ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ: ἈΠΟΚΆΛΥΨΙΣ

𝟎𝟑

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍'𝐒 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 was like the 4th of July for Americans.

My mother went all out for Martin's party, planning meticulously over the span of four months. Our three-story, four-bedroom home was transformed into a budgeted gala for Martin and his friends and family to enjoy.

In my opinion, Martin didn't deserve a shred of this effort. He was selfish, condescending, and, overall, a terrible man.

I didn't want to attend, but my mother insisted, breaking down in tears about how hard she had worked on it. Her tears immediately made me feel guilty, so now I was stuck at the party, sitting on the kitchen counter and sipping from an apple juice box to avoid everyone.

I hated social interactions with a passion.

"Tyreka. How are you darling?" Martin's mother, Carol asked me as she entered the kitchen.

I smiled politely, "I'm very good ma'am." She nodded,  scrutinizing my appearance. Martin came in interrupting us with a scowl, he hated that some of his family took a liking to me, he expected them to ostracize me.

I often wondered if he was raised by them at all.

"Mother, I want to introduce you to some of my work friends."

"Oh wait, child. I was having a conversation with Tyreka here, don't be rude now." She hissed.

I rolled my eyes at his presence and smiled internally at his mother's response but straightened up my face when I saw my mother sauntering in with my baby brother attached to her hip.

"Madison love." Martin's mother said kissing my mother's cheeks, "Still haven't lost that baby weight yet I see."

But then again, I was always reminded and proved wrong that Martin was just a product of his parents' sins.

My mother's face visibly dropped but she pretended she wasn't offended. I admired my mother's self-control but if it were me I have slapped Carol into a coma and kicked Martin where the sun doesn't shine for not defending my mother.

My mother smiled at me but her eyes read 'Just smile, don't let them see you sweat.' I shook my head and moved away from the kitchen not wanting to hear more insults thrown at my mother and not defend her. Once I asked her if she ever wanted to lash out but she said,

"You have to understand, I do want to act on it but if I did Martin would kick us out and I can't move back to that place. Sometimes I hate myself for saying this but I want Tyler to grow up with both parents even if it means I have to take the emotional abuse. So I just put a smile and pretend."

The house phone rang when I walked in.  I picked it up answering the caller. "Daniel's residence. Tyreka speaking." I said into the phone but all I was greeted with was heavy breathing.

"Hello, who is this?" I asked ready to hang up.

"James." the raspy voice said. The boy from the deli

"So have you had any dreams lately?" He asked, my gasp confirmed it so he continued, "My last dream told me to find you." This piece of information threw me off guard.

My dead relatives spoke in riddles and always left me more clueless than the last and this guy, James, came along to tell me that his dream said to look for me.

"Can we meet tomorrow? I can't do this right now." I asked softly.

"No, it has to be tonight. Right now," he responded

"No. It's my dad's party and I can't leave. Tomorrow." Never in my life have I ever claimed Martin but at this moment I had to improvise and decline a meeting at night. I wasn't able to decipher my dreams in one sitting but I was smart enough to not meet a complete stranger at night.

"Fine. Martin is your stepdad but whatever." He said.

"How did you—" he hung up on me mid-sentence leaving me more confused than my dreams.

𝐈 𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐃 sitting up in my bed. Another night another dream. This one was no different. It was my cousin who died of cancer when she was five. She warned me of coming times and how I must run to my safety.

I walked downstairs to get bottled water from the fridge but stopped when I saw a figure move in the kitchen. I grabbed the plant pot that sat on the stairs and held it as a weapon.

I cautiously tip-toed down the stairs secretly praying the floorboards don't creak. I held my breath afraid to make a sound that might alert the intruder.

Goosebumps prickled my skin as thousands of thoughts raced through my mind as to how the situation would play out. I could end up shot or worse. I've never feared anything in my life but at this point, I was afraid of dying.

My mouth ran dry as I heard hushed whispers. I sprung from my spot to the intruder but my limbs froze when I spotted the boy from the deli and a few other people. I raised the flower pot higher.

"What are you people doing here? I will not hesitate to call the police." I said with my voice wavering slightly in fear, The boy from the deli, James chuckled softly crossing his arms

" You were going to beat us with a flower pot," he said gesturing to the pot. I scoffed and clutched it tighter

"I wouldn't have to if you people didn't break into my house." I heard a few murmurs of agreement.

"If my memory serves me correctly I asked who are you?" James proceeded to introduce them.

Lia was an average-height girl with blond unkempt hair that she wrapped into a bun. She seemed polite at first glance but appearances can be deceiving.

Nolan had an athletic and a buzz cut and tattoos on both arms. I would not have known that if he hadn't worn a no-sleeve vest that was too tight for his muscular build. He was way too underdressed for this cold night.

Dianne had a pixie cut dyed pink making her look like an actual pixie, she even had small pointy ears. She was possibly the same height as me and wore actual pajamas as if she had just been dragged out of her bed.

"Okay. Hello everyone but what I still don't get is what you all are doing here." I say after the introductions.

"James said someone else was having dreams here. So we tracked down your house and came to ask what your dreams tell you," Lia explained, her slight accent suggesting she was French.

"Tracking you wasn't easy," Nolan added with a small smile. "No social media, no friends. We basically found you through an article on your stepdad's successful career. Also, we need you to get your coat on and come with us."

My eyes widened at his words ignoring the fact that he brought up that fact i had no friends, it was hurtful hearing that from a stranger, "Go where. With y'all. Hell Nah. You must think I look dotish awa" I said with my Caribbean accent slipping a bit.

"You really don't have a choice. Look at me I have on freaking PJs." Dianne said for the 1st time tonight gesturing to her hello kitty-themed pajamas.  I nodded knowing she had a point.

"Tyreka? Is that you? What are you doing up this hour?" my mother's voice said at the top of the staircase. My eyes widened and my lips parted to speak.