"I actually wasn't supposed to be home tonight so I guess you lucked out. I was on my way to my friends wedding up north when he called and said it was postponed. So I turned around and drove the 4 hours back home.
I got in around 2:30am, brought my bags in and unpacked some. Around 3am I took Beau out before bed and saw movement up the street. I put Beau away, grabbed my rifle and went along the tree line to investigate. Thats when I saw you looking up the driveway" Aiden looked away for a minute before continuing.
"I watched you for a while and didn't know whether you were really in trouble or were just pretending to get something from us. Again I'm sorry for pointing my rifle at you and scaring you. We got back here around 3:45 am." It has already been well over an hour since she came to this strangers house.
Tessa smiled slightly and said "It's okay, I probably wouldve done the same thing if I were you." Sadness filled her eyes and Aiden couldnt help but feel for her. What happened to this girl?
Aiden continued, not being able to control his curiosity. "So are you ready to talk about what happened?" He stood up to take the empty bowls to the kitchen and Tessa took a minute to take a deep breath before she began. Aiden sat back and waited patiently for her to start.
Tessa started to explain the events from her normal day to arriving at The Cave to meet her friends.
"At first I couldn't find anyone. I started to walk towards the opening of The Cave and thought I heard people inside. We stopped going into The Cave after one of us almost tripped and fell into a hole through the floor.
I decided to turn back and leave. Once I got back to the bonfire all of my friends were there like they had been there the whole time. something didnt feel right so I told them I didnt feel very well and was going home" Tessa's eyes started to water as she began to explain further.
"They all begged me not to go home. I figured it was because they missed me and wanted to hang out but they were more pushy and persistent than normal. ultimately I ended waiting until they werent paying attention and snuck away back to my house."
Aiden hung on her every word. Listening and taking in all of the information that he possibly could. Tessa took a minute to collect her thoughts and went back to telling her story.
"I checked my phone when I left the party and it was 11:45. It took me about 10 minutes to walk back to my house on the trail. Once I hit the yard I noticed that there were some lights on. I didnt think much of it. Maybe Stella was getting my sister a snack. Maybe my dad was up late working on his computer since he was home all evening.
I took my usual route to the lattice that led to my room. My light was off as I started to climb. As soon as I was about to grab onto my window sill, my bedroom light came on."
Tessa looked up at Aiden to see his reaction. He was quick and focusing on nothing but her words the entire time she spoke. Tessa hesitated before continuing. Feeling the hurt rise up into her chest again from the still fresh heartache.
Slightly shaking she started again. "I stopped thinking that I had just got caught and was waiting to sneak back in. That's when I heard a strange voice coming from my bedroom."