Lilianna's Light

Aunt Fae

I drove until the gas light came on, with no real destination in mind. My parents are dead and it has something to do with me. Questions swirled through my mind. Who is Malcom? How did he know my parents? How did he get in the house without tripping the alarm? Why did he kill them? Was it just to get to me? What does he want with me? And what was that light anyway? How did Malcom get flung backwards by it? Even if it was adrenaline, which I doubt it was, that didn't explain the light. And the most important question of all, should I call the police? Every rational part of my mind screamed yes but every time I reached for my backpack to dig out my cell phone my stomach knotted with fear and I thought about that damned light again. Saying things like that wouldn't exactly make me seem like I was of sound mind.

My swollen, watery eyes focused on the road in front of me and for the first time since leaving home, I took in my surroundings. I had turned onto the interstate subconsciously, a habit formed exactly 2 years ago on my 16th birthday when I was finally old enough to get a serving job, and I kept driving straight. It is now 7:15 AM and the sun is shining brilliantly overhead so I feel safe enough to stop and fill up. I flip on my blinker to let the morning commuters around me know that I need over and quickly make my way to the farthest lane on the right. I am surrounded by office buildings, stores and different fast food restaurants so there has to be a gas station right off the next exit. I can fill up quickly and immediately get back on the interstate.

As I pulled onto the exit and started to press the brakes I realized that I know where I am. The gas station directly in front of me was a staple of my childhood. My parents and I would always stop there for gas and a bathroom break before making the 45 minute drive through the city to get to the quiet, suburban town where my Aunt Fae lived. Memories of her safe, gated, heavily monitored and code-protected community assaulted my brain. The car rolled to a stop at the intersection and as I waited for the light to turn green I unzipped my backpack and reached all the way to the bottom for my purse and dug around for my phone. Hopefully Aunt Fae still has the same phone number, I haven't talked to her in about a month and that was plenty of time for her to have lost or broken the phone she had. Everytime something happened to her phone she replaced not just the phone but the number as well. It used to annoy me to no end but it was just another trait of hers that I'd grown used to at this point.

The light turned green before I could find my phone so I gave up and drove straight forward into the gas station parking lot and up to the closest pump. I put the car in park, shut it off and re-locked the doors after they automatically unlocked when the car turned off. After a quick scan of my surroundings I grabbed my backpack and began pulling the clothes out and throwing them in the passenger seat. It didn't take long before the purse was exposed and I could easily locate my phone. I grabbed the phone then reached inside the brown paper bag for a $20 bill. I put both in my lap and packed all the clothes I'd pulled out back inside then zipped the bag and threw it in the passenger floor board.

Just as I was reaching for the phone in my lap, it rang. A picture of me and my best friend, Ava, filled the screen. Pain shot through my chest as I realized she was probably standing outside Crestview High right now with a small box of double chocolate cupcakes in one hand and a present in the other. We had done the same thing every year since we were old enough to use an oven. Birthday cupcakes for breakfast is our tradition.

I want desperately to answer her call but the minute she hears my voice, Ava will know there's a problem. She will ditch school and drive to my house, thinking it's anxiety over the exam this afternoon that's making my voice quiver with fear. It's better to just let the call go through to voicemail, she'll think I overslept and can't answer because I'm racing to get out the door as usual. I cut my volume down to vibrate and shove the phone in the pocket of my jacket. Ava always calls 2 or 3 times before giving up and just waiting for me so I might as well go ahead and get gas before trying Aunt Fae's number.

After a quick glance around me I pulled the keys from the ignition and grabbed the money from my lap before opening the car door and half running to the store, clicking the lock button on the key fob twice until I heard the honk of dad's car that signaled it was now locked and armed. The doors slid open automatically and as I stepped inside I was enveloped by the strong scent of fresh brewed coffee. The smell alone did wonders for my fuzzy thoughts so before heading to the counter I poured myself a cup and stirred in the right amount of sugar and creamer before grabbing a lid. I made my way to the counter and the lady behind the register smiled at me, clearly concerned as she took in my swollen eyes and patchy face.

"Will that be all for you dear?" she asked with a small, concerned smile.

"No ma'am, I also need the change from this $20 on pump number 1, please." I said as I handed her my money, my voice much quieter than I wanted it to be but she heard me nonetheless.

"You got it. Would you like a receipt? " she asked. She hit a few buttons and the drawer sprang open. She put my money in and closed the drawer before looking at me intently.

"No ma'am, thank you though" I said, sounding slightly more normal this time, and I picked up my coffee before turning to leave.

My eyes took in every detail as I walked from the store to dad's car. I wanted to run again but no one was even looking in my direction, not like that did anything to soothe my anxiety. I sat my coffee on the roof of the car and opened the little door that covered the gas tank, dad's gas cap has a lock on it so I fumble with the keys for a second before finding the right key to unlock it. It seems like it is taking hours to do just these simple tasks but I know that's just my fear of Malcom slowing down time and not me actually moving at a snails pace. After putting the nozzle into the car and starting the pump I once again look around me. People are coming and going like they normally would, not paying any attention to the puffy faced, blonde haired girl at the very first pump.

It takes about 2 minutes before the pump shuts itself off and as quickly as I can make my body move I return the gas nozzle to it's resting place, screw the gas cap back on, slam the little door back into place, grab my coffee and unlock the doors so I can dive in the car and lock the doors behind me. I feel only slightly safer inside the car but it's better than being out in the open, with only my feet to carry me away from the danger. I put the key into the ignition and turn, needing the car to be running even though I can't leave yet. I still need to try to call Aunt Fae.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and unlock the screen. Pulling up my contacts takes longer than I would like because my hands are shaking so hard I keep pressing the wrong buttons. I take a deep breath and breathe out slowly, trying to slow my racing heart and stop the shaking. I take a big gulp of my coffee, burning my tongue and my throat on the way down. Painful, but effective. I put the coffee down in the cup holder and put both hands on my phone, steadying the phone just enough that I can tap the contacts app and there, 2nd line from the top, is Aunt Fae. I tap her name and hit the call button, crossing my fingers and hoping that she had managed to keep a phone alive and with her for more than a few weeks as it rang once.

"I'm supposed to call you on your birthday, Lilybell, not the other way around" her musical laughter filled my ears.

"Oh Aunt Fae!" I gasped, my eyes filling with tears again. "I was hoping this was still your number!"

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice now filled with concern.

"I'll explain soon but right now, I need your address. I'm pretty sure I know where I'm going but I can't afford to get lost right now. I also need the code for the gate." I said in a rush.

"Wait you're here?! Lilianna..." she paused. "I'll text you my address and the code now. You'll also need to tell the guard who you're here to see, and he'll ask you for my password. It's a new security measure they added recently. The password is 'Lilybell'..." she trailed off and I smiled at her password choice. Aunt Fae had never had children of her own, for reasons I wasn't quite sure of. She would have made an amazing parent if the spoiling and doting on me was any indication of her parenting style.

"Okay, thank you so much Aunt Fae, I love you and I'll see you soon" I said.

"Lily wait!" she said before I could hang up. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm not hurt if that's what you mean" I said, my voice shaking.

"Oh my baby" she sighed "I just sent the text, be careful and I'll see you soon. I love you." she said

"I will, Aunt Fae, and I love you too"