Chapter 5
FIVE
AIDEN
Another day where I come home tired as hell.
At least it’s Friday and I have the entire weekend to unwind. Maybe I’ll do some knitting or bake. Creating something out of nothing has always calmed me down and made me feel better.
I need to feel better.
Because I feel it creeping in the back of my head, scratching at the walls, and I can’t let the nightmares break through.
I smile even though there’s no one here to see it. Smiling is supposed to help, or at least that’s what all the websites say. Apparently, smiling a couple of times a day can instantly perk up your mood.
I haven’t found it to work.
I look at the text on my phone as I enter my house, my smile turning into a quick frown when I see it’s Jennifer.
Babe: What time am I coming over???
Her aggressive use of question marks doesn’t leave any room for interpretation or argument. If she wants to come over, she’s going to, but I’m too tired to engage with anyone remotely human.
Me: Ate some bad tacos today for lunch. On the toilet.
Gross, yes, but effective. Jennifer—always hinting that she wants to get married—doesn’t understand the concept of ‘through sickness and health’ . Just as expected, the mention of anything remotely disgusting causes her to respond that she’s going to stay home, which is better for me. I’d rather watch my favorite reality food show and make some cookies. Maybe knit some more. The scarf I’m working on is coming along nicely.
I drop my things by the couch and pause. Where’s Zeus? Contrary to what most cats are like, he always greets me when I get home. Unless he managed to get out in a way fucking cats always can.
I swear, they’re literal monsters .
I sigh as I make my way to the kitchen and go under the sink for his food. I put some into his bowl and start to shake it, hoping that the sound will draw him out if he’s hiding somewhere. When he doesn’t show up, I figure that he’s probably outside. How? I have no fucking clue. Once I found him inside the dryer just sleeping on my work clothes. Cats are a mystery to me.
I step outside and into the backyard, still rattling his bowl. I listen for a meow or rustling in the trees to indicate he’s somewhere near me, maybe off in the forest hunting a bunny, but I get nothing.
Worry starts to settle in. He might be an asshole sometimes, but he’s my asshole. My little buddy I’ve had for the last fifteen years. The kitty I rescued who became my best friend in the darkest of times. He’s the literal definition of an emotional support animal. Without him I remember everything. Everything and?—
Stop it.
I turn around to head back inside because he might just be hiding somewhere weird, but then I feel it.
It’s… subtle. Like a prickling in the back of my neck, something that sets my instincts ablaze. Fight or flight . I’ve felt it before. But I’m a pathetic weakling who always chose neither option. I stand still, goosebumps erupting on my skin as the feeling grows stronger. I cock my head as I look into the dense wilderness around me. There’s nothing out there and the rational part of me knows that.
So then why does something sinister lurk thick in the air? Why does it seem quiet—too quiet—like the animals in the woods have run away from a bigger predator than themselves?
My entire body trembles as I try to shake the feeling away. It’s nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing ever happens here on this island and it’s not going to start now.
But that doesn’t stop me from double bolting the doors when I go back inside.