Author's note: I didn't forget this piece. I didn't forget to upload. I simply had half of this saved on my computer but haven't had a free moment to add to it... I realized that I haven't written in 15 days. That's an all time record. I'll attribute it to my new job… Anyways please enjoy and as you are well aware feedback is smiled on!
~~~
"Vaughn?" the stranger questioned. The dim streetlight reflected off of his harsh facial features and I could tell it was a perfect stranger.
It was just like all the other look-a-likes… in all the foreign countries, and cities in The United States that I visited. False hope had made me try and now I felt as though I was loosing him all over again.
Choking on my own misery, inner demons and frustration I excused my self in a foreign language. Without thought I apologized, the stranger understood and I removed my hand from his shoulder.
Doing things without thought was what I was best at.
I stumbled to a bench perched on the sidewalk.
I curled up in a ball and watched the buses pass.
Several bystanders asked how I was; I responded and eventually forced myself back to my hotel.
I lay on the bed. I counted ceiling tiles. 700.
I counted the times the generic patterned wall paper repeated. 416.
I was about the count the tiny imperfections on the oak Armour but a knock on the door detained me. I wiped away a tear and peered through the small porthole in the door.
There stood a man.
"I don't want any…" I responded in English, not caring anymore.
He remained in front of my door and knocked once more.
"Just go away, let me be …" I continued, he didn't listen.
Another knock.
This guy was persistent. I finally gave in.
I opened the door.
He nodded his head and took a step in. he whipped out a note from his pocket, handed it to me. It was from a yellow legal pad. The author had difficulty tearing off the pad. It took me a moment to open the note and focus my eyes to read the scrawled script. The messenger left, I barely noticed…
"…Okay…Missed you…Dangerous…insist. ~Vaughn"
Eyes Focus…
Did it actually say Vaughn. I looked again.
There was a V. There was an A, followed by a U, G, H, and N. It spelled Vaughn. But what if it was a trap…What did I have to lose? I was already fighting a loosing battle with my inner demons and loosing miserably.
I reread the note:
"If you're reading this than you understand that I'm Okay, and That I've missed you. I realized returning would be far too dangerous, not only because of SD-6 but also because I was kidnapped. Don't worry…but if you insist on verifying my safety…meet me in room 416 of your hotel. I'll be waiting…
~Vaughn"
I tossed the note on the bed. I looked in the mirror…Was there even a point in plastering on Make-up. I decided there wasn't and grabbed my hotel key before racing to the stairs. I didn't trust the elevator.
50 stairs, I counted each one.
Stair number 4 had a broken tile.
Stair number 36 had a wad of sticky gum still intact.
I noticed the details. The exit sign was missing a letter… it spelled 'eit', which if reversed spelled tie; Like the emotional ties were about to unravel if I didn't confirm that Vaughn was safe. I reached the door to the fourth floor. I began to turn the knob of the industrial steel door.
The door to Vaughn's floor was locked.
Locked.
Locked.
Not open.
Locked.
I tried to knock. No answer.
I tried to get back on my floor, but the door there was locked too. I couldn't climb down another level b/c this was where the staircase ended. I was trapped.
I sat on stair number 49. I put my hands on my lap and laid my head on them. I began to cry.
Click.
Clack.
Click.
Clack.
What the hell was that incessant noise? I looked behind me. Stair number 47…There she stood. I thought I got rid of her…
TBC
Author's note: sorry so short…but you got to love a cliffhanger
~~~
"Vaughn?" the stranger questioned. The dim streetlight reflected off of his harsh facial features and I could tell it was a perfect stranger.
It was just like all the other look-a-likes… in all the foreign countries, and cities in The United States that I visited. False hope had made me try and now I felt as though I was loosing him all over again.
Choking on my own misery, inner demons and frustration I excused my self in a foreign language. Without thought I apologized, the stranger understood and I removed my hand from his shoulder.
Doing things without thought was what I was best at.
I stumbled to a bench perched on the sidewalk.
I curled up in a ball and watched the buses pass.
Several bystanders asked how I was; I responded and eventually forced myself back to my hotel.
I lay on the bed. I counted ceiling tiles. 700.
I counted the times the generic patterned wall paper repeated. 416.
I was about the count the tiny imperfections on the oak Armour but a knock on the door detained me. I wiped away a tear and peered through the small porthole in the door.
There stood a man.
"I don't want any…" I responded in English, not caring anymore.
He remained in front of my door and knocked once more.
"Just go away, let me be …" I continued, he didn't listen.
Another knock.
This guy was persistent. I finally gave in.
I opened the door.
He nodded his head and took a step in. he whipped out a note from his pocket, handed it to me. It was from a yellow legal pad. The author had difficulty tearing off the pad. It took me a moment to open the note and focus my eyes to read the scrawled script. The messenger left, I barely noticed…
"…Okay…Missed you…Dangerous…insist. ~Vaughn"
Eyes Focus…
Did it actually say Vaughn. I looked again.
There was a V. There was an A, followed by a U, G, H, and N. It spelled Vaughn. But what if it was a trap…What did I have to lose? I was already fighting a loosing battle with my inner demons and loosing miserably.
I reread the note:
"If you're reading this than you understand that I'm Okay, and That I've missed you. I realized returning would be far too dangerous, not only because of SD-6 but also because I was kidnapped. Don't worry…but if you insist on verifying my safety…meet me in room 416 of your hotel. I'll be waiting…
~Vaughn"
I tossed the note on the bed. I looked in the mirror…Was there even a point in plastering on Make-up. I decided there wasn't and grabbed my hotel key before racing to the stairs. I didn't trust the elevator.
50 stairs, I counted each one.
Stair number 4 had a broken tile.
Stair number 36 had a wad of sticky gum still intact.
I noticed the details. The exit sign was missing a letter… it spelled 'eit', which if reversed spelled tie; Like the emotional ties were about to unravel if I didn't confirm that Vaughn was safe. I reached the door to the fourth floor. I began to turn the knob of the industrial steel door.
The door to Vaughn's floor was locked.
Locked.
Locked.
Not open.
Locked.
I tried to knock. No answer.
I tried to get back on my floor, but the door there was locked too. I couldn't climb down another level b/c this was where the staircase ended. I was trapped.
I sat on stair number 49. I put my hands on my lap and laid my head on them. I began to cry.
Click.
Clack.
Click.
Clack.
What the hell was that incessant noise? I looked behind me. Stair number 47…There she stood. I thought I got rid of her…
TBC
Author's note: sorry so short…but you got to love a cliffhanger