38 ~ Thomas
Tick
Tock
Tick
You know that feeling you get when you do something dangerous?
Not the thrill and pure ecstasy of excitement as you jump from a plane, the other feeling.
The feeling you get when you walk down the stairs to the basement, the dark, cold basement that you swore was haunted? Your heart sputters and pounds against your chest, your fingers tingle and tremble, and your lungs struggle to take in oxygen.
But the worst part was your thoughts, they played tricks on you. Was there someone in that dark corner? No, just a mop, but you were certain you saw someone...
I was frozen, stuck in the middle of my parents bedroom as the clock seemed to scream in the silence.
Tick
Tock
It was driving me insane, the constant nag of time. It whispered to me with each tick, urging me to hurry.
Tick
My whole body was against me, fighting me. Are you crazy?- It was resisting me, my limbs heavy, eyes wide and unblinking.
Tock
My father was only a few feet in front of me, I could see the outline of his tall and stout body. A tremor ran through me, the dark tricking me. His dark eyes glaring at me, sneering at me! Wait- he's asleep. Just sleeping.
I was terrified, convinced that he knew what I was going to do, and that I'd end up just like Calum, probably worse.
I swallowed hard, he's asleep. I had to repeat that over and over. He's asleep- he's not waking up.
Tick
Tock
Hurry up
I force my foot forward, closing the gap between my father and I.
I was right in front of him, so close I could feel the puff of breath he let out. It was warm and made my skin crawl unpleasantly. He never looked peaceful, even in his sleep.
His brows were furrowed and mouth slightly tugged down, lips parted and deep, heart-thumbing, roar-like snores rolled from between them.
It was almost like he was screaming.
But then again, wasn't he always?
Tick
Tock
I take a deep breath and twist my fingers against each other, palms sweaty.
Leaning over I slowly inch my fingers under his pillow- his face only inches from my hand, only a mere foot from my face.
If he woke, all he'd have to do was grab my neck. He'd push me down to my knees before lifting me off my feet and introducing his fist to my face, though they've already met.
I shake my head, stop it. Don't think, just do.
Slowly, I searched under the pillow, so slow the clock was rambling for was seemed like hours.
Tick
Tock
Then my fingers felt metal, and a ghost of a smile lifted my lips.
I began curling me fingers around the key when he stirred. My heart sky-rocketed and I knew I was done for.
I was like a deer caught in headlights, not even trembling anymore, the fear paralyzed me.
He yawned and I bit my lip, struggling to hold my hand and breath still.
I might have been the luckiest person in the world at that moment.
My father opened his eyes, and my heart stopped, everything stopped, even the pestering clock.
But they were only open for a second, and then they closed once again. I couldn't believe it.
He didn't see me. He didn't feel my hand under his pillow, and to make things even better, he rolled over.
His back was now facing me, and the weight of his head had moved off my hand.
I had to smother a joyful squeal, and listened to the clock for a few minutes just to be sure before retracting my hand.
It felt as though I could breath again, the headrest part was over.
I hurried to the other side of the bed, where the walk in closet was. I almost fainted as the door creaked loudly.
Tick
Tock
I fumbled over shoes and clothing, crawling to the back corner of the closet.
It was hard to shove the key into the safe in the dark, but I managed to do it after some struggling.
The metal was cool against my sweating hands, and the door swung open, to my relief, silently.
My brows furrowed, fingers searching for the extra wallet. I gulped when they skimmed even colder metal, a gun.
Panic surged through me, since when did we have a gun?! I pulled back so violently, I fell against something, causing a loud crash to shatter the silence.
I choked on a yelp of surprise.
The lights flicked on and tears gathered in my eyes, instinctively I cowered from the doorway.
My eyes adjust to the sudden brightness, and I'm met with sorry, tearful brown orbs.
My mother stands in the door way, her eyes flickering from my curled up form to the open safe and back to me.
"Mom, I-"
She shakes her head and looks behind her into the bedroom. While her head is turned, I grab the card and shove it in my back pocket.
I stand, freely sobbing. Caught red-handed.
She looks back to me with soft eyes and quickly steps to me. I flinch back and tears stain her cheeks at the sight.
She embraces me in a short but sweet hug, and I lean against it.
Tick
"I'm sorry," she whispers, taking the key from my hand and closing the safe with her foot.
Tock
"Mom, please don't-" I beg as she grabs my arm, fearing she was taking me to him.
Tick
She hushes me and pushes me out of the closet, turning the light off behind her.
Tock
"Go," she hisses, and I run out of the room, watching as she lays back in bed, her hand slyly returning the key under my fathers pillow as he wakes.
"What was that, Joy?"
"Nothing, honey. Go back to bed,"
We lock eyes through the dark doorway, and she nods at me.
I guess miracles do happen.
In the safety of my own room I collapse on my bad, throwing the card at Calum.
"That was quick," he muses, and I glare at him.
He was right, only 11 minutes.
Fear has a bad habit of playing with its food, stretching time.
But it always devours you, in the end.
-
A/N
Not sure how I feel about this chapter.
It's now summer, so updates should be comping back more frequently.
How did you like it? My notifications have been silent, I never know anymore...
Love you guys