What If Our Life Threads Bind?

Chapter 34.

The darkness was pierced by a gently glowing orange ember. For a second, I couldn't remember where I was, until I continued to stare the ember and realized the fire had died out. My groggy tired eyes were about to shut down, when I heard a scratching voice against the window. I could barely hear the sound of soft footsteps climbing down from the window sill, over the sound of my own heart beat beating out of my chest. A shock of horror washed over me when I saw the outline of a tall figure creeping towards me in the dark.

It felt like I was going to go into a cardiac arrest. My mind scrambled frantically, trying to think of a way to escape or of something to protect myself with. I stayed frozen, clutching the sheets tightly with both hands. What if this person was the same one who stole the tapestries? Is he planning a revenge against me? But what did I ever do? Did I kill someone he loved? But that is my job!

I braced myself to jump out of the bed. I felt lost. My mind was completely blank, my mouth completely dry. My shears are next to the drawers. If I could reach them on time-

"psst." The tall figure hissed and I frowned.

"Psst!"

Oh my God, are there others?

"Come inside." I heard someone say while I tried not to breathe too hard for them to hear me. Oh shit, there are others! Why are these humans always trying to kill me?

"Psst! Martha!"

They know my name?

"Martha!" One of them whispered, and the voice sounded weirdly familiar.

Is that-

A hand squeezed my shoulder and I screamed.

"Shhhh....." three people surrounding me covered my mouth. One of them moved to the switchboard where my shears were kept and I panicked, realizing he is going to attack me with my own weapon. The lights came up and I flinched.

"We scared the shit out of her." Chuck laughed lightly.

I stared blankly at Chuck, Ashton and Margo who were mischievously grinning down at me. "What are you doing here?" I blurted out a little too loud. They shushed me again and I bit my tongue.

"We are here to help you find your tapestries." Margo shrugged and I glared at her. She did not let out my truth in front of these guys, did she?

".....I mean, the tapestries your mother made for you...you lost them at the party, right?" With the way I was staring at Margo and the way how she jumbled up her words while explaining made sure how much she wanted to change the subject. Maybe in the dark I did look intimidating, after all?

"Come on, let's go." Ashton says, jumping out of the window.

"Did you tell them anything about my secret?" I eyed Margo, and she shook her head innocently. I nodded, looking suspiciously at her and then smiling icily at Chuck who was looking around and about my room. I think I heard him say "girls" in a mocking tone when his eyes landed on my Ariana Grande and One Direction posters.

"But why do you always have to come and frighten me to death at the middle of the fucking night?" I whine softly and Chuck laughed lightly, bit surprised that I cuss too. Little one doesn't know what really am I. Whatever, so be it. If he thought anything weird of me, he might as well kiss my ass. "Well, come on." I said, yawning.

We walked around for two long hours as if aimlessly and found nothing. "I think I'll just go to bed, now? Is that okay, Martha?"

"Sure." I said yawning. "This anyway isn't going to work. You all should be getting back home. Its pretty late." I told them.

"Really?" Ashton sounded delighted by the idea of going back to bed, and I laughed after rolling my eyes.

"No, its okay. We will help you, Martha. You'd need this help." She said but I squeezed her shoulder and told her no.

"Its getting really late." I told her.

"And, cold." Chuck shivered.

"I'll handle it." I said and they left.

I watched the three disappear and was about to turn when I heard the bush on my right moving violently. I don't like dogs. Trying to move quick, I paced my way back to my house when suddenly I heard someone say 'boo' near my shoulder and I could have sworn, I was going to pee and ruin my night gown.

"Hi." It was Ansel. "Had a walk in the middle of the night, eh?"

I nodded, shyly and he giggled. "So you aren't afraid of the dark?" He suddenly asked and I smiled a coyly at him.

"Nah. Sometimes, maybe. But I am kind of used to it." I said and he gave me an inverted grin, like he was impressed or something.

"Want me to walk you home?"

"Oh no, it is okay." I said, a corner of my heart warming up to him for his kind gesture.

"It is okay. Guys come in handy, sometimes. Not that you can't protect yourself. Besides, I can't sleep. A little walk might help?"

"Okay." I told him.

For the rest of the path, he didn't say anything and I couldn't think of anything. It seemed more like a dad guarding his child till she gets safe back home, so he can go back to work in peace without the worry of his motherless insecure child. I tried thinking of things I could talk about but couldn't bring out to say it out loud. Even when I cleared my throat when I thought I should speak something, my own voice startled myself from the stillness of the moment. It was too quiet but satisfying enough.

"We are here." I tell him and for a minute, he stared blankly at me like he didn't hear me. "Okay, so that is it then, eh?" He said, scratching the back of his neck and I shrugged awkwardly.

"Good night." He said and turned around in a slow motion.

A part of me felt bad that I couldn't stay with him long enough or offer him something? I don't know but what am I supposed to even do? Tell him to come inside and have tea? Right.

"Good night." I gave him a wave, he shook his head and disappeared in the mist.

I silently climb up the stairs and successfully reach my room without waking anyone from their sleep. I am clearly not going to get any help from my sisters, and checking the lengths and breadths of college didn't help either, which leaves only one option.

"I can ask Augury and his intern friend, Cassandra to see if they can help in finding the tapestries."

I look at the clock which says it is two in the morning. I slip under the blanket and wonder what really is happening in my life. My eyes felt heavy, and I drifted in and out. Suddenly my bed felt too comfortable and I could have sworn, it felt the softest I had ever felt in my entire life. It might have not been, but right then, I would have sworn it was. Lucid thoughts and elusive faces swam in and out of my conscious mind, and before I could even know, I was asleep.