Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)
The next time I woke it was morning and Libby was waking me up with a cup of tea.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I looked at her through blurry eyes and saw that she was all ready for work, which could only mean one thing ...I was most definitely late! RJ would be here any minute! I jumped out of bed and raced towards the bathroom but Libby stood in my way.
“What's the rush?”
“I'm going to be late, how come you didn't wake me sooner?” I said with a croaky voice from last night's “Sob-a-thon.”
“Because I thought you would want to sleep in, as it's a Saturday!” Oh. I must have been more confused last night than I thought. I assumed when Sophia had said “See you tomorrow” she had meant in class but she had really meant in work.
“Oh yeah so it is but you’re dressed for the office?” I stopped rushing to get ready and went to sit back down on the bed to drink my tea. Meanwhile Libby was picking up some clothes and putting a pair of my shoes back in the wardrobe.
“I'm sorry, I know we were supposed to spend the day together but this client is breathing down my neck to get this job done and if I do a good enough job on this one, then I might have six other show homes, so it’s a big deal.” She smiled with enthusiasm but also looked guilty as well.
“It’s fine, I have loads of studying to do and plus I'm thinking while the storm's passed I will take advantage of the dry weather and go for a walk.” I needed to go and clear my head after last night and I couldn't think of a better cure.
“Ok, but tonight I will make up for it, we will order some pizzas, pop some corn and watch a girlie movie.” I laughed at her take on an American accent. I loved the sound of spending some quality time with my sister, so when I told her that I couldn't because I was working she looked hurt.
“I'm sorry, but hey I'm off tomorrow, let's do something then, ok?” She nodded and added,
“Ok, but I still think it's all too much, all this work for college and the club... you’re going to collapse.” She was a little bit right. If I didn't get some decent sleep soon I was going to drop.
“It's only until I have enough to get a car and then I will cut some of my shifts, besides I can't expect you and Frank to keep chauffeuring me around back and to.” I held up my hand to stop her from continuing with her protests.
“I know you don't mind doing it but I do, it's not right that you have to keep picking me up at such late hours and plus I don't want to push my luck with RJ.” She admitted defeat and gave up.
“Ok I will see you later, try and relax today, take it easy ok?” I replied with a “Scouts honour” and saluted.
I spent some of the day catching up on college work and ‘trying to relax,’ but I found that every time I didn't have anything to warrant my full concentration my mind would wander over to darker thoughts. The most disappointing thing about my dream last night wasn't the fact that it had managed to worm its way back into my life, no it was more the lack of someone coming to rescue me from it. In my last nightmare Draven had come to save me from the monster which made the nightmare less scary but in the one last night, that was one where I had needed him the most. As a result I couldn’t keep my mind off my past no matter how much I tried. It was so bad at one point I was half considering the bottle of vodka that Libby had down in the liquor cabinet.
But that was a bad place to go and I knew it but sometimes just the thought of going that low to numb the pain was all I needed to knock me back out of it. I decided this was the right time to go for a walk and try and find that place that Libby and I had hiked to. It was a nice clear day, it was still cold but once I started walking I would soon heat up.
I grabbed my jacket, which had a big hood, just in case it decided to pour it down. I put my mp3 player in my pocket, turned it on, placed the headphones in my ears and grabbed the keys. I knew the direction I was heading for so I set out losing myself in the music and the scenery around me. I followed the rough pathway that led deeper into the forest and continued until I got to the part that forked but for the life of me I couldn't remember which way we had taken. For some reason though I had the biggest urge to go left. As though something was pulling me that way. There was that little voice inside that said it wouldn't be a good idea but I didn't listen to it, instead I listened to the rebellious voice that told me not to be afraid.
After about twenty minutes along my chosen path the forest floor started to get a bit more like hard work, as if this was once a regular walking spot but now I wasn't so sure. It looked like the earth hadn't been disturbed in some time. There were a lot of branches to duck under and pull back to allow me to pass and at one point there was a fallen tree that made me change course due to its size. It looked freshly up- rooted and the air was filled with the scent of freshly dug earth. Maybe it had been from the storm last night.
Another twenty minutes or so of walking in this direction was all it took to make me regret my decision, fearing now that I would never remember my way back. I stopped and pulled my headphones from my ears to find that I could hear the sound of running water and realised there must be a stream nearby. As soon as I heard it, all I could think about was how thirsty I was. I followed the sound a little off the track I was on and it wasn't long until I found it. The little scene was so pretty I wished I had a camera with me.
The ground around it was softly covered in moss and it curved its way around each little rock and stone like a blanket. The forest echoed the sound of the water rushing along and I bent down closer to take a drink. I rolled up one of my long gloves freeing my hand to cup the crystal clear water. I made a noise when my skin came in contact with the freezing liquid, as it was a shock but a refreshing one. I got up once I had enough and followed the stream upwards for a while before coming to an opening. The light pierced through the trees as they separated creating a clearing like the one that I had seen in my first dream about Draven.
I stepped into the light screwing up my eyes, as they had grown accustomed to the shade the forest provided. I walked forward and soon realised that I was at an opening by the cliffs. There were trees that surrounded a log cabin, which was on the very edge of a sheer drop and the National Park opened up reaching for miles. It reminded me of the view outside my bedroom window with wave after wave of lush green forest. I couldn't help but smile at the beauty and could imagine that the people who must have lived there, not only liked to live life on the edge (literally) but they must have loved the forest and its beauty. It was one of the best views of scenery I had ever seen.
The log cabin looked long abandoned with windows smashed and cracked wooden panels as though it had once been kicked in. The door was nearly hanging off its hinges and had also seen better days. I walked closer, feeling that I should be shouting to see if there was anyone else around. I don't know why, it was obviously a long time since it had been lived in but I just felt that maybe I wasn't as alone as I should be.
I put that thought to the back of my mind and put my foot on the wooden steps leading up to the front door. The wood creaked under the weight of my foot and I looked around making sure I wasn't being watched. Seeing nothing but the wall of forest looking back at me I walked onto the porch and looked through one of the windows by the door. One of the panels was missing so I crouched down and peered inside telling myself that this was as far as I was going to take it.
It looked as abandoned on the inside as it did on the outside. There were a few bits of handmade furniture but most of the stuff looked broken up and piled up near the doorways and windows. That's when I noticed the rest of the windows that faced out towards the cliff had been boarded up in what looked like a hurry.
The front door had the most furniture next to it but it had been pushed backwards. Like something had burst through the front door spreading it along the floor in its path. I couldn't understand why anyone would do this, what were they trying to keep out? It didn't look like it would flood here and anyway what would furniture do? Wouldn't there be sandbags and stuff l
ike that around the doors instead.
I got a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach as I felt like it was time to leave. A gut feeling had me believing something bad had happened here. I started walking backwards off the porch not wanting to take my eyes off the door, fearing if I did someone might come bursting from behind it. This of course wasn't the brightest of ideas as I caught my foot and fell backwards off the steps.
My body hit the floor sideways and I hit my head on one of the rocks that lined a path towards the front door. I closed my eyes as a shooting pain exploded around my skull. I tried to get up but failed a few times as the ringing in my head made it hard to focus. I finally got up to my knees and felt for the damage. My hand went to the cause of the pain and found a sticky liquid. GREAT! I was now bleeding. I looked at my hand covered in deep red blood and tried to remain calm. I wasn't going to die from a little cut and I had overcome my fear of blood years ago.
I made it to my feet, wiping the blood off my hand on the ground. I could now feel it trickling its way down my cheek. I took off one of my gloves, wiped my face and held it to the rest of my cut, hoping it didn't need stitches. That's all I needed for my shift tonight, a big gash on my head and a blue bulge to match it. I just prayed it didn't look that bad as I started to walk back in the direction I had come from. I was also hoping that nobody was home when I got back. Libby would freak out as it was, but if I could at least wash the blood out of my hair, that would be a bonus.
Then I remembered the stream and that I could use that to clean myself up a bit just in case she was there. But where was it? Had I gone wrong somewhere because it was near the cabin wasn't it? I turned in every direction but I couldn't make out anything familiar. How far had I walked away from the path I came? My head was starting to feel real fuzzy and my vision clouded with the pain.
It was then that I heard it. I couldn't understand where it came from but I followed it anyway knowing that it led to people. Someone was singing faintly in the distance or was it music being played. I couldn't tell the difference as it didn't sound like anything I had ever heard before. It was a beautiful hum that changed into words I couldn't understand. Maybe I would come across some hikers that had a map.... and a stereo.
I twisted around branches and foliage following the sound that echoed through the trees. Whenever I would go slightly off in the other direction it would momentarily get louder in the direction I should be going. I was in a daze and couldn't feel the throbbing in my head any more, all I could feel, taste and think was the noise that I followed. For all I knew it was leading me deeper into the forest and I would be lost forever but for some reason I wasn't worried. It was like I was on some sort of mind control drug. I was completely hypnotised and I was mellow and calm as I picked up pace to find this amazing sound.
I wasn't sure how long I walked but it didn't feel like more than mere minutes. It was just getting louder but I still couldn't see anything that would make that noise. I was now on a path and my feet didn't have to work as hard to move along. I broke out into a run as it felt like I was getting closer and closer. I could hear more words now but still it was a language that I had never heard. I was nearly losing my breath as my heart ached with strain. I wasn't the fittest of people at the best of times and I hardly ever ran but there was just something spellbinding about the sound that filled my ears and took over my brain. I was nearly there now I could feel it. I could see an opening in the trees, as the light got brighter with every step.
Then the sound was gone.
The noise had stopped as though the power had been cut, as I walked out into the front of the house I knew well. I couldn't understand any of what had just happened. I looked around for signs of anyone, maybe a passing car or music that Libby had been playing but that still wouldn't have explained it. I followed music that led me home. I was sure of it.
I went into the house and walked upstairs dumping my jacket on the bed and kicking my shoes off. I don't know when but I lost the glove I used to soak up the blood so I took off my other one and pulled my top off ready to get in the shower. Leaving just the camisole top I wore underneath with my bra. I knew nobody was in so I walked to the bathroom and grabbed a fresh towel from the cupboard on the way. Once in the bathroom I examined the damage in the mirror.
Thankfully it wasn't as bad as I had dreaded. It looked worse because of the dried blood on my face and hair. The cut wasn't deep enough to need stitches and I knew I could get away without needing to see a doctor. There was a purplish bruise around it that I could hide with my hair and after a skin coloured plaster I thought I could get away with it without anyone noticing.
After a hot shower and a good wash getting rid of the remaining blood, I felt better and was slowly forgetting the day, putting it down to a weird kind of sixth sense about where I was going. Libby was back when I got out of the bathroom and I didn't have time to hide the evidence of my fall.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?” She ran over to me and fussed about my head, tightening her fists and sucking air through her teeth, the way people did when they could imagine the pain.
“It's fine honestly, it's not as bad as it looks.” This was a bit of a lie, as soon as the music had stopped I could feel the banging in my head that any good headache brings.
“Tilt your head and let me see, you might need stitches.” I tilted my head in her hands and said
“It’s ok, I looked in the mirror and it's not that deep, I will be fine with just a plaster.” She grabbed my hand and started to pull me down to the kitchen, where she kept the first aid box.
“Sit under the light.” I did as instructed and she pulled a box down the size you could have fit a Christmas turkey in! What did she keep in that thing, spare body parts!
“So are you going to tell me how this happened?”
“It was no big deal. I just tripped and hit my head on a rock.” She was cutting up little strips of tape into tiny lines and was passing them to me to hold.
“This might sting a bit.” She sprayed some antiseptic on the open wound and I cursed like a pirate.
“Nice, very lady like,” she teased.
“Sorry, next time it feels like my skins melting off I will calmly say “Oh fiddlesticks, terribly sorry my dear but that did sting a wee bit.” She laughed at my posh accent and carried on by pulling my skin together before sticking it in place with the little strips she’d cut, acting like make shift stitches. She covered that with a bigger plaster and said, “There, that's better.”
“Thanks mum!” I gave her a kiss on the cheek and left to go back upstairs.
“So do you want me to call work for you?” I turned and looked at her in disbelief.
“Why on earth would I want you to do that?” I laughed at the thought.
“Because you hit your head and could have concussion or something.” I shook my head and smirked at the idea.
“I didn't break my neck Libs, I only bumped my head, I think I'll be fine for work.” She shrugged her shoulders and said “Ok, only making sure.”
Once I was ready I studied myself in the mirror and tried to position my hair so it covered the plaster completely, only every time I moved my head, my hair would move with it. I gave up and decided just to keep my head down and hopefully no one would notice.
Just before I was ready for leaving the phone rang with RJ on the other end. She wanted to ask me if I was working tonight and if I needed a lift home as Jack was the designated driver for this evening and seeing as he was going past my way he could drop me off as well. I accepted the offer as I knew Frank couldn't pick me up tonight anyway as he was working late and I didn't like the idea of Libby driving in the dark.
“Tell Jack thanks,” I said as the conversation was coming to an end and I needed to leave now so as not to be late for work.
“It's ok you can tell him yourself later, as I'm sure he would much rather hear it from you anyway.” She finished the sentence with a naughty giggle and hung up. I put on my jacket and took
my bag from Libby as she held it out to me.
“You ready?” I thought about the question for a minute and wondered was I ever ready to be in the same room as Draven?
The answer was always the same...
Never.
Chapter 18 - A drive never to be forgotten.
By the time I had arrived at work my headache went from 0 to 60 in less than five minutes. My head was throbbing with pain and I was regretting not taking Libby's advice. I tried to ignore it but it was persistent so I took a couple of the painkillers that I kept in my bag before I went upstairs.
Once upstairs I pulled the short bits of my hair forward to try and hide the huge bruise and lump that had now fully developed. It was amazing that in one short car ride it had changed so much, it was now different shades of blue and purple and also had crept its way down one cheek along with a little scratch. There was no getting round it, my face looked a mess and no amount of hair across my forehead was going to conceal it.
I walked in front of the tables with my head down, letting my hair flop limply around my face. I didn't look up until I bumped into the bar.
“Hey sweetheart, how are.... WOW now that’s a real shiner. Now that looks painful! What did you do, lose a fight with a bus?” I smiled timidly not wanting to draw any attention to myself.
“I fell,” was all I said before going round to the other side and into the little room in the back. Once inside I lifted my hair again to re-evaluate the damage. Eek! It didn't look pretty. The lump had grown and was making the plaster lift on the side that was near my hairline. I tried to pat it down but it had lost its stickiness and wasn't co-operating. I rolled my eyes to the ceiling and inhaled a deep breath before walking out to start my shift.
This was great, only my second night at this job and I already looked like I’d been in the ring with Rocky Balboa! I could tell it was going to be one of those nights. I was just about to walk through the door into the bar when I heard my name, only it wasn't being called it was being said. But I couldn't see who it was without showing myself, so I waited. I didn't recognise the voice as the band had started but I was sure it was male. I waited but didn't hear anything else so I walked out. There was no one there apart from Karmun.