A steady rainfall was heard outside; a petite girl curled into the warmth of her blankets indoors. She could listen to the sound of rain all day as she read from her many stacks of books. Within the pile was mostly fiction, with tales of dragons to the predictions of what would happen in a nuclear fallout. As long as it was a book, she did not care. Katrina Monich did not care one bit for what book she read as long as it took her from one realm to another.
The girl jumped as a ringing exploded from her phone on the small table to her left. Putting a book marker on the last read page, Katrina glanced at the caller id. A ghost of a smile appeared on Katrina's face as the call was from her mother. Picking up the phone, Katrina nearly yelped as lighting struck suddenly, thunder roaring soon after.
"Hello," Katrina answered, her voice was shaken from the storms sudden eruption. The forecast called for severe storms, but it was for later on in the week. At least, that is what Katrina had heard.
"Katrina, love, are you there?" A gentle voice spoke from the phone's speaker; rain started to pour down harder. It sounded like bullets were hitting the windows at a rapid pace.
"Yes I am here mum, pleased to here from you. Ponder this with me though, what are you doing up at this time of night? Surely it must be four in the morning back home, and you have work tomorrow too." Katrina berated her mum slightly; the poor women stressed so much more after Katrina moved overseas to study abroad. Not to mention the time difference, it was only nine or so in Maryland; whereas, in South Africa, it was to be four in the morning.
"I was worried," her mum started; a shiver of guilt ran down Katrina's spine, had she been too harsh? Surely she had not been harsh; she was simply worried for her health," after not hearing from you in ages I was worried; a tornado warning was issued in your area, and I thought the worst. I just wanted to make sure you were safe." Katrina inwardly scolded herself for being slightly rude to her mum; she should have known that her mother was just worried about her safety.
"Mum, I assure you I am fine," Katrina paused as she clicked her teeth together; she entered her oversized kitchen while doing so."I guarantee that said storm is nothing more than a few lightning strikes," while talking to her mum a skittish alleycat appeared from a dark corner. Katrina grabbed a new can of tuna and placed it down for the cat to eat.
"I know, but I worry anyway. Love, how are your studies going?"Katrina pet the alleycat, Whimsey, as she thought about the courses she was taking. They were vigorous and long, but she was passing fairly easily.
"Hey mum," Katrina hummed as another bolt of lightning struck down. She glanced to the time to find it was eleven-thirty in the evening; Katrina swore it was only nine in the evening. Reading always seemed to take more time than it seemed, "I would love to talk in the morning tomorrow, but I think I should get going. You and I both need to get some much-needed sleep. We both have a long, devious day ahead of us tomorrow." Whimsey purred slightly as she finished her can of tuna. She snuggled her head into Katrina's leg suggesting that it was time for bed.
"You're right Katrina, I am sorry. I will talk to you tomorrow, okay? Please do not forget to call me; I seem to always miss you." Katrina hummed slightly in response as she made her way back to her reading chair. A quilt laid messily on top of the chair; small tables with towers of books next to her.
"I'll try not to forget, no guarantees. Sleep well, mum." Katrina whispered drowsily as she ended the call briefly. Though the temptation to slip into another few chapters before bed was tempting, Katrina fought against the idea as she collapsed into the chair. Whimsey followed into Katrina's lap; her purring gentle as Katrina found herself asleep. Nightmares seemed to haunt Katrina throughout the night; they were ominous and paralyzing no matter how many times she woke up startled.
~
Katrina jumped from her chair as a loud knock startled her awake. She took note that the power was out; Katrina reached for her phone to find that the time was three-fourteen in the morning."Who would be here in the middle of the night? Oh, I am not dying tonight," Katrina muttered as she grabbed her phone, and then went to the kitchen to grab a knife. Horror stories had taught her to never answer without the police called and a knife in hand.
Katrina went to dial the police, but she panicked as she saw that her service had disappeared. "You are bloody fucking with me," she growled as she cautiously took steps towards the door. She could hear the wind raging outside; the sound was violent, it brought a sinking feeling to Katrina's stomach. Katrina stood on the top of her toes to see through the eyehole. She had expected a man with a gun to be waiting there; she did not expect a young male looking terrified and frozen in the front entrance.
Katrina hid the knife as she opened the door with caution; she was not the only surprised one. The male looked at Katrina's willowy figure in shock; he had guessed someone might have lived here, but not a stunning twenty-or-so old female. The words fled from the male's mouth, and Katrina's grip tightened around the knife."May I help you?" Katrina asked warily; she wanted to slam the door in the male's face and walk away, but she knew she could not do that.
"Ah - yes," the male froze; his fingers entangling themselves with nerves. He could not help but glance down to the ground," my car broke down and I was wondering if you had a home phone I could use. I realize how late it is, and now that I think about it this is probably terrifying for you." The male apologized, but Katrina recognized the issue and invited him to stand on the welcome mat.
"Wait," she commanded as she went in search for a heated blanket. A few moments later, she returned with a blanket while inviting the male in the kitchen. The knife was in clear view as Katrina remained hesitant; the male was right, she was terrified. She placed the knife down on the countertop while preparing some slightly cool tea.
"Here, it will help prevent illness. It is a detoxing tea, sorry it is cold." Katrina sipped on her own tea with pleasure; she never had a chance to use the far too big kitchen. In fact, she never had company often; she preferred a quiet lifestyle away from people. Hence why she lived in the woods, away from society."The home phone is down currently due to the power outage. I might be able to help out though. How far out are you?"
Katrina had been taught a few things about mechanics; her father was a navy mechanic and soldier after all."I am two miles out," the male responded as Katrina nearly spat out her tea. The young man had walked two miles in a storm like this? As soon as she glanced outside lightning struck, causing Katrina to stumble out of her seat. A few curses and a broken teacup later, Katrina apologized and composed herself.
"My apologies, how did you even get here in this storm? It is horrible out there, attempting to even get here, for the mother of," she calmed herself like the posed young women she was. She glanced outside hesitantly and then back to the boy's snow like orbs."I suppose it does not matter now; you are here alive, that itself is a miracle."
The male looked at the girl in the dimmed lighting. He took note of the perplexed look on her face; he could tell that she was having an inner battle with herself."I think it would be better if you stayed the night; if you went back into that death storm, just - take my word for it."
The male's eyes lightened up, yet Katrina still remained skeptical. She was not sure why she offered a room; she honestly was considering to lock him out and wait for a signal to call the police. Yet, as though he sensed her distress, the male tore the thought down,
"You are an angel. May I have your name, just to have a name for a gorgeous face." The male cursed himself after the remark; he was surprised that the sentence even slipped out of his mouth. He wanted to apologize, but the disgusted look on the girl's face said everything. She did not take pleasure to the comment.
"Katrina is my name; I suggest that we both head to sleep. You may take the guest room upstairs; with all due respect, may I have a name. A full name please?" Katrina was slightly nervous, she was considering calling the police to file a report against the male. Something about the meeting rubbed her in the wrong direction.
"Carson Tsonga. I can understand if you are slightly scared or, for a less of a better phrase, creeped out. I swear that there is no mischief occurring; I also understand that you may not believe me. I suppose you are rooted in your opinions, I am sorry. Have a fair night Madam Katrina." Carson whispered most the phrase quietly, but Katrina could catch a slightly different tone as he mentioned the mischief part. She did not understand why she felt this way; she felt extremely restless, most likely from the lack of sleep.
"Yes, I bid you a good nights rest. I assume we will speak in the morning; please be up early so we can get this ordeal sorted out." Katrina's voice had a venomous tone hidden within the words, but if Carson heard the tone he certainly did not show it. With a quiet goodbye, the mysterious male walked up the dark stairs.
Katrina could feel her heart pounding slightly; she wondered if she should have let him in."Stop being ridiculous Katrina," she scoffed at herself. Katrina concluded that she was acting irrational, "I need a drink, no, I should sleep." She muttered to herself as she curled against the chair, Whimsey joined her after hiding from the stranger. It took ages for Katrina to fall asleep, through the lightening terrifying her, the unknown male sleeping upstairs, and the tugging in her gut - Katrina went to sleep feeling unsure, confused.
The man, however, went upstairs and laid on the bed. He stared up at the ceiling as the storm ceased to bother him. He wanted to throw up; he was supposed to scout for a ravage, but it was a girl. A girl who had not even begun the transformation. He knew that he had lied to her, that made him feel even worse. He lied straight to her face.