilets. All but one were unlocked. I relieved myself then went to wash my hands like you would normally do. Doing so, I took a look at the reflection in the mirror to see that door still locked, I knew someone was in there because her feet were standing there behind the door, probably none of my business and believe me, I didn't want it to be, but I couldn't help but feel curious about it. Suddenly a click of a lock echoed around the bathroom and out stepped the mysterious woman behind the door, except she wasn't mysterious at all, I knew exactly who she was.