Spade

Knock Knock. Who's There?

I woke up feeling cold. I could feel the wind freezing my skin. Darkness consumed my vision as soon as I opened my eyes. Where am I? What am I doing here? This place... it clearly was not my house. I could feel the dirt beneath me. I was outside. No... no... I could get in so much trouble for this. I tried to stand up but every bone in my body hurt as if I used all my power to get here in the first place. I forced myself to try to get up again. No avail. Then... the pain hit.

My head started hurting like it was going to explode. I couldn't think, I squeezed my eyes shut. I searched for a scream that never came. I was silenced just like in a bad dream. I felt every bone in my body break trying to move. What was happening to me? Is this how I die? I've never felt this much pain after what happened in the bathroom of the bar. No human emotions could explain this pain. No human could endure this amount of pain. It was nothing I was familiar with but a part of me felt stronger. A part of me felt okay with this. As horrible as this was, a part of me thought I was fine as long as I lived. He was right. This is a selfish world. I was being introduced to a part of me that I never knew existed. I didn't cry when Mara told me those people died. Why should I? People I cared for were alive. People I felt for survived, and as long as they did I would be okay. No. This is not me. I cannot be.

I felt a warm feeling as I heard the police siren get closer. I searched for the power to scream once again. This time I was loud. I was heard. I saw faint lights of the car stop, illuminating my surroundings. I was in the forest. Where the cabin would be in my dream world, the woods across my house. So it really happened this time, it was far from a dream. He took me to an alternate world and kept me safe as I would be in danger, staying in this area. I was saved.

I heard footsteps coming towards my direction with large flashlight bouncing up and down. "Over there!" someone shouted before shining the flashlight on me.

"Ms.? Are you okay?" the man said panicking.

"I... can't..... move..." I couldn't find the power to speak up.

With backup coming my way, they lifted my limp body up and moved me towards the car.

After a couple of minutes, I was wrapped in blankets sitting on my porch waiting for the ambulance to come. They leaned me towards my door to keep my body uptight. Plus, they were nice enough to give me a cup of warm coffee. The taste of the coffee killed my shocked state. I felt warm even though the pain was still unbearable.

"Would you be okay if we asked you a couple of questions while the ambulance is on its way?" An older man with kind eyes asked.

"Are you John Piers?" I asked. Why did I ask that? Mara's dad was taken off duty. There's no way he-

"Evelyn Sullivan..." he said looking at my house. "I never knew I'd meet you like this."

"I thought you were off duty." I said with pain in my voice.

"I was until they realized I was needed and immediately came back to town. Also, had to promise them I wouldn't get shot again." He smiled tapping his rib cage. "Try to relax a little. We can talk when you feel better." He gently squeezed my shoulder in a caring manner. So this was Mara's father. Shame she has someone like that when I never got the chance to. No. What am I saying?! I didn't want to say that.

—————

"I should've known."

"You again."

"You're not strong enough yet. I'll handle it."

"Are you thinking out loud?"

"Don't worry. This won't happen again."