In the Shadows

Chapter 23

(Author's Note: If you would wish to listen to Chapter 23 parts 1 and 2 on audio, please click the videos. Thank you and enjoy!)

 I'm woken by banging and barking. I glance at the clock on my nightstand, it's three in the morning! Now, who could be here at this hour?

   I ruffle out of bed and when I'm heading to the door the banging gets louder.

   Bang, bang, bang!

   Sadie starts barking again. I put my finger over my lips and say, "Shh Sadie. I'm going to check it out, and then you can attack whoever it is."

  Bang, bang, bang!

   "Alright, I'm coming!" I shout as I switch on the lights, so I know where I'm going and I won't accidentally smack myself. I head to the door, and Sadie follows right next to me.

  "Whoever it is, better have a good explanation as to why they're here at this time of night!" I shout as I swing open the door.

  My sleepy eyes move to a tall, black hair, blue-eyed man. "Chris?" I ask and pinch myself to see if I might still be dreaming. I know it's not a dream when pinching myself hurt like hell.

   I stare up at him, his eyes are dark and bloodshot. I smell an all too familiar smell, that I can remember when I used to smell this. It's not his usual peppermint smell that I came used to, but it's alcohol fumes. He reeks of vodka.

  "I like your pajamas." He smirks, but it's a drunken smile. He points toward my hair. "I see you put your hair back up. I prefer it when it's down." He slurs his words.

  "Chris, are you drunk?" I ask, but I already know the answer to my question.

  He chuckles. What's with him constantly laughing at me?

  "Yeah, it doesn't take a scientist-" He grins. "Or an m-marine biologist to realize that." He slurs again.

  "Are you going to let me in or not?" He asks.

  "Not."

  "Why do you have to be like that, Sus... Sussie... Susian... Sussiian," he stutters my name. "Fuck! Why does your name have to be sooo fucking long? Your name is so hard to p-p-pronounce!" He spits.

  Yes, it would be if you are drunk off your ass. I never have seen Chris drunk before and I don't like it. He came here drunk and what am I supposed to make of this?

  "Would you keep your voice down?" I whisper.

  If he gets any louder my neighbors will hear him. Gosh! Ms. Nelson heard him, then it would be a tribulation. She would only keep asking me what he was doing here at this time of night. And then she will call Camille and tell her Chris was here. Just one big ass problem after another.

  He grits his teeth. "Why? Y-You afraid your neighbors will hear or Ms. Nelson?" He waves his hands in the air. "I could wake her up!"

   I can't do this at this time of night. I can't think straight; I can never think straight to begin with when he's around me and it's worse if I'm half asleep. I go to push the door shut, but his foot stops it- I notice he's wearing black sneakers, my eyes travel back toward his eyes and I give him a nasty look.

   "If you don't let me in, I'll keep shouting and wake up the entire neighborhood!" He yells and his face looks dark, hollow, and... seems to antagonize. "Plus, you would not want me to go drunk home and get into a wreck..." He shrugs. "I might hurt myself or even kill myself. You wouldn't want me to do that? Would you?"