Exposure, Part 2
By Medeve. Filed in Things in the Dark |
I stayed at home for the next few days. I was completely freaked out. I kept telling myself that I imagined the entire thing. That my mind had finally snapped and imagined Edward doing that to justify my irrational hate towards him.
I wasn’t comforted by the fact that two days later I heard over the news that a girl from the local school had been reported missing. When the news showed a picture of her later that afternoon I ran to the bathroom and started to throw up.
I considered calling the police. I didn’t know what to tell them though. That my friend’s boyfriend ate the girl in the alleyway behind the local bar? I went back there after I saw the news report. I couldn’t find a trace of what I saw that night there. I decided against telling the cops. I didn’t want to become known as the local nut case. And if I already was, I didn’t want know it.
So I stayed in my house, ignored anyone calling or knocking at the door. They all tried to check up at me, but I continued to ignore them. They would leave notes and I would take them and read them, so they knew I was there. But I never responded.
And then Megan came on the 4th day. She knocked on the door for about ten minutes, begging me to open up. I fought with all the strength I could muster not to answer the door. I failed.
“Oh thank god, your fine.” she told me. “We’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “I just need some alone time.”
“Is everything O.K.? Can I come in?”
I wanted to tell her I was fine, not to come in. At the same time I more then ever wanted her to come in so I can tell her what I saw.
And then she thinks that your crazy.
Her eyes were pleading with me. I opened up the door the rest of the way.
“Yeah, come on in.”
I stepped out her way and she walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch. I closed the door and sat down on a chair. There was a few minutes of awkward silence.
She broke the quite first. “So what’s going on?”
“It’s nothing. I told you I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. And it’s not like you to blow us off like you have been.” She hesitates a bit. “What’s going on with you?”
I saw your boyfriend eat a complete stranger.
“Its nothing. There’s been a death in the family. I just need some time alone.”
“I’m so sorry. Who was it?”
This was a bad idea.
“My grandfather.”
“Were the two of you close?”
“We were. I hadn’t seen him in a few years.”
“I’m sorry.” We were both quite for a minute. “Look, I know this is a hard time for you, but just sitting here all by yourself can’t be good for you. You need to talk to us. We’re your friends. Its what we’re here for.”
“Thanks, but I think I just need to be alone for a few days.”
Megan sighed. She sounded really concerned for me.
“Look, the rest of us are going to Tamera’s house to go watch a movie tonight. You really should come out and just spend sometime with us. It will do you some good. And besides, we miss having you around.”
“Megan…”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“I’ll think about it.”
And then she left. She said goodbye, made me promise to think about it again, told me everything would be fine, and then left.
So I thought about it; thought about how happy Megan looked when I answered the door and how worried she looked while she was talking to me. I didn’t want her worry too much about me. I decided to go. Besides, I was starting to think that I made the entire thing up. Too much to drink or something. I never found anything in the ally.
So I went to Tamera’s house. Everyone else was happy to see me, telling me how sorry they were about my grandfather. Even Edward. Things seemed normal. Half way through the movie I got up and went to go grab a drink from Tamera’s fridge. When I turned around to go back to the movie, there was Edward, just standing there.
“Jesus Ed. You scared the hell out of me.”
“I suppose that would make twice this week, wouldn’t it?”
I paused for a second. He couldn’t have possibly made me out in the dark light of the ally.
“What are you talking about Ed?”
“You know what. You haven’t told anyone, have you?” I nervously shake my head. “Good boy. And if you know what’s good for you, you won’t tell anyone.”
Ed started to walk away. I called out to him.
“What about Megan? You’re not going to hurt her, are you?”
He stopped and looked over the shoulder at me.
“Megan? You have me all wrong. I wouldn’t dream of hurting her. She’s going to be my queen; the leader of my pack. You don’t have to worry. She’ll be fine.” And with that he walked away, leaving me shaking where I stood.