Finding Grace

Chapter 3

The rain has calmed down a bit but the wind was still roaring, walking home would be a task in itself. Car pass as i continue down the street keeping my jacket close to my body and my umbrella tight to my chest as the wind blows it in all directions. One slows down and lingers behind me, a strange feeling of panic sets into me not knowing why they are aren’t moving as fast as the rest. “Hey! Hey you, do you need a ride?” He yells. Looking over i see the same man who sat in the booth at the diner and the same man who stared at me through the window. His piercing stare gone and replaced with eyes that would give you whiplash. “ uh no, no thank you.” I mumble. “ you sure deary?” He yells back. “ I have the heat on and everything, I can take you home. I’d hate to see a pretty young gal like yourself to get sick or worse.” He quickly stops talking and grumbles to himself. “ no no I’m fine thanks,” as i pick up my speed and make a dash down the next street. Turning to only see him stop and look at me. Shaking my head i turn back and continue to head home. Not knowing whether he is following me or just trying to be nice. I take a short cut through the ally to try to get back home as fast as i can, not many chose to stay in the ally way since there’s not much relief from the storm, taking my chances i move so quickly and quietly down each on, there’s a totally of 3 i must cross without causing too much attention onto me. The first on is nice and early on one side is an old bakery and on the other is a flower shop, perfect if you ask me on warm summer days the mix of fresh pastries and tulips are heavenly, one of my favorite smells in this neighborhood. The second one is okay but on the weekends you’ll find teens hanging out playing games in between the little arcade and Mexican restaurant, the third and final little allyway is not dangerous that many seem to believe but since its behind an old medical building most like to spend their days selling and doing drugs. Passing the first two. Easily and constantly turning to see if I’m being followed i continue my easy home. Quick fast steps are being taken for the fact that it raining and that I’ve had too many weird experiences with old men today. Seeing the ally way end and laughing at myself for being a bit too overdramatic, a noise pops out behind me.

A can being kicked is brought closer to me, I convince myself its the wind but when another is kicked harder towards me i freeze, i can’t move as i sit and wait to see if i should make a run for it or if i should stay and see what it is. Not seeing anyone in the dark i taken a step forward. Maybe its just an animal.” I think to myself. “ Clank, Ugh!” Whoever I’d in the darkness moans. After hearing someone i turn around and make a dash to the main door of the apartment building. Not looking back not listening if he/she I’d following me. Reaching the main door i put in the number lock and book it inside. Climbing the stairs instead of waiting on the elevator i take 2 steps at a time to get to my safe haven faster. Getting to my apartment felt like forever, the anxiety running through me is a bit much that it making it hard on me to open my door as i get close enough to pop in my key. The door finally catches the key and unlocks. Throwing my keys on the counter I walk to the bathroom to survey the damage. Clean floors and dry towels lay right on the sink, “ wow, Mark must’ve came in while i was at work and cleaned up,” thinking to myself. “I didn’t think he would given how today was, i add. Something catches my eye in the corner, in a small pile behind the door are pants and a shirt, old gray navy pants and a black crew neck shirt. All wet and smelling of rancid milk.

“ ah s**t what the hell mark?” I yell in disgust

Why would he change in my house, why didn’t he take it with him? Deciding to give him a call i lean down to open the drawer and grab an small plastic bag to dump his clothes in. Reaching for the clothes the smell hits me more, gagging and trying to hurry up. I tie the bag and head to the front door calling him on my way out again. Only to get his voicemail again,

“Mark?! What the hell is the matter with you, why are your filthy clothes in my bathroom, I appreciate you coming and fixing the leak but this is unacceptable and borderline weird!” I yell into the phone.

“I was nice enough to throw them in a bag and toss them outside the door for you please come get them and don’t ever do that again, or ill call the cops on you for coming into my house without you verifying it first!” I say a bit flustered and heated.

Turning back into the apartment after tossing the nasty garments out i notice so much more out of array. As tiny as my apartment key be i like to keep it as organized as possible. Some pictures are switched and pillows are thrown all on one couch. The empty bottles of alcohol are all lined up on the small table, perfectly placed side by side. Walking to the bedroom to see if anything was moved or taken i see that the door is still closed. Hesitantly i reach to open it, turning the knob in my hand afraid on what I would find. Would Mark seriously go through my house? Would he go through my room? Did he take anything? Being as calm as i could be, I kept my mind on the main goal see if he went in the bedroom and then react. Maybe he was just cleaning the water that was dripping from the ceiling, maybe he was just trying to help. As i swing the door open i see everything is the way that i left it. Messy bed clothes in hamper and in the dresser, the closet door a bit opened but it never closes all the way. “Hmm okay, nothing seems to be out of order in here maybe he was just cleaning.” I question loudly.

Seeing as he just moved some pillows and picked up the bottles i just cough it up to be just him moving things around to clean up the mess from the rain.

Heading back to the living room i grab the empty cans and toss them in the garbage under the sink. I turn to the fridge and grab the left over pizza from last night dinner. Not bothering to heat it up i also grab a can of soda and move to go sit down on the sofa and watch some tv.

Turning it on i just put on whatever just to hear some noise. The rain outside drowning out the voices making me yawn, the lighting flashes and the thunder rumbles throughout the entire living room. The day catching up to me making me fight to stay awake. As a lighting strikes a shadowy figure catches my attention outside making my hair stand on end, a shiver racing down my spine and a lump coming to my throat. Standing up i see him outside my balcony the old man. I close my eyes and i look back up and he’s gone. He was there and now he’s not, is my mind playing jokes on me or was he really there? Bleary-eyed i walk forward and turn on more lights to get a better look. Nothing but chairs and plants face me. My heart racing as i calm myself down.

“Okay Kat, no one is out there.” I say shakily to myself. The old man is was just giving off creepy vibes but we’re okay i think. Wrapping myself up in the blanket and closing the blinds i go check all the doors and windows making sure they’re locked. Assuring myself that it was my imagination i turn on all the lights to feel safer. Turning the tv off all i hear are the whistles of the unforgiving weather. Chuckling to myself i turn the tv back on and try to forget what just occurred.

“Everything is fine.” I repeat “No one is watching you.” I calmly say.

Shaking my head I decide a nice hot shower would do me good. Getting up to go to the bedroom and tripping over the shoes i forgot to put away once i took them off. Picking them up as i go i toss them in the closet as i turn to my room. Opening up the dresser i pick out a simple Pj set with pink and white polka dots on it. Grabbing the towels from the hall closet and walking back to the bathroom. Moving the curtain to the side i turn the water on to the hottest setting to ease my muscles, my mind still on edge from the hallucination. Stripping down and hopping in wetting my body and gathering some soap for the loofa, i begin to wash the day away. Usually music would help sooth but the radio static would be too much to even try tonight. Lathering up my hair i hear a banging coming from outside of the bathroom. Quickly rinsing my self off, i turn off the water slowly trying not to make a sound. Wrapping the towel around my body and thinking how i can go to the hall closet to get the baseball bat in case someone is in fact in my house. Slowly opening the door i listen for any more sounds.

Bang! And a rattle come form the living room. Running toward the hall closet and quickly grabbing the bat i make my way toward the sound. The storm has seemed to pass the thunder and lightening sowing to a still. The rhythmic rattling and banging are coming from the balcony, slowly reaching toward the curtains i yank back them back only to find a riotous metal bar from the rusty safety ladder had partially broken and is swinging back and forth from the wind hitting my door.

Sighing in disbelief i turn and decide that’s enough excitement in my life for one day. Closing the blinds yet again i leave the baseball bat on the, sofa. I turn and call it a night.