I feel myself hyperventilating with all the craziness that's been going on and all I wanna do is scream and run away. Nothing makes sense any more.
“I told you to calm down Krista and why do you even care if he's fine? He tried to kill you.” He leans casually against a tree and gestures in Robbie's direction who was attempting to prop himself up looking confused.
I remember the pressure of Robbie's hands around my neck and I move marginally away from him. He sees me move and locks eyes with me.
“Krista? What's going on? Why aren't we at the cafe?” He doesn't seem to remember anything since we got coffee and that cold distant look in his eyes is gone. He doesn't scare me now even though moments ago he was strangling me. His hands startto shake as his eyes dart around and land on Alistair. “You... I know you....”
Alistair moves towards him and cuts him off. “No, you really don't.” He kneels down in front of him and stares him directly in the eyes. “You got coffee, got lost in the woods, tripped and hit your head.”
Robbie stares back at him. “I tripped...Hit my head...”
That's a lie! I shove Alistair on the shoulder. “What are you doing?”
He holds one finger in my direction. “Shh.”
“Don't shush me, you're lying! I did something to him! I hurt him but I don't know how!” Panic rises inside me as I realise that somehow I hurt him and it was out of my control. What if it happens again?!
He ignores me and keeps his gaze fixed on Robbie. “You’re going to find your friends and go home. Forget I was here..”
He's doing it again. Telling him to forget just like he did with Nick.
They both stand up and Robbie walks past me back the way we came. He seems cheerful and relaxed like he has no idea what just happened. “Hey Krista you coming? Christian and Cassey are gonna be wondering where we are.”
“Umm...” I turn to Alistair but he's gone. I look around and he's nowhere in sight. No one can move that fast. It's impossible. Then again what just happened is impossible... Maybe he's like me?
Robbie calls me again and I follow on auto pilot. The further I walk the invisible dark fog that seems to surround Alistair disappears.
As we walk Robbie chats away happily as he was before. It's totally unnerving seeing as he nearly killed me earlier and yet I'm walking with him alone in the woods!? What the fuck isgoing on!! I should be running for my life and yet I feel safe. Maybe none of it happened. Is it possible I imagined everything? Is Alistair even real? Yes, Cassey said she saw him. Even so, no-one goes from murderous too completely normal moments later. What do I do?' My minds racing faster than I can process. All I want to do is go home and cry and sleep forever. In a perfect world, I'll wake up and it will be Friday again and I'll finish college like normal. No hiccups and no weirdness. It has to because the only other alternative is insanity.
Chapter 5
The following day I wake up with no butterflies on me which is a bonus. So far, every thing's normal. I check my phone and it says Sunday 13thFebruary. Great. I've not gone back to Friday for a do over which means maybe I'm still dreaming. I pinch myself and the pain definitely feels real. In that case I need to look into therapy.
I snuggle down into the covers and a picture of myself wearing a strait jacket in a padded room invades my imagination. Would my mum believe me? Cassey does, but she's witnessed the craziness. Then again, telling her about me incapacitating Robbie might be a bit too much to handle.I'mbarely handling it for God’s sake! No, even if what is happening is real, no-one will believe me and they'd lock me up anyway considering the main people involved, I.e. Nick and Robbie, don't seem to remember any of it. Thanks to Alistair.
Hold on, maybe Alistair has some answers? He's the last person I want to see again but, going by his behaviour the last couple of days there's a good chance he'll show up again. I just hope nothing else horrible or unexplained happens in the meantime. I'm desperate for answers and he seems like the only person who has them. Although I can't forget the fact thatsomething is off about him, but he is gorgeous. He wasn't even the least bit bothered about Robbie though and then there's the whole thing with Nick. Gosh that seems like ages ago.
I get out of bed and start getting ready for the day. Even with all the crazy I can't hide in my bed worrying about it. I'll just continue on as normal and maybe nothing else will happen. Life goes on and I've gotta go along with it. I can hear my mum pottering around in the kitchen and after having a quick shower and getting dressed I go down there to join her. I put on my best 'every thing's fine and normal' face and head to the kettle.
“So, any plans for today?” Mum asks as she tucks into some toast.
I finish making myself a coffee and lean against the kitchen side acting completely normal. “Umm... no, I don't think so.” I blow on the boiling coffee for something to do. I take a sip and flinch as it burns my lip. I need to relax. I put the coffee down and head to the cupboard to make a bowl of cereal.
Mums gaze follows me around the room. “Did you have fun yesterday? When you got home you disappeared upstairs and when I came up to let you know dinner was ready you were asleep.” I wasn't asleep but I wasn't in the right frame of mind to talk to anyone after everything that had happened. I dread to think what Cassey, Christian and Robbie thought of me. I practically ignored them and walked home on my own. I’ll have to text Cassey today and apologise for abandoning her. Robbie probably needs the apology more though after I knocked him out somehow, not that he remembers. Then I left him with the other two as an awkward third wheel.
“Mhmm loads of fun. Looks like Cassey and Christian are finally together.” I start pouring the milk but my hands are shaking and I spill some of it. I grab a cloth to clean it up whilst taking deep breaths.
“Is that the boy she's been crushing on since you started college?” Mum has finished her toast and occasionally glances at me from over the top of her mug.
I sit down across from her in my usual seat at the table and start poking at my cereal. As I stare at my bowl my appetite evaporates. “Yeah he is.” I try one spoon full of cereal but I can't seem to make myself swallow it. I attempt to wash it down with some coffee but it makes me cough.
My mums’ brow furrows. “Sweetie are you alright? You seem on edge.”
Clearly my facade Isn't convincing. “Yeah, yeah, everything's good.” I smile but I know she sees through it. “Actually Umm... I'm not really feeling all that great, I think I'm gonna go lay down.” I clear up my bowl and hurry back upstairs. I feel my mums’ eyes burning into me as I go.
Once in my room, I close the door behind me and flop down on my bed. The tears fall and I let them. After what happened yesterday it's clear that whatever it is that's happening to me is not good. What made Robbie attack me? Fear knots in my stomach and I feel sick. Cassey thinks I have super powers but they must be evil after what I did to Robbie. What were those veins that covered him? It had something to do with the tingling sensation in my fingers when I touched him, but it was completely out of my control. Does that make me evil? I hope not... I don't want to be evil. I helped the tree in the storm though so I can't be completely evil. I stare at my ceiling hoping somehow it will give me the answers I need.
After a while I hear my phone ding and looking at it I see it's a text from Cassey.
