The Maid

Murky Water

I went to town still on edge, the night after Austin and Ava left was the first out of five. Everywhere I went I felt like I was being watched, paranoia was soaking into my skin. I found myself holding my breath on multiple occasions. I was looking around corners, paying attention to shadows, and I felt like I was in murky water with a shark. I had the feeling of being hunted, but no way to see the predator coming. I made my way into the Library, the librarian giving me the stink eye, I went to the historical section. If people refused to talk I was going to read as many news papers as I could find. I started back in the 1950's, but every article was very bland, most were filled with the latest news involving residents. They were mostly about weddings, births, graduations, and deaths. I was getting deathly bored when I caught the glimpse of a figure.  I acted like I hadn't noticed him, I put the papers back and made it out of sight, I moved around to catch them. I stood in the open library confused, I knew I saw someone. I blinked hard looking down, then up, all around, but nothing. I turned to the Librarian, "Did you see anyone else in here?" She shook her head, "No, just you." She went back to her work. I can't believe that, I knew my eyes wouldn't betray me twice, and I'm still not convinced they did the first time.

I went out on the street, still no one, I squinted off in the distance I saw them rounding a corner. "HEY!! WAIT!" I yelled as I ran to catch up, but nothing, I lost them. I spun in a circle looking in every direction. "No, this can't be right, I saw them, I know I did. I saw them." I tangled my fingers in my hair, "Where did you go..." I looked like a mad woman. Austin rounded the corner jogging up to me, "Sara, whats wrong? You look stressed." I looked at him "There was someone here, I know there was, they have been following me all day, I know I saw them..." I was looking around frantically when Austin put an arm around me, "Come on Sara, let's get you home." "No!" I pushed away, "You all are treating me like I'm crazy, but you all know I'm not, you just want me to believe I'm crazy!" I stepped back from him, "Sara calm down, you are just over tired, it messes with the mind." His hands out, palms down, he stepped towards me, "Please come with me." I backed away more, "Don't touch me, stay away from me." I tried to read his eyes, but I couldn't focus, maybe it was the exhaustion. "I.. I'm going to work." He walked closer still, "Sara I don't think that is a good idea, just come back with me." I turned around bolting away. 

I took off into the woods not stopping till I reached a good enough distance. I sat behind a large oak tree panting. "What are you doing Sara... Get yourself together. Maybe he was just trying to help?" I heard branches breaking, I peeked around to see Austin standing there with his hands up like he was surrendering. "What are you doing here Austin!?" I yelled over to him. He smiled slyly, "Sara I'm not gonna do anything, I just want to talk." I contemplated it for a moment, "Okay, but you stay there. We can talk like this." Austin sighed, "Fine, Sara we are worried, you've pushed everyone away." I leaned my back against the tree, "No, you can't say anything! You all ostracized me! I wanted to be a part of your society and you all treated me like I had the plague! So don't tell me I've pushed everyone away!" I could hear him getting frustrated, "Sara you are missing the point! We are worried about you, ever since you started at that mansion you haven't been yourself." "And since YOU know me so well, tell me who I am? What is acting like myself?" I heard a branch break, I looked around the tree to see him frozen, he knew I heard him move. "Sara that isn't fair, you know none of us have known you long enough..." "Exactly! You all don't know me, but everything I'm feeling is telling me not to trust any of you! You all are hiding more than any of you share!" The talk went on for a few more minutes and it went no where, eventually Austin became so frustrated that he gave up and he left with no answers.

Austin was persistent, I would give him that, but something wasn't right. I waited a long time before i decided to move. The wind was cold and a howl could be heard through the trees. I moved slowly back through to the street. I probably should have went to my car, but I walked home, I ignored all the stares. I was getting used to all the people.

It was black by the time I made it home, no lights to be seen. I stepped into my drive to see Austin pacing in front of my door. I ducked out of sight and watched him from the shadows. He looked like a caged animal going back and forth. He pounded hard on my door making me jump slightly, he was saying something but I couldn't quite hear what he was saying. I squinted as if that would make my ears work any better.

He kicked the door frame and walked next door to his house. I kept to the shadows and went around the back. Not a light in sight, I wonder if we had a power outage... I thought to myself. I put my key in the back door and opened. I froze when I heard, "Welcome home Sara, I was wondering if we could talk?"