Next day

Narrator

Clair managed to fall asleep after a long time. However, her sleep was far from being peaceful. She tossed and turned on her bed. Little beads of sweat formed on her forehead due to her distress.

She was running away from him. How in the world did he wake up from his eternal sleep? How was it even possible that he came back from death. Aren’t dead people supposed to stay dead? She glanced over her shoulder as she continued to run through the thick foliage of the forest. But as soon as she did, she wished she didn’t look back. What she saw made her heart want to jump out of her rib cage.

There was this ghostly figure running after her – no galloping after her on all fours. It’s face was Mr. Stone’s, however it was rather pale and it looked as if it was partly decayed. There was blood and drool coming out of the corners of it’s mouth. It’s clothes were torn and tattered and pieces of fabric flew with the breeze as he galloped after her. His arms and legs seemed longer than it used to. He was not Mr. Stone. Yet it was him. She knew it.

He was coming to get her. He was coming to get revenge for killing him. But she didn’t have another choice. She had to. Mr. Stone was an evil person. He was a drug dealer, a human trafficker and a heartless terrorist. He had to be killed.

“Help!” she screamed. However it was in vain. Who would be there to listen to her cries in the dense forest in the dead of the night? Then to her good luck, she saw a little shack. Maybe this was her chance to save herself. With a frantic heart, she sprinted in to the shack and slammed the door shut. After locking the door, she stepped back, hoping that it would work.

But alas, the wooden door was not a match for the ghostly form of Mr. Stone. He smashed the door, making little pieces of wood to scatter all over the place. His glowing red eyes landed on Clair, who was trembling in fear.

Laughing eerily, he advanced towards the petrified girl who was crouched to a corner.

“Where is my child you whore?!!??” his voice was raspy and eerie. It filled the entire atmosphere and seemed to echo when he spoke. Clair was too terrified to say anything, as she sensed his cold hands grab on to her legs. His ugly black claws dug in to her flesh making blood trickle on to the floor.

“No. Leave me alone!”

Clair gasped as she tried her best to remove the claws that held on to her. The claws of the one who had once bought her. The one who she thought was dead. The father of her child.

Mr. Stone.

“You are dead! Dead!” she screamed, still trying to move away.

He started to laugh, a ghostly, raspy, creepy laugh, that filled the air. The foul smell of death filled the entire room when he opened his mouth wider than a normal person could.

“Nooooo!” Clair screamed when Mr. Stone started to devour her.

*****

Clair woke up from her nightmare, soaked in sweat, and gasping for breath.

“It was just a nightmare.” She told herself. Just then, her phone dinged. It was a message from Levi, Adira’s twin. The sweetest guy she knew.

Please Clair. Just one date.

It said. Clair bit her lips. How was she going to give him a chance when she was not ready......? Her eyes stung with tears which she tried hard to ignore. Another ding from her phone made her look once again.

Please Clair. I will go back to the city. I just want one date. I will prove to you that I am worthy of you. I will work hard to keep you happy. I promise I will love you till death do us part. Just give me one chance.

The tears that she fought against so hard finally won and they streamed down her cheeks. Does Levi think that he is not worthy of her? Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and placed a hand on her chest, hoping to calm her aching heart.

“Levi. It’s not you who is not worthy. It is me. I am not good enough for you. I am so broken that there is little to no hope that I will be able to make our lives a happy one. I am so sorry Levi. But this is for your own good.” She whispered, fully knowing that no one else except her could hear her. Tears continuously soaked her sheets while she held on to her aching heart.

“I am sorry.... I am so sorry....” she sobbed, slowly drifting off to sleep once again.

The next morning, Clair dragged herself towards the daily tasks. She felt rather lethargic. Perhaps due to lack of sleep. How could she get a good night’s sleep anyway? Whenever she closes her eyes Mr. Stone attacks her in some form. Her nights were filled with dreaded nightmares and whenever she is left alone, she suffers from dreadful flashbacks of her past.

But she didn’t feel comfortable to tell anyone about it. She wanted to run away from it. She wanted to forget it. She wished that she could erase that part from her memory. But it was impossible. All those miserable days were a part of her life. It would have a huge impact on her life. She could only pray that those memories and unfortunate events doesn’t control her.

“Mama.” Nolan’s little cries gained Clair’s attention. Smiling at her little one, she hurried to clean him up so that she could go downstairs to feed him his breakfast. This little human had always made life better for her. Ever since he had taken his first breath in to this world, she had found a good reason to look forward to live.

She loved doing her voluntary work, helping others in abusive relationships and organising awareness programs. However, her life now depended on this little human, who had he wrapped around her little finger.

When she went in to the living room, Adira and Austin were already prepared to leave.

“Remember to call us if you need anything.” Austin said as he did a weird fist bump with Henry.

“Yeah. We would be lucky if you pick the phone.” Lilli muttered through her smirk.

“Let’s hope they actually remember to go sight seeing instead of spending the whole two weeks on the bed?” Henry high fived his wife, Lilli, who broke in to a fit of hysterical laughter.

“So what if we do? At least we didn’t go shagging in the living room at night.” Austin smirked at Lilli, who’s face turned bright red. Henry grinned at that. He seemed to be rather proud.

Adira let out a controlled chuckle.

“Whatever Austin. I’d be surprised if you guys don’t get pregnant soon.” Lilli responded, not wanting to back off.

“And y’all should learn from that!” came Henry’s mother’s voice.

The four leaders went stiff as they turned towards the entrance. Their eyes widened when they saw a very confused Clair, holding baby Nolan and Henry’s mother a few feet behind her.

“I told you. I need grand children. I wonder what is wrong with these youngsters.” Henry’s mother tsked as she walked in to the kitchen.

Clair bit her lips, trying not to laugh as she followed Henry’s mother.

“Uhh. Hey Clair. Do you have everything you need for Nolan?” Austin asked and Clair nodded.

“You sure? Diapers, baby food..... Anything?” he asked.

Biting her lips and feeling a little guilty for depending on him so much, she nodded. Maybe she should try to get a job. But what?

“What are you thinking about?” Lilli asked.

“I....I kind of feel weird....maybe I should go for a job.” Clair told them honestly.

However the four leaders smiled shaking their heads.

“No. You need to go to college. Study first. Then maybe you can look for a job. I am telling you, I will take care of the fees.” Austin told her.

“Come on Clair. I know you can do it. We are here to help.” Lilli urged as Adira also nodded in agreement.

“Don’t loose this chance kid.” Henry said.

Clair smiled. Maybe they were right. She should study. Only then would she get a decent job so that she could take good care of her little baby.

“Ok.” She agreed, making Lilli grin.

“Cool. So let’s look up the courses in the college.” Lilli jumped in ecstasy.

Nolan screamed, waving his little hand, making a fuss. Clair giggled.

“He is hungry.” She murmured.

“Right. Let’s get some food in that little tummy of yours.” Lilli said, as she tickled Nolan, making his laugh.

“Awwww. Isn’t the sound of babies laughing the sweetest?” Henry’s mother called out from the kitchen.

Lilli and Henry looked at each other with wide eyes. Adira and Austin bit their lips, trying their best to hold back their laughter, whole Clair too grinned from ear to ear. They all knew what was going to come.

“That is why I am telling y’all. Get pregnant!” she yelled from inside.

“Yup.” Henry whispered, nodding, making Lilli glare at him.

“Let’s just have breakfast and leave Adi. Otherwise we will be late.” Austin said as he swallowed his urge to laugh.