“Kelley? Are you okay?” I heard my mom’s voice. She ran to me and helped me up. “Why are you down here so early?” my mom asked. Her eyes searched me with worry.
“I guess I was sleepwalking”, I still couldn’t believe that I wasn’t in hysterics, but I did know that my mom shouldn’t know about about Jim. She would go crazy.
“Oh, okay, but get to bed you need your sleep”, she said. She walked me back to my room and asked if I needed anything and all the crap parents say when they find their child up super early lying on the kitchen floor. When she finally left I felt at peace, kind of.
“Hello again”, Jim’s voice filled the room. I jumped. He was now on my bed right next to me.
“How did you-“
“Sh! Now it’s okay you don’t need to talk anymore. Go to bed you need your rest”. He reached for me and his finger tips brushed my cheek. I cringed away from his touch.
“How can I sleep when there’s a stalker in my room”, I snapped.
“Touché”, he replied with a smile in his voice. I threw a pillow at him. Sadly, he caught it and placed it right back down next to me. He leaned in as if to give me a kiss. I leaned away from him but he kept coming in until I fell off my bed on to the hardwood floor. I scrambled off the floor and stood up fuming. Jim was smiling a cruel smile.
“Why are you such a pain?” I said.
“What do you mean a ‘pain’”, Jim asked. He stood up next to me. His height astonished me. I didn’t think much about it before but now . . .
“That was rhetorical, you didn’t have to respond”, I replied timidly.
“But I wanted to”, he mumbled. He shoved his hands into his pockets and slouched like he used to do. I could still see the old Jim, the one that would eat in the corner of the lunchroom with his friend that had a giant afro.
“Can you leave now?” I asked irritated as heck. He averted my eye contact.
“I was expecting to sweep you off your feat not to be criticized”, Jim thought aloud.
“What?” I asked. I grabbed both of his shoulders to force him to look at me. I swear his eyes were brown for a moment before switching back to black.
“I was going to take you away from this miserable little town and well, have you meet my family”, Jim sighed. He grabbed my forearms for emphasis. His eyes sparkled with hope.
“So you were going to take me to another miserable town instead? And I already know your family! Oh, tell Kyle I said hi”, Jim stared me down. I could actually feel his anger.
“That isn’t my real family!” he screamed.
“But your brother-”
“NO! That’s not the family I’m talking about! I’ll show you”, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him. I saw the look in those sinister black eyes. I could feel the shivers go down my spine at his touch.
No, it wasn’t his touch that was giving me gooseflesh, it was something on my leg. It felt like a velvet blanket and started climbing. “Get it off”, I said in almost a whisper because I was so terrified. My eyes never left the black thing that was now covering everything below my waist. “Get it off!” I raised my gaze to Jim’s. A smile that could make a baby cry crossed over his lips. It was the type murderers wear before killing their helpless victim. I saw the same black thing climb up him but at a faster pace. Soon enough he was just a dark figure, a shadow. I felt saw that the dark thing extended from his arm enveloping me.
I tried to run but my legs were frozen. I tried to scream but the dark thing crawled into my mouth and muffled it. Soon I lost my hearing, my sense of smell, my vision, everything.
Next thing I know I’m moving quickly and I can’t see anything. I was floating, at least I think. I couldn't feel anything solid.
“Close your eyes”, Jim’s voice whispered in my ear.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Shut up”, Jim’s hushed voice hissed.
“I don’t need any sass, where are you taking me?” I demanded.
“You know we were talking about my family . . .” Jim’s voice lulled me.
As soon as he said that the darkness lighten and I felt like I was standing again. Soon the darkness cleared like someone just pulled a sheet off us.
I was in Jim’s arms, trembling. Dizzy and petrified with fear I leaned on to him. “That wasn’t what I thought you were going to do”, I said. He laughed a malicious laugh.
“I know what you mean”, Jim said holding me tighter.
“Jim, Is that you?” a female voice asked. I jumped startled. I thought there wasn’t anyone in my bedroom except me and Jim . . .
I wasn’t in my bedroom anymore. I started taking notice of my surroundings. There was only one window in the room, casting beautiful moonlight across the wooden floor. It slightly lit the room, only showing the outline of a short woman.
“Yeah Maura, it’s me”, Jim said.
“Who is this?” I heard Maura hiss.
I couldn’t see Maura’s face-because it still was too dark for me to see- but I knew that she was completely furious with Jim. “I found a recruit”, he said weakly.
“No, you found a girlfriend”, Maura snapped.
“Okay, Jim can you take me home”, I whined.
“No”, he replied.
“What‽” Maura’s voice rose.
“Oh come on! I want to go to sleep”, I complained. I even put more of my body weight on him to add effect.
“Take her back”, Maura’s voice was lower now, almost a growl. I was starting to like this Maura character a bit more.
“I’ll take her back later”, Jim snarled holding me tighter.
“No, take her back now!” Maura ordered.
“Okay, but don’t expect me home early”, Jim gave in. He lowered us back into the darkness. I knew better this time and closed my eyes. When I finally knew we were back in my room I broke his grasp.
“Bye”, I yawned and collapsed on my bed.
“Not yet”, he tried to lie down next to me.
“Buddy, this isn’t Twilight and your no Edward so goodbye”, I got under my covers. The warm blankets enveloped me in their soft feel. I was so tired my mind started to dose. I hated Twilight, why did I use that reference again? I was starting to fall asleep.
“Can’t a guy just stay over for a night?” Jim asked. He sat next to me and stroked my hair.
“No, unless they get something and I’m not giving you anything”, I explained sleepily.
“Stubborn aren’t you”, sarcasm dripped into his voice. He kissed my forehead.
Too tired to react I said, “Ya, goodnight”, then turned over and was lulled into sleep.
