Demon Hunterz: Annihilation (Book 3)

Chapter 12: Winter's eve V

The next day arrives shortly...

I tell Freddie everything. About all the strange events that took place that night. How our father was in the attic. The voices that I heard. Despite the both of us hearing footsteps from the attic. Including the whole driving off scene, and how I saw him sleeping next to our mother just seconds after.

Freddie pulls a funny face. "And how did you know it was him?"

The mere question made me blink a couple times. I don't know weather to punch this boy or slap myself for trying to convince a moron like him.

"What, are you deaf? Or just plain stupid? I know what I saw that night! Hell, you were right there with me. How can you not understand any of this?!" I screech frantically.

"Yeah I know that! But not the whole time! Remember, you bailed on me." Freddie protests, he points a sudden finger my way and I flinch.  "And besides, we never actually seen Fredrick in the attic yesterday. So we don't even know for sure it's him!"

"Then what were those footsteps we heard last night?" I counter. Staring him dead in the eyes. Hands on both hips.

He shrugs half-heartedly. "I dunno know. It could've been a ghost or something."

"Yeah, so I guess ghosts can drive cars now too huh?" I say, rolling my eyes at him.

Freddie simply shoots me a blank stare. I end up leaving him after that. Should have known better than to get him involved in this. I need someone on my level of intellect. Someone more mature and understanding.

I dial up Marco...

Several days after the incident. School passes by like a dream. But every now and then, I would catch my classmates whispering over my shoulders. Spreading rumors about my now short hair. Which looks frazzled thanks to me waking up late today. So I had no time to spruce it up the way I like it.

A few people approached me about it. Asking me questions. Wondering about my hair, and where I was at the whole time.

I lied. Sort of.

I told them about the trip to Colorado a week ago. Including how beautiful the scenery looked. How the snow glistened under the golden rays of the sun. About the snowy fields that would stretch on for miles in a sheet of never-ending white. Not a shoe-print in sight. Just the way I liked it. Because it felt like I was the only person left in a world made just for me. Completely untouched and pure as the snow under my own two feet.

But I purposely left out the part, where a bunch of boys ganged up on me, and chopped my hair to ribbons. Not even about my new boyfriend, Marco. I simply spat out that "I just wanted to try out a new look."

The conversation ends there. Just as always, people only come to me when they need something. After that, it's straight back to not knowing each other, and leaving me in the dark...

School ends. The walk home was a blur. Numbly marching through the snow for several blocks. Taking the long way home. Surrounded by houses on both sides. All decorated in strings of colorful, Christmas lights. I make out a few that have figures of Santa and elf on the rooftop.

Through the golden, warmly lit windows I see families gathered around tables. Couples sharing a romantic meal for two. Chatting with excitement and smiling. I even spot the older folks who sat around on their pouches. Watching the children roam and run about in the streets. Hurling balls of snow without a care in the world. When a single thought crosses my mind.