"Where are we going?" He asked me to get into the car. I stopped the car and looked at Raiden's grinning face. I decided to call him to come to the beach with us because I did not trust myself going alone after the last incident and didn't feel safe with Cason.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Cal's squeaky voice asked and I just said "In his dreams." Raiden smiled and climbed into the passenger seat. "And you must be Cal." Cal started to blush. He was a very enclosed shy kid and I think that partially is because he didn't have a father to grow up with.
"Cal this is Raiden. Can you say hi?" He did a little wave and Raiden waved back. "How did you get out of work?" raiden asked me. "Called in sick. But I should be asking you that." "I gave them my charm to let me go." A car beeped behind me which made me jump.
"You're a jumpy one aren't you. Surprised you didn't pull a knife on that car." I rolled my eyes. In truth after last night I dont think i will ever not be jumpy. If what the man said was true- No. He's a liar. This other world isn't real. That would be crazy. The beach was packed which was actually reassuring and I took out the chairs.
"Do you surf?" I asked Raiden, pulling out another chair. "No. Oh no definitely not." "But you were raised in Cali! How don't you surf?" "Never really been into it."
"Well what are you into?"
"You." I blushed but hit the side of his arm. We found a spot to put our stuff and Cal started digging in the sand. "Don't go too far!" I yelled. We sat down and I popped open a water bottle.
"Do you go to college?" I asked. "Nope. Do you?" "I'm going to study online I think." He was surprisingly easy to talk to and after 10 minutes we were deep in conversation. "So you live alone with Cal?" "Nah my mother hangs around but doesn't work." "What happened to your father?" "I-I don't like to talk about it." "Is he...dead?"
That made me wince because I truly didn't know. He could be. Could have died years ago and we wouldn't know. Instead of answering I got up and started to chase Cal around. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked." "No, it's fine. Really. I should be over it by now."
Cal flung sand into Raiden's hair and Raiden started to chase a now giggling Cal around our little area. Cal threw more sand at him and Raiden threw it back gently. Then Raiden threw sand at me and it got all over my shirt.
"Raiden!" He smiled but the smile faded when I chucked a clump at his white shirt. "Oh your going to pay for that!" He took a handful and I started to run. My feet banging on the sand, arms swinging trying to build momentum. It was like I was back in the woods. I didn't realize i was hyperventilating until Raiden took my shoulder in his hand.
"What's wrong?" I leaned down trying to catch my breath and to the people around me, it probably looked like an asthma attack. "I'm sorry-" I wheezed. "I'm- I just don't like being chased. I-"
I lost my words.
He helped me back to our chairs and sat down. "I-I have these dreams. That i'm running from something." I said quietly. I didn't even know why i was telling him. I needed to tell someone. "Every time I'm being...chased. I freak out. It's just always been like that i guess."
He just nodded and I heard Cal say something to himself in the distance. "You know what? I have to drink something other than water." I said breaking the silence. "Cal come here." He ran over covered in sand. "That's a bar right?" I asked, pointing to the small building behind me.
"Are you 21?" He asked, smirking. "No but I could really go for an over sugary drink that will make my stomach hurt." We walked to the bar and I let Cal order a Shirley Temple. "Can I get a Pepsi? And one for the lady." But the voice speaking was not Raiden's.
I turned around and was face to face with Cason. The man that just tried to kidnap me. And a part of me feels like he isn't just about to give up.