Sawyer fan: Oh Goodness, I'm sorry I got your name wrong. I was writing up the chapter on my dad's laptop at the time which doesn't have the internet so I had to remember the names of people who reviewed. Sorry again!
Faust: Lol, I had to wonder who the person was behind her. Originally it was going to be her mum and then I thought 'Nah... let's go for ghosts!'
Caiden McBrien: Thank you for your reviews! I'm sorry I was such a long time posting!
Nobody here… please go away: here you go! Just for you! Thanks for your review!
Chapter Two
Laura shook herself groggily, trying to get her bearings. Her feet felt a little cramped up, that wasn't normal. Glancing at her bedside clock she realised she had only been asleep an hour. The sun was just setting outside and the house was entirely quiet, save for someone quietly weeping downstairs.
Laura frowned and got up to see what was wrong. Shivering a little she looked down to see that her ensemble consisted only of jeans and a grey tank top. Looking down at her feet she spotted the reason her feet had felt cramped up. In her rush to lie down she had forgotten to take her trainers off.
Rubbing her bare arms in defence against the cold, Laura spotted a black zip up hoodie hanging off the back of her desk chair. Grabbing it as she went past Laura slipped it on as she hurried downstairs.
The sound of the weeping grew louder; they seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Slowly walking toward the door which was slightly ajar, Laura pushed it open to reveal her mother sitting with her back to her, tied to a kitchen chair with rope, her hands and feet bound with masking tape. A strip was also placed across her mouth, muffling her sobs.
"Mum." Laura whispered and rushed into the kitchen to untie her.
Her hands were inches away from the masking tape that was restraining her mother when Laura heard a click and felt cool, hard metal just resting against her head.
"Don't move lamb, because you know what'll happen."
Laura froze and slowly lowered her hands. She could still feel the coldness of the gun though her hair.
"Good Girl. Now, I want you to stand up and turn around to face me. Gently now, no sudden moves." Laura did as she was told and came face to face with an impossibly handsome young man.
"There we are then. Aren't you glad that we can keep this as pleasant as possible?" His mouth had an insufferable sneer and his tone had a drawl in it that made Laura's skin crawl.
"Who are you?" She asked, bewildered.
"My name is not important Laura. But you should know that I am dangerous to you. I am strong and you are weak. You are alone, while I have everyone at my beck and call. And if you get in my way I will kill you, just like my ancestor killed yours."
The entire room tensed as the front door banged and Harrison called "I'm home!"
Please don't come into the kitchen, please Harri, For god's sake use the brains you were born with for once… Please just go upstairs…
Laura's heart sank as she heard the heavy footfalls of her brother coming down the hallway to the kitchen.
Harrison swung the door open with his usual dramatic 'I'm here, worship me.' Pose. His mouth fell open when he saw the stranger pointing a gun at his sister and his mother tied up.
"What the-"
He never had a chance to finish his sentence. The gunshot rang out before Laura had time to blink. Harrison fell to the floor without a cry.
Behind her masking tape prison her mother screamed. She wriggled and writhed in her chair, but to little avail. The stranger turned to Laura once again, who was frozen in fear, her eyes as wide as saucers. Quick as a flash he bought the heel of his gun up and hit Laura on the head, knocking her out.
X
Upon waking, Laura could smell smoke and taste blood. Propping herself up on her elbows she tried to look around, but her vision was blurred and her head hurt too much. Jolting her head to the side she quickly relieved her stomach of its contents.
Her head clearer now, Laura staggered to her feet and looked around. Nothing but smoke everywhere. The heat was unbearable. Laura found herself coughing violently, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth.
Her mother was unconscious, still tied to her chair, her head lolling forward like a rag doll. Casting her gaze over to the doorway quickly, Laura could just about make out her brother's prone body laying in a pool of blood though the smoke.
Lunging into action, Laura began to try to untie the ropes binding her mother. Her hands fumbling, she quickly managed to untie the rope and manoeuvre her mother out of the chair, not bother with the masking tape still restraining her.
Lurching out through the back door, Laura was met by several fireman "My brother," she choked "He's been shot."
Her mother was taken from her and without the duty of propping her up, Laura sank to her knees on the patio and watched as her home went up in flames.
Looking back, she could only vaguely recollect waking up, staggering outside, watching as the fireman brought out Harrison's young corpse. All this she had watched through blurred and hazy vision. The next clear thing she could remember after that was the fireman touching her gently on the shoulder. He knelt down beside her.
"I'm so sorry. Your mother… she inhaled to much smoke, we couldn't ventilate her in time… I'm afraid she's dead."
A scream went up into the night. A scream of pain, agony, bitterness. A scream that would have made the stars shake, that was almost animal like in its tone. It was only later that Laura realized it to be her own.
X
Hours later, after being wrapped in blankets and asked a lot of questions, after being given oxygen and being injected with sedatives to calm her down, Laura stood and watched the fireman clear away the debris of her home. Harrison and her mother had been taken to a nearby hospital and she just stood staring, a broken person.
Feeling another hand on her shoulder Laura looked up "It's all my fault." She whispered "I should have believed you."
Allan looked down at the young woman in pity and sympathy, and for the first time in his very long existence, he didn't know what to say.
"We cannot prevent this, Laura. But you can prevent others dying."
Silence from Laura. Allan carried on.
"There is nothing for you here, and he knows who you are. He knows about your heritage and will be doing everything in his power to hunt you down."
Not taking her eyes off the scene of destruction in front of her Laura said quietly "And you're saying that if I do as you're telling me, this so-called League will help me?"
"I guarantee it."
Silence, then "I can't believe this is happening."
Laura felt a tug at her arm "Come. The night wanes and you are less safe with each passing moment."
X
OK, I meant to write more, but it kind of slipped away from me so I thought I'd just post this and see what you thought.
Take care
Officer BudBabe