Chapter 14: Getting Worse
Kimberly took a deep breath as she left the office. She rubbed the back of her neck as she made her way through the hallways looking at the classrooms as she walked by. She was imagining herself teaching in this school, it seemed like a good place to live. Even though it would mean to move her girls again, but it seemed like the right place to have Hannah finish high school. She wasn't paying attention and she bumped into someone dropping her things and some of the person's. "I'm so sorry," she apologized.
"It's alright," the person answered.
Kimberly froze. That voice, she recognized that voice anywhere. She looked up and her eyes widened in shock. "T--Tommy?" She asked. He looked up from gathering his things and he stood up, removing his glasses.
"Kimberly?" He asked.
Kimberly bit her lip and cleared her throat. "Last time I checked," she answered. They just stood there feeling really awkward and uncomfortable.
"So, how have you been doing?" He asked.
"I'm doing fine."
"What brings you all the way to Reefside?"
"Work."
"You're applying for the new teaching job here?"
"Yeah."
With every passing moment, Kimberly was feeling more of her heart get broken into even more pieces. "I have to get going. Good luck with the job, hope you get it," he told her.
"Y--Yeah thanks," she answered.
She quickly walked by him, but Tommy saw the ring on her finger and a quizzical look came across his face as he turned and went into his classroom to get some things that he left.
Kimberly walked over to her car and unlocked her. She threw her stuff inside and sped off.
Once she was far away from the school, she stopped on the side of the road and the waterworks started. She leaned back against the seat of her car and the tears fell down her face. It still hurt, the pain was still there. The one job she seriously didn't think she would run into him like that. It shattered her. All the pain came back, the pain she felt when she felt years ago when she learned that he believed in the lies in a letter that she didn't send or even write. She wrapped her arms around herself and she pressed her forehead against the steering wheel.
That night, Kimberly got home and she looked a mess. Hannah looked up when her mother came through the door. Her hair had fallen out of the bun she had placed it in. Her eyes were red and tear trails were on her face. "Mom? What happened?" She asked. Kimberly sat down. "What happened?" She asked.
"He was there," Kimberly replied."
"Who? Who was there?"
"Tommy! Tommy was there."
Kimberly stood up and pulled off her jacket. "I…um…I ran into him in the hallway as I was leaving the school," she informed. Hannah bit her lip and Kimberly rubbed her forehead.
"You didn't tell him did you?" Hannah asked.
Kimberly shook her head. "I'm still not ready. I don't know how to tell him. I'm so scared, Hannah, I'm so scared," Kimberly replied.
"Exactly what are you scared of?" Hannah asked.
Kimberly bit her lip. "I'm afraid of him trying to take Kylie away from me. I'm scared that there's a chance that he won't believe me," she replied.
"How do you know he'll do that?" Hannah asked.
"Hannah, it's been eight almost nine years. We've changed."
Hannah was about to say something when the phone rang. Kimberly walked over and picked it up. "Hello?" She asked.
"Kimberly, it's Ashley," he replied.
"Ashley, is everything alright?" She asked.
"No…it's not."
"What happened?"
"It's Cindy."
"Cindy? What about Cindy?"
Hannah stood up with worry showing on her face. "Ashley what happened?" She asked.
"I don't know what happened. Andros and I were finishing up the nursery when we heard Kylie screaming. When I came into the room, we saw Cindy lying on the floor. Andros picked her up and there was so much blood and the window was open. I found Kylie hiding in the closet…" Ashley explained her voice shaking.
"Where are you now?" She asked.
"Blue Bay Harbor Memorial Hospital," she replied.
"Is Kylie with you?"
"Yes."
"I'm on my way."
Kimberly hung up and she looked at Hannah. "What's going on?" Hannah asked.
"It looks like the attacker's back and he or she attacked the wrong child," Kimberly replied.
Hannah's eyes widened as they ran out of the house.
(Hospital)
Andros was comforting his sobbing wife when Kimberly and Hannah came running in. "What's going on?" Hannah asked. Andros let out a sigh and he looked at them.
"Um, you should ask Kylie, she saw more than we did," he replied.
Kylie was sitting in a chair with the fear on her face. "Munchkin?" Kimberly called quietly. Kylie looked up at her. "What happened?" Kimberly asked.
"Cindy and me were playing when the window open. The lights went out. We heard a voice say that they wouldn't fail and then Cindy screamed. I ran away when I felt someone grab my hair, but I bit the person's hand and Andros came in when I ran into the closet," she explained.
Kimberly pulled her daughter into her arms and Kylie cried against her. They just waited to see what was going on with Cindy's condition.
