It Happened So Fast

Weird

  Arriving at the front door which bore the same address details as precisely as per mentioned in the sticky note by Mrs.A, I double checked not wanting to handover the key to our future to an actual thief.

Ding-dong!

Alex rang the door bell stepping next me as we together waited until the door opens.

"Who is it?"a gruff voice came from the other side whom we assumed as Mrs. Aubrey's husband.

"We are from the library, sir. Mrs. A asked us to handover these keys to you," Alex answered in a professional way.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Come in girls," We listened to the shuffling of foot steps from the other side. Him apologizing made it look bad. Wasn't he informed by Mrs.A about our arrival? Seconds later was the door opened as Mr.Aubrey offered us in.

As soon as I stepped in, the coziness from the house stuck a feeling of nostalgia within me. Shrugging off the feeling we went further inside to meet a willowy man with a fragile body-just like Mrs. A, who was returning back to take a seat in the settee next to the door.

"You must be Mr.Aubrey,"I directed my statement for confirmation towards the man, who was reaching for his wine glass shakily. Speak about, will of the wisp.

"He is me,"he nodded briefly before paying his sole attention to the drink that sat surprisingly stable around his pale, bony hand.

"We came here to handover the keys Mr.Aubrey." Alex reminded probably noticing how going batman is time consuming---especially when there's old people involved.

"I know Missy," Mr. Aubrey chuckled rather bitterly. Placing the wine glass too carefully on the table next to him, he straightened himself up," It's too dangerous outside for young lasses like yourself to be wandering around this neglected neighborhood."

Dangerous as of robbery dangerous or murder dangerous? It's either Mr. Aubrey is suffering from senile dementia or that Mrs.Aubrey is being herself by putting our lives at risk. This is probably why they have no off springs.

"Is this a marked area for robbery or something? " I questioned

"Robbery?!" Mr.Aubrey let out a short laugh,"it's far worse than robbery. You never know what would happen to your soul the next minute." The sneer from Mr.Aubrey got my feet already dragged towards the door.

I wondered if it was just me who heard Mr. Aubrey's warning since Alex pointedly stared at the old man as if wanting to hear more. My very own heart thudded at the sight of my childhood friend who appeared to be less startled, plastering a well I-give-no-two-shits facade.

I quietly prayed, hoping Alex would drop her act of curiosity for god's sake.

"We'll take our leave now then. Have a good day Mr. Aubrey," Alex finally spoke as I dashed towards the exit after bidding good byes, finding my happy dance the least option tonight.

He nodded and waved his scrawny hands,"You too girls. Careful on your way."

"Okay that was weird," Alex said once we got inside the car.

Sighing in relief, I closed the door,"I thought it was only me who heard Mr.Aubrey. Why the hell did he even say something like that?"

"Something doesn't appear to be right in this area. Anyways we have to be more careful," Alex stated, taking in Mr. Aubrey's warning.

By the time we hit the main road, the background started to darken. It wasn't just the grey skies or the dim lights from the lamp posts. My eyes scanned every detail we were meeting with when going further and further: the town was spotless with neither people nor sources of light emitting from the houses, all were dull-like and vacant.

Is this some pre-midnight getaway?

Some serious crap is going on and I swear I don't enjoy even a bit-- obviously.

"I don't like this, why is it so quiet? Why aren't there any people?" Alex mirrored my thoughts as she shared the same face as mine-- Pale with glinting eyes of fear.

I glanced at my wrist watch, its only 8:15.

Decidedly I stayed quiet letting my heart settle to a steady beat although the alibi seem impossible.

Out of blue we heard a loud bust from somewhere around the car to which me and Alex responded with a loud scream like those girls in Horror movies. I gripped my seat belt tighter as if my entire life depended upon it because the car began swerving with tires screeching sharp against the smooth asphalt. I tried my best not to panic Alex since she was the woman behind the wheels who I was quite sure would turn even violent than the situation if I kept on screaming for life. Alex stepped on the breaks harder managing to tame down the beast. However the Audi came to an awkward stop after puffing out black smoke for two dragging minutes.

"W-What was that?" I stuttered uncontrollably taking hard breaths. 

"I'm heading out to check. Stay put," with fast hands Alex undid her seat belt. Everything around me appeared fast: my heart beat, the deafening silence, the creepiness and most of all Alex's reaction speed.

"A-Alex what are you doing...stop. Don't Go!" I yelled at her in a whisper to the thick, tensed air as I found it hard to let my voice out. Gripping her wrist I struggled her to her seat, trapping her in place.

"Ellie,"She hissed,"what's the point of staying in the car? Let me go check what it is. Plus its just a visit from here to the back." Alex jabbed her thumb to the rear windshield. 

My silence earned a scoff from her,"It's not like I'm going to run down the road leaving you in here."

Before I could even voice my opinion, Alex has fled out to the scene.

Okay Ellie you've got your courage. Chill up and get your retarded ass off from the car. If Alex can so do you.

I glanced at the side mirror to see Alex standing at the left side of the car looking down at something. The chill of the night was already fogging the glasses which made it hard to figure out at what she was directing her eyes upon.

After taking a long deep breath followed by my contemplating mind, I burst the car door open. No it didn't go as the same like in movies since my palms were sweaty although I expected it halfway. Accurate.

I saw Alex pacing from one corner to the other behind the car. Sensing my staggering feet nearing her, she looked up at me. "It's a flat tire. I don't recall passing any stations nearby too." Sighing she questioned,"What are we gonna do?"

I'm the kind of person who sucks at answering the specific question of 'What are we going to do?'

I closed my eyes realizing I'm going to freak out in 3..2..1 "We are stuck in middle of who knows where.There's no telephone reception in here and this city is like abandoned; no people at all. I repeat there's not a single freaking person dam-damn our luck because this too had to happen at night! We are so in trouble. Trouble means we are going to die." To describe the situation I was throwing my hands up to the night sky scolding to who knows, like a person who has taken a ticket to an insane roller-coaster ride.

Once I was done with my 'freak out' session, everything was quiet around except for the sounds of the crickets and owls. Crickets, Owls and bats are probably harmless creatures but for goodness sake they are absolutely haunting at night.

To all the horror movies in my head, I demand you to disappear!

Alex gave me that look which apparently shoot me with the string of words-'you are a freak.'

"What?"

"If your done with your rambling, lets go" Alex stated with a sighed.

"Go where? Inside the car, sur-"

Alex groaned cutting me off in the process,"Ellie we are going to leave the car and walk towards our lane."

"Are you crazy? In middle of the night how are we supposed to go on the road? This is not a familiar road too. And Hello," I waved my hand in front of Alex's face, "There are no people at this time which clearly says that something is going wrong in here. Isn't it pretty obvious Alex."

Alex huffed twice. This is a natural sign of hers which indicates she's pissed off.

"Ok Ellie, first of all calm down and then understand that this is not a situation where we should freak out but try to figure out how to get out from this eerie place, you hear me?" She asked sternly.

My eyes lighten up, "Why don't we stay in the car all locked up and in the morning we'll get help from someone or maybe we could go in search of Mr. Aubrey."

"Seriously Ellie?" Alex rolled her eyes.

What's wrong with my suggestion?