Chapter 6

Chapter 6

***

I took one last look of my figure before slipping on the pajama Shay lent me.

Shay took me in after finding me passed out in the middle of the road. She was on the road to school when she noticed something from afar when she was driving her car. She saw me emerge out of the forest and collapsed and in a panic, she picked me up and hurried me to the nearest hospital in town. After two days I finally woke up and because I got nowhere to go Shay took me in and has been taking care of me from time to time since I couldn't completely move around whenever I wanted to due to the number of injuries I got from the incident I was in.

I know she was dying to know why I was on that state when she found me, but I kept my lips sealed, I don't want her to think of me like a madwoman.

I headed downstairs into the kitchen to see her preparing dinner. I tilt my head and saw she was cooking for two people, "What about your housemate?"

"She'll be fine. Besides, she parties all-day, that woman doesn't need anyone to babysit her," she responded as she continues cooking.

I frowned, "Oh...is this how babysitting works?" I asked out of curiosity, well I lack in knowledge since I was sheltered my whole life-or so I remember.

"Uh...no? Yes? I don't know really." she looked as confused as I do so I dropped the subject and prepared the dining table. This is the least I could do for her ever since she took me in a week ago from the time she first saw me.

"So...Tacey I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about your self since it's been a week and the only thing I knew about you was your age and name and where you came from which didn't make any sense for me because it was a first for me to hear that someone came from the woods...harmed." she fidgets as she spoke and it made me smile because she looked like a kid that got caught stealing a candy and was trying to explain her self.

Shay decided to call me Tacey since Anastasia was a mouthful to say which I kinda agree too.

Everything she said was true, the only thing she knew about me was my name, age, and where I came from which doesn't make any sense even for me. Who in the right mind would isolate themselves in the forest? It's not like I'm questioning the decisions my parents made but it leaves a big question mark in my head.

Now that I think of it, she wants to ask me questions that I could not assure my self that I could dodge it or make an impromptu lie. As much as I want to tell her everything I am scared she might think that I am out of my mind and ditch me.

I didn't realize I was in a trance of thoughts until Shay snaps her fingers a couple of times in my face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was deep in thought to myself." I said and gave her a nervous smile.

"Let's eat, shall we? I didn't say I was going to ask you tonight, but if you feel like sharing something about yourself, I am here for you." she smiled sweetly before sitting across the table. I followed her cue so that I don't seem disrespectful to sit abruptly when in fact this is not my house and I don't own it.

"You know I could easily tell you're a bit guarded, it's like everything you do in here should be on my cue so that you don't like to seem disrespectful when you do something I am not doing," she stated amused.

"Oh, about that I was just...yeah. I think being sheltered my whole life with no one to talk with other than my parents and my self in the mirror made me this awkward."

"Just be who you are, Tacey. I don't bite, but Lisa does." she snorted and dig in. I shook my head smiling, I am amused by the way she talks, she sounded so casual.

Lisa, her housemate, is the type of girl that parties all day-as what Shay said-because that girl seemed like she never sleeps which sounded creepy.

A bit of description for Shay and Lisa. Shay is a brunette girl with blue eyes, she has a round face and a pointed nose tip and stands at five feet, eight inches tall. Meanwhile, Lisa is a blonde-haired girl with a round-face and a high nose bridge. I haven't had the chance to see how tall she is since she's always out partying.

"I was wondering if I could do some of what you were doing?"

She looked at me with confusion, "Like what exactly?"

"Uhh, a job? That's what you call it, right?" I raised my eyebrows suggestively.

"Yes..a job. Are you sure you want one?"

"Yes! I mean, of course, I want to have a job. I have a job before we met..so yeah." I lied. I don't have a job, who would have a job in a forest? Not me.

I looked at her expectantly as she was deep in thought.

"I can help you with that, but last time I checked you don't have an identification card nor credentials with you."

"Creden-what?"

"It's supporting documentation for a job application. It helps you with being qualified on the position you are applying for."

"Oh...that." I didn't know those were a real thing since I only read it on books my father gave me. Maybe everything I have read was real things in the outside world. "Can't you make me one?" I bluntly said as if it was a casual thing.

She looked at my eye, "Hell no." she simply stated and continued eating a spoonful of rice.

"I thought to make one was a real thing," I said in a whisper that only I could hear.

***

I must say, Shay has a nice house. It is a two-story modern rustic house, it gives off an earthy vibe that makes you feel comfortable. From the wall to the furniture, it simply reflects Shay's personality, modern and cozy.

I grabbed a random book and plumped down on the couch. I opened the book and stared at it. I was not in the mood to read, all I could think about where my parents were and why haven't they showed up yet. It wouldn't be that hard to find me, right? I mean, from what Shay told me, my parents should be on track by now since there are only three towns that are miles away from the forest. I hope they won't take long to find me, something inside me is stirring and I couldn't figure out what t is.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a car pull up, as I checked the time Lisa walked in from the outside. I frowned when I noticed her face was beet red, it may be from all the alcohol she drank when she was in the bar.

I quickly stood to greet her, "Hey," I said unsure, I wanted to start a conversation with her since it's a bit awkward for me to crash in someone's place without getting to know with other people that live in it.

She looked at me for a minute before walking off to her bedroom. That's odd, it's still ten forty-five in the evening but she's in already. My point is, she never goes home until five in the morning.

Anyway, I should be worrying about my parents' and not other people's business. I know they are old enough to handle themselves but the more I think of what happened to me back in the forest, the more it made me restless.

The people I faced back there are not human, that I am sure of. I may be sheltered my whole life but I am not a dumb person. I know what a human is, they are mortals like me, I may sound mad to other people because I am comparing something I saw to what I have read in books but I know what I saw and no one can take that memory away from me not even french fries.

It's been two weeks since I have been out in the real world, but I never thought I would be carrying something with me. Something that makes me question the people around me, whether they are human or not or out to kill me. It was clear for me to understand the situation I was when the woman who disguised as my mother walked in that cabin to abduct me. I may be sheltered by my parents but they didn't raise me to be dumb, all those years they taught me to defend myself which was funny because I never thought they were telling me the truth.

During those days, they often tell me about vampires, wolves, and other creatures but I didn't expect they exist. I thought it was their way to bond with me when they were home but it wasn't and I only realized it just now.

I think I'm losing my mind with all of this information-wait is this information or was I just overthinking?

I let out a grunt and laid on the couch with my feet dangling on the edge.

***

Flashback...

I stopped on my tracks as I desperately breathe for air making me lean against a tree. My body wouldn't stop shaking from what happened. I feel like collapsing but I shouldn't let that happen. I need to get away from her as far as I could.

My breath hitched when I heard a distant scream from behind. I may have run far but I could still hear faint noises due to my sharp hearing. I picked myself up and started to run slow to pick up my pace.

The woman's word ran in my head, she told me to run. Clearly I wasn't up to leave someone especially that someone is cornered, but the look she gave was enough for me to do what she told-more like commanded me-I continued running not knowing what lies ahead. All I know is to get out of the forest. Alive.

Cold sweat was dripping from my neck to my chest as I reached the faint light I've been following for hours, the next thing I knew I was standing on a ground that seemed like painted with yellow lines. My vision started to blur, my body felt so heavy I could no longer hold myself up. I felt the cold hard ground against my back and soon I was engulfed with darkness.

I woke up and saw nothing but darkness. I thought I've gone blind for a second, I tried to feel my face and eye and it was open. So I wasn't blind, maybe it's too dark for me to see.

'Wake up.'

I looked around but saw nothing but darkness. It was starting to freak me out, honestly.

"Who's there?" I called but no one answered.

"Turn on the lights! I don't have time to play games!" my patience was growing thinner by the minute no one was answering.

'You need to wake up, Anastasia.'

I could hear myself heavily breathing, "Who are you?" I was trying to calm myself down but it wasn't working by how I sounded nervous.

'I am you', 'And so am I'

I was taken aback that I nearly lost my balance when I heard two voices speaking to me.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else." my voice echoed through the darkness making me shiver.

The hair at the base of my neck stood when I heard a low growl coming from behind. I looked at the direction where it came from and reached out. I gasped when I felt something soft, I tried one more time but there was nothing. I felt nothing but the hollowness of the place as I waved my hand around trying to look for something.

...end of flashback.