Chapter 6 Nothing happened
Naomi
I didn't stay back to know what happened to her. If she died or not. My mind was fixed on what I had just witnessed.
Was that real? Or was my mind imagining things that weren't real? My feet thumped down the stairs. I wanted to reach home before I lost my mind.
A familiar voice called. I heard their footsteps behind me. I didn't turn back to look at Mr. Rex or to ask why he was calling me.
He was my teacher and the only time he needed to be concerned about me was when I wasn't doing well with my studies, which I doubt would ever be something for my teachers to complain about.
Outside the school gates, I flagged down a taxi. I entered without a word to the driver.
I needed to get home as quickly as possible. Ma'a had to know what just happened to me. She should have something to tell me about that.
I pushed the main door to the house, expecting her to be inside, but the house was as quiet as a grave yard.
She hadn't returned back from work. My shoulder slumped as I stared around the house after carefully examining my hand. It looked fine, like nothing happened to it.
"Nooo!" I yelled, gripping my hair. What in the world was happening to me? Frustration surfaced.
First, it was the scent, the glow in the blisters and now this? I wanted answers. I wanted to know. I didn't make it up to my room. I tossed my bag on the floor and sat on the couch. I waited for her to come back, but she didn't until later, when something strong and intoxicating hit my nostrils. I sniffed the air around. My eyes fluttered open, to discover that I had fallen asleep. I rubbed them to clear the sleep off...but my hand stopped midair and I wrinkled my nose again and that's when I perceived it. Petrichor. So strong like whoever or whatever was wearing the scent was right in front of me. But there was nothing, just me inside the living room.
I stood up and glanced around the house. My eyes snapped to the door that was slightly left open. I hadn't locked it when I got inside. I pinned my legs on the floor, willing myself not to go outside, not to follow the scent, given how dark it was. However, all my efforts proved futile. My body defiled me. I took one step, another step, then another. That was how I found myself outside, following the scent to the back of the house.
My senses were completely void of every other thing, except the scent. It took me to the woods like the water sirens calling out to sailors. I followed it, finding my way through the dark woods behind the house until I was at the ravine. I stopped in front of the large stone I usually sat on whenever I came here. I looked around, but there was no one, just the dark forest with the shadows of the trees illuminated by moonlight. Someone or something, was playing with me. But why would they? I scratched my head. And within just a flitting moment, the scent disappeared. Fueled with irritation, I stomped back to the house. Whoever it was, should pray that I never get to set eyes or lay my hands on them.
Just when I rounded the corner of my house, I heard Ma'a's voice. She was talking with one of the neighbors.
"Her school bag is on the floor and she is nowhere to be found."
"It's almost 10:PM ." There was panic in her voice. I was about to call out to her, when the neighbor; the fat lady with a bald head that lived across from us, pointed over Ma'a shoulders.
"Isn't that Naomi?"
Ma'a swiftly turned behind and hurried towards me. She took me in her arms. Hands tight around me like she was scared I'd disappear into thin air if she let go.
"Where did you go?" She asked, her eyes skimming over my body and her hands touching everywhere like she was looking for some kind of evidence.
I just stared at her, wondering where I should start, with all that had been happening to me.
"I think something is happening to me, Ma'a." I muttered, staring down at my hands and focused more on the one that had manifested today.
She looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
I decided to let the frustration all out. "I have been getting this strange scent. The other day, my hand...." I lifted the hand up and looked at the blisters.
"They glowed, Ma'a. They did." I pressed a finger to it. She raised a brow like I was saying something stupid and impossible.
"Come on, Naomi. Stop saying things like that."
"This hand...I don't know, Ma'a. But today at school, it changed. My nails grew longer in just an instant, the veins..."
"Come on." She grabbed my hand and took me inside. She made me sit on the chair I had been sleeping on. She stood in front of me, hands on her waist.
"Listen to me and listen well, Naomi. Do not say things like that. Nothing happened to you. Nothing is wrong with you. "
"Stop believing in your imaginations. Nothing like that can ever happen and when you start saying things like that, they start to become your reality." She turned to the dinner table and picked two white ceramic plates.
"Go take your shower and come down for dinner."
Without another word, she made her way to the kitchen. I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees, my palms flattened against my face. I fought back my tears.
Why did I even think she was going to believe me? She had been telling me that for the longest time. I wished I had someone to talk to. These were the times where Zara would come in, but her life was caught short. I couldn't talk to my parents because their life was taken as well by those horrible creatures called werewolves.
I picked my bag from the floor and hurried up the stairs. A quick shower was good to go. I returned downstairs for dinner after I had showered.
Ma'a tried to make conservations with me, but I was not into it and I was glad that she understood and didn't push forward.
Once in my room, I went over my school work and did my assignments after which I packed my bag for the next school day. I went to bed, wondering what was going to happen tomorrow, if Calix and her friends would confront me of what happened today. They were only going to remember if the whole scenario was true right? Ma'a told me it was just hallucinations.
I went to bed, believing that.
"I will find you soon, Naomi. We belong together. You can never deny who you're.”
Just like the last time, he was naked, his back to me. The bright moonlight lit the curves of his naked back.
"You still haven't told me how you know my name?" I asked, looking at the back of the man who never showed his face.
"I will tell you when we finally meet." And just like that, the whole place was covered in darkness. Panic washed over me. I felt my body starting to get hot.
I tried to find my way through the dark. My phone beeped loudly on my nightstand, making me jumped up from my sleep.
I waited for the sleep to clear off my eyes before checking the time. It was 5: AM .
Great! Just another day to get up and prepare for another horrible school day. It was horrible because I didn't know what awaited me on that school campus. I took a deep breath and did a few stretches before getting out of bed.
Dressed and ready for school, I snatched my bag on the bed and made it down stairs.
Ma'a raised her head from the dishes she was setting on the table and looked up at me with a smile. I returned one which didn't reach my eyes. I wasn't in the mood to eat, but I just had to do it for her. She had woken up to make that for me.
"Before careful. Do not interact with just anyone at school.”
Yes, one of her normal routines of telling me who not to interact with. I would prefer it if she took me out of that school. I was tired of it.
My hands were tight against my bag straps as I climbed the staircase to my class room all while wishing Calix and her squad weren't in school yet or had decided not to come to school today. It was Friday. I would like some time to myself to collect my thoughts. I took a deep breath as I entered the class that had just a few students sitting.
My eyes roamed around. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Calix with Archer on her desk. They looked up at me. None of them said a thing and returned their gaze back to what they were doing.
Did they forget?
I shook my head as I slid into my desk. Before I could place my butt down, slender manicure fingers slammed on my desk. My heart thumped when I lifted my head up and saw Calix.