Chapter 3: First Day
679 Words
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The sound ripped through the quiet like a hammer against glass.
“Allison, get up!” Auntie’s voice followed, sharp and impatient.
I groaned, dragging myself out of the fog of sleep. “Okay, I’m up—goodness…” My voice came out rough, barely louder than a whisper before I forced it stronger. “I’m up!”
Silence answered me, but I could still feel her presence on the other side of the door—waiting, judging.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed.
Instant regret.
Pain shot up the back of my leg the moment my foot touched the floor, sharp and hot enough to steal the breath from my lungs.
“Ow…” I hissed under my breath, clenching my jaw.
Right. The bite.
For a second, I just sat there, staring at the floor, debating whether I could just… not move for the rest of the day.
Yeah. Not happening.
With a quiet sigh, I grabbed a change of clothes from my half-unpacked suitcase and made my way to the bathroom, each step careful, measured.
The door clicked shut behind me, and for the first time that morning, everything was still.
I peeled off my clothes and slowly unwound the makeshift bandage from my leg.
The wound looked… different.
Less angry. Less deep than it had any right to be.
I frowned, leaning closer.
That’s not normal.
I shook the thought away before it could settle. I didn’t need one more thing to worry about.
Turning the water on, I stared briefly at the stream, and finally I stepped into the shower.
The heat hit my skin instantly, steam curling around me as I stood there, letting it soak in. But the moment the water touched the bite, pain flared—sharp and relentless.
I sucked in a breath, gripping the wall.
“Great,” I muttered. I lathered up the soap trying to scrub the previous night away.
By the time I finished, my skin was flushed and my head felt a little clearer, even if my leg still throbbed with every movement.
I stepped out, dried off, and carefully rewrapped the wound.
Still not as bad as it should be.
That thought lingered this time.
I dressed quickly—dark blue jeans that fit just right and my dark tie-dyed hoodie. Safe. Comfortable. Hidden.
Brushing through my damp hair, I watched it fall in soft, mint-green waves over my shoulders. My reflection stared back at me.
Gray eyes— dads eyes.
I looked away before the thought could take me to a dark place. My gaze dropped anyway, tracing over the outline of my body, softened and hidden beneath layers of fabric.
Everything I didn’t want to see, tucked away where no one else could either.
“Perfect,” I muttered, though there was nothing perfect about it.
I turned from the mirror before I could pick myself apart any further. The smell of something cooking drifted up from downstairs, pulling me reluctantly back into reality.
School. Auntie. New life.
Lucky me.
I made my way down the stairs, each step sending a dull reminder through my leg.
Auntie stood at the stove, her back straight, movements precise as she worked. She didn’t look at me when I entered. Didn’t acknowledge me at all.
I hovered for a second before grabbing a piece of toast from the counter.
“Your motorbike will be here in a few days,” she said, her voice cutting through the silence.
I blinked, caught off guard.
My motorbike?
I nodded anyway, taking a bite to avoid having to respond immediately. “Okay,” I mumbled around the mouthful.
She gave a short, almost dismissive hum and continued cooking, like the conversation was already over.
And just like that, the silence returned—thick, heavy, and impossible to ignore.
I leaned against the counter, chewing slowly, my eyes drifting toward the window.
Somewhere beyond those trees…
Something had found me.
And for some reason, I had the feeling it wasn’t done yet.
- Writer
