Pt 2: Before everything

Lilah's POV

Jesus, there's not a day I can't look pretty. I say frustrated looking at my piercing light brown eyes facing the mirror. I jump in the shower after wasted minutes staring at nothingness. I pull back my silky brunette hair to reveal a fine, radiant face. There are several moles I have engraved. I have two around my face. One of them lies below my eye centered on the top of my cheekbone. Which I love and another one centered on my jawline. Walking out my room I head to the kitchen, finding myself to a plate of breakfast on the table next to a note:

Hey baby I hope you have a good day at work- love mom.

I look at the note my mom left me and back to my plate. Damn it, mom, I quickly grab a cup of coffee next to a long chestnut cabinet and pour it inside my thermal to take it with me. I quickly check to see if I'm not leaving anything behind and I'm running out the door.

7:30 am

I'm watching you, A strange voice said inside my head. I quickly jump in response terrified. I look around to see if someone was there, but no one was. I open my garage to enter my car and speed to my job.

I finally arrive at this dump of a job. Welcome to my living hell, "Macy's". Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with my job. Just that the assistant manager is a bitch. I'm the stocker of the place so I must be in the back with no AC. I struggle to put the key and finally it opens, letting the cold breeze filter my loose pieces of hair. And unfortunately, there's no one here except the assistant manager Karen.

She postures her shoulders and her hair is a perfectly light blond with grey eyes. Karen and I dont really get along. She hates me only because our manager Stacy treats me like a daughter and doesnt give mind to Karen. I giggle from the thought that she might be jealous. But I cant seem the reason why when all I do is grab things for Stacy.

Karen works in front in the register and Im outback in the stocking room. She has AC and I dont. I complain because it gets really hot back there and I sweat fast. So Karen shouldnt be jealous.

"Lilah" She retorts.

"Karen" I spat back. We locked eyes, until I continued my way to the back.

5:30 pm

I'll be expecting you soon; Another voice. While opening the door I fell to the floor from the voice who scared me the first time. I look around when I stumble back on my feet and find Karen laughing on her side. I begin to take the voices seriously and tried my best to continue work and figure it out later.

I turn on the lights to the storage and see about 3,000 boxes that I must unpack and scan. I walk to the left corner to clock in for work and head to my station. At work the only partners I have our two and they are always late and slow.

The first one is named Candice. Work begins at 7:30 am for stockers and she arrives around 9 am. Her appearance is charming at first but when she speaks is a low class of stupidity. She has black short hair like a pixie and her smile is small. Shes the type of girl that dresses pretty but has a brain of walnut. Also, she comes to work smelling like weed. The second one is named Judy shes in college, so she comes a little bit late around 12 at noon. I dont really blame her, but can I at least get better staff that do work. So that leaves me stuck here to unpack at least 600 boxes until Candice comes.

Ive at least unpacked 1,000 boxes until Candice decided to show up. She came in and when she started to unpack, I left the room. Stacy sent Karen to call me into her office a few minutes ago so I head there. Hey, Lilah. I need you to do me a quick run to bring some coffee. Stacy asks.

Sure, thing your usual? I ask.

Yes, and when you come back you can leave early.

I grab my bag and keys from my locker and head out. The traffic wasnt so bad as I only arrived at Starbucks in less than 15 minutes. I order her usual smoked butterscotch latte alongside my favorite strawberry acai.

My manager Stacy is beautiful she has her perfect sugar brown hair laid back behind her shoulders and her cheekbones that are always pink. Her eyes are the ones that catch me the most with her appearance, there this perfectly colored hazel that fits her face entirely. Thank you Hun, see you tomorrow.

Your welcome see you later, have a nice day.

I'm a little surprised that Karen didn't bother me my whole shift. After everything, the thought of going home gives me pleasure and relief. But I was a tad excited to talk to my best friend Amity about these voices I been having today. I step inside my car turn on the radio and drive home in melody.

When I make my final right turn, I see police cars in front of my house, and my mind went straight to the voices I heard earlier. And as If in cue the voice came again: You better go stop them before they take your sister. Automatically my heart started to race. Why would they take my sister and why would these voices know whats going on? I park my car behind my moms and walk up to my driveway, slightly peeking through the cops' car.

From the outside of my house it looks old, but it's wonderful and peaceful. It has been built with burgundy brick. It has tall, half-rounded windows that add to the style of my overall house. Once I'm in front of my house door my palms are sweating, and I'm left exposed struggling to open the door.

"Mom?" I lightly yell from the hall.

"In here honey, I'm in the living room." My house inside is elegant and cozy, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It's also equipped with a large living room, dining area, a basement, and a kitchen.

Slowly walking in I see my mom surrounded by cops and my little sister Jamie in handcuffs. Jamie stared at me once I was in sight and I could see her tears escape her blue eyes. I start to walk up to her I quickly hold her hand, "what happened?" I asked puzzled, pulling her closer to me. Jamie shifts her head toward me and back down.

"You're Lilah, am I correct?" The officer says, and I just nod my head. "Jamie has been seen with the possession of illegal drugs with a couple of friends. We were just explaining to your mom that we are baker acting Jamie." When I didn't say anything back the police officer got up and grabbed Jamie by the arm. I stood up and held the officer staring at him. Say these words with me before they take your sister. I whisper, You will forget about the incident with Jamie and her friends. As you will let her go. When I finished my sentence the police officer let her go and said, Jamie is free, shes too young I will give you a warning my dear.

My mom looked at me and the police officer as they both walked out the house. I pulled Jamie into a huge bear hug. I wasnt going to let them take you.

We both paced to our beds as for I was going to read Jamie my favorite story. But then my mom comes in interrupting us, Lilah theres something I need to talk to you and Jamie about.

7:00 pm

After my mom discussed the situation. I had to talk to Amity all about it.

I ended up being in my room alone when Jamie fell asleep. I couldnt stop thinking about calling her or if I should text her. I really want to tell her about the voices ive been having today and what my mom discussed. And I know shes at work, shes almost ready to clock out Maybe I should wait.

7:30 pm

My mind is wandering around staring up at the ceiling and back to my phone nervously.

7:50 pm

I'm just going to text her maybe she'll answer I can't wait any longer:

Hey, Amity meet me at Smith way Grove after work, I must tell you something important. — L

Okay I sent it I hope she gets it. I get up from my bed and get dressed. I put on my usual style lace crop top some skinny jeans and my converse. I don't bother to look at myself in the mirror and step out of my bedroom. Walk down the stairs and head to the kitchen. I search inside the draws for a piece of paper and a pen. And I'm suddenly writing a note to my mom: Mom I went to Amity's house, didn't want to stay home.

I stick the note on the fridge, grab my house keys and I rushed out the door.

10:10 pm

Nearly waiting for only minutes maybe an hour just sitting on the bench hoping Amity is on her way already. My anxiety starts getting the best of me. I was rocking back and forth I couldn't keep still at all.

"Lilah I've been waiting for you." A familiar strong voice spoke. I turn my head to each corner and see no one. I've heard the voice before it was the one from my head but deeper.

I get up from the bench and start walking to the open space where a tree is standing near the left edge.

After a while, everything became a whisper, and as I gave out the woods began to glow. It was the kind of color that gives your body a feeling as if it is between the heat of a fire and the coldness of ice. There was no color like it. The ground beneath me began to descend and the air just rushed around me not touching me at all. This world was becoming unreal. I can't even picture how it looks, I've gone blind. My body became numb from the appearance.

And the voice came back; "You're coming with me."