Chasing Atlantis (19 page)

At three in the morning everyone was too tired to keep talking, but I was too anxious to stay in one place. Finally I curled up in my covers, placing them around my face and just lay there for hours, thinking. I tried to find my far away haven that could shelter my mind, but there wasn’t one.

Atlantis was too far away to find right now.

I was alone.

I was trapped in my home with my parents, grounded for I don’t know how long.

I had no idea when I would ever be safe, or if I ever would be.

Fantastic.

16.

The Next Day

I tossed and tu
rned all night in a half-asleep, half-awake form. It became impossible to determine when I was asleep and when I was awake. What little sleep I did receive was plagued with images of my lifeless body lying on the floor, while my family laughed politely in a corner. No amount of therapy would ever cover this emotional damage.

The dull lights of dawn let me know I had at least survived the night. That was something, I guess. I yearned to be in Ty’s comfortable apartment laughing and spending time with him and his family. Instead I was trapped in Barbie’s prison, with the pink walls watching my every move.

I paced the room too many times to count in increasing agitation. I still hadn’t received any word from Ty, or even seen Henry for that matter. Where was he when I needed him last night? He probably started flirting with a Mermaid or something, knowing him. I must have checked my phone every two minutes just in case I didn’t hear it. I was probably developing obsessive compulsive disorder in my nervous state. Excellent. One more thing to add to the wonders this little vacation has brought me.

Hmm. I wonder if they have a support group for this kind of thing. Family of Creatures Who Want Your Soul, I wonder how that would go as a group name. Was that my phone? No, just the noises in my head. I realize that I’m starting to get panicky, but it certainly doesn’t help me because now I just feel nervous, and self-conscious that I’m behaving like a crazy woman.

The loud twist of my door handle made me whirl around. My stomach felt heavy, like I had just eaten iron weights. I nearly collapsed when I saw that it was only Gaby, well the new Gaby, not my Gaby. My Gaby was gone, hidden somewhere under all the depression.

“I made you breakfast.” Her dull voice clashed harshly with my erratic mood. For the first time I realized that she was carrying a tray.

“Thanks, you really didn’t have to do that. I’m not hungry.” Her eyes revealed no emotion, or if she had even heard me. She just continued to stare forward with a blank look on her face. I began to feel uneasy. I took the tray from her just in case she decided she wanted to throw it at me. I was, after all, the one reason why her fiancée was like this in the first place. An overwhelming feeling of guilt crushed my heart.

I did this to her. Now I have to make it right.

The zombified Gaby left my room without another word. I don’t even think she blinked once. I stared at the food, wondering if my parents had poisoned it. Doubtful, considering they had me exactly where they wanted me. Not to mention if they had wanted to be really cruel, all they would have had to do was tie me down to a chair and force feed me some of my mom’s cooking. That could make a terrorist cry.

I don’t know when Steve slipped my car keys out of the room, it must have been sometime last night. Either way, now I was carless, and stuck in a household of angry vampires, and one husk of an old friend.

I twirled the necklace with my fingers, weighing my chances to escape. I had to admit, they weren’t looking good.

Was that my phone?

17.

The Day After That

I fear I may die of boredom before anything else.

Still no word from Ty, and haven’t eaten since Patrick’s burgers. Gaby still continues to bring me food in a blank state, even though it’s quite obvious that I haven’t touched it yet. I just keep placing the trays of uneaten food back out in front of the door. She takes them with her after she brings up a fresh plate of food. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. In my weak state I have absolutely no chance of fighting
those
demons off.

I gave up all hope of my cell phone ringing. It just lay there as more evidence that Ty must have been a dream. He was too wonderful to be real.

I refuse to venture outside my door because I don’t want to take any chances that I will run into Mom or Steve down there. I don’t know which is worse, anticipating their next moves or waiting it out. The dread eats my stomach alive. I clung on to my necklace with all my strength. That is really the only proof I had that all of the secrets existed.

The only thing that protected me now was starlight. I had to hope that would be enough.

I battled against the tears and the overwhelming despair that lurked deep inside of my heart. I wanted so badly to believe that at any moment Ty might swoop down and help me.

But what if he never came back? Could I survive that? Could I make it through him leaving me? That is the only question that I could answer.

No. I couldn’t.

18.

The Plunge

“I can’t believe it.” I repeated for the third time. Ty laughed, sneakily next to me. I felt as nervous as an escaped convict, only minus the orange jumpsuit.

I jumped as a loud crashing sound filled the very overcrowded ice cream parlor, that Ty and I had our first… well, dateish. Apparently my favorite (gag), girl from last time had dropped a tray full of dirty dishes. She was scrambling on the floor in a huff to try and pick everything up from behind the counter.

I spotted Henry and Patrick leaning over the counter, grinning like devils. Poor girl. No one could resist either of them separately; the two troublemakers combined would be completely overwhelming. Now that she was not staring menacingly at me I could be sympathetic to her desires.

“Are you alright? You are a bit on the nervous side today, aren’t you?” Ty asked, because I jumped for the millionth time just in the parlor. This time the clanking of the bell on the door set me off, while more people spilled into the tiny parlor to avoid the approaching thunder storm.

A bit on the nervous side? Lately I could be the president of a support group for the overly-nervous, and the group for nervous-ticks. So naturally I did what all girls do when asked that question.

Lied.

“I’m fine, just a little jumpy. Anyways, when exactly where you going to tell me how in the world you got Mom and Steve to leave the house?!” I asked a bit shakily. I almost went nearly insane in the past week when I was confined to the perimeter of my room. I only ate enou
gh food to survive. I felt the walls silently creeping closer to me, day by day, minute by minute, until I felt that I would surely die of suffocation. The only communication I received was from my petrified friend that never mentioned anything useful for a teenager trying to do a jail break.

Ty shifted around uncomfortably. “Some things are better left unsaid.” I grumbled about there being too many secrets for one lifetime, he just laughed and stuffed a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

“But if you must know—which of course you must,” he paused while a devilish flicker of light glinted in his eyes, “we lit Steve’s pretend practice office on fire. It was pretty funny watching them try to save a medical building, which was of course empty, because it’s just a hoax to keep any curious people away.” He turned to give me one of the happiest smiles I had ever seen, without any trace of regret. It was perfect.

“Nice.” I agreed. He could burn Steve for all I cared, then again I may want to be present for that. There was something else I really wanted to ask but I was too nervous to do it. That was my problem. I was always too nervous around Ty. Even after all we had been through, all the knowledge that I now possessed, I was still unspeakably nervous about Ty giving me the answer I didn’t want to hear. I knew eventually I would have to get over it, somehow. Maybe.

Finally, I just blurted out, “Where have you been the last couple of days? Why did you wait so long before getting to me?”

I didn’t mean for it to sound accusing, but it did. I could ask that right? A girlfriend could ask that of her boy—um…well, whatever the heck we were, right? All my insecure notions seemed to make Ty laugh at me, rather than get angry. I never guessed right with him, he was always so
different
than anyone else I had ever known.

His body instantly went rigid next to mine. I immediately regretted asking, just not enough to take it back. I stared at the faux wood finish on the table while I waited. When he did speak his voice was so soft I had to lean in close to hear it all.

“I’m really sorry it took that long. We had a trial of sorts at the club, regarding you, well your life to be honest. Patrick and I fought very hard in our case that you should never have been exposed, or should be exposed to Adam, or anyone else like that, without your consent. It lasted the better part of a week, with only one break in between.”

I felt slightly dizzy about having my life discussed like a sporting event. Lately I had become accustomed to that feeling though, so I just waited patiently for the verdict. I also tried to imagine a trial where anyone would think I was important enough to discuss for an entire week. It was beyond the limits of my small mind to understand.

“In the end we lost.” He went very quiet for a while. I wasn’t sure what to do. I settled for placing my hand on his back. He started shaking, with what I thought was sadness, until he looked at me with wild, angry eyes. He was shaking with rage. I shrank back slightly, it was almost like having an angry shark stare at you, but one that you knew would never hurt you.

“The club agreed that because you were a human, you couldn’t possibly know what was best for you, or the club. They were ready to bring you in that very day, and—and,” He struggled with the right words to say. “And change you right then and there. It’s ironic to me, that they talk about humans in such a condescendingly way when they are no better. They let their greed control them, just like humans do.” He put his head in his hands.

I swallowed a shudder at the thought of “changing” me into anything. I was perfectly happy with being me. Why couldn’t the rest of the world accept that?

I tr
ied to say something comforting to Ty, only I had the misfortune to look into his majestic eyes, swirling with sadness. My heart had been ripped out of my chest with just a glance.

“Maybe I don’t deserve you. It seems like the harder I fight for you the closer I come to losing you. Every damn time. I’m sorry. You deserve someone much better than me, someone who can actually protect you. I thought that by leaving Henry there you would be completely safe. Physically you were safe. But he couldn’t protect you from the mental torture.”

Ah yes. Henry my protector. I spent half the time wondering if he was still alive down there. I only saw him that one time, and the last time to drag me out of there with news that Ty was coming. Secretly I wondered if Henry did that because he wanted to show me what his brother went through when I was brainwashed. At least I didn’t do it on purpose. Still he did have his work cut out for him, trying to protect the untenable.

“Shut up. I don’t want you to hear you say that crap. It’s not true. You did protect me, you are the one for me—,”I was finally getting to one of those sentimental touching moments when I was rudely interrupted by Patrick and Henry. They have absolutely wonderful timing. I think they have perfected an art with it actually.

“Henry, could you have been any more shameless?” Patrick nearly yelled at the table. Despite his words, he was grinning from ear to ear, proudly.

“Oh, will you quit complaining? It got you of out paying didn’t it?” That’s when I noticed that they each held the biggest ice cream cones that I have ever seen, complete with ice cream towering dangerously high above the cones. Henry turned to smile and wink at the ice cream girl. She almost passed out on the spot. Poor soul. I knew exactly how she felt. Still, it was pretty funny, I’ll give them that.

“Besides,” Henry continued, “I fully intend to call her sometime in the near future.” We all rolled our eyes in unison. Henry wasn’t exactly the best guy at following through with a girl.

“And say what? Hey, would you like to come over see my tail? By the way I’m only half human, but you can just get over that part.” Henry shot Patrick a dirty look, though he did seem slightly upset. His childlike face set into a pout.

“For your information I am perfectly capable of holding a conversation with a girl, Patrick. Unlike
you
.” This time it was Patrick’s turn to be on the defensive.

“It’s not an argument of if you can talk to a girl, which as we all know you most certainly are not shy. It’s just that it’s impossible for us to have normal girlfriends. I guess we’ll both have to settle for someone like Amy.”

They ignored the mental daggers I threw at them, and continued to snicker in my direction. Even Ty had a much-too-angelic face on to hide his smile.

Jerk.

Henry stared absently out of the window for a time. “Wow. Those thunderheads are rolling in quickly. It’s going to be a nasty storm. Too bad we can’t stop by the ocean. Then we could really have some fun underwater.” All of them smiled to themselves. I decided it was better not to ask.

“Thank you for the update weather man, Henry.” I said wryly. I am still a bit peeved at the both of them for that other comment.

I turned to look at Ty, which is something I don’t recommend because it seems completely impossible to tear your eyes back off of him, when I noticed that he was sitting straighter than a board, staring directly ahead at the door. A look of pure horror stuck on his face. Patrick turned around to face the door with the same horrified expression on his face. Only Henry seemed unperturbed.

“Oh shit.” Ty mouthed.

“W
hat’s wrong?” I choked out. The same clinging fingers of dread filled my heart, forcing all the air out of my lungs.

“Aw. And I didn’t even get to finish my ice cream.” Henry stared sadly at his half eaten cone. As usual only I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

“Amy, you may have to make that decision sooner than you think.” Ty mumbled through clenched teeth. He gripped the table tightly with his hands, staring furiously at the door. I started to hear the table snap under Ty’s strong grasp.

“What do you—oh holy crap.”

Dang. Dang. Help me, oh crap.

The door noisily clambered open to reveal a group of teenage boys, yelling belligerently as they entered. Adam waltzed in among them.

I saw Henry’s lips move, but whatever he said was drowned out by the hammering of my heart in my ears. The ice cream turned to stones in my stomach. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. My panic attack must not have been as subtle as I wanted.

Ty looped his arm around me with a pained expression. “Shhh. Everything is going to be fine. Don’t breathe like that. He can’t do anything to you right now, we won’t let him. So long as you don’t want him to, we’ll kill him before he can get to you.”

His strong eyes stared questioningly into my frantic ones.

“Are you insane? I don’t want that creep anywhere near me.” Ty relaxed slightly. I wish I could have done the same. I hadn’t forgotten the pain that Adam had caused me. I wasn’t ever about to let him forget what he did to me. I wanted him to pay.

Up until that point Adam had never even glanced our way, while I was completely unable to force my eyes away from him. I was only vaguely aware of Patrick and Henry shuffling out of their side of the small booth. Then Ty grabbed my arm and dragged me to my feet. Henry and Patrick formed a sort of shield behind me,
with Ty walking by my side, pulling me to the door.

We almost made it to the door when the ice cream girl yelled, very loudly, “I’ll see you later Henry. You and Patrick can come back anytime you want.” She giggled nervously as the whole restaurant turned to stare at us.

We froze on the spot.

Henry looked mortified, but Patrick had the “I told you so,” look on his face. It all happened in slow motion for me. First Adam’s friends smirked in our direction, but they were too insignificant for me to pay them any mind. My eyes were trained to Adam’s shocked expression.

I thought his jaw had come unhinged at first. It was open so wide you could have stuffed a fist in it, which is exactly what I wanted to do. His broad shoulders tensed, and his face turned an ugly shade of blotchy red. I blanched in horror.I wanted to run screaming out of the door but my legs were frozen on the spot. I was paralyzed with fear.

Adam took a menacing step toward us. He was visibly shaking with rage. To my astonishment, Henry stepped forward with a warm smile to meet Adam. In a very cordial tone he greeted him.

“Hey, Adam. How’s it going? I haven’t seen you in forever? Been up to anything new?” Any eavesdroppers would have thought they were lifelong friends, not mortal enemies.

Adam completely ignored Henry, taking another bold step towards us. I was the only one that flinched. “Amy Jane, what in the hell are you doing with, with… these
things
? I thought you didn’t remember—that you didn’t know
them
.” he slurred the words to sound nasty.

All my fear evaporated as soon as the words were out of his mouth, replaced with anger I didn’t know I was capable of holding. I completely snapped.

“Well, that just shows your true intelligence level doesn’t it? I know exactly what you are, you disgusting excuse for a boy. But you’ll never know me. Now stay away from me, I hate you.” I didn’t care that the whole place was staring at me with new awe. Adam looked like I had punched him. I wish I had, it would have made me feel better.

“And, stop calling me Amy Jane. My name is just Amy.” I nearly screamed. Adam’s friends looked torn between defending him, and wanting to burst out laughing form nervousness. They decided on standing there like morons.

Ty’s face burst into a radiant smile. “Well, you heard the lady. Sorry Adam, but we have places to go.” Ty began herding my fuming body out of the door.

“Well this was nice. We should all hang out again real soon Adam. Bye for now.” Henry’s face never lost his charming smile, or friendly tone throughout the whole fight. Now he was practically skipping.

Patrick turned to the woman nearest him who had a small pair of goggles resting in her bag. He smiled warmly at her, confusing her momentarily as his hypnotic eyes locked onto hers.

“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing that you have an extra pair of goggles in your purse. Would you mind if I bought them off of you? I really need them right now, if that’s okay?”

“Er… um. You can just er—have them. I don’t need them much currently, right now.” She smiled shakily back at him. It was clear that she was already regretting her words before they were even fully out of her mouth.

“Thank you. You are a very kind and beautiful woman, if that’s alright for me to say.” Patrick took the goggles in one hand, while bringing the lady’s other hand up to his mouth, for a quick peck. The lady wasn’t the only shocked one in there. Patrick walked briskly outside with a big grin on his face. The lady was on the verge of having a heart attack. Henry was the only one that lingered.