Text Message (Rewriting)

06

MY EYES STARED into the dark corners of my room.

It felt as if someone was watching each and every move of mine. As if the ground beneath me was moving, surely, Tom would be here soon.

So then why wasn't he here now?

That question haunted me, thoughts of Cathy being terrified in her own home, her solace, burned in my mind. I drew my eyebrows together thinking it no longer a representation of my panic-striken mind but reality.

Sometimes I get detached from this world, melting away into this unknown place where birds sing and trees sway to the melody of peace. But it's been way too long since I've gone there. My footprints have been long forgotten, which were initially etched into the soil of freedom, but now?

Now, winds of despair have wiped them off, and former times seem so out of reach.

Tears burned in my eyes. My vision blurred as I hastily wiped them away. This was it, another hurdle in my already ruined life.

The bell rang.

My train of thoughts stopped immediately. I pushed myself from the ground into a standing position, defenceless against whatever evil lurked downstairs.

I hesitantly inched towards the door, my feet coming into contact with the cold floor. Steadily I moved, slowly I neared the kitchen.

My eyes always looked into the dark pools of shadows, and flitted towards the door. Grabbing the sharpest knife from the rack I moved forward. There was a little safety which ensued from me getting a weapon but still dread pooled in my stomach and my heart neared explosion. But I kept on moving, kept on moving.

Suddenly two urgent knocks on the door broke my display of bravery. And I gave a small shriek of surprise and fear simultaneously.

"Olivia? Are you okay? It's me, Tom."

A smooth velvety voice disrupted the silence which caged me. My heart leaped with joy and I sped over to the door and immediately opened it.

There stood Tom, his hand clutching a knife similar to mine. Worry etched on his face, his breathing rapid with red eyes.

Without thinking I hugged him, seconds later arms wrapped around me. I started sobbing uncontrollably and he listened.

• • •

"What happened?"

And then I narrated the story.

"Wait, Cathy. Oh my God! I need to find Cathy!"

I paced around the kitchen, my hands flaring up with dread and desperation. How could I forget her?

What if, what if she's de- No, NO!

"Tom, call the police, NOW!"

He listened and quickly fumbled for his phone but there was a hesitancy that I noticed, a reluctance of some sort.

"Olivia, can you show me that note that had Cathy's hair attached to it?"