Panic Attacks // Ruel // English

Chapter 34

I wake up and gasp. Another nightmare. My hands rub my face before I put them on the bed behind me. Leaning on my arms, I watch the light of the moon shine through the windows. It is still completely dark.  Everywhere. Even the lights in the hallway are off. I check my phone and see it is half past three.

I get out of bed and gently walk into the hall. I pass the door that leads to Ruel's room and pause. I gently open the door and look inside. He is lying on his side, with his back to the door.  I can now choose to wake him up, but I won't.

I walk down as softly as possible, put on my shoes and look for my skateboard. He must be standing somewhere in this dark hallway.

I take my phone out of my pocket and leave a message for Ruel if he wakes up earlier before I get back.

Hi don't be scared. If I'm not back yet, I'm skateboarding somewhere. I could no longer sleep and had to get out. Call me if you need me.

I take the spare key from the tray and close the door softly behind me.

The road is dark. Sometimes lit by a number of lamp posts or the light coming from houses. But the moonlight isn't bright enough to light everything around me.

I zigzag across the road towards Port Jackson. There are always many lights to be seen there. From Cars, buildings, different lamps. It has a different atmosphere than if you drive past it during the day. I often find it more pleasant in the evening.

I arrived in the center and it is now almost 5 o'clock. Most shops are still closed, but I am thirsty and forgot to bring water.

At the end of the street I see that a small supermarket is open. I pass a man who is reading a newspaper in front of the doorway. Unconsciously I seem to recognize the scar on his hand. I just can't remember who it belongs to. But I haven't seen him in person for a very long time. I know that. But when I turn to take a closer look, the man is gone. Not in the store, not in front of the store. He's completely gone. I get a bad feeling inside but continue to the cool shelf. Then grab a bottle of water and pay.

Yasmine: "Did you know that man who just read the paper right here?" I ask the man behind the counter.

He looks outside for a moment, but the man from a couple of minutes had already left.

Vince: "I think I know who you mean."

He looks around the small shop. I think to check if there is really no one there. I frown my eyebrows and look around.

Vince: "Okay. This man, I don't know his name, comes every night at the same time. Half past five. Often alone. Then he reads the newspaper and sometimes I hear him ringing. Or watch the TV to watch the news. But sometimes he comes with someone else. Once a week a girl comes in. About your age. I hear them talking about some Mr. Gray. Something about an acquittal. But they speak so softly that I can barely hear it."
Yasmine: "Wait, what does she look like?" I try to ask calmly.
Vince: "Um, she's shorter than you are. Has blond wavy hair up to her shoulders. Always comes in black."

Suddenly Grace comes to my mind, but why should I suspect her of this. The description is very similar to Grace. But her style is very vintage. She hates the color black. What should Grace do to that man? I don't know if I can convince myself it's her. So what? I can't do anything with this if I wanted to. I'm not even sure if they mean Austin Gray.

Yasmine: "Okay, thank you. Would you mind for me."
Vince: "Sure sweetheart."
Yasmine: "My name is Yasmine by the way." His look is shocked. I turn to see if something happens to be behind me, but there isn't.
Vince: "Hi ... Vince." He says shakily as he reaches out his hand to me. I already knew that because it was on his nameplate, yet I shake his hand.