The Grey's Curse

Chapter Twenty Five - The Phone Call

*A couple days later*

After the awful 'hallucination' at the fair, I was plagued with even more nightmares, just this time it gave me a new variety of different horrifying situations.

'Goodie'

But thankfully for whatever reason it gave me a break tonight, which was both relieving and suspicious but I was happy as for once in what felt like years, I wasn't having a nightmare; I was cozily wrapped up in my warm blankets, the room was peaceful and I could hear the crickets chirping outside and the-

"Hey Mars" I yelped and jumped up, startled awake and saw Tanner's smiling face looking down at me "Tanner?! What the heck are you doing here?! And how are you in here?!" I whisper shouted 'If Grandma finds him in here, I'm dead meat' he smiled at me innocently.

'Innocent my butt'

"I couldn't sleep and plus I wanted to make sure you were okay so I came here!" He opened his arms in a grand way with a charming smile.

"Oh and also you didn't lock your window, you should probably start doing that, never know who could climb in here" I deadpanned at him "I'm on the second floor.." he shrugged and sat down on a stool I had near my vanity table "So, ladders exist ya know?" I shook my head at him with my brows pinched together, still not fully comprehending how he lugged a ladder around for a few miles.

"You came all the way here, with a ladder, sneak in and all because you can't sleep?" He nodded with a smile "Yup! Well that and I wanted to see how you were doing" I sit in silence and stared at him.

"I mean, that's nice of you?" I was still so confused and being abrupt woken up didn't help either. he nodded with a smile "Yeah, I know" I rubbed my eyes and laughed sleepily.

It was then that I realized that he was holding something behind his back, making me quirk an eyebrow at him "What are you hiding behind your back?" He chuckled and grinned at me sheepishly.

"Well uh, I felt bad about what happened at the fair and I wanted to get you something" he slowly revealed the mystery gift and I couldn't stop the small gasp when I saw the gift and made grabby hands at it "The llama!" it was the same exact llama plushie I was so determined to get at the fair.

"Thank you Tanner" I smiled and held it close to me "I really appreciate it" his smile was practically shining bright in the dark room "It was nothing" he shyly scratched the back of his neck, looking away from me making me giggle.

"Anyway uh, what have you been up to?" He was trying to change the subject 'Who knew he could be so bashful?' I shrug and look around "Nothing really, oh wait, I think I made Grandma think I'm crazy or just going through a 'phase' so there that" his eyes widened "Really? She said that?" My shoulders slumped as I sighed. 

"Yeah, pretty much, but whatever this is, is neither a phase nor is it a mental breakdown, it's way too real and frankly I don't think I can make this stuff up" he absently nodded, looking lost in thought.

"What exactly is happening? I just know that you were super off that night at the fair" I let out a harsh laugh "it's a looong story" but of course he didn't take that for an answer and I couldn't help but finally tell him everything that was happening to me and around me, including the monster.

By the time I was done he had a dazed look in his eyes "Woah, how long has this been going on?" He snapped out of his daze and looked mortified, especially when I told him what had been happening with the nightmares, the glowing eyes, and always feeling watched.

The sad thing is I was just glad that he believed me and didn't think I was crazy.

"Awhile, it was the reason for me being in the hospital before meeting you" he leaned back on the chair with raised brows and wide eyes "Wow" he muttered lowly "That's crazy, not you I mean the thing-monster guy situation" I chuckled "I know, it does sound crazy, it took me awhile to actually accept that this was really happening" it felt so good to this off my chest and not be talked to like a child or feel crazy for talking about it.

"That's why I got freaked out at the fair, it was horrible" he gazed at me with saddened eyes and his eyebrows set in a concerned expression "Did you tell your mom about this?" For once he was hesitant about his question and I looked down at the mention of Mom.

"No, I wanted to but I wasn't sure how she would react and she was gone a lot so when weird things would happen she would just brush them off" he nodded slowly with a small frown.

'If she knew something was wrong she would tell me right?' I could see light coming in through the window 'Wow, is it already morning time?' It felt like we had just began taking about this but apparently it had been at least an hour to two in a half hours.

My phone started ringing loudly and I cringed at the loud ringing and quickly answer it without looking at the caller ID "Hello?" I could hear keyboards and muffled voices in the background "Hello, is this Maria?" I looked over at Tanner and shrugged "Yes, this is she" she was quiet for a moment and the only noise was the keys of a computer.

"We called to inform you that we have your mother in custody, she is currently at the hospital, she put up a fight when she was arrested and had already existing injuries when they found her" my eyes widened and I felt chills begin to form.

'They found her'

"How is she? Is she okay?" Tanner looked at me mouthing "Your mom?" I nod with tears in my eyes "We don't know the full extent, she's still getting checked at the hospital but as far as we know she had a few scrapes and bruises" I felt all the tension leave my body at that.

"Can I go see her?" She went quiet but I could hear whispering her whispering with someone "I'm sorry but I'm afraid not, she needs to be questioned soon" I clenched my blanket tightly.

'Of course I can't see her'

"What did they say?" Tanner was looking at me with worry when I slowly turned to look at him, stunned at what happened "They found my mom, she's at the hospital" his eyes widened and he looked about as shocked as I was "How is she?" I covered my phones speaker.

"They said she's fine but she has scrapes and bruises" he leaned back on the seat with a small smile "At least they found her" I nodded absentmindedly, once again hit with another thing I could barely comprehend.

"Can we-or you visit her? Are they allowing that yet or?" He trailed off at the end, getting quiet when I gloomily shook my head no "No and we'd have to get through Grandma to leave" Grandma had made abundantly clear to me that she didn't want me to get in contact with Mom, the bad blood between them made me curious as to what fully happened, the hatred they have for one another is too much just for one instance happening.

He stood up and walked over to my window with his hand on his chin "What time does your Grandma wake up?" I glanced at the clock on my nightstand "In about two hours, why?" He looked at me with a sly look in his eyes "Well I saw we go on a little trip and talk to your Mom, you want to talk to her right?" I immediately nod.

"Of course I do" he had a glint in his eyes that screamed mischief "Then what are we waiting for? plus she may know something about your creepy stalker thing" his tone was steady as if it was that easy.

"IF she even knows about it and we still don't know how to get to her, the police department still won't let me see her" he taps his chin with his finger before snapping his fingers "I got it! She's at the hospital right now right? Let me handle the talking and I'm sure we'll get in contact with your Mom" his sure tone was reassuring.

I bite my lip, contemplating our actions "You know what? Okay, let's do it" he thew his fist up in the air victoriously "Alright! Let's go!" He opened the window and rushed to climb down, I went to follow him but stopped when I looked down and realized that I was still in my pajamas.

I stuck my head out the window, seeing him using his hands as fake guns as if he were a spy.

"Hey wait, I have to change first!"