Chapter 9
I flail around in my bed, unable to think straight. Luke bothered to show up to work and constantly pestered me about how well I put my shirt on. I was so close to spilling a drink on him. Kathy was busy all night chatting away with her new boy toy. The two of them have been inseparable and I think Luke's bored being third wheel because he uses his boredom to pick on me.
I slam my fist into my pillow and toss it across the room. I need to calm down. I grab my jacket and sneak out the back door. The moonlight is extremely bright so I have no problem seeing my way through the town this late. My phone says it's roughly past eleven and I keep on my toes in case some weirdo shows up.
I make my way towards the beach and sit down on the sand. The breeze is chilly but I take in the cold air and try to calm myself. My method works out like a charm and I feel my body loosening up and my mind going from crazy to calm in seconds. The air is freezing and I huddle my arms around me.
After handling so much of the cold breeze, I make my way back to the Inn. A dark figure stands next to the door, their head tilted down so I can't make out who it is. I contemplate going in from the front or confront the figure. I don't have a chance to make up my mind because the figure realizes he's been spotted and walks over towards me. I look for the closest object to use as a weapon and I come up empty handed.
As the figure gets closer, my body surprises me when it kicks the figure in the groin. The figure collapses with moans of pain and I stand motionless and shocked by my courageous actions. "Who are you?" I can hardly hear the fear in my voice as my lips quiver from the cold air.
The figure is laying facedown with his hands tending to the wounded area. I kick the figure over and see Luke's unhappy face looking up at me. "Luke? What the hell!?" I step back and he manages to prop himself up but not yet standing.
"Who knew you had a good aim," he stumbles as he stands up but he doesn't seem to be in horrible pain anymore. I lower my voice to a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," he smiles devilishly and I don't stop my leg from flying towards him. He expects it this time and grabs it, tipping me backwards and catching me in his free arm. "Let me go!" I say loudly.
"Quiet, you moron. Do you want to wake up the whole town? I was kidding." He lets go of my leg and I push him away from me.
"Stay away from me."
"Akari, don't be like that, I was just joking around."
"I don't care. I'm sick and tired of you always showing up at the most unexpected places and pick on me. You even treat me like crap at my own job. You're a horrible person and I hate you!" I run over and push him farther away and storm to the back door. I feel a grip on my wrist but refuse to look at him.
"Don't you want to know why I'm here?" All hints of teasing are gone from his voice. "No!" I pull my wrist free and open the door and lock it behind me. I feel my body shaking with anger. I wait a few minutes before opening the door and thankfully he's gone. I rest easily against the door in relief. A small part of me is a little saddened that I might not see Luke again. It quickly goes away once I replay what happened tonight. Kathy appears in the hallway in a towel with a concerned look. "What's going on? I heard slamming so I rushed out of the shower."
"Nothing. I just thought I saw something scary in the shadows." I smile but she doesn't look amused.
"Okay then," she looks at me funny but heads into her room. I try to look on the Brightside of things. No Luke means no more stress, no more bad dreams, and even no more violence to my pillow. I feel mentally exhausted and I'm thankful when I fall asleep.