Page 5 of Haunt Me

My mother is accustomed to having her way, but I won’t tolerate it any longer and if looks could kill, I’d surely be dead by the way she looks at me.

“Your disappointment never ceases to amaze me, Starlet.”

After our argument, she shook her head, giving me a death stare that made my heart sink. She turned around and left the room in a hurry, slamming the door behind her with a loud thud that echoed through the house. I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of frustration take over me. I took a sip of my bourbon, trying to calm my nerves as I walked towards the window. I watched as my mom's silver BMW drove off, disappearing as it turned the corner.

Throughout my entire life, my mother never showed any affection towards me, and I couldn’t understand the reason behind it. My sister and our mother have a special bond that we never had as mother and daughter. No matter what I did, it never seemed to meet her standards. Her rant still echoes in my ears.

As I turn to make my way towards the kitchen, I sense an eerie feeling creeping up on me. My eyes catch a glimpse of a dark figure standing on the opposite side ofthe road. The figure seems to be staring at me intently, making my heart pound with fear. As I stand there frozen, trying to make sense of what's happening, I feel all the color drain from my face. The world around me seems to fade away and all I can focus on is the figure across the road, watching my every move.

My heart starts pounding wildly in my chest as I try to focus on the person in the distance, but their face is not visible from where I am standing. They are too far away, and the hood of their black hoodie is covering most of their face.

With my hands getting clammy and breaths becoming short and rapid, I struggle to keep my composure. I grip the glass tightly in my hand and look around outside, trying to see if anyone else is out there. My eyes dart around, but there's no one in sight.

When I turned my head back to where the dark figure was standing, I was taken aback. He's gone. It's as if he were never there. I look down into my glass filled with alcohol and practically sprint to the kitchen to throw the dark liquid down the drain.

No more alcohol for you, Star.

My breathing is back to somewhat normal and my heart isn’t trying to claw its way out of my chest anymore but I decide to head to my room and take a nap. This whole ordeal just made me feel sick to my stomach and I needed to lie down for a bit, hoping some sleep would calm my nerves.

Flopping down on my bed, I started thinking, trying to figure out if what I saw was real or if was I just imagining things. I need to slow down on the bourbon. It heightens my paranoia. Which is already on overdrive, to begin with.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It’s already 5 in the afternoon, but it’s fine. I will only take a nap for an hour or so before my shift.

A sudden chill brushes against my face, causing me to stir. I gradually pry open my eyes, letting them adjust to the dimly lit surroundings. It’s almost dark outside.

Shit.

How long did I sleep? I’m gonna be late for my shift. It’s then that I realize my window is open. I distinctly remember closing it before I fell asleep. And then I noticed something else. My flannel was draped overme, covering my body. I didn't remember falling asleep with it on.

I think I’m losing my mind.

Taking the flannel off me, I swing my legs off the bed, and just as I plant my feet on the floor, I feel something. I stepped on a piece of paper. Looking down, I lift my foot and pick it up.

“What the hell?” I whisper, frowning at the paper in my hands.

Inside is the letter ‘A’, written in blood-red ink.

“I can’t believe your sister snitched on you,” Chloe says, her voice laced with disbelief, as she absentmindedly swirls the straw of her milkshake around in her mouth. The diner was winding down for the night, and we all decided to treat ourselves to last-minute milkshakes, compliments of the house. As I wipe the sticky countertop, I reply, “Yeah, well, I can. She’salways been like that. Always running to dear mommy, tattling on every little thing I do wrong.”

I can’t help but feel a sense of resentment towards my sister, who thinks she’s a princess and always manages to get what she wants, no matter the cost. It’s as if she can do no wrong in my parents’ eyes. I wonder where she got that sense of entitlement from.

“Okay, enough about Barbie from hell,” Chloe interjects, breaking the tension. “Let’s talk about tonight. We haven’t been out in ages, and I’m ready to let loose and get deep-throated by alcohol.” Her words make me cringe, but I can’t help but be amused by her straightforwardness. Playfully nudging her, I retort, “You’re disgusting sometimes, you know that?”

With a mischievous grin, she fires back, “Yeah, and you need to get laid already. How many 24-year-old virgins do you know?” While proud and embarrassed about my virginity, I can’t deny that Chloe has a point. Tonight, I’ve made up my mind to shed that label. Maybe then the teasing about being a nun would end.

Chapter 3

Starlet

As I step insidethe club, the pulsating music fills every inch ofmy being. I can feel the bass vibrating through the floor, the walls, and my body. The atmosphere is electric, and I can sense the excitement in the air. The strobe lights flash vividly, illuminating the crowd of people who are lost in the rhythm of the music. The dance floor is packed with people, moving and swaying to the beat of the music.

To my right, I see the bar, where several people are gathered, chatting and laughing over drinks. The counter is lined with shots and glasses of various colors, enticing me with their vibrant hues. The sound of clinkingglasses and chatter fills the air, adding to the already intense ambiance of the club.

A group of inebriated individuals stumbled around while trying to maintain their balance, while others sat in clusters on the left side of the club, lost in their world of passion, making out and grinding on each other.

Can I go home now?

“Come on!” Chloe's voice rises above the pounding bass of the music as she grabs my hand with a firm grip. She drags me through the sea of people, their bodies swaying and moving to the beat of the music, and pulls me onto the dance floor.

---