“Jeepers!” I turn around in a flash, and so does Kiara, both looking as if we’ve been caught red-handed stealing the crown jewels from the queen herself.
Startled I stand frozen, his voice echoes into the abyss of what seems to be a black hole in my head. There, for sure as hell, is no brain in there at this moment, just a gap of nothingness.
Kiara hides the dooming picture behind her back, trying to slip it into her pants before he sees anything. Damion cocks his head to the side, pulling his brows together. I’m still a marble statue, cold and stiff, but I know he’s waiting for an answer.
“We … uh …” Kiara stumbles over her words; I look at her and she looks back, biting her lip.
“Kiara came to see her gynecologist. Menstrual problems,” I blurt out hoping my quick thinking will save the day and also in the same instance get back at her about the sex comment.
“Okay …” he says hesitantly, “And?” Flip. What can I say?
“And … eh … you should know that … eh … ” My mind is working overtime to come up with something … anything.
“That she got a job offer in South Africa.” Kiara finishes and lets out a deep sigh-breath while I’m still holding mine.
“South Africa?” He seems confused, but hell, so am I. What freaking job? I’m still studying. But then he plants a kiss on my cheek.
“We’ll talk about it tonight. I have to go, or I’ll be late for my appointment. My monthly checkup for STDs and such.” He drags the last part out sarcastically as he winks at me. I’m totally off balance.
He doesn’t know that the little joke about his dick making me sick, is actually a reality … just not in the way he thinks.
“Maybe you should pick up some free condoms while you’re there,” Kiara blurts out softly, rolling her eyes at the ceiling, “Just to be sure, you know.”
Damion frowns awkwardly at her and I give her an elbow in the ribs. It’s not as if she doesn’t deserve it.
We wave at him uncomfortably, waiting for him to disappear around the corner before turning to my friend. I take a deep relieved breath when I realize I’m still holding it in, I need to remember I’m breathing for two now.
“And what was that?” Kiara looks around, not knowing exactly where to focus or what to say. Then she smiles and pulls my arms through hers so we’re walking side by side.
“I’m thinking about replacing my BFF with a more tactful person,” I mumble and she just scoffs.
“So, you’re telling him tonight?” Kiara is relentless, and I guess he does have a right to know. And at least I’ll know where I stand … a much better situation than this uncertainty.
“We’ll talk tonight, I promise,” I say while unlocking my car. Kiara grabs the keys.
“You’re pregnant, so I’ll drive!”
Before I can say anything, my phone vibrates. There’s a message from D again. With a sigh, I open the message and almost choke on my spit.
D Stalker: It’s time!
Kiara leans over and reads the message.
“Time for fucking what?” Kiara asks and puts on her seatbelt. I pull up my shoulders … I don’t have a clue.
“Maybe South Africa is not such a bad idea after all,” I say thinking about how I can throw D to the lions.
“Maybe we should introduce him to Chloe and your ex,” Kiara snorts. “Then he, his sister, Ren, and she can form one big happy crazy stalker club.”
“Now, won’t that be a crazy orgy?” I giggle. “Can we buy a big bottle of wine?” She glares at me as if I’m stupid, “I just want to smell it,” I add.
“I think the baby is eating your mind.” She’s eyeing me as if she’s looking for any sign that I might turn into a zombie. Not finding what she needs, she starts the car.
“I can’t wait to see that badboy’s face when he comes with you to the next sonar.”
“If he’s still alive after my brothers got the news that he knocked me up.” I struggle with the stupid radio, it just doesn’t want to connect to my phone. Waiting for the traffic light to turn from red to green, Kiara hits the radio with her hand, hoping it will connect to Bluetooth, but no luck.
The sound of crunching metal and screeching tires fills the air, and the car snaps and jolts up. The safety belt rips painfully against my shoulder as it keeps me back. The car twirls in a circle. I see the phone flying from my hand and through the air as if in slow motion.
The car rolls onto its side and tumbles over and over again. My stomach plunders into my throat each time the car hits the ground, just to gut down again when the car flies as if weightless through the air for another turn. We get tossed around like rag dolls by the centripetal force from the circular motion of the rolling car. My arms instinctively drape protectively over my stomach, trying to keep the blows away, even after a sharp pain shoots through my wrist.
I scrunch my eyes tight, waiting for everything to settle. And then it’s over – no movement, no sound, just the smell of fuel, fear, and destruction. My eyes pop open and catch a glimpse of Kiara’s wide scared pain-filled orbs, mirroring mine. I’m still trying to figure out what happened and how, when someone kneels next to me, injecting something into my neck. I keep my gaze on Kiara, her eyes huge but hazy, blood running over her face. It gets blurry and darkness swiftly overwhelms me.
Date = 21 January
Place = San Francisco (Haunted house)
POV Melaena
The little boy holds out his chubby arms, raven black hair in serious need of a comb, the face of a little angel, sinlessness exemplified by big green eyes highlighted against thick dark lashes – an image of perfection.
He smiles at me and the dimples in his cheeks deepen, a small finger wiggles for me to follow him. He runs too fast and I’m lost in the dark.
“Mommy!” The toddler appears, smiling at me. Then his eyes turn hazy, fearful, as claws reach from the shadows to pull him toward the darkness. I run forward, frantically, as if knowing I’m his only hope. His hand grabs mine, but slowly it slips from my grip and he gets pulled further and further away until he’s entirely engulfed in the blackness.
A hand covers my mouth, obstructing me from shouting, and I get dragged down the hall, away from the dead of darkness that swallowed the boy. I struggle to get away from the hands that are pulling me. I need to save my kid.
“Melaena, let him go. He’s not mine.” It’s D. I’m frozen.
“NO!” I yell.
“Melaena!” I can’t see his face but the voice sounds familiar.
“Melaena!” Someone is shaking me. “Open your eyes. You’re dreaming.” I blink my eyes a few times and then lift my stiff aching body into a sitting position. It’s dark, the only light coming from a small window, boarded up with planks – no glass. I’m lying on a bed, a hard lumpy one. I put my feet on the ground and the bed squeaks like hundreds of baby rats looking for food. The eerie sound sends a shiver down my spine. Was I dreaming? Why did it feel so real … so familiar?
“Eventually, bitch. I thought you were never going to wake up,” Kiara scolds me but her voice is hoarse and soft and I can hear the anxiety bubbling out. I blink my eyes again, trying to get them accustomed to the darkness. I make out her figure, a spooky shadow in the dim light.
“Kiara? Where are we?” Before she can answer little arms grab me around my neck, throwing me off balance. The grip is so tight I’m almost choking.