Four | Zombie

“So he wants you to be evaluated just in case you’re not mentally stable enough?” Sunny slammed her hand down on the table. “That is totally not okay!”

Reaching out, Michelle patted her hand in an attempt to calm her down. “I know but I already agreed to it.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to pass it?” She ran a hand through her blonde hair and relaxed in her chair. “I don’t doubt your ability to keep it together but a professional is going to be able to tell that everything is taking a toll on you.”

“I’m not worried about that honestly,” Michelle answered. “I’m more worried about getting Liam off my back. He’s always been greedy but even more now that I’m the only thing standing between him and what he wants.”

“You need to be careful.” She drummed her fingers on the counter. “Someone like that won’t hesitate to do something to get you out of his way.”

Michelle knew she was right but the more she thought about it, the more disgusted she became. Just the thought of Liam hurting her to get the position of CEO made her skin crawl and her stomach flip.

“Enough about me.” She attempted to change the subject. “How have you been?”

“Actually,” Sunny drew it out. “The reason I’m back is because the trip is over and the museum is preparing for the art exhibit.”

“Already?” Michelle leaned forward. “When is it?”

She bit her lip, trying not to smile. “In a few weeks. I’ll be around till then although my aunt and uncle want me to move back in with them.”

Michelle’s happiness faded for a moment. “You’re moving back in with them? You hated it there; why are you going back?”

Sunny took in a deep breath. “I-I need to grow up a bit. I hated living with them because it was just one painful reminder after another that my parents didn’t want me but now, I’m old enough to be over that.”

“That’s not something you just get over because you turn twenty-one,” she answered. “Something like that is going to be painful.”

Her friend lowered her gaze. “It’s something I’ve been working on over the past six months that I’ve been gone. I missed them, Michelle. I really did. To me, they are the only family I have and I’ve treated them terribly. I’ll be moving back in tomorrow afternoon.”

“I don’t have a problem with you moving back in with them,” she admitted. “I-.”

“You don’t want to be alone, do you?” Sunny leaned forward. “That’s fine. I’ll still be nearby.”

“No, it’s fine.” Michelle wiped at her nose which was starting to burn. “I’m thinking of carrying through with the Apprenticeship Program.”

“I thought you weren’t going to.”

“I met him,” she spoke. “The person my Grandfather always told me to find.”

Sunny’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? What is he like?”

“Cold,” she answered. “Colder than winter and darker than the night sky when the moon is hidden.”

“And how does he tie in with the Apprenticeship Program?” she questioned.

Shrugging, she answered. “I’m not exactly sure but I know that if I advance my knowledge of Echonia and the Gateway’s, he’ll show up.”

“Maybe he’s not looking for you and doesn’t want to find you,” she suggested. “That’s possible.”

Michelle kept her mouth shut, unsure of what to say. “If that’s the case, that’s fine. That just means I get to live a longer, more peaceful life.”

Leaning her head to the side, Sunny propped her chin in her hands and waited for her to continue.

“But I know I need to find him.” Michelle rubbed her jaw. “I promised my grandfather.”

“Be careful of the promises you make, Michelle.” Sunny looked down at her folded hands on the table. “Sometimes, in the end, those promises are just words.”

****

Michelle tossed and turned in her bed as the sheets seemed to grab at her and hold her down, stifling her and making it hard to breathe. The shadows that played around her room made her uneasy and although the darkness comforted her a little bit, it left her vulnerable at the same time. She couldn’t see if there was a Nightmare lurking just beyond sight and the possibility of one being so close without her knowing scared her.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Every little sound was making her jump so she finally sat up. Kicking the sheets off her legs, she scooted off the bed and pulled the blanket with her. As she opened her bedroom door, she carefully shut it behind her and tiptoed past Sunny’s room and into the living room.

She sat down on the couch, the cushions supporting her as she attempted to get comfortable. The blanket provided some warmth but a chilling sensation danced over her skin, a sign that her Nightmare was nearing.

Closing her eyes, she buried her face in the pillow below her and bit her tongue to keep her chin from quivering. Tears burned her eyes but she squeezed her eyes shut to keep them from falling. The last thing she wanted to do was cry yet she knew she needed to.

She held her breath, anticipating the touch of the Nightmare but none came and, within a few seconds, the cold aura passed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she sat up and pulled the blanket with her, tucking it over her shoulders.

Now, she was surrounded by both darkness and silence, a combination she didn’t like. The shadows that flitted across the walls of the living room were strange, twisting this way and that as the cars outside drove by. Unable to take it anymore, she closed her eyes once again in hopes of finding some peace.

Instead, all she found was more havoc. It was driving her crazy, digging deep into her bones and intertwining with the bitterness that rested in her chest. Together, they twisted their way around her heart, squeezing and pulling, making it difficult to breathe.

Something warm slid down her face and she reached up to wipe it away but her hand came back wet.

Tears.

Sniffing, she wiped her face again before sitting numbly where she was. It hadn’t even been a week since she had gotten the news of her grandfather’s passing but it felt like an eternity ago. Yet, at the same time, it felt like it was just yesterday she had called him to let him know she was on her way out of the country.

She let her head drop, her hair making a curtain around her as she let the tears flow. The sobs racked her body and her shoulders shook yet the only thing that could be heard was her sniffing. Pushing her hair out of her face, she looked up at the roof to keep the tears from falling and took a deep breath.

She hoped it would be okay just like all sympathy cards told her and the inked words that promised prayers and support where the only thing that was keeping her going. A part of her knew that she would never be ‘normal’ again but she would get used to it.

As the night moved on, she remained unmoving, numbly staring at the wall before her. The sun would rise eventually and she would go about her day as she always had.

Taking in a breath in, she moved her gaze from the wall and towards the balcony. She stood and let the blanket slip away from her shoulders as she made her way towards the door. Her warm skin left a handprint on the cold glass as she pushed it open and stepped out into the foggy night.

The cars below were barely visible in the darkness, their headlights barely slicing through the thick fog that seemed to cover the whole city like a fine layer of grey dust.

Tomorrow would be the same as today—she knew that. Each moment would feel like an eternity and every breath would just kill her more inside. It had barely been a week yet she felt she had been dying forever. It was as if she was a zombie, moving from day to day, permanently numb by the trauma’s that had surrounded her.

Letting her head hang, she took a deep breath as the fog swirled around her, wrapping her in a loose hug that she desperately needed. The sunlight began to appear on the east side of the city, chasing away the darkness and fog, and bringing a certain feeling that settled deep in her soul.

Just like yesterday, she would wait for the day to be over so she could stop once again.

****

Michelle looked in the mirror as she pulled her shoulder blade-length hair into a ponytail. Her phone vibrated on the counter next to her, indicating that someone was calling. Slipping her hair through the ponytail one more time, she tightened it and picked up the phone, answering it.

“Yes?” She glanced at her reflection once more in the mirror before heading back into her room.

“Hey, it’s Ezra,” he spoke. “I was calling you because of your text message earlier this morning.”

“Oh, right.” She stopped at her dresser and scooped up her earrings from the drawer and put the phone on speakerphone so she could put them. “I wanted to talk to you and Nehemiah about the Apprenticeship Program. Will you two be available for lunch?”

“I am but I don’t know about Nehemiah,” he answered. “But I’ll make it work.”

“Thank you.” She headed for the door, pulling her sleeves down to her wrists. The stitches were getting smaller as the wound was healing but they hadn’t disappeared completely like they were supposed to and the last thing she wanted was for Liam to see them. “I have a meeting this morning but I’ll be there around noon.”

“The usual place?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “I’ll see you then.”

As she hung up, she grabbed her jacket from the hook by the door and slipped out into the hallway of the apartment complex. Sunny had left a few minutes ago on her way to the art gallery and wouldn’t be back till later in the afternoon to get her luggage. She would be moving back in with her aunt and uncle and Michelle planned on moving in with Ezra and Nehemiah as long as they were still willing to the Program.

Mason was leaning against the car, waiting for her, when she exited the building. He handed her a cup of coffee and opened the door for her. As she slid into the back seat, he got in the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he questioned, looking at her in the rearview mirror.

She flipped the appointment card over in her palm and stared at the company name, a small smile appearing on her face.

“Unfortunately, I have to pay Happy Way Therapy a visit,” she started. “It’s not exactly something I get a say and if I don’t do it, Liam will use that against me. Besides, it never hurts to talk to someone.”

Sighing, he put the car into drive and pulled away from the building. Michelle tucked the card into her pocket and watched out the window as the buildings raced by.

“Besides, it’s not my first time going to see a psychologist.” She broke the silence. “It’s just been a while.”

****

The silence of the room that Michelle sat in was comforting. It smelled of a concoction of spices with a hint of cinnamon and bergamot, reminding her of her childhood psychologist that she saw for many years.

The color scheme of the room was a vintage style with leather armchairs and brown pillows for accent. Soft grey walls surrounded them with small green leaves that were painted at the top of the wall and scattered downwards towards the gentle brown floorboards.

She could barely hear the sounds of the city even though the office was right off Main Street. White noise filled the empty silence that lurked in the corners of the room and kept anyone in the waiting room from hearing what was being said.

Michelle shifted to get more comfortable. It was impossible to be uncomfortable on the couch she was currently seated on but she felt out of place in the peaceful room. So much chaos was going on in her head yet she had to suppress it and keep it from bleeding out through her stone-hard mask. The moment those emotions slipped through, it would be over for her.

The door opened and a middle-aged woman entered. She had shoulder-length brown hair that was pulled back into a small ponytail at the base of her neck with a green ribbon that matched her eyes. A few loose strands framed her face as she smiled gently at Michelle and settled down in the leather chair in the corner.

“Hello, I’m Marie,” Her voice was smooth like water over a rock reminding Michelle of a lullaby. The words blended together but they weren’t incoherent but rather like chocolate that had been held for too long. “How are you today?”

“Fine,” she answered, trying to keep her voice from sounding cold.

“We’ll start out simple and since you’ve already filled out all the paperwork, we don’t have to deal with that.” She flipped through the file in her lap and Michelle noticed that even her nails were painted a mossy green. “How have you been sleeping?”

“Good.” She didn’t mean for her answers to be so short but she didn’t want to go into detail about it. The less she had to say, the less guilt she would feel for lying.

Marie leaned back in her seat and closed the file. “I know that this is an evaluation to see if you’re in a proper mental state to be dropped into the business world in your grandfather’s stead. I also know that this was ordered by Liam on behalf of the investors for your company, and I also know that you’re going to be very strict with the answers you give me.”

Michelle didn’t speak.

“But please, be honest with me. Although I know it won’t be in this session, I hope you’ll come back and I can help you through some things.”

She didn’t speak because she didn’t know what to say. A small part of her wanted to open up to Marie about the things she had been dealing with for the past couple of months but especially the past week. The larger part of her knew that it would be foolish to tell such sensitive information to someone that could turn around and give it to Liam.

“I won’t be coming back after this visit.” She finally spoke. “I don’t need it.”

Shutting her mouth, she silently regretted those words. She did need it but she was too prideful to admit it—too scared that it would come back to haunt her. Right now, she was vulnerable and it would be easy for someone to take advantage of that and that’s what Liam wanted to do.

Sighing slightly, Marie scribbled something down on the paper before her and looked up at her. “Let’s continue with the evaluation, shall we?”

****

The doors slid open as Michelle exited the building. Tucking the white envelope under her arm, she pulled her jacket off arm-by-arm and draped it over her forearm as she headed for the parked car.

As she rounded the corner of the building, she slowed to a stop when she saw Xion leaning against the white brick siding.

“What are you doing here?” she questioned as he pushed off the wall.

“I wanted to talk to you,” he answered, eyeing the envelope she held. “Is that your evaluation results?”

She cocked her head to the side slightly. “Why do you care?”

“My dad sent me to pick them up.”

Flicking her wrist, she snapped the envelope against his chest and he took it from her. “Thank you for playing errand boy and not wasting my time.”

She went to walk by but he reached out, hand grabbing her left wrist and stopping her. His grip was softer than she had expected and as he pulled her back, she moved with him.

“What?” she questioned, gently tugging her arm from his hold.

Refusing to let go, he pulled the sleeve up, exposing the stitches that had been hidden beneath the fabric.

“I knew you were hiding something.” He smiled.

She yanked her arm away and rolled the sleeve down. “It doesn’t matter.”

“A rogue Nightmare?” he guessed, leaning down to be on eye level with her.

“No.”

“I think it was,” he spoke, leaning his head to the side. “That medical technique is native only to Elrona and has just recently migrated over into Echonian medicine which means, you went to someone either of those two worlds for help.”

“So?”

“You didn’t want Liam to know.” He finished. “Which is a valid enough excuse for wearing a jacket and long sleeves when it’s barely the beginning of fall.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re going to tell him, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t benefit from telling him that. Only if it helps me do I tattle.”

“How would it not benefit you?” she leaned her head to the side. “He’s your father—if he gets the CEO position all to himself, you have a life of ease ahead of you.”

“If he gets the position, that means I don’t,” he pointed out, blue eyes glinting in the mid-day sun. “And I would like to start doing things independent of my father. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to steal your half from you but I would rather have some power than none.”

She nodded. “That makes sense.”

The sound of a car door shutting made her look past Xion and towards the parking lot where Mason waved at her from their parking spot.

“I have to go.” She shifted her jacket to the other arm and stepped off the sidewalk and into the parking lot. “But I’ll hold you to your word—tell Liam about this and it’s over for you.”

“Copy that.” He smirked. “I’m a man of my word.”

As she made her way to the car, she looked over her shoulder once to see him standing there, waving goodbye.

“Call me sometime!” He hollered after her.

Squinting, she looked back at him. “Why should I?”

He shrugged. “Because you’re the only person I know back here.”

Before she could say anything back, her phone rang in her back pocket and she answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me, Ezra,” he spoke. “Are we still on for lunch?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there in less than twenty minutes,” she answered. “Is there a problem?”

“No, not a problem exactly.” He let the sentence hang. “Maybe a solution?”

She stopped mid-step, just a few feet away from the car. Mason stepped forward, a concerned look on his face brought about by her sudden action.

“What happened?” He mouthed at her but she waved him off.

“What is it?” She asked Ezra, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

“He’s back.” Was his response. “Vanished is back.”

Next:

Five | (I don't have a chapter title yet lol)

Whenever I get it out... sorry