Chapter Thirty

After I'd been living with Scarlett and Edalyn for a week and a half I began to feel happier. I fell into a routine with them and even bought some new clothes. On a Friday morning I came downstairs, the smell of waffles wafting through the house.

I came into the kitchen just as Edalyn was pulling the waffles out of the oven. She kicked the oven shut and I slid into the seat beside Scarlett. 

"Eat up ladies." She said, placing plates in front of us.

"Jesus, it so hot today." Edalyn moaned, fanning herself with her hand. I took a bite of the waffles.

"If your so hot then go jump in the water, it's right over there." Scarlett said with her mouth full, rolling her eyes.

"Oh! I forgot, my boyfriend's visiting in a few months." She exclaimed, the mouthful swallowed.

"Which one?" 

"Hey! I'm totally monogamous now." Scarlett snapped, Edalyn rolled her eyes. The sudden ring of a phone startled me.

 "Hello?" Edalyn flipped out her phone. "Mhm."

Scarlett mumbled something and went back to her waffles. I finished my first waffle and look up at Edalyn.

"Seriously? I swear, I've never met a more needy pregnant woman in my whole life." Edalyn snorted. I stiffened. She payed no attention.

"Yeah Brooke, be there in ten."

"Gotta run, see you around dinner." She said, stuffing the phone back into her pocket and heading for the door. Scarlett and I finished our waffles in silence. I couldn't stop thinking about my pregnancy. How long could I hide it? Would they kick me out? I pushed my plate away.

"I have a phonecall to make, but we can go shopping afterwards." Scarlett said, standing up.

"Yeah, sure." I watched her leave before following up the stairs. Her laugh could be heard outside of her door. I pushed open my door and it swung shut behind me.

I screamed, jumping backwards. A ghostly figure sat in the chair beside the balcony. My heart hammered against my ribs.

The ghost looked up. A look of sad delight crossed it's face and it glided over. Looking closer the ghost began to take on a more feminine shape. It hand long hair and wore a skirt and tank top. 

It placed it's hands on my shoulders.

"Vinnie..." Lauri's voice sighed.

"Oh my God." I said, my voice quivering. "Your-you.."

"I know. I left you." She frowned. 

"Who did this to you? Who killed you?" I demanded. Her lips moved but her voice was gone. She tried to yell but her form disappeared.

I wiped a few tears off my cheeks. I'd come this far without crying, and I knew if I started I'd lose myself completely.Catching my breath I moved over to the mirror, running my thumb over my necklace. Voices began to play in my head.

"It's happening again!"

"Reece, there's something else you need to know."

"What?! Just what the hell what?!"

"Lauri's dead. Her body was outside the house."

 "Holy shit. I need to get out there, I need to FIND HER."

"Reece, all her stuff was still there, her phone and all her clothes."

"No, no, NO!"

The voices blurred away. I pressed the heels of my hands into my eyes to keep from crying. Glancing sideways at the mirror my eyes rested on my stomach. Would our baby ever know it's father? I placed my hands on my stomach and rubbed it gently.

"Vinnie is everything okay I heard a screa-" Scarlett walked in. I spun around. Silence filled the room. We stared at each other, neither saying a single word.

"Oh God," I whispered.

"Vinnie, are you...pregnant?" Scarlett asked slowly. I was quiet.

"Yes." I said, bursting into tears.

"You weren't ever supposed to know!" I cried, burying my face in my hands. She stepped closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Honey, I think we oughta talk." I let Scarlett lead me over to the edge of the bed. We sat down together and I kept my face covered. Her hand rubbed my shoulder.

"Who's the, er, father?" She asked.

"My boyfriend. I haven't seem him for about a week and a half." I mumbled.

"How long have you known?"

"A week and a half." I cried.

"Is this why you left?" Scarlett said.

I looked up.

"Partially."

"What's the other reason?"

"I don't think I can tell you." I said, gulping to catch my breath. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it and squeezed my shoulder. Scarlett brushed her hair back with a sigh.
"When you're ready you can tell me."
"I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready." I mumbled, too quiet for her to hear.
"And don't worry, we won't kick you out." She said, seeming to read my thoughts.
"You won't?"
"Of course not! What kind of people would we be to throw a defenseless pregnant girl out into the streets of a town she barely knows?"

I wiped away my tears, hunching over.

"Have you thought any names?" She asked. I turned to look at her, the smallest smile forming on my lips. Maybe things would be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The train that I caught dropped me off in the big city of Los Aniegos, but I'd had enough of cities for a lifetime. Too many memories. As soon as the train let me off I hopped on a bus that took me hours away to a tiny fishing town called Pounawea. I wandered the main street for a moment before heading over to the nearest house I could see.

I halted at the front steps, there was a truck parked in the grass so someone was home. It sent a pang into my heart, reminding me of Blu. Shaking away my doubts I marched up to the front door and knocked on the wood.

I waited patiently. Right before I turned away I detected the clicking of heels from the inside. The door swung open and a beautiful young woman stepped out. She brushed her dark curls out of her face, tucking them behind her ear.

"Can I help you?" She asked, her voice was quiet and soothing. Her eyes gazed over my hair for half a second.

"I'm a bit...new to the town. Is anyone here renting out a room? Or is there an inn?" I wrung my hands together nervously. She tapped her chin with her finger for a moment, thinking.
"Well, we don't have any inn's per-say," My heart sunk. I didn't have enough money to make it to a new town.

 "Oh! The Peterson sisters are renting out a room in their house." She said suddenly.
"Really? Where do they live?" I asked eagerly.
"Go down to the beach and follow the waterline north. You'll know it when you see it."

"Thank you." I sighed, picking up my backpack.
"Good luck," She called as she disappeared into her home. As I retreated down the steps I heard a man's voice and her giggles. I picked up the pace, wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

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The house was huge compared to the others I had seen, it reached far into the water. With a deep breath I walked up the steps and made my way to the front door. The quiet rang in my ears, I was so used to the hustle and bustle of the city, not the quiet countryside. Gathering my courage I knocked on the door.
"I got it!" A feminine voice called. The door swung open.

 

 "Hey there." She said breathlessly, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. Something about her struck me as familiar, but I couldn't tell if it was her looks or her outfit.

"Um hi, I heard you were renting out a room. Are you one of the Peterson sisters?"

"That'd be me." She smiled. "Yeah, we're offering up a room."

"I'd take it off your hands but...I don't have any money." I sighed. She looked me up and down.

"Here, come inside."

"Please, I'll do anything just to have a place to sleep." I pleaded. "I don't have anywhere else to go."

"Alright, you can have the room. But I won't charge you." She said.
"Oh thank you!"
"Why don't you drop your bag in your new room and meet me in the living room." She suggested, pointing to the spiral staircase.
"Up there and all the way at the end on the left." She said, spinning on her heel and heading to a different part of the house.

I found the door easily enough. The doors clicked when I pressed against them, swinging open. I gasped. This one bedroom was nearly the size of my old house. My old house. Lauri.

It was lovely, warm browns and a pretty green on the walls. I walked over and dropped my backpack on my bed. Brushing my hair back I hurried out of the room and down the stairs, retracing her path.

I came into the living room and kitchen, a second woman was on the couch. Probably the other sister. The girl I met first looked up, she turned off the TV.
"Find the room okay?" Her sister righted herself. I sat down on the couch.
"Yeah."

"Well, I'm Scarlett and this is my twin."
"Edalyn." The brunette said.
"I'm Vinnie."
"Just Vinnie? No last name?" Scarlett asked, a sly smile. My throat tightened. Would I really go on using the name Matthews? It wasn't even my last name. My mind quickly traveled to right before I left Bridgeport. And what Blu said.
"Oh, Vinnie Matthews." I blurted out. I internally kicked myself. It was just habit.
"Dang, how long does it take to get that hair dyed." Edalyn asked. The same urge that appeared at the train station came back, but I repressed it.
"I don't dye it, it's natural." I said. Both girls eyes widened.
"Well, where are you from?" Scarlett said.
"Bridgeport."
"So are you a runaway, parents didn't understand you?" Edalyn said, a hint of a mocking tone.

 "My parents are dead." I said. All I could think was Lauri, Lauri's dead!
"I...I'm so sorry." Edalyn sputtered. I shrugged. I glanced out the window at the darkening sky. Scarlett yawned.
"I bet you're tired, we'll let you go up and rest." She said. I stood up and turned to exit the room.
"There's some clothes in the dresser if you need anything." Scarlett said.

Heading upstairs I found an over-sized shirt and pulled it on. I unclasped my necklace, holding the clock pendant in my hand for a moment.
VINNIE! A pained voice screamed. I jumped and glanced around the room, it was empty but the voice seemed so clear. I dropped the necklace on the dresser and hurried over to the bed, collapsing on top of the blankets.

It had been a long, terrible day. I was just thankful to be alive and in a safe place.

At least I hoped it was safe.