Found you

Chapter 1

13th October – 6pm

Today was oddly comforting, with the sky appearing to be how most people would typically dislike it. Gloomy, with a wildly intense series of rain. I always felt connected to imperfect weather as I had always had a strong liking to rain. Gloomy weather didn't sting your eyes like sunny weather always did, or make you sweat as if you had just run for the country. And the rain...it felt rather relaxing in all honesty. It highlighted a rather tranquil undertone to the atmosphere – the harsh splashes were always in unison and helped to distract me. It allowed me to momentarily abandon reality. The pathetic world that we lived in.

I should have known through the weather that something bad was going to happen – through how it was slightly too cold for the normal bad weather, or how the pitter patter of the rain hit a little too hard. How on this specific day, there was more panic amongst people - more people were arguing or complaining as they walked past. How the bus was much later than the usual timing. I should've known.

I should have known.

I was going to see my sister after being out with my best friend Delphine. I was looking forward to spending time with my sister Amira who was a year younger than me. We were very similar in our taste of music as well as what we aspired to be in the future, as she wanted to be a photographer and me wanting to pursue illustration as well as become an author.

Anyway, I was excited. Especially as when I went out I got Amira her favourite white chocolate milkshake. I was only out a couple hours with Delphine and Amira was home with our grandparents whilst our parents were working. They were barely ever home.

I had said goodbye to Delphine and found that the door was unlocked.

That was the first red flag that began to make me paranoid. Now why was I this paranoid over something minor? That was due to the fact that whenever me or my parents were out we always locked the door.

And I was sure I locked it. Right?

The main factor, however, that caused my stomach to go whirlpool crazy... was the fact that once I very slowly opened the door and tip toed in, the key was still in the keyhole on the other side.

I knew they had a spare key, but none of them would ever dare to keep the key in and not lock it. It was always locked.

I had to be very careful.

I took a deep breath as I cautiously made my way in, eyes forced wide open as I was leaning right up against the wall as I was walking. I could hear footsteps, although very faint. Definitely not my grandparents who would be complaining whenever they had to get up, or Amira who had louder footsteps.

Another odd factor as I slowly walked towards the source of the footsteps (one that I was surprised I didn't let out a shriek due to), was the trail of blood smeared across the tiles.

Tears threatened to spill, ones that I had to command my body to hold back. My body began to shake due to the adrenaline. I couldn't feel anything, couldn't face the reality of it all. What was I going to tell Mum and Dad? Would I even make it out of this?

Stop it, Inaya. You're stronger than this.

I had to push myself to be numb to any emotions that would render me weak – this was the time to fight. I was already inside so I couldn't do anything else, fighting was all I could do.

I made a quick grab for the fork nearby as their was nothing else that I could grab without drawing attention to myself. And no - there were no knives.