Page 11 of A Storm of Nightmares

Today I’m happy. My eyes are a bit brighter. The corners of my mouth are turned up ever so slightly into a smile. My skin seems to be glowing. I stand in front of the mirror for a beat too long, but I can’t help and admire the person in front of me.

I need to kiss a man and wake up in his arms more often if this is the effect it’s going to have on me. I shake my head at the ridiculous thought. This isn’t because of just any man, and I know it. I tried to fill the hole in my heart by men before.

When Betty first disappeared, I got a lot more attention in school. Out of sympathy, I’m sure. Students started to look my way in the halls. Whispers followed me everywhere I went. Boys were actually nice to me. So, I did what any grieving, angry girl would, and I took advantage of it.

I went out on dates almost every weekend. I went to every school dance with a different guy. I traded my book boyfriends for short-term distractions.

I know what people thought about me. I looked like some good girl turned slut. But I wasn’t sleeping with any of those guys. I was using them, not the other way around. I went through boys like a whorehouse goes through condoms. I’m not necessarily proud of how I behaved in high school, but I was trying to fill a void in my life.

I was searching for someone who made me feel a little less alone in the world. Once I found him, then I would sleep with him. The problem was nobody ever gave me that feeling. Not in high school. Not in college. Now, I’m twenty years old, and I’ve never slept with anyone. I’m not ashamed of that fact, though. If anything, I’m proud of myself. I’m holding out for something more.

With Keith, I don’t even have to think about what to say or do. Our conversations last night came so naturally. He makes me feel happy, and I love that. With him, I’m able to forget about my pain for a while. Maybe it’s because we share it. He feels just as guilty as I do that Betty is still missing. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, though. How can two broken people ever find happiness together? He should be with someone who doesn’t remind him of his failed case, the career he lost. I’m not even sure I’m capable of loving someone after shutting out the world for so long.

I steal one last look in the mirror before exiting the bathroom. I still can’t believe the girl in that reflection is me.

When I walk back into the main room, I’m greeted by Keith’s shirtless, perfectly toned torso. I do not want to look away, but I force myself to meet his eyes. The expression on his face is pure cockiness. He knows he looks good, and he just caught me drooling at the sight of him. “I... um... what are...” I can feel the blush rising in my cheeks. I look back down at his chiseled abs and awkwardly clear my throat. “Why are you shirtless?”Real smooth, Kat.

Keith laughs at my unfortunate loss of words. “Sorry, you just walked in on me changing. You were in the bathroom, so I figured I’d get dressed out here.” The smile on his face tells me he is not sorry at all, though. Not even the tiniest bit. “Do you want to get breakfast? Or lunch, I guess since we passed out at six in the morning and woke up at noon.”

“Food sounds great right now. I had peanut butter crackers from the vending machine for dinner last night.”

“Well, then. Let me be a gentleman and treat you to a proper meal.” He stretches out his hand to escort me out of the room.

I smile and reach for his hand. “It’s a date.” I don’t think I could have been any happier if I tried. I’ve been on countless dates, but none that ever gave me butterflies like this. I cringe at the idea of going on a date in my current state, though. I haven’t brushed my teeth or hair, and I’m still wearing the sweats I slept in last night. I pull my hand back. “Just give me five minutes to get ready.”

Keith laughs and shakes his head. “Whatever you need... But I think you look stunning exactly how you are right now. Bedhead and all.”

“How can you compliment me and insult my hair in the same sentence?” I laugh at him and grab a change of clothes and my toothbrush out of my suitcase. I take one last glance at Keith over my shoulder before retreating into the bathroom.

After surely taking longer than five minutes to get ready, I open the bathroom door and step out, expecting to see Keith smiling at me. But he isn’t there. I start to feel panic rising in my chest. Someone vanishing was an all too familiar feeling to me. Had I just dreamt of him here? God, I’m losing my mind.

Before I can get myself too worked up, I see Keith’s black duffel bag resting on the floor. I exhale loudly, letting go of the worry I had felt. He didn’t vanish on me; he just stepped outside or something. He probably wanted to give me some privacy to get ready for our date. I nod to myself, trying to convince my mind of what I’m telling it.

The front door opens, and Keith steps in quickly, slamming the door behind him. He doesn’t say a word as he gathers the few belongings he has around the room and shoves them back into his duffel bag. And he doesn’t look me in the eyes when he starts doing the same to my things.

He finally comes to a stop in the middle of the room after swiftly packing up all of our stuff. His eyes are wild, his breathing heavy. Something is wrong. “Keith, I’m not going to force you to take me on a date. If you changed your mind, that’s fine, you don’t have to leave.” I really hope that isn’t what’s going on, but I have the worst luck. Of course, I would finally find a guy who makes me feel whole, only to have him change his mind and scurry out of my room like a mad man.

Keith’s blue eyes meet mine. It looks like he’s just now realizing I’m standing in the motel room with him. “I’m sorry, Kat. This was a bad idea.” He gestures around the room. Any warm, fuzzy feelings I still had about our date are sucked right out of me. “I should have never let you stay in this shitty motel. I should have known he would find us.”What?That is not at all what I expected to fall from his perfect lips.

“Wait, so you aren’t just bailing on our date?”

“Of course not. I’ve been dreaming of taking you out for four years. This is just a raincheck.” He flashes me a quick smile that makes my cheeks blush. “Now grab your stuff. We have to get out of here.”

“Why are we leaving? I have nowhere else to go. You can’t pack up my things and not give me even a half-assed explanation as to why.”

Keith pulls his bottom lip into his mouth, no doubt thinking about whether or not to fill me in on what’s going through his head. But the way his tongue just barely emerges to wet his lips before his teeth bite down on his bottom lip makes my heart race. That was the most seductive thing I think I have ever seen. And he wasn’t even trying to turn me on, which for some reason turns me on more.Focus, Kat.I wasn’t paying attention to anything but the movement of his mouth. It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking, and I haven’t heard a word of it.

“...That’s why we have to leave. So please, Kat. Grab your things.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

He sighs in frustration. “You weren’t listening? Alright, it’s fine. Showing you should do the trick.” Keith grabs the door and swings it open, and then points directly at it. My eyes follow his finger to the front of the door. I blink a few times to make sure what I’m seeing is real. A part of me hopes I had just lost my mind and what I was seeing was a hallucination, but I have never been that lucky. Sure enough, there is yet another note attached to the door. Its large, black letters almost sending me into a catatonic state.

I can find you wherever you run.

Last warning. Stop looking.

Or you’ll disappear next.

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