After Sunset (Chapter 3)

That night, I didn't go to sleep until eleven-thirty. I couldn't sleep. Every time I would close my eyes, Damian's pale face would pop into my sight. The next day at school, it seemed like everyone knew about him and I at the club. John and Mindy asked tons of questions. I answered some, but I wasn't too into talking about him to them.
The whole day, Damian didn't text me. I texted him a few times, but he never replied. When I got home from school, it was just as boring as usual. I walked into the house and saw saw Coco run at me. I kneeled down and hugged and kissed her. I walked into the kitchen and looked around, I didn't see Mom, nor food. I walked over to the fridge and opened it, I didn't see anything interesting to make. Hmm. I walked over to the table and looked at it. Sitting on the top was a note. I picked it up and read it to myself:

Angie, me and Dad are going out today. He came home from work early. We'll be home later on.
Mom

I sighed and let my body go limp. I put the note back on the table and walked upstairs. I placed my purse on my computer desk and fell onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling. I wonder why he isn't texting me back. He was the one who wanted to do something tonight. I tried not to dwell on Damian any longer, but I couldn't help it. I decided to call him. My fingers shook as I pressed his number into my phone. I listened closely as it rang, and rang some more. No answer. I shoved my phone shut and tossed it on my desk. I looked back up at the ceiling. So, what do I do know? I hated when people didn't call when they were suppose to or make plans and set you up, it bugged the heck out of me.
Coco walked into my room, her furry tail wagging behind her as she walked up to my bed. I bent down and lifted her up, then lied back on my bed. I tried so hard not to think of Damian, but over and over again my mind raced back to him. I could think of anything, any animal, any situation, even any word but my mind would skip over it and go right back to him. I would see his pale face, his pale lips, and his grey eyes, that had a hint of darkness. Amazing. I thought to myself. I was so astonished by his magnificent features: his sharp jawline, his amazing auburn hair, his delicate appearance... He was incredible. I rolled over on my side and looked out my bedroom door. What if he walked in right now. What if he walked in with his little grin and his lit-up eyes. I sighed and got up from my bed. I changed out of my clothes and put on my pajamas, I was very tired. I decided to take a nap. I placed my phone right next to me on my pillow incase Damian called or texted me.
I rested on my bed, my eyelids slowly falling and tiring. For some reason, I was exhausted. It was probably because I stayed up a little late the night before, and waking up early that morning didn't help. So I fell asleep a while later.
Blackness, that was all that I saw when I slept. At least, up until a point. When I actually dreamed, it started off in my room. Now, in my dream, there were no unicorns, nor did it have happy little creatures. From the beginning, I knew it was going to be a dark dream. The feelings I felt, I could sense what was going to happen. I watched myself from above sit on my bed, looking at my dark window. Nobody was in my house but me. I looked into the glass colored with the black night. I watched it carefully, I remember thinking: Who is there? Who is that in the window? I knew someone was there, the hard part was waiting, waiting for something to pop out and grab me, or break the glass and eat my face. A wave of fear came over me, I knew what was going to happen. I could feel my insides turning and my fingertips tingling. Then, the thing I waited for appeared. slowly, a pair of golden eyes illuminated in the black glass. The Angie sitting on the bed did nothing as I watched it all happen from behind her. Then, the glass window shattered, glass flying everywhere in all directions. The part of me on the bed covered my face, I felt my stomach sink and I screamed aloud. I looked up, slowly and full of fear. I looked through the window with the pieces of glass sticking out from the sides of the wood. A black shoe stepped through, then half a body slipped through the opening. My eyes widened. His pale face looked at me, his glowing eyes never leaving mine. I felt it, I felt that I had to scream, to run, to do anything, but the other part of me sat on the bed, hopelessly. I could feel my body tense as I looked into the fiery balls of Damian's eyes. No! No! No! I thought to myself. Run! Get away! I wanted to scream out but I sat on the bed while a part of me screamed and tried to pull away from me.
Damian said nothing. We just stared at each other. I could feel his eyes burning through my soul. He walked over to me, one of his slick steps landing him close enough to look down at me. He raised his eyebrows, his golden eyes looking down his nose at me. I opened my mouth, ready to let his sweet name pass my lips. But before I could, before a single sound could come from me, his gentle hand reached down to me. His fingers slipped under my chin and pulled me to a stand. The cold, carefully carved hands sent a chill through my whole body that could put me in shock. I looked up at him, he pale lips were a few inches away from mine. The voice I felt behind me screaming out to run, I ignored. I looked up into those eyes of his, I could feel my body ready to fall as it grew weaker with anxiety. His other hand slipped around my waist and pulled me closer to him. He leaned down toward me, as if going to kiss my cheek. I turned my head slightly and closed my eyes, ready to feel his cold lips on my body that was then stinging with anticipation. His shiny, curly hair fell over his face and it danced across my neck as his cold lips touched my skin. I sensed his mouth open and heard a soft wet sound from something in his mouth. I thought nothing of it before the voice somewhere behind me screamed with a shrill so loud, it jolted my body instantly and my eyes shot open. Fear came over me, I grabbed Damian's arms and squeezed with all my might before I felt a pinch in my neck. I did not feel much, just a pinch, I didn't even finish the feeling before my body was sucked into a black hole and a blast of fire burst out in front of me. It disappeared quickly and my stomach turned as I watched the black consume me. All I felt was fear. My body shook, my mind screamed and broke down. My chest, bouncing up and down so fast it sent my body in a waving motion.
I felt my body burning, my fingers cracking and my chest breaking. I screaming and fell onto whatever was under me holding me up, I couldn't tell. My sharp nails scratched at my body for it to stop, but it didn't. Then, something was released from me, it flew out of my body so fast it threw me backwards onto the ground. A strong power of some sort, it felt strong enough to crush anything in its path, I could sense it. A shrill of anguish was the last thing I heard, the ear-piercing screech that awakened my real body instantly. My eyes shot open, my fingers tightly gripped my pillow under my head, tearing at the fabric. I held my breath, afraid what I saw was real. I looked around my room, the alarm clock that glowed green numbers was blurred in my vision. I sat up quickly and turned on my lamp, the bright light burning my eyes.
I looked around my room, my breathing was hard. I looked down at my hands, then wiped my hair out of my face. Oh, man. Then, I looked at my dark window. My body froze. I leaned to my left and looked straight out of it. The black night painted the glass black, not allowing anything real show through. I saw nothing on the other side. My stomach turned and my fingers tingled.
Get out of here. Don't look into the window! My head spun around and I read my clock, it was almost nine at night. I jumped up and ran out of the room. I trotted down the hallway and halted on the outside of my parents' door. I slowly opened it and looked inside. Nobody. I walked down stairs--my legs felt like jello as I tried to control my fright as I walked into the livingroom and saw my parents sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Hey, Mom," I said trying to control my shaky voice and sat in the chair a few feet from them. They both looked at me.
"Angie, you finally got up, why did you sleep so long?"
"I was tired, I had a nightmare." I rubbed the cold sweat from my forehead and took deep breaths.
"Are you okay," Dad asked and turned to me.
"Yea, it was just... horrible." I looked at the floor.
"Well, make sure you get a good-night's sleep for tomorrow, you can't miss school," Mom said and I rolled my eyes. I got up and walked back to my room.
"I know, Mom." I walked up to my room and entered slowly. I turned on my TV and checked my phone. I three messages. The first one was from Mindy:

Hey, what's up?

I replied. Then, I opened the next one, It was from Alex:

Hey, you with that guy yet?

I replied to her and sighed. I checked my last one, my heart thumped as I hoped it was from Damian. My fingers shook as I opened the last message, it wasn't from him, it was from a girl I knew named Tara. She just asked what I was up to. I rolled my eyes and replied. Then, I was mad. He blew me off. Now what? I looked around. The voices of people on my TV filled my ears as I thought. He blew me off! Why? Does he hate me? Or is he like, busy? I left my room and got a shower real quick. I scrubbed my body and brushed my teeth well. I walked back into my room and sat on my bed. What now? I looked over at Coco who was still sleeping. I smile and kissed her head. Then, she woke up.
Coco just stared. She stared out my dark window. I could feel my body tense and my stomach churn. "Coco..." She didn't look at me. "Coco... hey," I said and looked at her face. She stared, a heard a small growl in her throat. I turned back to my window. My mind went blank for a moment as I stared into the night--too frightened to move.
"Coco, what is it," I said without looking away from the window. She did nothing, only a soft growl rumbled from her small mouth. I rubbed her side. "Stop." She looked over at me and then rested her head on the blanket. I got up from my bed and walked downstairs and outside. My parents were already in their room sleeping. I sat on my swing on the porch and looked out under the streetlights. Everything was calm. I sighed, I saw nothing unusual. I sat back on the swing and let the cool night air cool my nervous body. I wonder what Coco was looking at. I looked around. Nothing seems different. I cocked my head and decided to sit outside for a few minutes longer. When I went back inside, I drew a picture of the night sky until I fell asleep.
The rest of the week, I had no contact with Damian. I texted him every day, but he never texted me back, not once. I was very ticked off with him by Friday. I never chased after boys, but he, he drew me to himself. I couldn't stay away. I wanted to know so much more about that man, that mysterious man I wanted to get into to find out what made him so extraordinary. And he really was. Something made him so different than any of the normal guys I knew.
Friday was one of my work days. When I got home from school, I changed into my work shirt and ate dinner: spaghetti.
"You work tonight," Mom asked when I came downstairs ready to leave.
"Yes, I work on Fridays and weekends, Mom." I sighed and faked a smile.
"Oh, Dad and I are leaving to go grocery shopping when he comes home, then we are gonna' go out to celebrate his promotion," she smiled and I smiled back to be nice.
"Wow, I didn't know he got one, tell him I said congratulations, I got to go now." I looked at the clock in the kitchen, it was almost five.
"Okay. Bye, Angie," Mom said and I left the house. I walked outside and unlocked my doors. I stepped into my car and drove to Chica's.
I pulled into the parkinglot and stuffed my phone into my pocket before getting out and locking my doors. I made sure they were locked once again before walking into the restaurant.
"Hey, Angie!" I heard Mindy yell from across the room behind the counter. I laughed and walked back to her.
"Talk to... 'you know who' yet?"
"No. Ugh, I don't know why he won't text me back," I sighed and walked into the back as she followed me.
"Well, I'm not sure. It seemed like he liked you, he gave you the 'googey-eyes'"
"Really?"
"Yea! Alex and Ashley noticed to. So I don't know what his problem is," Mindy put her stuff in the back next to mine in the room where the employees kept their things. We put on our aprons and walked back out. We both were waitresses.
"We'll talk about this in a little bit," I said and she nodded at me before we separated. I walked to the front of the restaurant. I greeted some people and waited on some tables. when I was done, I checked my watch. I worked until eleven that night and I made sure my phone was on vibrate just incase Damian would text me.
I waited on tables. I had to have seen a thousand old people. I even saw another thousand screaming kids. Each table I waited on, I approached with a smile and talked sweetly to everyone, that was a sort of challenge every once in a while. Some days I didn't feel like smiling and acting all nice to everyone. Other days I was in a great mood and wanted to smile. Mindy just usually faked a smile to everyone, I thought it was funny. With all the walking around, it started to hurt my back. The hot smells of food made my nose wrinkle and it gave me a headache. I looked at the clock at least each hour--counting down my shift. When I was done waiting on a table with a happy little couple, Mindy walked behind the counter next to me.
"Man, I can't wait to get out of here."
"I know. It's a busy night."
"Do you want to do something tonight? Since your man is being a jerk," she asked.
"I don't know, it is Friday... What do you want to do?"
"Hmm, go to the club?"
"Eh--" I looked over and a table looking at my and the man sitting motioned for me. I left Mindy and filled the table's order.
"Man, I can't wait to leave," I whispered and she nodded. I looked at the clock, it was almost nine.
"So, what do you wanna' do," Mindy asked again a while later after we did some more tables.
"I don't know..." I sighed and pouted.
"Do you wanna' sleep over," she asked and I thought about it for a few minutes. Hmm. Well, there is nothing else I'm doing.
"Okay, I guess." I smiled and she cheered, then everyone in the restaurant looked at us. Oh no. I hid my face and separated from Mindy quickly. I walked around the restaurant, looking at tables and making sure everyone was happy. Since it was a little past nine, Chica's cleared out a little bit. We had some bare tables and some with people on dates or just families. My shoes dragged across the floor and scuffed the tile slightly. I felt my phone in my pocket and checked for messages: none. My heart sank and I looked in a downcast at the floor. The man I wanted to keep, the man I was so drawn to, was slipping away. I had to say I caught onto him pretty quickly, I never did with anyone else, but he wasn't a normal guy. Why am I like this? Forget Damian, Angela. If he doesn't want you, move on. Stop being stupid, let him go. You barely know him. That was another thing: I barely knew him. But I couldn't help wanting more of him.
I was almost done with my shift. I had only fifteen more minutes. I grew anxious to get out of the restaurant, my bored mind kept wondering to Damian. By that time, Chica's was almost empty. Only a few teenagers remained that just sat in a circle in one booth. I sat in the back behind the counter with Mindy as we talked about school and other many interesting things (yea right). He still didn't message me, and I was fed-up. I let my body hold itself up lazily as I sat and tried to relax and not think of him.
"I'm gonna' get us a bunch of movies to watch! Can you get the snacks," Mindy asked as I stared at the dark night outside the glass doors. I jumped up and turned to her.
"Huh? Oh, yea. I'll go get some good stuff and you rent the movies," I said.
"Alright! This is gonna' be so fun tonight!" She jumped up and yelled. I laughed. Then, I look up at the clock. It was a few minutes past ten. Yay! I shot up from my stool and untied my apron.
"Shift's over," I said to Mindy and she cheered softly. I walked behind the back doors into the back of the restaurant. I found my manger and he let us leave.
"I'll meet you at my house," she said in the parkinglot and I waved my hand in the air. I unlocked my doors and got in my car, watching Mindy pull out and drive away.
The dark night started to scare me as I remembered my dream I had the night before. It was so dark. I sat in my car, looking around for a few seconds. I looked into the darkness where I couldn't make out what was suppose to be there that I couldn't see. I think it was a few houses. I decided to pull out when I saw my manger locking up Chica's. I pulled out of the parkinglot and drove away to my destination: Walmart, where I was going to buy the best snacks ever for a movie.
I drove on the country roads, I almost always did. Even though it was dark and creepy, I still liked to drive on the old roads nobody really took, especially at night. But I was an idiot and took them that one eery night. Wrong choice.
I drove down Rose Road, the dark forest lined along the road on each side. I drove down the road carefully, keeping an eye out if any deer decided to jump in front of me. I saw some houses, the windows lit up with the lights of little kids refusing to sleep. Walmart was not far from me. Only a few more miles.
The only sound I heard was my car engine. I leaned on my fist that I propped up with my elbow on my window. I watched the road lazily in front of me, I was beginning to get tired. Then, my phone rang on my lap. I picked it up and listened.
"Hello?"
"Angie, what movies you wanna' see," I heard Mindy's voice on the other end.
"I don't know, just get something." I turned around a bend and continued to drive.
"Well fine, are you getting the snacks? You at Walmart yet?"
"No, I'm on my way. I'll be there in--" Something came crashing down and landed on the road in front of me. I slammed on the break and my breath stopped in my throat. I threw the phone down and swerved to the right slightly before squealing to a stop. My body jerked backwards and hit my seat with a thud. I looked out of my windshield in the only light I saw around me. As my blurry vision cleared, I saw two black figures on the pavement about ten feet in front of my car. They moved so fast, so I could barely make out what was happening. My chest bounced and my throat scratched from my hard breathing, but I didn't take my eyes off of what was happening in front of me.
On the road, the two figures seemed to be tangling, or wrestling. One was on top of the other, then they would roll and another would be on top. As I squinted, I could see pale skin, streaking silver into the air around them. They moved so fast. As one looked up, I saw its glowing orange eyes that luminesced, attracting me only to them. The creature stared at me, I stared back. I could feel my heartbeat thump in my ears, like a pulsing drum that grew louder every second.
The creature that was lying on the ground suddenly flipped the other up into the air. Then, one ran, I barely saw it, it ran so fast. Actually, I didn't even see it, I just assumed it was gone when I didn't see it anymore. I didn't even realize it was gone until I only saw one creature, that stood up on its legs. My eyes widened. My headlights shined on the creature, but it wasn't facing me. I stared at it, not believing what was happening. Get away! Run it over! Get away, Angie! The voice in my head screamed. I looked down at my wheel and put the car in drive. But when I looked back up through the windshield, the black creature was gone. I was too afraid to look out any of my windows, the thing could be anywhere. I didn't want to look out my window and come face-to-face with the dark demon. So, I stepped on the gas and "gunned" it. My car picked up speed, shooting up past fifty in a few seconds. Boom! My car stopped suddenly and my head flew forwards. I smacked the front of my forehead off my steeringwheel.
I felt a rush of pain swell from the center of my forehead to my ears. I pulled my head back slowly and put my hand over it. My black, blurred vision made my head worse as I blinked a few more times. But the rushing pain was making it hard. Am I dead? Where am I? Am I bleeding? No, my vision wasn't coming back. Then, I heard my car door open next to me. I was too weak to do anything about whoever opened it, I just wanted to die. I don't care, just kill me. I thought as my pain grew stronger. A strong hand grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the car.
"Angie, Angie! Do not scream," the voice yelled and held me up off the ground, at least, I thought it was the ground. I'm not screaming, am I? I tried to stand, but I was too preoccupied with my head. I clenched the strong arm with my hands, trying to hold myself up with what limbs I could use.
"Angie, look at me. Look at me! What hurts? Your head?" The voice sounded strangely familiar, but I couldn't even remember who it was, I didn't even want to think about it.
"My head," I mumbled and hung onto whoever was holding me up.
"I am taking you somewhere safe," the soft voice said. I felt my body turn, almost as if I was falling and spinning in the air. I didn't know which way was up.
"Do not go to sleep, stay with me. You hit your head," the voice said again. Did I? I didn't even know. I felt sarcastically. I actually didn't care what it said. I clamped my mouth shut and tried not to scream. I couldn't remember anything after that. I think I might have went to sleep, maybe I died and came back? I didn't know.
My eyes fluttered open. I blinked a few times and looked around. I was lying on my side, facing a white wall. I squinted. Where am I? I sat up and looked around the room. It was my room. I saw all my paintings that hung on my walls. My eyes widened and I felt my heart quicken. What? What happened? I lifted my hand and felt my forehead, the tender flesh was sore and felt like a had a bruise. I got up and slowly--listening cautiously. The pressure in my head built up and I had to brace myself before getting up again. I walked to my door and opened it slowly and peeked my head out. As soon as I looked out, I saw a body standing in front of me, only a few inches away. I gasped and jumped backwards, almost falling over. I looked up at the man's face and felt my stomach turn. I looked at him in shock.
"Angie, go sit down. You should not be walking around right now, you hit your head pretty hard," Damian said and walked into the room--matching my steps as I walked backwards.
"Da--Da--Damian?" My dry throat only allowed me to just about whisper. I cleared it and almost choked on how dry it was.
"Sit down on the bed and drink your water on the stand." He pointed behind me, but I was too scared to look.
"How? Why am I--"
"You hit your head. I brought you here, now hurry and sit. Please," his face showed only concern, but I was still confused.
"What happened?" I managed to whisper. I slowly walked back and sat on my bed. Damian watched with his grey eyes.
"I brought you home. You were not safe, you were hurt and sitting in the middle of the road. Not safe."
"How did I hit my head?" I didn't remember anything from the night before. Only that I was going to get food for Mindy, "Mindy! I have to call her!" I jumped up but Damian held a hand up. I wasn't going anywhere anyway, every time I stood up I wanted to fall down.
"No, you cannot. Now listen carefully, you hit your head while you were in your car. It is my fault, I should not have stopped you so suddenly..."
"Stopped me?" My head started thumping.
"Yes, I stopped your car, the sudden jerk made you hit your head. I don't think you have any damage to your skull or anything, you just have a bruise. You did not bleed, thank God." He turned and looked down at his hands. I was still confused. What the heck?
"Well, why did you stop me? Why did you hurt me?"
"I had to stop you, Angie. You were in danger."
"How? Why?"
"I will just say that you were not safe. Please understand I cannot tell you at this moment. Please, sleep. You will thank me for this later." He turned to walk out.
"No," I yelled in my raspy voice, it stung a little, but he stopped.
"Please, Damain. Tell me what's going on. And where are my parents?
"They are sleeping. They do not know what happened. I wouldn't tell them if I was you."
"Damian, just tell me what is going on. I have the right to know," I said. He looked at the floor, clearly contemplating on what to do next.
"I will say this once and as calmly as I can. Please understand, for I will not explain it to you again. You were being watched by an evil... man. I kept an eye on you to make sure this man did not hurt you--"
"You kept an eye on me? How?"
"I watch you from your window at night," he said and his eyes flickered up to mine. I wrinkled my nose.
"What?"
"I watch you from your window, that is all." Damian's words burned into my head, they sizzled.
"You sat at my window? How am I suppose to believe that?" My body tensed, I couldn't believe that.
"You are just going to have to trust me. You do not have to believe me, but you should," he said. He looked at my window, I followed his gaze. It was still dark outside. "I must go now." He stood up and walked to my door.
"Wait! Damian, all of this is so confusing and so hard to believe. I don't even understand what the heck is going on, still. I just want you to sit quietly and explain everything to me calmly. Please?" I looked up into his grey eyes. My head lowered and I blinked slowly, my energy was running low and my thumping head made it hard to concentrate. He sighed.
"As you wish, but not tonight. You must sleep now, Angie. Do not worry about anything, you will be safe here. I will contact you after you wake up." Damian looked at me and smiled angelically. My body loosened and I almost fell off my bed. I couldn't argue with him. I just nodded slowly and fell back on my bed. Within a second, he was lying next to me. He whispered, "Goodnight, Angie," in my ear. His velvet voice sung and my whole body tightened and tingled. I gasped softly. Then, within another second, he was gone. I jumped up and looked around, he wasn't anywhere. I listened for any footsteps, I heard none. The only thing I heard was my heart thumping loudly in my chest and head. I fell back onto my bed, I was too tired to go wondering where Damian was and how he left my room so quickly. I probably just didn't notice him leave. Man, I need sleep.
I snuggled with my blankets and soon fell asleep however long afterwards, I didn't know how long I sat in my bed, but I did know it wasn't for long. I was exhausted and had an extreme headache from whatever happened to me whoever long ago. I was so unsure about so many things, but I would soon find out everything. In fact, I was going to find out too many things for my mind to take in at one time. But I was going to, and my cluttered mind that was filled with such confusion, would soon clear up. But was I going to regret wondering what all happened that night? Or regret finding out what was going to happen to me? Well, I was going to uncoil the riddles that tangled my mind, and clear the foggy confusion that repelled all other thoughts that I attempted to think of. I was.