His Return

After I sent Monique – Sophie's babysitter – home I made sure all the doors and windows were locked. I might not care what happens to me but I sure as hell care what happens to her. Sophie was lying on her bed reading, in this way she's just like me – she can go through three books a day.

I went into her room stealthily and began to tickle her. She broke out in laughter dropping her book and tried to push me away although – she knows I'm stronger being ten years older and all – my hands barely touched her. When I finished I lay on her bed and she tried to tickle me, but I'm not ticklish. I just laughed at her attempt.

"Evie?" Sophie asked in a soft voice. "Yeah, Soph," I answered. She seemed to be struggling for words, then finally spit them out, "Evie, did – did mommy and daddy love us? I don't really remember them; all I have are the photos to prove they really existed," she gesture to the pictures on the nightstand of our mother and father in an embrace on her night stand. "I really need to know." She said looking me in my light brownish-hazely eyes. Those words caught me off guard the always extremely bubbly and hyper little sister actually asked me something that didn't make me roll my eyes. This was an important question and I answered just as seriously as she meant my answer to be, "They loved us both very much. They wouldn't want you to worry about such ridiculous things as worrying about if they loved you. Of course they did never doubt that for a moment." She gave me a soft smile and picked up her book from where it fell on the hardwood floor. They wouldn't want to see her doubt that but it's not like they can see at all. Once a person is dead they remain in a coffin among the other corpses in the cemetery. In my eyes heaven doesn't exist, God doesn't exist. If He did, He would have left us some mercy, but no, He took both of our parents. Even if God does exist he is no better than the Devil himself.

I ran up the stairs to my room and shut the door. I started on my homework that's due tomorrow – Friday – and blasted my Muse CDs. I struggled for coherency as I worked, I can't believe little Sophie has that sadness just a tiny portion compared with what I have but even that makes me suffer I wish I could haul that burden with my own. Take away her doubt and fear that our parents left this earth and existence altogether not loving her and me. After I finished the stupid trig homework – my math teacher decided to assign three pages of difficult problems due first block tomorrow, I freaking hate him, - I took off my ripped jeans and black shirt on the floor piled on top of my converse sneakers. I slid on a pair of black short shorts and a large black t-shirt.

I turned my lamp off and slid under my black down comforter in total darkness, just how I like to sleep. From all the homework I was mentally exhausted which pushed me into unconsciousness as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Some time in the AM I felt really cold air wash over my body; I thought I locked all the windows. Shit! I locked all the windows downstairs, all the windows that slide open and down swing open on their own if it's windy enough and when the stupid latch is hooked. I didn't hook the latch or slide the lock into place last night.

I got up from my bed - my bare feet touching the icy hardwood floor - and I picked up my black comforter I kicked off me during the night and placed it on my bed. I did all this in the dark, no need to turn the light on when I'm more content in the dark. I walked over to my windows facing my backyard and further in the distance a river that in the summer rushes quickly and the sound helps me drift to sleep, but now it runs so slowly due to its semi-frozen state that I don't hear a sound. I stood there at my open window gazing at the moonless night; another breeze blew through the trees and ruffled my hair making me shiver and I reached for one side of my window then the other and pulled them into place. I've reached for two at the same time and almost fell out the window, wouldn't be the best thing to happen it's a long way down and that was when I was totally awake.

I turned back to go to my bed and I saw a silhouette in the darkness I gasped working up to a scream, but the figure moved so quickly putting his ice cold hand over my mouth and snaking his other arm around my waist. He moved me backwards until my back was pressed against the wall on the left of my window. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Evie, I'm here to keep my promise."

I stiffened but he sensed that that I wouldn't scream now I was too paralyzed to regain control of my lips. Just his scent from being so close disturbed my thoughts. It was sweet and seductive no cologne could imitate it – it excited desires within me ones that haven't occurred to me – obviously since I've never dated – but still hungers that terrified me. He spoke in a normal voice now, "you've grown more beautiful than I could have imagined." He said in a seductive voice. I was still pinned to the wall my hazel eyes forced to look into his dark green ones. His eyes seemed to be able to see right through me past the black clothing and nail polish into my very soul. It was uncomfortable. "Henry?" It was obviously him there was no other like him I've ever met before never mind accepted his promise with a small smile – which was an obvious acceptance. I had no idea how stupid that was at the time.

He smiled, "you remember me, that's a relief." Then he leaned in like he had twelve years ago only this time he kissed me on my lips. The kiss was of pure elation although I stood there like a statue not moving. He pulled back looked at me for a brief second with a look that said it all – that if I didn't accept him now he would enjoy the chase – then he was gone.

"Sleep well, my love," I heard in a whisper before I collapsed.