by M. K. ROZE
Another couple of nights of sitting around waiting on Constin to contact me drove me mad, so I texted him and told him to never talk to me again. After I sent it, it made me feel sick, but I wasn’t about to keep a jerk like him around. I was sure Maria was right about him dating another woman.
Sleep was eluding me from the wild animals that kept fighting every night. I called the animal control out to my house to set up traps, hoping they would catch them that time.
My phone woke me up mid-afternoon. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi honey, are you okay?”
“A little better. What’s up?”
“Are you ready to go back to school? I’m afraid you won’t graduate because you’ve been missing so much.”
I could hear it in her voice that she was worried.
I sighed. “I’ll go back.”
“Are you sure? Why don’t you come back here and live?”
“No, Mom. I’m just fine here. You told me you would pay the rent until I’m back on my feet.”
“I know we did, but I still don’t think you should be in that house alone.”
I ended the call and slammed my hands on the bed. After I calmed down, I sat up, thinking of what to do. I knew I needed to go back to school or lose everything.
I staggered over to my closet, stopped at the mirror, and I looked at the dark purple patches under my eyes. Feeling ugly, I walked into the bathroom and frantically dug into my makeup bag for the concealer. After applying three layers, the purple faded, and I no longer resembled a zombie.
Thursday, I went to school. It was horrible, but I managed to make it through the first couple of periods.
In my next class, I glanced over to where Kaylee used to sit, but this time I managed to control my emotions and listened to the teacher speak. When class was over, I walked down the hall to my next period, and someone tapped me on my shoulder.
I turned around and looked up at him.
“Love the contacts,” he said, smoothly.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
He ran his fingers through his blonde hair and stared blankly at me with his big brown eyes. “California.”
“I thought people from California are tanned.”
“The sun and I aren’t friends,” he said, meekly.
I chuckled. “That sounds like something I’d say.”
“That’s because intelligent minds think alike.” He winked.
“Oh, so what’s up?”
“I’m new to this school. Would you be a doll and show me where the cafeteria is?”
“Um, sure, follow me,” I said. “Are you sure you're young enough to be here?”
“Yes, why?”
“No one calls people names like that around here, especially kids our age. Plus, you look like your over twenty.”
“I get that a lot. And I was raised to treat a woman with respect and call her what she is. You look like a doll to me.”
“Thanks,” I said and forced a smile. What a player, I thought.
“What’s your name? Or would you rather me call you Doll?” he asked as we walked.
“Viata is fine.”
“What’s gotten you so upset?”
I rubbed my forehead. “Nothing, just a little headache.”
“Sorry to hear that. Well, I’m Latore.”
We came to the entrance of the cafeteria.
“Here you are,” I said. “Nice meeting you.”
“Thank you, Viata.” He took my hand, ready to kiss it.
I pulled it away.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“No worries.” I backed up, turned around and started to walk off to my next class.
Five minutes later, Latore came in and sat next to me. “Are you stalking me?” he muttered flirtatiously.
I shot him a dirty look. “I was here first.”
Latore slumped in his seat. “Do you feel like showing me around town after school?”
“I already have a boyfriend. Maybe you should find someone else to show you around.”
Latore leaned over. “I don’t think you do,” he whispered.
I pushed him away. “What the hell, weirdo?”
“Is something going on back there?” the teacher asked.
Latore ignored her, got up and headed for the door. He turned to me, winked, and walked out.
I fell back in my seat offended.
After school, I grabbed my backpack and drove to a nearby library to catch up on homework. After three hours of studying, I walked outside to my car and had to hold my hair back from the strong wind. I looked up to see if a storm was coming, but I couldn’t see any clouds, and the full moon was brighter than usual.
As I was getting into my car, a hissing sound came from the woods in front of me. Usually, I would jump into my car, but this time I walked into the grass and over to where it was coming from. Using my phone for light, I looked all around but didn’t see anything.
“Viata,” Savina’s voice whispered.
I gasped, backed up to the front of my car, and kept my eyes on the woods in front of me.
“Viata,” Savina said but much louder. It sounded like her voice was everywhere.
“No. This can’t be happening again.”
I slid along to the driver’s side door, as I kept my eyes ahead, frantically feeling for the handle. I jumped in, locked the door, and leaned over to the passenger seat to get my mace. My head jerked back, leaving a chunk of my hair stuck in the door.
I tried pulling it loose, but it was stuck. “Dammit!”
The hissing sound came again from outside the window and was much louder. I tried to yank my hair free again, but the hissing intensified, so I started the car, revving the engine to scare off whatever it was. When the hissing stopped, I could hear my rapid breathing and the sound of footsteps coming from the roof of my car.
“Leave me alone,” I shouted.
Loud growling and what sounded like claws were scratching the roof. I slammed the clutch down, stepped on the gas, and gunned it backward. Something yanked the part of my hair that was caught in the door, causing my face to smack the driver’s window. Unable to move my head, I slammed on the horn while placing my foot on the brake to prevent the car’s backward momentum, leaving me no time to find neutral. The car jerked and stalled.
A menacing laugh came from above me, then it pulled my hair again, causing me to screech in pain. Something black and huge flew out of the woods and attacked whatever was on top of my car. After a long time of roaring and hissing, it finally stopped.
I looked around, but no one was there.
“Hold on, I’m coming,” a man called out.
Someone knocked on the driver’s side window, but I was unable to turn my head to see who it was.
Latore stepped in front of the car. “Unlock the door,” he said.
“No. Let my hair go now,” I shouted.
I didn’t know if it was him messing with me or what.
“Viata, I don’t have your hair. It’s caught in the door. Open it to free yourself.”
I unlocked the door and hurried out of the car. “What the hell. Was that you?”
“Viata, what are you talking about?”
“You didn’t hear that loud growl?” I walked around the car to see if anyone else was there. “And how did you know I was here?”
His eyes followed me. “No, I didn’t see or hear anything but your screams. As for me being here, I needed books for a test I have.”
I leaned over the trunk with my head down on my arms. I thought that perhaps I fell asleep again and my pill didn’t work.
“Maybe I’m just tired.”
“It seems that way.”
I stood up rubbing my eyes and got back into my car.
Before I could close the door, Latore leaned down with his shirt hanging loose, showing off his muscular pecs. “Try to get some rest,” he said.
I looked forward. “I will. Thank you.”
I closed
the door, making him move out of the way.
He tapped the hood of my car. “Drive safe.”
I nodded and pulled away.
At home, I got out and looked at the top of my car. There was a large dent and claw marks.
I ran inside and paced back and forth, thinking about what just happened.
I decided to text Liam.
Hey, I know it’s late, but do you feel like coming over?
I sat down and waited for him to text me. My mind was racing a mile a minute. Someone’s after me, I’m sure of it.
The vibration of my phone on my lap made me jump. It was a text from Liam.
Sure, I’ll be there in twenty, do you need anything?
Me: No, just need a friend, but thank you.
Liam: Okay. Be there shortly.
I sighed with relief then tossed my phone on the couch next to me. I turned on the TV, trying to find something funny to watch to take my mind off all the craziness. I flipped through the channels and stopped when I saw an alert for twenty-three missing people in my area.
The doorbell rang causing me to jump. I got up and answered the door.
“Hey, are you okay?” Liam asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t like being alone. Come in.”
“This is weird being here with Kaylee gone.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Sorry for bringing it up. So, what’s up, why are you so scared?”
“Something scary happened tonight.”
“What?”
After I told him we walked outside to look at my car.
“I think it was those wild animals fighting,” he said.
“What about my hair?”
“You probably freaked out and thought something pulled it.” He touched the deep scratches on my car. It does feel and look like the same marks on my Jeep.”
“Oh, my God! Do you think it was the same animals that killed Kaylee?”
He shrugged.
“Did you hear about all the missing people that disappeared in the last few months?”
“Yes, that’s crazy. Maybe aliens came down and took them.”
“Liam, you’re messed up. This is serious. What’s going on around here?”
“I wish I knew. Come on. Lets’ go inside.”
As we walked back in, Liam stopped and turned to me. “Being that Kaylee is gone, do you need a roommate?”
“Are you serious? You? I don’t think my parents would approve of that.”
“Viata, come on, you’re eighteen. You can do what you want.”
A faint growl came from across the street.
I grabbed Liam’s arm. “Did you just hear that?”
“Yes, it’s probably a mutt.”
“I hope so.”
“So, what about me moving in?”
I shut the door and locked it. “If I did allow this, it would be strictly roommates and nothing more. And none of your girlfriends are allowed in my room either.”
He looked down at me, tilting his head. “I’m sorry about that. She liked your room better. And I know where we stand.”
I smacked him playfully. “Ew. I’ll sleep on it.”
“Okay, so what are we watching?” he replied.
“Nothing scary.”
He walked around the couch and sat down on the other loveseat across from me.
After we watched a comedy, I got him a blanket. “Good night.”
“Thank you, Viata.”
“No problem.”
He sat up and took off his sweater, displaying his muscular body. I couldn’t help but stare.
“What? You’ve never seen a shirtless black boy before?”
I rolled my eyes. “Have a great night.”
Not as panicky that Liam was there, I lay in bed but kept the bathroom light on. I tried to remember in detail everything that happened to me. In the end, I thought Liam was right about the wild animals but did wonder about Latore and if he was stalking me.
I turned on my side and closed my eyes. When something touched my leg, I sat up in bed and saw it was Liam.
I groaned and threw my head back on the pillow. “I just fell asleep.” I rubbed my eyes. “What time is it?”
“It’s 6:30. Get up for school.”
“I was just there.”
“Suck’s, I know, but we will graduate together. Now, come on. Get up.”
I moaned, got up and walked him to the door. “Thanks for coming.”
“No problem. So, when am I moving in?” he asked me with his perfect cute smile.
I grinned and lightly pushed him out the door, slowly shutting it. “See you at school.”
“But you were supposed to sleep on it.”
I closed the door slowly. “I’m still sleeping. I’ll tell you later when I’m awake.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
LOSING MY MIND
I went to my parents’ house for Aunt Jessica’s memorial. It was just as sad as Kaylee’s but worse because she was my aunt. While there, Mom introduced me to a couple of friends of Aunt Jessica’s, who happened to be psychiatrists too. When one of the women walked away, I started to talk to the other one. She was an attractive, slim-faced brunette in her late thirties, with a natural smile that lit up her face.
I told her that my aunt was helping me with my sleeping disorder. She handed me a card and told me to call her if I needed to talk to someone.
Latore and I became friends after the night he helped me. He wasn’t that bad after all. He asked me out, but I told him I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, even though he was a looker and all the girls wanted him.
Kaylee and my aunt’s death kept on replaying over and over in my head. It was horrible. I thought about Constin to take my mind off them, but it only made it worse. I still wondered why he disappeared on me. I had two pills left and no more refills. I didn’t want to see another doctor, but I wasn’t about to dream or have any more visions again if I didn’t have to.
Liam kept pleading with me to let him move in the day after he slept over. I finally said yes, but we agreed that Cujo would remain at his mother’s house because he had tried to attack me.
Liam kept to himself and seemed to respect my wishes. It was great having a man around to take out the garbage.
Mom asked me to call my aunt’s other friend, Dr. Dalca, who was at the memorial. I called her receptionist and made an appointment for the following day.
At school, Latore greeted me at the entrance, as he usually did. “Hey, Viata,” he said, with his cheeky smile.
“Hi,” I said and walked past him.
He walked up to my side. “One of my friends is having a Valentine’s party downtown tomorrow night. Will you go with me?” Latore asked.
I stopped in front of my classroom and turned to him. “You have tons of women to choose from. Why me?”
“You’re the one I want, Viata. No other woman can offer me what you have.”
I pushed him gently. “You’re such a player.”
“I’m no such thing,” he said, smiling.
“Sure, you are, and a good one at that.” I rolled my eyes and used my backside to open the door.
“Is that a yes?” he said, as the door closed, causing other students to gawk at me.
“I’ll think about it.”
After school, I left and drove back home. Liam was watching TV on the couch.
“Hi,” I said, as I kicked my shoes off and lay down on the other couch. “Damn, I’m tired.”
“Yeah, me too,” Liam replied.
“Remember I told you about Latore from class?”
“Yup. How could I forget?”
“Funny. Anyway, Latore asked me to go to a party with him Friday night. Should I go?”
“Sure, if you want to be around a bunch of dudes drooling over you and trying to get into your pants.”
“I’m an average girl, and he seems cool.”
He sat up. “You’re way prettier than most and much more unique.”
I smiled, but I could hear the jealousy in his voice.
“Do you want to come with me?”
He sighed. “Nope, that’s all you. I’ve been there, done that already.”
“Okay,” I replied, and dropped it, knowing it was making him upset.
“Night,” I said and walked to my room.
I woke up and saw a note sitting on the nightstand. It read: Happy Valentine’s Day. Sorry about my attitude last night, Liam.
His sweet note put a smile on my face.
After I took a shower, I left. Keeping my appointment with Dr. Dalca turned out to be more challenging than I’d expected. Her building was in a newly developed area, so it didn’t show up on the GPS. It took me a while, but I eventually found it.
“Hi, I have an appointment,” I told the receptionist.
“Ms. Vandell?”
“Yes,” I replied with a smile.
“Please fill out these forms, and Dr. Dalca will be out shortly.”
“Thank you.”
I sat in the soft chair and filled out all the paperwork. There were so many questions about my life and medical history that by the time I filled it out, my hand began to spasm and go numb. When I finished, I walked back over to the receptionist and gave her the completed forms and my insurance card.
I waited another twenty minutes, shaking my leg nonstop until the doctor came out.
Dr. Dalca opened the door and approached me. “Hi, Ms. Vandell—or would you prefer Viata?” she asked. Her soft voice was almost musical.
I stood up and shook her hand. “Viata will do just fine.”
“Okay, Viata, please step into my office and make yourself comfortable. I will be there shortly.”
I walked into the room and sat on a burgundy love seat in front of another chair. Her office had stone walls that reminded me of Bran Castle. Behind her glass desk, books lined the wall and statues of all different types of animals sat on shelves.
Dr. Dalca came in and sat in front of me, looking over my paperwork. She adjusted her glasses and raised her head.
“How have you been since I saw you at the memorial?”
“A little better.”
“Good. I’m glad you called me. So, what brings you here to see me? Is it the dreams and headaches you’re still having?”
“Yes, and I need more pills. I only have one left.”