The Alpha

Ten

Every time I close my eyes there is just another scenario of Edric getting beaten, hurt, killed, taken. Making it impossible to sleep. Waking up in cold sweats, plus racing. Every time I reach to check my phone and still nothing from him, I can see that it is delivered, so how come he isn’t answering me? Has something happened to him? Is he okay? All horrible thoughts and scenarios playing in my mind.

“Snap out of it Phoebe. He’ll be fine, you know, probably hand one too many drinks. That’s all, no need to worry.” I say to myself trying my best to calm my jagged breaths and thumping heart beat.

Going back to lying down I pull the covers tightly over me, closing my eyes and hoping for sleep to take me. Sadly my wishes weren’t granted.

From tossing and turning all night I woke with my body aching from my head all the way down my spine to my hips, my knees and to my ankles.

“Ooh not today” I say currying back under my covers hidden from sight. “Wait, what about Edric !”

Whipping the covers off me, getting my foot caught in the sheets making me fall lat on my face. With a huff I free my foot and rise up and I rush out the door to his bedroom only to see that the bed hadn’t been slept in.

“Oh no”

“Edric?” I call from outside the bathroom gently knocking on the door.

Nothing.

“ I am coming in so you better be decent!” Kicking the door open eyes squeezed shut I heard still no response or any running water. Opening my eyes I see an empty bathroom.

“Edric!” I shout as I rush down the stairs.

Nothing. No answer.

Having searched the entire house I go back upstairs and pick up my phone from my nightstand. No new messages, we’ll at least not form Edric.

Where could he be?

Seeing the time I quickly get ready and shot some shoes on before picking up my bag and the house keys.

Sprinting down the street in the corner of my eye I see something no sorry some one familiar. A navy blue coat, those shoes that he went on and on about and his sandy blonde mop of hair a mess on his head.

“Edric ?” I whisper under my breath as I halt to a stop and make my way across the road. The man turned around looking at me with his sea green eyes.

It’s him! It’s Edric!

“ Edric ! Oh you had me worried. Where were you ? Why didn’t you answer your phone?''nothing. No recognition in his eyes. Coming to think of hit his eyes no longer hand a spark; they look more dull than normal.

“ Edric, are you okay ?”

No answer still. “Its okay if you did some drugs with your friends I won’t hold it against you I promise.”

“ Come on let’s get you home.” I say as I reach out to link our arms. Only for him to freak out and start swinging his arms around, slapping me on my right cheek.

“Edric! What’s wrong ? It's me Phoebe!” Pleading with him I reach out to grab hold of his wrist.

But he didn’t stop but he did talk in a harsh raspy voice that was not his. “Who are you ? What are you doing? Get away from me! Freak!”

“ What Edric, it's me, your little sister Phoebe.“Come on Edric, it's not funny I need to get to school.” “ You can tell your friends that I fell for this okay just stop.” “ Please” as a hard lump in my throat swells and my throat starts to feel like it's shrinking. Tears blur my vision as I beg and plead with him.

But nothing his cold hard stare of his eyes drilled into me making a shiver sliver up and back down my spine leaving unpleasant tingles. I felt like something was tightly wrapping itself around my neck.

“Edric?”

I reached out again but this time he pushed me back and ran off.

“Edric!”

But I was too late. He was off sprinting like his life depends on it away from me.

“Edric, wait come back! Please? Don’t leave me …”

With nothing else I can do I run after him but lose him as the street begins to cut off in different directions.

“Edric …”

Panting for breath I bend over resting my sweaty hands on my knees.

Beep ! Beep !

Came from the side of me on the road.

“Phoebe are you alright ?”

Looking up I see Harley and Leah and Tabby with Harley driving a range cover. With her window rolled down.

“ Yeah I am fine, I am good. Just you know thought that I would start the day with a morning jog.” I say panting between breaths.

“Oh okay. Well, do you need a lift to school or are you planning on running?” She says with a smile.

“ Oh no it’s fine”

“ No problem, just get in we are all going to the same place anyway.”

“ Sure .”

“Great.” Her smile grew bigger.

Getting into the car Leah sat in the passenger seat next to the driver and Tabby sat in the back taking the other seat in the back. I buckle up.

Deep breaths.

To say the least, the car ride was as awkward as any.

At school.

“Hey Phoebe wait!”

“We are in the same class first right? Let’s walk together.” Harley says not waiting for my response she links our arms and we open the double doors to school and down the corridor.

Great, just great .

“Oh look, let's take these seats!” Harley says enthusiastically pulling me to a desk near the back at the cited wall window.

“ These are the best seats here. Trust me.” She says. “Come here, don't be shy.”

Sitting in the seat next to her just before the doors open again and other students start flooding in and the bell rings.

“Right today class..” Mr Hunter started the history lesson.

I didn’t even have time to go get some honey nut clusters.

My belly started rumbling. Oh god I didn’t even have breakfast. My day just keeps getting better and better.

Not fully able to pay attention due to Harley sitting next to me and kept talking and with my mind replaying the since form this morning of Edric. I hope he’s okay. I wounded what happens to him? Why was he acting like that ? Where did he run off to? Why did he run? I wish and hope he comes back home safe and sound.

Intuiting my thought pattern the bell ring out.

“Alright that’s all for today, remember I want that mock-up essay by next lesson.”

Wait mock-up essay ?

“What’s the essay on ?” I ask Harley

“ Oh just on the 1920s America and the Wall Street crash / Great Depression. Like the rise and fall .”

“Oh okay thank you.”

“No worries.” A sweet smile on her glossed lips.

“Hey Phoebe, why don’t you come sit with us at lunch, yeah ?”

“Yeah cool.”

“Don’t forget.” She says pointing her perfectly manicured nails at me and she walks in the opposite direction in the hallway after we excited the classroom.