The Waiting One

Night One - Before Life Changes (Alayria's P.O.V.)

Alayria turns back the covers of the bed in the guest room at Chanday's house then she looks to the closed door clenching her fists at her sides out of habit as her instant habit of locking the door takes hold of her. Then she jumps just about out of her skin feeling her feet come a couple of inches off the floor as a light knock sounds on the door.

'Y-Yes?' Alayria calls out in startlement.

The door opens slowly and Chanday peeks her head inside carefully then takes notice to the startled look on Alayria's face, and Chanday says apologetically. 'I didn't mean to startle you I just wanted to see if you need anything before I head to bed.'

Alayria slowly lowers her palm away from her erratically pounding heart then shakes her head, and she says. 'No, thank you. Allowing me to come stay here for now is plenty.'

Chanday frowns at her slightly then her eyes widen by a fraction, and she asks. "You are not thinking of going back to that house again, are you?'

Alayria shakes her head adamantly negative, and she answers honestly. 'Not to stay there, Chan, I just really need to get some of my clothes and the money I have hidden away. Then I can go to a Hotel and stay there until I am able to find a job.'

Chanday stares at Alayria as though she has finally lost her mind, and Chanday asks. 'What about School? Track?'

'I am going to have to take care of myself now, Chan, I know it sounds insane but I can't think of school and track right now at this point.' Alayria says as she stares into Chanday's expressive face. 'You don't understand, Chan, because you still have your Grandmother and Bry won't either because she still has both of her Parents. But, who do I have now? No One. I lost my Mother and my Stepbrother. I'm completely alone.'

Alayria watches as Chanday's eyes grow wide in shock that her friend never expects for Alayria to say such things to her with such emotion and after a long silent moment, Chanday gives a small sigh then says pleadingly. 'I get it, Ary, but please just try to sleep on it. Maybe after a good nights rest you'll change your mind.'

Alayria gives Chanday a soft reassuring smile then after they give each other a tight hug, Chanday wishes Alayria a good night then leaves the bedroom closing the door softly behind her. After Chanday leaves Alayria alone in the bedroom, Alayria slides into the soft comfortable bed pulling the covers up to under her breasts much too exhausted to even walk over to the door to lock it then she closes her tired eyes, and drifts off into a deep sleep.

She doesn't know how long she'd been asleep before she springs bolt right up in the bed screaming silently from the horrific nightmare she'd been having. The only sounds she can hear is of her erratically beating heart and her erratic breathing as her wild gaze roams all around the room searching every shadowy corner of the room terrified that something, or someone will jump out to get her at any second. After a few moments, she finally manages to get her breathing, and heart rate under control again but the one thing she can't erase are the terrifying images she has in her mind.

The entire horrific nightmare had felt so real to her. And she swears she can even now still smell the blood, and the foul scent of gun powder and it causes her to shudder violently with dread because she can't remember ever having a nightmare like this one before. The last time she ever experienced any sort of nightmares was after her Stepbrother Brandon had died, but those nightmares had never been like this one, nor did they make her feel so frightened. Hearing what sounds like a light tapping against the glass of the window at her right, Alayria places a palm over her own mouth to smother her scream.

Her heart is pounding so hard and painfully against her chest she swears the sound is echoing all through the dark, quiet room along with her quick, erratic breathing. She tries to keep herself very still as the only thoughts that continue to run through her terrified mind are; (Please, don't let it be Thomas! Please, let him still be locked up in jail!, Please, Please, Please, don't let it be him.)

Then with her trembling right hand, she reaches to her right very slowly and turns on the lamp on the nightstand next to the bed needing to squint her eyes from the sudden light as she slowly turns her head to look towards the window with her eyes still in a squint. She slowly lowers her hand away from her mouth, and releases a long shaky sigh when she notices that the tapping she hears is coming from a small branch from the tree outside of the window tapping against the glass of the window every time the wind blows. SHaking her head at her own paranoia, she releases another heavy sigh then turns off the lamp again before settling back down comfortably in the bed, closing her eyes again and hoping she doesn't wake again due to another nightmare as she falls back to sleep.

Unsure of how long she's been asleep this time, Alayria is abruptly awoken again only this time it's because of Chanday slamming open the guest room door causing Alayria to sit up with a loud scream, and Chanday says quickly. 'Shhhh, you'll wake up my Grandma.' Alayria glares daggers at Chanday while she lowers her hand down away from her pounding heart, and Chanday says apologetically. 'Sorry, I just needed to make sure that you're all right.' Alayria stops glaring to give Chanday a questioning look, and Chanday explains. 'While I was in my bedroom I heard something outside so I looked out the window, and I saw a man standing out in the yard....I think it was Thomas.'

Alayria stares at Chanday as her heart gives a huge painful thump of trepidation against her chest, and Alayria asks stuttering fearfully. 'A-are y-you sure it was him? I thought he was still in jail?'

Chanday stares back at Alayria then glances towards the very window Alayria had been looking to not that long ago, and Chanday finally says scraping her top teeth over her bottom lip. 'I am not really sure if it was actually him, but it was a man. A tall man at that.'

Alayria's body shudders with trepidation then she slowly slides out of the bed and walks to Chanday, and Alayria says in a low voice. 'We should check to see if he is still standing there and call the Police.' Chanday doesn't look too thrilled with this idea but gives a small nod of her head then they take one another's hand, and slowly creep over to the window the branch had been tapping against, and Alayria whispers. 'Where did you see the man standing?'

Chanday points a trembling finger in the direction in which she'd seen the man, and then they both cautiously peek out the window then release a starled cry when they see the man is still standing there watching the house. This is not the only reason both young women move quickly back from the window the other reason is due to what they both see the man is holding in his left hand completely out in the open just resting against his left side. 'That is a gun! Oh My God, Ary, he has a gun!' Chanday cries terrified.

'We need to call the Police!' Alayria cries out hysterically. 'Now, Chanday, before he tries to get in the house to kill all three of us!'

Without another word, Alayria and Chanday run hurriedly out of the guest room and into the living room but before Chanday picks up the receiver to the house phone, she says in a hushed tone. 'Take a peek out the window to see if he's still there.'

Alayria does a double take to stare and gape at Chanday like she has lost her marbles while Chanday waves her hand for Alayria to just check. Alayria narrows her eyes in disbelief as again she thinks to herself. (Sure, make me check to see if the gun wielding man is still just hanging out in the yard. He could have been sent here to kill me by Thomas for all you freaking know, and as soon as I am in view he'll shoot me.)

Then, on shaky legs and feet that feel like they are burning through the carpeted floor, Alayria very slowly and cautiously moves to the window in the living room by the couch while Chanday finally picks up the phone receiver and dials 911. Alayria slowly moves the curtain aside to look out the window to see out into the yard, and as soon as she does her gaze clashes with the coldest gaze filled with nothing but hatred causing her to stand frozen like a petrified tree as she just styares into those eyes while a deep nagging feeling of recognition grabs hold of her, and Alayria whispers to Chanday. 'Oh My God, i-it's him.'

'Huh? It's who, Ary? Who is it?' Chanday asks whispering back.

Alayria doesn't break eye contact with him. She begins to feel like she is like a Doe caught in a pair of glaringly bright head lights about to be run down, or in this case shot through a window, as she answers Chanday. 'I-it's that guy from school. The one that was sitting with you at lunch today.'

Alayria doesn't see the cruel smirk along his lips but she can feel it as she continues to stand frozen at the window and she doesn't look away, even as Chanday squeals loudly. 'WHAT? Are you sure it is him?'

'Absolutely.' Alayria answers without any doubt at all in her voice. 'Because he is staring directly at me this very second through this damn window.'

Chanday releases a trembling voice and relays the information to the 911 Operator while Alayria is still trapped in the man's cold glaring gaze until she is suddenly pulled back from the window almost causing her to fall on her ass, and she glares at her best friend Chanday, and Chanday says. 'I was told we're to stay away from the windows. The Police are on their way. They should be here any minute now.'

Alayria nods her head shakily while glancing towards the window again, and she asks nervously. 'W-why do you think he's here? D-do you think Thomas could have....s-sent him to k-kill m-me?'

Chanday wraps her arms around Alayria in a soothing sisterly embrace, and she says. 'I don't know, Ary, the better question is how Thomas would even know you would be here.'

Alayria doesn't have an answer for this question because she is wondering the same thing, and her thoughts are pulled from that when the sight of flshing lights through the window catches her attention. So, Alayria and Chanday go outside to meet with the Policemen who show up about the man with a gun in the yard, and as soon as they come outside they both notice the man is gone, and realize that they now both look like two paranoid young women who decided to call 911 for no reason at all. After both girls give their statements though Alayria can see that a couple of the Policemen are a bit annoyed that they had to come out to a possible prank call both girls are permitted to go back into the house and told to lock the front and back doors.

Once inside the house again, Alayria and Chanday see Grandma Marie is now awake as well but before either can explain what is going on, Grandma Marie says. 'I will get you both a cup of hot chocolate it will calm your nerves, and help you to get to sleep.'

Chanday gives her Grandma a small apologetic smile while Alayria only nods her head silently while her mind races with a zillion questions as to why that guy had been just standing outside Chanday's house in the yard, and a billion more scenarios as to what could have possibly happened had Chanday not seen him before he could have gotten inside. Alayria and Chanday sit down on the couch neither attempting to say a word since both are lost in their own fearful thoughts, and Alayria smiles in thanks as she accepts the hot chocolate then takes a tiny sip though she doubts she'll be able to get back to sleep again since her mind won't stop all the terrifying thoughts.

As she sits there just staring at nothing at all completely lost in her own mind she comes to the final decision that she is going to return to the house of hell just long enough to pack a suitcase with some of her clothes and sentimental belongings, grab her money she has hidden where Thomas would never find it, and get as far away from this town as she can.