I can feel it. I can feel them. I’m awake. They are real.
'You are mine Princess. Never forget.'
The note speaks clear in my head, in the unfamiliar voice from the forest. I suddenly realize that there are worse things in life than bad dreams. At least I know that a dream is just that.
A dream. It can’t hurt my physical body. Just my heart and mind.
These flowers show me that maybe there is something out there that could hurt me more than my dreams.
A howl sounds out and echo’s around in my head for what seems like hours. I slowly rise to my knees and peer over the top of the balcony looking into my yard and for the second time this morning it feels like my heart has stopped beating and my breathing has ceased.
I am not alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Shatter
I rise from my knees to a standing position, without taking my eyes from the intruder in my yard.
Stood tall and proud is the grey wolf from a few nights ago. At his feet is more of the same white flower that’s on my balcony. The same white flower that was in my bag.
He takes a step forward as if to make sure that I know, he knows I have seen him.
He howls loudly then bends his head down and picks up some of the flowers in his mouth, turns and walks away. I feel like he wants me to know that he has placed the flowers at my feet, and if it was a man stood there, that’s exactly what I would have thought, but that’s not possible. He, it, whatever it is, is an animal, it can’t have done it.
No, whoever placed these flowers here is the same person who wrote the note. That means they know where I live. Where I sleep. When the realisation hits me, I hurry back inside and lock my doors behind me. I jump back into bed and pull the covers around me, suddenly feeling very cold. Without thinking I grab my phone and pull up Logan’s number to call. I need to feel safe and he is my safety. Something inside me just knows it. It’s like a natural reaction.
I press the call button, then instantly hit the end call button before it even calls out once.
No Alex, you can’t call him. Remember yesterday. He doesn’t want you...
My memories of yesterday morning come flooding back to me. Along with big fat tears that roll down my cheeks. Right along with the tears comes the anger; at Logan for leading me on. He did tell me I was his, more than once, he made it very clear that he wanted me. I know I didn’t misread him. But then as soon as he realised he was kissing me in full view of people at school, he became ashamed of me.
I know I’m worth more than that. My self-esteem isn’t that low; I won’t be with someone who is ashamed of me. With someone, who doesn’t want people at school to see me with him. No matter how good it feels to be within arms reach of him.
I try telling myself I’m wrong, that it’s something else. He isn’t ashamed of me, but then why didn’t he call yesterday? Not even a single text. I have all the answers I need. I don’t want to hear any of the excuses he will make.
Instead I head to the shower to calm myself down and to try and remove the chill that has crept into my bones.
While drying my hair, the glorious smell of coffee makes its way under my nose and I realise that aunt Sara must be up. I quickly finish getting ready and then make my way downstairs.
“Good morning sunshine. You’re up early. You okay?” She asks concerned and walks over to me for a hug. I didn’t know just how much I was in need of one and hug her back trying not to cling to her as tight as I want to, but the shower didn’t remove as much as the chill as I wanted it to.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong? Do you feel better after yesterday? Are you alright for school?” She questions me again. I blink back my tears before letting go of her, thankful that none escaped.
“Nothings wrong, I just missed you. That’s all. I feel like I haven’t seen you all week. How’s the piece going?” She answers my questions and we sit and chat over coffee and muffins, but I can tell she knows something is wrong. She’s just like her sister, very observant and picks up on everything. Thankfully she is too bogged down with work right now to really push for answers. I’m not too sure she would actually push for them the way my mum would have anyway.
“Are you going to be here later or are you working late again?” She puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.
“I’m sorry honey, I need to be at the studio. It’s almost all completed and with the amount of money I’m being paid for it, I think I’ll take a break for a few weeks when its all done. We can spend some real time together. I never would have said yes to it if I realised that it would have taken up so much of my time.” I
