Phantoms of Fourteenth Avenue

A sudden bang shook me awake and I busted my eyes open. For a moment, I wasn't sure where I was until I felt the burning pain on my face. I took my hand and rubbed my face until I felt something wet. Suddenly shaking, I pulled my hand away from my face and saw blood. I was bleeding. The comprehension of what was happening hit me like a nail and I bolted up straight. She was in the house. I swung around and noticed that Luke was gone. Luke! No longer caring about my own life and safety I ran out of the pantry and stopped just outside the kitchen door. Weird, grunting and moaning noises pulled my attention to the front door. Ryan. I ran through the foyer and kneeled down by his side. Blood! There's so much blood. I stared at Ryan's pale face and he was drowsily looking at me. The scene was horrific. I wanted to tear my eyes out so that I never had to look at that again but, I needed to stay focused. "Ali, you need to run." Ryan forced out with a gurgling noise that made my heart stop. -The present. Standing in front of a concrete porch that I noticed was painted a charcoal gray at some point, only to be chipped off and flaky now, lost by the years of neglect. This house looks small but there's something… something out of place about this house. Was it the chipped red painted corrugated roof? The way the outside of the house was painted different shades of yellow? Maybe it's the front yard that has tall grass that hasn't been mowed in a while, with a lemon tree standing lonely to my left. How did I even end up here at the age of twenty five? I mean, I've been living quite a simple life, with my parents and two sisters who were scattered all over the country at this point. I guess that's what happens when we all grow up and start living our separate lives. Starting college was something I was so excited about. My nursing degree, done and dusted. Only to end up in front of this worn down house, suitcase in hand, ready to basically be a maid for an old lady who has no one to care for her. I looked back at the gate that surrounded the yard. It reminded me of the kind of flimsy gate you would encircle a pool with. I turned around, lifted my suitcase and walked up the concrete steps. Gravel and dirt crunching under my white sneakers as I closed the distance between myself and the old wooden door after walking on the dirt filled path. All I have to do now is ring the buzzer and start this tedious adventure. I looked up at where the doorbell would have been. It was removed, with only the loose wires sticking out. That's not very safe, I thought, furrowing my eyebrows. Looks like I'm going old school. I drew out a hard sigh and hesitantly knocked on the door. Maybe it's not too late to turn around and go back. I didn't want to do this in the first place. I was sent here from the agency I signed up for because I needed money. But, I didn't sign up to be a babysitter for an old lady who apparently can't even pee without a catheter. Beggars can't be choosers, I guess. No one approached the door so I had to knock a second time. No answer. I turned and walked around the front of the house, peering through the windows, trying to figure out why no one was opening. "You know it's rude to snoop around other people's houses?” someone behind me said. I gave a small shriek, grabbing my chest as I spun around almost losing my balance, breathing heavily. I looked up after the initial shock and locked eyes with a young man, peering at me with suspicion. He stood there, clearly been on a jog with the outfit he was wearing and the sweat that was gathered on his forehead. He looked at me with his dark blue eyes, huffing out breaths while rolling up his earphones. "I… I'm sorry… I'm from the agency, here to look after an old lady that lives here” I said, tucking my dark loose curled hair behind my ear. "She has a name you know.” he said looking at me annoyed while taking the bottom of his shirt to wipe off the sweat from his forehead, revealing his stomach and chest. Wow! I thought, this guy is really good looking. Abs that would make any girl swoon. There are really six of those! I thought, looking at his abdomen. “All of you, who has to look after this ‘old lady’ treats her like she's just an assignment” he continued, clearly annoyed while tying his shoelaces, looking up at me through his beautiful black hair. “I'm sorry…. I, I didn't mean… “ I tried to defend, getting interrupted before I could finish a sentence I wasn't even sure how to end. “Save it! You won't last longer than a week anyway. None of you do! So, before you try to exchange pleasantries, just keep in mind, you are here to look after ‘the old lady’” he said with what seemed like anger seeping through. Why would I only last a week? I looked down at my assignments folder trying to remember the name of the woman that I have to care for. Grace. That's her name. Feeling uncomfortable and obviously ashamed for having to look for her name, I looked up at the young man who seemed to be in his mid twenties and around my age as he stood up from a crouched position, after tying his shoes and continued “Anyway, I'm her grandson. I'm the one who is forced to show yet another one of you around. Come in.” He walked up the concrete steps lazily and opened the front door. He held his strong arm against the door while giving me space to enter. I entered the house, taking my big suitcase. I'm going to be here a while so I packed enough clothes to last me at least a month. The suitcase suddenly felt very heavy. Was it because I was now dreading this more than I had before? This gorgeous God of a man, though impeccably stunning, was incredibly rude. Maybe he wouldn't stick around. Maybe he was just here to show me around and leave me be. I shuffled to the side, holding my suitcase up with both my hands, strain clearly showing on my face, so that I could give him space to enter as well. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. I looked up from my suitcase. On my right, I saw a brown wooden wall piano with keys that were stained a light yellow, obviously an old addition to the house. To my left there was an arch leading to what seemed to be the living room. It was dark and the smell of mold filled the air. When was the last time someone opened the windows or at least the dark, heavy maroon curtains? It was furnished with three material couches and a Television on the left and a dining room table to the right. Most of the furniture seemed antique. Probably what you would expect from the elderly. They weren't exactly known for keeping up with modern times. He gestured at me to follow him. I shuffled behind, leaving my heavy suitcase as the old wooden floors under my feet creaked with every step I took. We entered a doorway that led to a hallway on my right. He gestured to my left. “this is the Kitchen. You will prepare meals here.” He said bored. “Everything you need is in the cupboards blah blah blah” he continued, clearly annoyed that he has to explain this for what seemed to be the tenth time. “Let me show you to your room” he said as he turned to his right. I stood in the hallway that stretched all the way to a door. There were two doors to my left and two to my right. One of whom I had already confirmed as the living room. This house seemed bigger on the inside. The ceiling was very high. Most houses built more than a hundred years ago had these high patterned ceilings. It was quite beautiful to look at. But something I would have to admire later on. “This will be your room” he gestured to his right and opened the door for me to enter. “Get settled in and we can continue later on. I have some tasks to complete and I'll come get you. If you want, you can wander on your own. It might save me some explaining and I can get to the task at hand… My Grandmother Grace.” he sighed, closing the door behind me before I could answer. I huffed out an annoying breath. Why is he so rude? Is he always like that with strangers? Is he just annoyed because he had to explain this again? I looked around my new room that was quite small, but in a cozy kind of way. It had white painted walls and one bed against the right side of the room, while the left side of the room had cupboards and closets stretching and covering the whole wall. A lot of storage space. Neat. I walked back to the living room, grabbing my suitcase and suddenly a shadow flashed out of the corner of my eye and caught my attention. I looked up startled. What the hell was that?