Afterlife-Isabellakruger

by Unknown

  I decided that keeping busy was the best answer.

  “Can I help you with something?” I asked Martha.

  “Yes, actually I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to town and get me some fresh tomatoes. Unfortunately, Oscar and I have to go see my aunt again later today. We won’t be back until tomorrow. Will you be okay by yourself?”

  I nodded. “Yes, its fine, I’ll be fine, go see your aunt.” I forced a smile, I wasn’t okay and I didn’t really want to spend the day alone – again, but maybe I could window shop a bit to kill some time.

  “Okay, if it’s not too much trouble, here is two pounds it should be more than enough for all your errands.” I took the money and took my coat of the coat hanger. Town was a long walk from the store, but I was hoping it would help me clear my head and besides, everything smelled fresh and clean. My spirits just started to lift and then I saw him again. He must’ve been waiting for me, or so it seemed. “Great! That is all I need!” I thought. “Was he going to annoy me again?” I wondered and I started to walk faster , trying to ignore him. I could hear his footsteps and I could sense he was trying to keep up with me. He complicated my life more than anyone had ever done before.

  Then he spoke up behind me. “Look I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said yesterday. I was mad, because you got yourself into a dangerous situation.” He said trying to stop me.

  “Okay, look you had your say yesterday.” I was annoyed, why was he always around. As if embarrassing myself yesterday wasn’t enough drama for one week.

  “You are a difficult case to crack” he said out of breath still trying to keep up with me.

  I rolled my eyes. “Hmm, and you are qualified to say that?

  He sighed. “I have a name you know.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “And yours is Miss Grumpy this morning it seems.” He said mockingly walking away.

  “No, it's Fleur.” I said automatically.

  “It's beautiful”, he said turning around with warmth in his eyes that made me feel uncomfortable.

  I stopped and looked at him. “Yea, whatever.” I was trying to shrug it off. “I have to go.” I turned away as he grabbed my arm.

  “Look let me make it up to you.” He stared at me with his eyes glistening. It was silly and childish but I felt compelled to listen to him.

  “I'm listening ...” I said staring into his eyes.

  “There's a great place in town called Cafe Rousse. Pick you up at seven.” Before I could protest and make up an excuse he walked off. I had no idea how I was going to explain this one to Oscar and Martha. “Food Fleur, food - focus Fleur.” I said to myself, but the more I thought about food the more his face filled my head. I was convinced it was the same face that I had been dreaming about for months. The million dollar question was why?

  ***

  Town was eerily quiet and the usual occupants weren’t around. It was strange because the few times I had been there on a Thursday it was always overly busy. It seemed as if everyone had suddenly disappeared.

  I walked towards the grocery store and saw the grocer standing in the doorway. He had been watching me and Daniel having a conversation. Relief wiped away the strange foreboding that had suddenly dawned on me. At least the town wasn’t completely deserted, “It must’ve been my imagination going in overdrive after yesterday’s unusual event” I thought as I greeted the town grocer, but he closed the door in my face. I was so shocked that I banged my fists on the door and called out “What is going on Gary” I knocked on the door again and he signaled to the closed sign.

  “How rude!” I thought, “This was great, another weird event. Could it get any worse?” I had lost my appetite for shopping and walked back to the candy store.

  Martha and Oscar’s car was already gone. I looked for the back door key under a garden pot and opened the door. I had the entire day all to myself again. I walked to the sink and poured myself a glass of water and stared outside.

  The post man had just delivered the mail. I might as well take a look at it and help Oscar with the last few bills. The post box was overly full of newspapers and account notices. I dropped the mail on the kitchen table and worked through it systematically, sorting it out according to urgency. When I completed my task, I picked up a copy of The New York Times. What would a pair of old British people do with a New York Times? “That’s a first.” I thought. I picked up the newspaper and read the articles one by one, not really paying attention, just trying to kill time. I opened page three and surveyed an article about Marilyn Monroe’s new movie and then a photo caught my eye, a face way too familiar for me not recognize, stared back at me. I felt goose bumps cover my arms and neck and a hot flush of shock spread over my face. I looked at the photo of the girl in the newspaper. It could only be her. I stared at the newspaper in my hands. My head was spinning uncontrollably and my hands were shaking as I held the newspaper .There was no doubt in my mind that the woman in that picture was indeed my sister Louisa. I read the headline again, “Lisa Gardner and Dean Martin engaged to be married.” I couldn’t believe my eyes, could it be her? I read the article over and over again.

  Actress Lisa Gardner and Senator Dean Martin have officially announced their engagement. The pair met while Senator Dean was campaigning in Pheonix, Arizona. Lisa who tragically lost her entire family, won’t have any family attending, but has exclusively told the New York Times that this would be a happy day for her, as she would gain a new family, but would never forget her own precious family on her perfect day.

  I looked at the picture of Louisa and I could feel a horrible sensation well up inside of me. How could she think that I am dead? If she was in New York I needed to go and see her – immediately! I was so excited could hardly wait for Martha and Oscar to arrive home. My mind was playing out all kinds of scenarios, until I became so exhausted that I eventually climbed into bed, the newspaper clutched firmly against my body and fell asleep.

  I woke up around six o’clock and remembered that Daniel was coming around. I was a mess of excitement and uncertainty and besides that I had no warm dresses for fancy dinners. The temperature had dropped significantly while I was sleeping and I shivered in anticipation. I tidied myself up and sat waiting for Daniel, still with the newspaper in my hands.

  I could see his Ace drive up the driveway from my bedroom window. I wasn’t looking forward to this meeting and I really just wanted to get it over with. I ran downstairs and opened the front door to the store.

  He was smartly dressed in a dark suit and held out a bouquet of flowers to me.

  “You aren’t dressed.”

  I took the bouquet from him .The flowers smelled wonderful.

  “I’m sorry; I am not in the mood to go out.” I said.

  “Neither am I” he said.

  “Come inside so that I can put these in water.”

  “You have a cozy place here.”

  “Thanks.”

  “So where are the old folks?”

  “Spending the night in Mayville.”

  “Great, then I will keep you company if you want me to.” He asked confidently.

  “Suit yourself.” I said annoyed.

  He put out his hand asking, “Friends?”

  I nodded “Friends” I said forcing a smile.

  Leaning against the kitchen cupboard he made himself comfortable. “So where are you from Fleur?”

  “Cornwell.”

  “Oh I’ve never been there.”

  “It’s about two hour’s drive away.” I was starting to wonder if we had anything in common. I put some water on the stove and waited for him to say something. He left the room and I brewed some coffee. I heard him speak up behind me.

  “The living room was cold so I lit the fire in the fireplace, I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, I made some coffee.” I said gesturing to the coffee cup that stood on the kitchen table.

  “Uhm, I don’t drink coffee.”

  “Why did you let me go through the tro
uble of making the coffee then?” I asked annoyed. He ignored the question.

  “Look Fleur about the other day, I know you have a lot of questions.”

  “Yes I do,” I said.

  “I would love to answer them and clear the air.”

  He took my hand in his and it felt cold as ice. “Come and sit at the fire.” He said as he pulled me towards the warmth of the living room.

  He pulled his hand away and pushed his hand through his hair as he walked to the side of the room. “Since I saw you that first time there was something about you Fleur.”

  I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. He had a charisma that was intoxicating.

  “There is something mysterious about you.” He said, his eyes staring at me intensely as he moved closer towards me.

  I tried to ignore him and changed the subject. I knew I had to fight it. “Guys like him weren’t to be trusted,” I told myself as my thoughts dwindled to Jacques and Louisa. I sat down away from him trying to ignore the feeling that came over me. Sipping my coffee I tried not to look at him. He turned around and walked over to me.

  “I found out my sister was alive today” I blurted out.

  “Your sister? You have a sister?””

  “We lost contact a long time ago.”

  He nodded and listened to my story as I told him about my time at Miss Madison’s school and how Louisa had met Jacques. It was the first time I could confide in someone my own age about what had happened and it felt like a great burden had been taken off of my shoulders and as if I saw Louisa’s desertion in another perspective. I decided then and there that if she missed me and loved me enough, that she would come looking for me.

  He looked at me and touched my face. I could smell his cologne. He got so close that I could hardly control myself. I wanted to touch him back, but I controlled myself.

  “I’ve never felt this way about anyone Fleur. It’s just something about you, you are mesmerizing. I can’t keep away from you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, I don’t think this is appro…”

  He interrupted me and drew me near and for the first time in my life I was kissed. His kiss was deep and personal and then it changed and became playful as he nibbled on my bottom lip and then I pulled away.

  “We can’t do this…I’m sorry.” I tried to ignore his eyes.

  “Yea I know, I don’t know what came over me .When I asked to see you tonight, this was the last thing I had planned to happen. The truth is I’m a vampire catcher Fleur. My life is complicated. I feel a lot for you, but we can’t do this now, your right.”

  “A what?” I blurted out confused.

  “I catch vampires, that’s what I do. I won’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.”

  “So are you telling me that that guy Zach who tried to attack me was a vampire?” I shook my head in unbelief. “Is this your idea of a sick joke?” I asked.

  “I wish it was.”

  I could see he was trying not to pull me closer and for a moment he gave in and then he pulled me into his arms, hugged me and then he walked to the door.

  “Are you leaving? Don’t go! I need some answers!” I said stubbornly. I called out as I ran after him trying to stop him.

  He jumped onto his bike and gave me an apologetic look and then he was gone. I felt somehow betrayed, but I kept it inside. I couldn’t understand it I hardly knew him and yet I felt so strongly about him. It felt like a part of me had been ripped apart when he got on that bike. As I stood there watching him a strange nostalgia came over me. I had been there before.

  Somehow, someway I had lived this life before.

  I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

  But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along.

  Evanescence

  Chapter 7

  Chance encounter

  There was something sinister and different about him. It wasn't just the way he tried to avoid me after that day it was something else and it bugged me tremendously. I started keeping a journal.

  Day 1

  He never showed.

  Day 2

  The day passed uneventful.

  He didn’t show …again…

  Day 3

  I miss him …is that weird?

  Day 4

  Will I ever see him again? Why did he kiss me and then disappear? Maybe its because I sucked at kissing…

  Day 5

  Should I ask Martha why Oscar doesn’t like Daniel? No, that would just complicate things.

  Why would Louisa forget about me and say that I am dead? I need to stop overanalyzing things!

  Day 6

  Oscar asked me if I was feeling sick. I suppose I have been a bit withdrawn, but who can blame me?

  And then a month had passed.

  I lay awake at night wondering if he was still alive, but nothing not even my dreams could ease a gnawing feeling in my stomach that something wasn't right. Martha and Oscar knew something was up with me, but had eventually described it as another teenage faze that they had to endure. The truth was this wasn't really just another teenage faze or rebellion it was what I had become.

  I could hardly sleep or eat and when I slept his face was everywhere, in my dreams, in my work. Everytime a customer opened the door, every time I walked into town and saw someone vaguely resembling, I wished that it would be him. I had to see him and then I decided to plan it all out.

  That night I dreamed that I was screaming and shouting at him letting him know how much his absence annoyed me. I woke up in a cold sweat from the nightmare.

  The next morning I made some lame excuse that I had read all my books and needed to go to the library. Giving me a knowing look, Martha knew not to comment and allowed me to go after giving me a gentle hug and telling me to be careful on my own. I ran as fast as my legs would allow me, ducking away as I changed direction towards the foot hills and into the forest. I ran until I was lost again, hoping that he would save me the way he did before.

  I could sense his smell, his heart beating.

  “I know you’re out there” I screamed. “Daniel don't be a girl, come out here and face me!”

  My voice echoed and I was starting to sound ridicules. He was never coming back. I stared at the world around me it, was empty as empty as my heart. How could he do this to me? I felt tears well up and collapsed on a log of wood. I felt like a little girl again, rejected, left alone, but the only difference was that I was now longing for someone I hardly knew.

  Then out of nowhere I felt a hand on my shoulder and an excited shiver ran down my spine. There was only one person it could belong to - Daniel. I can't remember the amount of minutes or seconds that we sat there, but it seemed like an eternity, I broke the silence by turning around and locking my eyes into his golden eyes. I hated not being able to contain myself around him, everything was out of order and out of place. My hair, my clothes and I felt like all I wanted was to please him, to make sure that he never left again.

  “Why did you leave me so abruptly?” I asked after an eternity of silence.

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Why do you always say that? Daniel you can't keep doing this. If you’re having trouble...”

  “I lied to you” he said numbly.

  “I don't fight vampires.”

  “What does this have to do …?”

  “Everything Fleur, everything.” He grabbed me by both arms and his stare intensified. “If you knew the real me you wouldn't stay. You were right to chase me away the other night.”

  A stubborn look came across my face. A staring game developed between us, both of us wanted to say something but we couldn't find the words. He took my hand and pushed me down to the stump again. His hand touching my face, his eyes examining me. I could feel a rush of excitement and want welling up inside of me.