The Haze [The Rosati Series]

intro

"AGHHHH!"

A blaring, yet blood-curdling scream startled me awake. Filled with adrenaline, I jumped up.  I was trying to catch my breath, now face-to-face with my mother. Her long, brown hair was still in its morning wrap, and she was staring wide-eyed and panicked, almost like she'd seen a ghost. I let out a sigh of relief. I was use to my mother’s dramatic tendencies by now.

"Mom what's going on?" I asked still somewhat breathless.

She ignored my question, taking a step back. "Daniel!" She yelled.

She was calling my dad. "Mom, what's wrong?" I asked firmly again.

"Look, I don't know who you are, or what you're doing in here, but you've got five seconds before I-"

My dad’s figure now hovered at the entrance to my bedroom door. "Honey, what in god's name is going on in here?" He frowned taking my presence in.

"If someone doesn't tell me what's going on..." I trailed off.

"Daniel, I found this strange girl sleeping in here. She's moved all of her things in, and she started calling me-" Silent sobs escaped her lips as she struggled to continue. "Mom."

My dad turned to me bearing a look of anger I'd never seen before. "I don't know what kind of sick joke this is you're playing, but you need to go. Now." He demanded. He wrapped his arms soothingly around my mom.

"Okay, I must be getting pranked. This isn't funny you guys." I said shaking my head.

My mom was still sobbing uncontrollably into my dad's arms. "If you don't leave now, I won't hesitate to call the cops. Where are your parents? Why are you here, torturing my wife? Are you one of Alex's friends?" He asked.

Okay, it was now definite. They were pranking me, and they were good. It probably was all my Brother Alex's idea. He normally came up with this kind of stuff, but they were really taking it far this time. "Okay dad, I get it-"

"Stop calling me dad!" He shouted. "My little girl died six years ago, so for you to sit here and make a joke about it is beyond cruel. Now Ieave, I won't tell you again!"

He looked like he was honestly on the verge of tears, and I'd never seen my dad cry. Not even at my grandma's funeral. I stood there, mouth agape, and I finally took a look around.

Where my cheerleading picture from the fourth grade normally sat on the nightstand, it had been replaced. There was an unfamiliar girl smiling up at the camera, as her hands rested lightly over piano keys. I slowly walked over to the frame to have a closer look.

"Honey, go call the police; I'll stay here." My dad directed. My mom, who was still sobbing, headed downstairs as told.

I rolled my eyes and directed my attention back towards the photo. This girl had her hair cut into a brown bob. She looked young, and at the bottom of the frame read: Laura.

Either they went all out, or something was starting to seem very weird. I reached my hand out to grab the frame when my dad's booming voice stopped me.

"Don't you dare touch that!" He said firmly. Startled, I relaxed my hand and eyed my dad. He was watching me like a hawk, and his eyes were hard and cold.

I started to hear faint police sirens in the distance, and they were getting closer by the second.

"Did mom really call the cops on me?" I frowned.

He shook his head. "I told you to leave, and you didn't. They call it trespassing and harassment where you're headed young lady."

"Dad this isn't funny anymore." I said starting to get outraged.

"You can stop the act now. The cops will deal with you."

The sirens were suddenly blaring, and I knew they were right outside the house. Suddenly they stopped, and a loud knock brought me back to reality. The cops were really coming to get me.

This had to have been a dream. Would my own parents really call the cops on me? Either my parents were brainwashed, or my mind was playing tricks on me.

I nervously looked for an exit, but my dad was blocking the bedroom door. I eyed the window on the opposite wall and started to run for it.

"Hey!" My dad started after me.

I flipped the window up, and with one swift movement I jumped, landing on a soft patch of grass. I was too quick for him, and not that he knew, but that jump was one I had made often.

"She just jumped out the window officer!" I heard my dad yell.

That's when instinct kicked in. I did the only thing I knew to do.

I ran.