I stared at riley, and yes he was dead. And yes, I had killed him. I was frozen, and then a battle started to rage inside of me. My head felt as if it had burst my skull open, and in its progress has compressed my own brain further into my head. And god it hurt. I wanted to scream in pain, shout in rage and cry in confusion and fear, but I couldn’t do anything. I could only kneel there besides Riley.
I started gasping in quick, startled pants and realised what was happening. My immortal side that I had been told and had previously kept hidden for so long was coming out. Riley’s attack provoked me to let it escape. I have never been in that – or this –situation before so how could I know this is what would result. I looked around nobody was coming this way, and nobody was already here. Shakily I stood up, I looked down at my hands they were red, and stained with blood. I turned away from the body and ran, I had no idea where I was going and I was probably getting even more lost. But that didn’t stop me. I ended up two streets away from my house, and I sighed in relief.
When I reached the house Nathan’s car was still gone which meant he was either still at the party, or looking for me. I went around the back, I paused at the gate should I try to sneak in? I looked down at my hands; no way was I going to be able to explain that. I let my mind search to see where my parents were. I sighed in relief they were asleep.
Confident now, I pushed open the gate and stepped into the yard. I made my way other to the door and went to grab the handle. I froze, would the blood rub off on the door handle? I grabbed the end of my shirt and used it to open and close the door. I tip-toed the rest of the way up to my room, I slowly closed the door shut and turned around. I walked into the bathroom to take a shower; I walked over to the basin without looking in the mirror and washed the blood off my hands.
I took a deep, calming breathe. And looked in the mirror, and I just stared. I hadn’t had any obvious changes in my appearance, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any. The women in the mirror looked strong, fierce and most of all- stunningly, inhumanly beautiful. Nothing about me had changed, it was just that the face I had been learnt to keep hidden away all these years had finally resurfaced. Her cheekbones were stronger, but smoother, her eyes make her look strong and determined. But it was the overall appearance that froze me. I shook my head, I’m still me. Just a murderer. A voice said in the back of my head. It was going to need to take sleeping tablets tonight, I never usually did but tonight it was so obvious it was frightening.
After my shower I got dressed into clothes that could be considered both casual and sleeping gear. I walked down to the kitchen and took two of the sleeping tablets out of my mum’s hidden, or so she thought, place. I took a glass of water and went to sit on the lounge and watch TV until they kicked in. The clock above the fireplace said it was midnight. I flipped on the TV and surfed the channels. I almost chocked. Wasn’t there anything other than murder mysterious where the criminal always gets caught on TV this late at night? I looked over at our pile of DVD’s and picked out a harmless movie to watch. Sydney White. With Amanda Bynes in it, she was a good actress.
I was about to take the tablets when the door opened, and for the second time Nathan and Justin walked in.
“Alyson. There you are, we were getting so worried”
I didn’t think about the ‘we’ instead I thought about Riley and how they were all so worried. I decided best to play dumb. “Why were you so worried?” I asked.
“Well after what happened Riley came out from the office, he looked around and we figured he realised you weren’t there so he went off to find you. And since when could you do that?”
“There was nothing to worry about” I gave full attention to the TV as if I was interested in it all of a sudden. “I can take care of myself” Obviously. You killed someone. Said an evil voice inside of my head. I noticed in horror it was the same voice I had been using when I was talking to Riley, my inner immortal when she is angry.
“Are you okay Ally? You seem shaken” Justin chose his words carefully; he didn’t want to upset me in case he said something wrong.
“Yeah I’m fine, like I said. I can take care of myself” I ignored the voice that spoke inside of my head. And I tried very hard not to burst into tears as the look of Riley’s dead face burst inside my head. I wanted it to go away. My hand started to shake as I lifted the two tablets that were in my palm up to my mouth and popped them in.
Nathan’s voice sounded cautious when he spoke. “Alyson, what tablet’s are they?”
I drank the water so the tablets would go down. “There mum’s sleeping tablets. I can’t get to sleep so I decided to take some. Why?”
“Nothing. Sorry I guess I am freaking out after what happened at the bowling alley”
“Don’t worry about Riley; he won’t be bothering anybody anymore.” My voice sounded harsh and cold, not like how I intended it at all. I cleared my throat with some more water to make it softer. “How is Charlie doing?” I asked Justin.
“She’s okay, when she saw him kiss you she thought that maybe you two were well.... when she saw you punch him she came and got Nathan and me and by the time we got there he was lying down on the broken table. But she is okay now” He replied.
I nodded. Good, I thought. I have forgotten practically everything else other than what happened at the park. What Riley said that night played through my head again. It’s because what I did doesn’t work on you, it works on humans and sometimes it works on immortals when I have planted it. Just like Charlie, she though was a lot easier than any of immortals. She didn’t even know I was an immortal. That didn’t make any sense. Was Charlie and Justin immortals? I wasn’t sure. And it didn’t matter, as long as they knew I wasn’t an immortal. I felt something stab me in the head, like a needle.
I gasped out loud. And their eyes flashed down at me. “It’s nothing, it’s just the tablets kicking in” I lied. “I’m going to bed. I will see you guys later” I rushed my way up the stairs. And slammed the door shut. What was happening to me? I walked over to my bed and lied down; I prayed that the tablets would kick in, and soon.
I woke up, and my head felt better, everything felt better. I rose up out of my bed, and looked down at myself. I blinked hard a couple of times. I was wearing a dress like the ones from the 18th century. It was gold, pink and cream. And the flared out after the waist, I got off the bed and looked down at the dress. It was beautiful. The arms of the dress where they reached my fore-arm puffed out abit and there was a dress train about 3 feet long. I spun around and realised that I wasn’t even in my bedroom. The bedroom I was in was tall and large. The bed I was lying on was made out of dark wood and had curtains around the outside to block the view off from the outside. The room was beautiful, there was a full length mirror up against one of the walls, I walked in front of it and there was nothing. I heard the door open, and a women stepped in, she was a servant.
“Your heiress, the majesty and his mistress would like to see you. Follow me” She walked away, and I had nothing to do but follow. The corridor was long and there were doors all along it. In the middle was a rug that ran the length of the hallway. The lady stopped at the two large doors at the end and gestured me to go forward. I did.
This room was larger, and I got the sense that I should be in a ball gown and dancing in the traditional dancers. At the opposite side of me there were two large thrones. In one was a man, and in the other was a woman. I knew immediately that they were immortals, just from their beauty. The man was maybe in his 50’s and had gray-black hair. The woman looked younger, but I suspected she was the same age. She had long blonde hair, and they were both dressed elegantly. I looked around the room and there were people standing alongside it looking like body guards.
“Alyson my dear come here” the man said, he said it in a gentle tone.
I walked forward and the man and the woman rose and met me. When they did the woman hugged me in a motherly way. And the man kissed me on my forehead.
“We are so glad you are safe Alyson” The woman said.
“Where am I? And who are you?” I asked
“I am Markus and this is my wife, Elena. And you my dear are here at our home visiting us, just like we asked” The man, Markus answered.
“Are you okay dear? You seem troubled” Elena was looking concerned.
Oh well. It’s a dream might as well tell them.”I have done something, and I don’t know how I did it. And it’s not something pleasant”
“Tell us, and we will help you”
I took a deep breath. “I killed Riley O’Donnell. It was an accident, I don’t even know how did it, it just happened. And now I don’t know what to do” I almost, not quite, started crying then and there.
“Alyson you could have been hurt. I wouldn’t want my daughter to be injured” Markus said.
I was surprised they weren’t angry, but I was more confused about what he had called me. “Excuse me, what did you say? Your daughter?” I asked.
“Every immortal of mine is either my daughter or son. No matter what sins they may or may have not admitted”.
“Alyson just promise us when you go back there to look after yourself more carefully” Elena said.
I nodded. “Yes, I promise. But won’t I have some kind of punishment. I mean, I killed somebody and not just a somebody an immortal”
“You will never have any punishment from me, Alyson. Now sleep” He touched my forehead.
I sat up gasping. My forehead felt hot and stung from where Markus had touched it. But Markus hadn’t touched it, had he? It was only a dream, right?
I got up and walked to my bathroom, and sighed in relief. My reflection was there, I couldn’t believe how worried I had been about not seeing my reflection. Oh well, I thought it is still there. I turned around, and I saw something. I looked down, and saw last night’s party clothes on the floor, I picked up my shirt and there was nothing on the bottom of them. I sniffed them; in fact they smelt practically new. I flung them in my dirty clothes basket anyway, and walked downstairs.
I seemed to be in a cheery mood compared to my mood last night I can’t remember what I had been so upset about anyway. “Alyson come here” it was Nathan.
I paused on my way to the kitchen and spun around and started heading towards the lounge room. “What’s up?” I asked and plopped on the lounge next to Nathan.
“I haven’t told mum or dad what happened last night, but I think that you should” He said.
“About what happened at the party?” Memories started to trickle in but I couldn’t exactly remember them. I remembered something about a body, and the park. I remembered something about the swings, and the wind in my hair. But my thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
“Yes about what happened at the party, I made a promise to our parents saying I would look after you and last night I stuffed up. Which reminds me how did you do the things you did?”
“Look, last night was a mistake, bad things happen at parties and I wasn’t the only one who Riley tried to with. Imagine how Charlie and Justin are dealing with this. And to be honest, I don’t know how that happened, it just did. It was like there is this part of me that has been waiting to come out and I think my anger kind of opened it up. But I don’t really know, like I said” I finished. I had so not meant to say that. Shut up Alyson before you get yourself in more trouble.
“Okay then we won’t say anything, but I want you to be more careful especially when you’re out on your own or at a party” he added. “Oh and I won’t be the only one watching you when you’re out” He warned.
“What do you mean? You’re getting people to like spy on me?” That was unnecessary; I was actually capable to handle looking after myself.
“Calm down, and it’s only for when they are around at the same time, and you’re not the only person. Charlie is being watched too”
“Oh? So what now every girl that has had to put up with stupid Riley is being watched?” I accused.
“Alyson please don’t start on this, I’m trying to be a big brother and look out for you” I stood up of the lounge, and walked away from Nathan. “Alyson!” He called. “What are you doing?”
“None of your business” I shot back.
I walked into my room, it was almost lunch. I had slept in. I walked to the bathroom and had a shower.
When I walked out of the bathroom I was faced with a dilemma. What was I going to do now? And what was I going to wear? I choose to sort out the second question first.
I opened my wardrobe and immediately crossed out wearing a dress or any type of skirt. I found a orange surfer style top, and another pair of mini-denim pants. I again chose to wear my converses, what could I say? I loved them.
Now first the first question. I hadn’t been in town much, but I knew I would have to go exploring. It was daytime and almost lunch so not many people (Nathan’s friends) would be out at this hour. I knew I couldn’t go down stairs without suspecting Nathan and getting him to get his friends to watch me, I honestly couldn’t believe they would agree to that. I shook my head. Before my first party incident I was a pro at sneaking out, even in the daytime. I opened up my second story window and looked down. Directly in the middle was the pool. Well, there is no way I am jumping in there; I would be better off walking out the front door. I slowly crawled out of the window and used the seal as a ledge, I was glad we had so many windows. I had no idea how good they could be used, particularly in my situation. Slowly, I made my way down the house one window at a time. I was about 2meters away from the ground when I decided to jump. I hoped having the extra senses of an immortal means I can do this without injuring myself.
I landed with a thump. I looked through the window, nobody was coming. I was excited and happy about my new success. I walked around the house avoiding all areas Nathan could catch me, and set off. I wasn’t going to use the car. I was also glad that even though this town may be rich that there was a small little mall near my house. I walked into the mall, and I felt the air-conditioner blow cool air in my air. I knew where I wanted to go, and I set off to make my way there.
I found my destination, the local ice-cream shop, The Cool Spot , I have been told that this place sell’s the best ice-cream. I walked in and ordered a vanilla, and chocolate ice-cream serve in a cup. I payed and made my way other to one of the booths. I started to slowly eat my ice-cream, and payed all my attention to it, I wanted to think of ice-cream and nothing else, including my brother.
“Is this seat taken?” He asked. I knew that voice anywhere. He had ordered a strawberry and chocolate ice-cream.
“Free country” He sat down. “Justin, please don’t tell me you have agreed to this ‘brother’s friends watch little sister’ watch guard thing whatever you call it?” I asked. I hated being watched, especially by my brother, and especially by his friends. It was down-right embarrassing.
He laughed. “Yes I have agreed to it, by I did an exchange with Nathan so you’re stuck”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you, they have all agreed. Besides how did he get them to agree?”
“I’m not really sure, I just liked the idea that somebody is going to be there to look out for Charlie. But you on the other hand, well I don’t know why Nathan is so worried about you being looked after. You kicked Riley’s butt at that party. Nobody has seen him since he left” He chuckled.
I just continued to eat my ice-cream. “How is Charlie doing though, I mean is she better now?” I was truly starting to get worried about her, she would have been in a mess.
“I don’t usually get into the whole boyfriend or making out details of my sisters life, it’s just something not even I would do. But other than that, she is okay. She keeps beating herself up by saying stuff like ‘if only I had said no’. She’ll get better, she always does in the end”.
“I’m glad she is getting better. I shrivelled up and practically died when something like that happen to me.” I shook my head slowly. I hadn’t meant to say that.
“What happened that night? Nathan said he wasn’t really sure, but that the party scene was basically your scene” I remembered when they had invited me to the sports party and Justin had said that on the phone.
“A couple of years ago, I was a party. And Nathan was right the party scene was me, I loved them. And I was invited to all of them. I don’t drink alcohol, never had until that night. I ordered lemonade and I had about three of them, but I don’t know what happened. It was either they were spiked, or it was alcohol. The next thing I remember was waking up in a bed next to some guy I didn’t even know. I was thankfully dressed, but I don’t know what happened that night. After that I got depressed and my parents got worried they enrolled me in all sorts of therapy, but nothing worked because I wouldn’t say. After that night I never went to a single party, the bowling alley was the first one I had been too in about 2 years. That is why I got so defensive when riley started on me, I really didn’t want another repeat” I finished.
We sat there, and we both finished our ice-creams. “I’m sorry to hear that” I could tell that this was uncomfortable for him. I didn’t need to be able to read thoughts to know that much.
“Don’t be, if I have learnt anything out of that night it’s to watch my back. That is also another reason why I think this watch guard thing is ridiculous, even for me. I don’t need protecting, not from anything. Of course, Nathan doesn’t seem to realise that”
“From the point of view as a brother, we don’t like our sisters being in that situation, and we will do everything we can to look after you little kids” I glared at him we he called me a little kid.
“I for one am not a little kid. And little kids don’t need looking after. Besides I’m off to my new destination. So I will catch ya later” I slid out of the booth. He followed me.
“Where is this new destination of yours?” He asked.
“Nah-Uh. There is no way I am letting you look after me as if you are a volunteer baby sitter.”
He sighed. “Too bad, so where are we headed?” He asked
Now I sighed. “Okay shut up, but I didn’t actually have a destination, I just wanted to go for a walk” I admitted.
Despite my warning he laughed. “Come on then, let’s go to the park, where you can play with the other little kids” He joked.
“I’m warning you I can be dangerous, so make sure you don’t regret anything you say because it may be the last thing you do say” I threatened.
“This way”
It was about ten minutes away. And when we arrived it was not what we expected. There were police cars, and there was tape around an area near the swings. What is going on? I looked at Justin and he started running towards it, I followed.
He turned to one of the police officers. “What’s going on?”
I pushed my way through the crowd to see what was going on, and I stopped in my tracks when I saw who it was. It was riley, and he was dead. His face was bruised and there was dry blood covering his face, it was obvious he had been beaten to death.
Suddenly a headache burst out of nowhere right in the centre of my head, and I was beginning to feel dizzy. I swear I was swaying when a pair of hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me back, away from the sight of the dead Riley.