Checkmate

Haunting Past

Andrea is running helplessly in the woods looking for help anything that could save her from those blue eyes. But she can't find help there. That monster is right there chasing her and is getting closer and closer to her. Andrea tripped over a rock. She tried to get up but it was too late now. Too late to hide from his gaze. Too late to runaway from the monster because the monster got hold of her with the same wicked smile on his lips.

Andrea woke up with a scream. She started panicking but then she looked around to find herself in her room, in her own bed. Blake came running inside the room because of her scream.

Blake asked "What's wrong Andy? Did you again have one of those nightmares?" While he embraced Andrea in his arms. Since that incident he and all of her family have been trying to help her fight the trauma but Andrea still has those nightmares. Blake feels helpless to see her like this. He has been friends with Andrea since they were 10 years old. He has loved her since the time he first understood the meaning of love. Finally last year he gathered the courage to propose her and she said yes. It's been almost a year now since they are leaving together in their apartment in New York. Andrea has always felt safe in her arms. She knew Blake will always everything for her to protect and love her.

Andrea looked at him and wondered that having Blake in her life is a blessing. Blake was caressing her when finally Andrea gained her calm. She looked up in his dark brown eyes which were filled with worry for her and answered "I had one of those dreams again. And this time I saw he caught me. I couldn't hide. I couldn't run. Everything looked so real that I can't even get it out of my mind."

Blake held her close and replied "It's okay now you're safe here. It's been 3 years since that incident and they have been punished you know it. There's no way they can come here ever again."

Andrea knew Blake was right it has really been 3 years since she met those two boys and everything that followed. They were punished by death penalty because it turned out they were wanted criminals for a very long time. Andrea had attended the trials herself and knew everything about the proceedings. But somehow she just couldn't let go of everything that happened that night. It has been haunting her years now. She suffered insomnia and depression and with the help of Blake and her family she has finally managed to get back to her life. But these nightmares were a constant part of her life now. Though with time they did get less but every now and then she has them. Andrea just couldn't forget those blue eyes and that perfectly wicked smile. She has moved out of that city and she knew in New York it is almost impossible for something like that to every happen again. So she decided to let go of the nightmare and start her day on fresh note.

Blake had already prepared breakfast by the time Andrea finished getting ready for work. She was working as a teacher in a high school teaching English and she loved her job. Everything in her life was perfect and she couldn't ask for anything more. She sat down to have breakfast with Blake and saw he's made everything that she likes. There were sausages and bacon and her favourite cheese sandwich. Blake sure did know how to cheer her up.

Blake dropped her at her school on his way to his work. Blake was working for textile company.

Blake asked "You're gonna be okay right ?"

"Yeah I'm fine. It's just sometimes the nightmares get to me. But I'm gonna be fine." she replied

"Okay babe. Take care do you want me to pick you up after work today ?"

"No it won't be necessary I'll get a cab home you don't worry." Andrea assured

"Okay babe. Bye. Love ya. See you at dinner." Blake said

"Bye Love you too" Andrea got out of the car and Blake took off.

Andrea was greeted by the students on her way to the staff room. Her students used to admire her not only for her beauty but for work and dedication too. She was one of the youngest faculty yet one of the most dedicated person. She was always inspired to become a teacher and now it feels like her dreams came true.

It was her last class before the break when she noticed that one of her student's has not been attending classes for quite sometime now. It wasn't very likely for anybody to be absent for so long without any notice. She decided to ask the other classmates if they knew anything.

"Does anyone of you know what happened to Mia?" she asked.

One of the classmate's replied "We don't know what happened to her. She hasn't been in touch with anyone of us and we cannot even contact her. She just notified us once that she's just sick and going through treatment. That's all."

Andrea was worried and decided to check up with the office regarding Mia's absence.

The corridors were empty because everyone was in the cafeteria during the break. She made her way to the office. The lady Mrs. Smith looked up at her with smile and asked "How can I help you Miss Stewart?"

"I'm actually here to enquire about a student named Mia Benson."

"Miss Benson well as far as I know she was sick and undergoing some treatment but that's all that was notified to the school office." Mrs. Smith replied

"Uh... Okay anything else Mrs. Smith ?" Andrea enquired

"Nothing that I know of Miss Stewart." Mrs Smith replied politely

"Okay. Thankyou Mrs Smith" Andrea thanked her and was on her way back to the staff room when she suddenly bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry I didn't..." she was about to apologize when she looked up at the person she bumped into. But the moment she looked up she lost all her senses. She couldn't even complete the sentence and she stumbled back.