I Know What You're Afraid Of

Chapter 15

"How are you planning on asking her about it?" Miles asked. His arms were folded over his chest and his brow was raised. Marianne thought about it. She hadn't thought about it yet. Miles looked her over, a smirk playing on his lips. "You don't have a plan." He laughed.

"I have a plan, okay!" She fired back. "I just need to.... think it over some more. Unless you have a better plan, Mr. Know it all." Marianne rolled her eyes and folded her arms, sloughing forward like a little kid.

"I can't make a better plan if you haven't told me yours." Marianne glared at him before her features softened and a look of defeat painted her face. Embarrassed, she straightened her shoulders and dropped her head. Miles chuckled lightly. "That's what I thought." It took everything in her to hold herself back from connecting her fist with his jaw. Marianne had a temper, though she had holding it in down to an art. "I would be careful if I were you." Miles said. His voice was quiet and stern. "She did try to kill you. And if you don't confront her fast, she will notice the bottle is missing." Marianne didn't react, not even a nod to let him know she heard him. She didn't want to tell him he was right to his face. "What were you doing in her room, anyway?"

Marianne took a deep breath, trying her best not to cringe at the truth. "I was actually going to talk to her." Miles nodded for her to continue. Another deep breath. In... 1... 2... 3. out... 1... 2... 3. "We got off on the wrong foot. Well... I tried to be nice, but she just doesn't like me." She looked up at Miles. "I was hoping to find out why, and maybe fix things between us. Maybe even be... friends?" Her eyes danced between his before finishing. "It sounds so stupid now. What if I let her get too close and she used it against me? I mean, that would suck." Marianne laughed and was glad when Miles joined her.

"That would suck." Miles smiled. It wasn't fake or mean. It was real and kind. Something she rarely saw coming from him. "I, Uh," Marianne looked up at him, giving him her full attention. "I wanted to... thank you. For staying with me." Marianne held her breath. She had been dreading this conversation. It took everything in her to hold herself together with Sydney, but him? "I don't really remember asking because I was in and out of consciousness. "He laughed. "But I do think it helped, so... thanks." Marianne nodded. "And sorry if I scared you or made you uncomfortable."

Marianne shook her head and awkwardly smiled, still avoiding eye contact. "No, it's fine. I didn't know what to do, and I couldn't say no." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Miles nod and turn his head toward the window. "I'm glad it helped with... whatever." Marianne finally looked at Miles who turned his attention back to her.

"The nightmares...." Miles said, looking down.

"Oh. I thought you said you still had one?" Marianne furrowed her brows in both concern and confusion.

"I did. Only this time, it wasn't all bad." Marianne nodded and looked out the window. The sun had gone down a bit since they started talking. In front of her, Miles turned so he was facing her and pulled his knees to his chest, folding his arms on top, and resting his chin on them. They gazed beyond the trees, watching the sun slowly set. Birds flew from tree to tree. One caught her eye. It was big with wide, dark wings. It effortlessly soared through the sky dipping lower, then higher in a pattern. It was flying closer and closer to the house. Then, out of nowhere, it dropped, leaving some kind of ripple effect in the sky. Almost like it hit some invisible wall.

Miles slowly raised his head from his arms and looked at Marianne. "You saw that, right?" Her voice was a whisper, not sure if she saw it or if she was crazy. Miles nodded and looked back out the window. "What did it hit? There's nothing there."

"Maybe it just forgot how to fly?" Miles said, clearly not believing the words that flowed out of his own mouth. Marianne looked at him dumbfounded. "Well, how would you explain that?!" He fired.

Marianne opened her mouth but was interrupted by the smell of smoke and distant cries for help. "Fire! Guys, there's a fire!" Ricky. They both shot up from the window seat and ran for the door. Marianne swung the door open and was immediately engulfed in smoke. Mile shut the door and shoved a cotton t-shirt in her hands. "Cover your face." He ordered. Marianne did as she was told and covered her nose and mouth with the shirt. Miles opened the door and closed it behind them. Brad ran out of his room holding a shirt over his face and ran down the stairs behind them.

The heat from the flames was intense and Marianne began to sweat. Her eyes burned from the smoke. Brad opened the kitchen door and ran in, only to stop in his tracks when he saw how close the flames were. Marianne ren into his back and peaked over his shoulder to find Ricky, Sydney and Gina cowering in the corner. They were all coughing, having nothing to cover their face with. Among the flames, there was a clear path to where the three were standing. Marianne took the chance and made a run for it, as Brad and Miles grabbed at her. "Marianne! What are you doing?!" Brad yelled.

Once she reached them, Marianne stuck to the wall and shuffled over to the window. She tried opening it, but it wouldn't budge. She checked the lock. It was unlocked, but it was jammed. She turned around to find something she could use to break it with, and spotted Miles and Brad making their way past the flames. Marianne caught a glimpse of a fire poker leaning against the wall beside Miles. "Miles!" she yelled, grabbing his attention. "Get the fire poker. On your left!" Miles grabbed the poker, and once he was close enough, he tossed it to her. Marianne caught it and stepped away from the window. Bracing herself, she swung the poker as hard as she could, shattering the glass. A few pieces left cuts on her arms and face.

Waving Ricky over, she helped him through the window and watched as he dropped safely onto the grass. One by one, they hopped out the window gathering on the grass, all of them covered in soot and ash. "What do we do about the fire? We can't call anyone." Sydney said.

Marianne thought hard. "We'll have to put it out ourselves." She said, turning to the group. "Sydney, Ricky, and Gina try to find a hose. Miles, Brad and I will go back in and find all the extinguishers." They all nodded and went their separate ways. Marianne, Miles, and Brad ran around to the front of the house. Putting the shirt back over her face, she opened the front door and quickly shut it once they were all inside. Marianne went to search the closet in the hall next to the kitchen. Finding the light switch, she turned it on and began her search. Her eyes were watering, the smoke and tears clouding her vision. She found one hanging on the right wall. Marianne grabbed it, taking it off the hook, and ran back into the hall.

She had to squint to see past the smoke. Through the living room door, she could see the silhouette of a person. She made her way over to them, thinking it was Miles or Brad. As she got closer, the person walked away out of view. She reached the living room and walked in ready to see who it was, but no one was there. "Marianne!" At the sound of Miles' voice, she turned around to find both Miles and Brad standing there with fire extinguishers in their hands. Her stomach flipped, as she turned back to the room to see if the man was there, but he was still gone. She was brought back when Miles grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hall to the fire.

The kitchen door swung open and they began putting out the fire. Sydney, Ricky, and Gina were standing outside the window, Ricky spraying the flames with the hose. After about an hour, the flames were gone, and that annoying automated voice spoke. "Congratulations! You have successfully passed level 2." The walls and furniture glitched, and they were brought back to their original state. Even the window was replaced. They all sighed in relief. Sydney pulled Ricky into a hug, and then Marianne. Brad walked over to her and patted her on the back.
"You know, you're not so bad."

Marianne tried her best to smile. "Neither are you." Everyone went to shower. As Miles caught up to Marianne and pulled her aside.

" What did you see in the living room?" Marianne was confused as to how he knew she even saw anything.

"I thought I saw someone. A man. But when I looked again her was gone." She watched as Miles' face paled beneath the ash. "What is it?"

"Just go to sleep. You need it. I'll tell you tomorrow."