Chapter 1
"Hey, loosen up a bit. You look like you're being held hostage," Aby leaned in and nudged me playfully,
I smiled in response, trying to take her advice and stuff my worries at the back of my mind.
We were standing at the doorstep of a pretty old house, defeating music blasted out, almost making me regret my decision to come. I wanted a distraction, not to lose my hearing by the time I got back home.
"Are you really sure this place is a good idea?" I asked for the hundredth time since we left her place. I looked back at the trail we had taken, the wide expanse of absolute nothingness that extended behind us. Okay, it wasn't completely nothing; there were trees, but in the night, you couldn't make out much.
We were a few minutes outside town, somewhere I'd never been allowed or even thought to go before. My dad had always mentioned how the woods were a beautiful place to be, and it was people who made it unsafe.
"Daph, it's pretty simple. Would you rather let off some steam, or you wanna go back home and have at it with your dad again." She said,
I rolled my eyes,
"You know which," I said in response,
I could make out a satisfied smile on her face, "Good, don't chicken out on me,"
"Remind me next time that we have different definitions of fun," I teased, starting to feel my muscles relax.
"Mine's better," Aby said proudly, grabbed my hand, and pulled me.
It took Aby less than ten seconds to let go of my hand and let the wave of the party swoop her away. I fought back the urge to cling to her arm like a shy child, instead, I shoved my pants into the sides of my cargos and made my way around the party. It was a party filled with strangers.
My eyes were drawn to the dealer corners of the room, and I almost instantly regretted it.
"Get a freaking room," I said to myself.
I made my way to the kitchen and out the back door. All I had to do now was wait till Aby was ready to go, and then we'd be back home. I got out my AirPods and popped them into my ears as I walked away from the house. I know how it's not ideal to go walking in the night with headphones, but I kept just enough distance between me and everyone for me to make a run for it if anything happened.
I lay flat on the grass and looked up at the sky. I didn't want to think, and the sight of the sky helped clear my thoughts. Before I knew it, the fatigue from all through the day set in and my eyes closed.
I smelt it before I felt it; the strong scent of alcohol approaching assaulted my nostrils, and then I felt something splash on my face.
My eyes sprung open and I jerked up,
"What the..." I looked up to see a stranger standing in before me, a bottle of vodka in one hand.
"I'm really sorry, I didn't see you there," He pulled a bandana out of his pocket and handed it to me,
I wanted to throw a fit, but I could not find the strength to. Instead, I snatched the bandana and swiped my face furiously.
"You should look where you're going," I said under my breath,
"I said I was sorry, plus who sleeps in the middle of the nowhere at a party," He said,
I paused, thinking of a response but I had none. He had a point. I handed the bandana back. His back was turned to the moonlight, so I couldn't make out his face, but I could see his clothes: a blue sweatshirt and jeans.
" May I? " he asked and gestured to the ground beside me; I nodded instinctively and scooted over for no reason; there was enough space for a thousand of us.
He set the bottle aside and looked up to the sky, I could see his face now. The moonlight shone across his face, illuminating the sharp angles of his jawline and the gentle curve of his lips.
His head turned to face me and his Hazel seemed to gleam in the light, but there was something more to it. His face looked so hard and yet so...soft.
"I don't think I've seen you before." He broke the silence,
"You haven't, I don't know anyone here. I just tagged along with my best friend.". My response just slipped off my lips.
"Hmm," he said and nodded, he turned away and went back to looking at the sky.
I wasn't sure what to do next, talk or just stare. He seemed deep in thought.
I decided to start some small talk, "Any reason you wondered out here with that," I pointed to the discarded bottle.
"I couldn't take the noise anymore; I came here for a distraction; if I stay in there, I'm going to get a migraine." His lips curled slightly into a smile as he spoke.
"That makes two of us," I said, it felt good to know I wasn't the only one who had something on my mind.
"Oh really, and what could you need a distraction from?" His tone held a hint of playfulness,
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked back,
He grabbed the bottle and took a gulp, "Nothing, you just don't come across as someone with problems,"
"Why? Cause I'm not trying to find the answer at the bottom of a bottle," I said back,
He paused, and just when I thought I had said the wrong thing he laughed. It was a hearty, deep laugh.
"You're funny, that's good. Might as well have a sense of humor if you have problems," He said,
I turned my head to look away from him but something peeking under his sleeve caught my eye. He must have seen me because he rolled up his sleeve.
I could see it now; it was a tattoo, a small tattoo on his arm. It looked strange, like dots connecting, and no matter how hard I thought, I couldn't figure out what it was. He didn't say a word. Instead, he waited for me to ask.
"What's that?" I finally gave up trying to decipher the tattoo on my own,
He raised his arm, a proud smile played on his lips. It was obvious he loved it. "It's Orion's constellation."
"Orion?" I asked confused,
"Yeah, the Greek warrior?" He said it like that was supposed to jog my memory,
I shook my head, I had no idea what he was going on about.
"Anyways, Orion was a Greek warrior. It's a really messed up story but basically, he falls in love with the wrong woman, gets killed by her brother, and then becomes a constellation," He explained
"You're into Astrology?" I asked,
"Nah, my mum used to go on and on about Greek mythology when I was a kid, and I thought it was pretty cool becoming a star," He said
I held back a smile, maybe I should get a tattoo as well to make a statement to my father. I could imagine my mum having a heart attack.
" Sentimental, that's cute, " I added,
A buzzing sound filled the air, and he pulled out his phone; he looked at the screen, and his expression instantly turned sour.
"Speak of the devil, I'll be right back," he said as he stood, he walked a few steps before looking back. "Don't run out on me, okay? I like our little conversation."
I couldn't help but smile as I stared at his back retreat back into the house. The air suddenly felt cold and lonely.
I didn't check how much time I had passed by, but when I reached for my phone to check, a message from my mum flashed on the screen.
"Sweetie, what are you doing outside town? Your dad and I are coming to get you, call us."
I stared at her message, and panic surged through me; shit, how did they know I was here. I raced back to the house and searched for Aby.
I yanked her out of the arms of the guy she was with and ignored her protest as I dragged her off.
"Hey, what the hell?" She looked visibly irritated, but I overlooked it, I couldn't deal with that right now.
"My dad's on his way," I said, my voice converted to the urgency of the situation,
Aby's eyes widened as the reality of what that meant dawned on her; if my dad was on his way, her dad was soon to follow, and then we'd both be screwed.
"Shit, how did he find out?" She asked,
"I have no idea but we have to get home before they get here, you know how my dad gets. If he sees me here he's definitely going to make a scene," I answered,
"Jeez, don't remind me, your father's pretty scary. Okay, let's go." She said,
We made our way out of the house and back to her car; I couldn't help but glance back a few times, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Aby noticed my divided attention,
"What's wrong? Who're you looking for?" She asked,
I looked away when the house was nearly out of sight and fastened my seatbelt, I was a little hesitant to tell her.
"Just some guy I met tonight." I tried to sound as casual as possible.
"What's his name?" She asked
I bit my lip; yep, I'd forgotten to get that little piece of information.
"I... I don't know," I said under my breath.
A chuckle escaped her lips, a mocking smile on her face.
"Don't," I objected before she could even speak.
She raised one hand in the air, "Okay, okay I won't. But for Pete's sake Daph, you could have at least gotten his name. So what you just made out with a nameless stranger,"
"Ew, no. I didn't make out with him and I don't need his name... I'll probably never see him again." The last part managed to suck whatever joy I had left inside me. The argument with my dad threatened to come flooding back.
I wanted to talk to Aby about what was bothering me, but I couldn't. My dad didn't like me taking personal family matters outside the family and even though she was like family to me, I knew he'd still be upset by it.
"You know you can just tell me what's wrong with you and your dad," She said softly; it was almost like she could read my mind.
"It's nothing, really; Mum will get through to him...eventually," I lied; my mum was on his side on the matter, and there was no one to plead my case. Sometimes I just wished they'd both disappear.
"So what do we call him?" She asked,
"Huh?" I looked at her confused,
"Mystery guy, what are we calling him?" She asked again,
Oh, growing up, we gave everyone code names, it made it easier to gossip without getting caught, and we did a lot of gossiping.
"Um..." I closed my eyes and pictured his face again, I was looking for a feature that stood out. Something I would get mixed up with someone else, and then it hit me: his tattoo.
"Orion." I felt the corners of my lips curl up, as the name escaped my lips.
"Ooh Orion, I like it," Aby said,
I liked it too; somehow, it seemed perfectly suited for him, like it should have been his actual name.
We were almost back at Aby's place when we saw the sirens ahead,
"Shit, do I reek of alcohol?" Aby blurted out the question in panic,
"No, just drive past. I think they're busy with something else," I reassured her; I wasn't lying, though; I spotted about three police cars; it wasn't until we drove closer that I noticed the small crowd of people standing at the other side of the road facing the cars.
My curiosity peaked; I knew I should have been more focused on coming up with an excuse for my parents and getting home, but the scene was strange.
Aby slowed down as we approached, she was probably also curious to get a glimpse as well. The cars were finally fully visible, and just when I was about to look away, something else drew my attention.
The cop cars were positioned around another car, and my heart leaped,
"Stop," I said in a whisper but Aby didn't hear
"Stop!!" I ordered, screaming this time, she hit the brakes abruptly, and I leaped out of the passenger's seat.
No
No
No
It couldn't be; there were dozens of white sudans in the neighborhood, I told myself as I made my way closer to the scene.
Someone tried to hold me back, and they probably should have, but somehow, I maneuvered out of their grip and managed to get to the center of the attraction.
My hope deflated in an instant as my eyes locked with the sticker on the near-demolished bumper of the car my sticker.
My eyes automatically shifted to the driver's seat, and just as I feared, there he was, blood stained down the side of his head and his eyelids closed.
"Dad!!!!!" my lips parted without my permission,
Hands finally locked on my waist and managed to hold my thrashing body in place,
"Mom???? Mom where are you???" I screamed; I lunged for the car, but the arms around me were too strong.
"She's gone too," a voice behind me said,
No!!
No!!!!!!
She wasn't there.
I clawed the arms around me, and they finally let go; I raced to the car, but just as I was about to make it, my eyes locked on her, and I froze.
She was there, in the back seat. And just like Dad, she was gone, dead. Some psychopathic fairy had actually granted my wish.
....
"Daphne... Daphne..." a voice called my name in the distance and it felt like my body was being sucked.
My eyes sprung open and the first thing I saw was Abigail hovering over me,
She bounced on the bed, and pulled me to sit up beside her,
"Did you have that nightmare again?" She asked.
"No," I lied, I didn't want her to feel sorry for me.
Her lips formed a pout as she looked at me with creased eyes, "Liar."
"Okay, yes, but it's not a big deal. I'm not five." I tried to laugh it off, I slid out of bed and headed over to the windows, pulling back the curtains to let the bright sun rays in. The warmth of the sun kissing my cheek made me feel a tab bit better.
I turned back to Abigail, and there it was, the look of pity, the one thing I was trying to avoid. I understood that she was only looking out for me as my best friend, but even after six years it just didn't sit well with me, having someone look at me like that.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked and pointed to the door; last I checked, she had to go to work.
She glanced at her watch,
"Damn, yeah I'm going to miss the bus." She rushed over to me, planted a kiss on my forehead, and dashed out the door.
"I'll grab some anti-nightmare potions when I get back," Her voice called out from the living room eight before I heard the door slam shut. I chuckled inward, that was her code for ice cream.
I walked to the kitchen, the silence managed to bring back the dreaded chill I had felt a while ago. Nightmare, the word echoed in my head.
I didn't like calling it a nightmare; nightmares were things you were scared were going to happen. Mine already did.