I Know What You're Afraid Of

Chapter 26

*Did you think it was over??? so did I, but here we are.*

Marianne

   I walked into the room, looking back over my shoulder to see that the door had disappeared. There was no going back now. I looked around and I was pleased to find everything was exactly how I left it. The sheet on the bed were all messed up and wrinkled from sleeping, the clothes were still on the floor where I left them meaning my mom hadn't walked in, otherwise she would have picked them up. The only thing that was different was the book on my night table.

   I walked over to get a closer look at the cover. It read, 'I Know What You're Afraid Of'. I had never seen it before. Curious, I picked it up and began to flip through the many pages. One word - more specifically, one name - caught my eye. It was my own name. It appeared on almost every page, along with all the other's names. I recognized them all. Ricky, Brad, Sydney, Gina... Miles. I remembered. That was good. How it all happened was still unclear. I had a feeling I may never find out. I flipped back to the first page and read the first line. 'It was quiet, apart from the distant sound of birds sining a soft tune.' I could still hear it.

   I heard my mom's footsteps nearing my room, probably coming to wake me. I checked to clock. 9:17am. She'll be surprised to see that I'm awake this early. She knocked twice before entering the room.

   "Oh, you're already awake." She said, though it came out as more of a question than a statement. Usually she would have to bang pots and pans to get me out of bed. Little did she know, I have barely slept in days. Or however long I've been gone.

   "Mom, what day is it?" It had been about a week for me.

   She gave me a skeptical look. "It's Tuesday...? Yesterday was Monday." It had only been one night? "Are you doing okay?"

   I put on the best fake smile of my career. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not used to waking up this early." I lied. Fortunately for me, I was pretty good at lying.

   She nodded slowly. "Okay. Well, come downstairs, I have some excited news. Bacon and eggs for breakfast." Her bright smile faltered as she glanced around my room, her gaze landing on the pile of clothes in the corner. "Maybe tidy up a little."

   "Sure." I smiled, watching her leave the room. "Alright." I mumbled to the empty room.

   My mom was in the middle of assembling my plate of food when I made it downstairs. She looked excited; basically bouncing on her feet. I walked over to the table and took a seat facing her, that way, I could keep an eye on her to make sure she didn't knock anything over with her 'amazing dance moves'.

   She walked over to the table and placed our plates down. I took this opportunity to ask her about her sudden giddy mood. "What's got you in such a good mood?"

   "Well," She began, dragging the word out. "I have some exciting news. Sometime this month, we are taking a trip down to the quarry. JJ will come home, we'll have a picnic, go for a swim. You can invite a friend if you'd like-"

   "Mom. Don't you remember what happened last time?" She couldn't have forgotten.that trip scarred me for life. I had to live through that twice now and I almost died the second time.

   Still, she just stared at me like I was crazy. "Last time? When were you there? We've never been." What? That can't be true.

   "I-uh," I could barley speak. "I must have been dreaming then. Forget I said anything." That must have been the point of the game. Once you overcome you fear, it's gone for good. That's what you get out of it. What about Brad and Gina? Are they really dead?

   "Alright, well, that's not all," She took a deep breath. "I am going to Maine this weekend to visit a friend," Maine? Then it hit me. Miles lives in Maine. "Your sister can't come because she's going to that cottage with her friends, and your dad has to work. I was hoping you would come with me?"

   "Yes!" She jumped at my sudden outburst. "I would love to come with you. Wouldn't want to stay here all by myself." I tried to hide my excitement to no avail. Thankfully, she didn't ask any questions. Really, I shouldn't get my hopes up. I might not get to see him at all, depending on my mom's plans, and also the fact that I don't exactly know where his house is. Even if I did, I can't just show up. 

   But maybe. Just maybe... I could see him one last time.