A blood curdling scream erupted from deep within Claudias throat as she sat up in her sweat soaked sheets.The hall light was switched on and Angela was by her bedside in seconds. Frantic and frightened eyes stared at her until Claudia recognised who her mother was.
"Mom... it was him again... it was him... why wont it stop?" Claudia sobbed. Angela rocked her back and forth, assuring her that everything was ok, she was at home, safe in her bed. Walker, Diana and Mike stood in the bedroom doorway, watching a hysterical Claudia and a heartbroken Angela. 2 hours later, everyone was back in bed.
After waking his brothers, Isaac entered the house through the double glass doors at the back of the house. Everyone else but Claudia were in the kitchen. It was his first day back in Tulsa and he wanted to look around. Maybe Claudia would go with him. He could use some intelligent company, which he didn't get from his brothers. When he entered the kitchen, he found his parents and Mike sitting around the table. Anglea was on the phone. Isaac overheard the last minute of Angleas side of the conversation.
"Yes.... oh, that would be great... she had another nightmare....... no... she wouldn't talk about it.... I thought..... Ok... I'll tell her.. thankyou Kevin." Angela hung up the phone and faced everyone, a smile on her face.
"Well??... can he see her today?" Mike asked. Angela nodded.
"At 11 this morning. I'm going to see if she's awake.". Angela disapeared out of the kitchen.
"Have I missed something?" Isaac asked, kissing his mother good morning before sitting down to eat. His parents and Mike exhanged nervous glances. Isaac got the feeling they didn't want him to know something, most likely about Claudia, but were going to tell him anyway.
"It happened a year ago.." Mike began. " There had been some murders around the area, and the killer hadn't been caught yet. Angela and I were reluctant to leave Claudia at home alone, but she insisted that she would be ok. We thought she was going to invite Grant, her boyfriend at the time, over to stay with her... but she didn't. When we came home, we found her in the attic.. I couldn't beleive she was still alive." Mikes face was pale as he told Isaac. Isaac was speechless. What could one say to that?
"What had happened to her?" Isaac asked.
"She had been attacked.... we didn't find out until later that it had been the killer who had been in Tulsa. Police hadn't heard anything about him for a while, so they thought he had skipped town. He hadn't." Mike said bitterly. It was as if he blamed the police for not knowing he was still in Tulsa.
"Did they find the guy who attacked Claudia?"
"No... he's still out there .... the Police have given up on looking for him." Angela said, entering the kitchen, a solem look on her face. "Claudia is awake.. she'll be down in a few minutes." That was Angelas way of telling them politely to stop talking about it incase Claudia was to over hear the conversation. After last night, that would be all she needed.
Claudia looked over what she had already written.
I had the dream again. Every time it feels more and more real. Now there's other people... others being tortured. Last night was the most horrifying one I've had yet... I can't escape... my mouth wont open.. he's holding me so tight and I can't get out of his grasp.. I hate it.. I'm scared to be alone in the house...I'm scared to walk down the street by myself.. I'm scared to sleep... all I see is his body.. I can't make out his face and that makes it all the more terrifying to me... why can't I remember his face? everything else is so clear... Why wont it all just stop? I wish that I could just have one nights peace.. without the dreams...
She snaped the lid shut of her laptop when there was a knock at her door. Not even her parents knew she was writing about the attack. "Come in.." Claudia called out. Isaac pushed the door and found Claudia sitting at her desk.
"Homework?" He asked, noticing the laptop was on. She shook her head no.
"Nah.. just something personal." She answered, hoping he would leave it at that. He did. "Anyway," she continued "Did you sleep ok?"
"Yeah.. I guess.. apart from Zac's snoring and Taylors talking in his sleep about flying elephants.... " Isaac smiled. It had been made clear to him under no circumstances was he to tell Claudia he knew about some of the attack. The adults had thought it would be best if he heard the details of the story from Claudia herself, when she felt ready to talk about it. A slight flicker of a smile crossed Claudias features. "I was wondering... would you like to accompany me on a tour around Tulsa?" He asked. Seeing that she was about to say no, Isaac spoke again, not giving her a chance to say no." I know you have a appointment at 11... your Mom told me that.. but when you get home again, I though we could go out to lunch somewhere...then maybe a walk.. I don't know.. it's been a while since I've been here last and I've pretty much forgotten where everything is.. so if you don't go with me, I'll end up going alone and I'll get lost. Then it will be all your fault.." He said, grinning. The smile on Claudias face grew bigger. She had instantly started to tell him that she possibly couldn't. She was much to busy to go flitting around the countryside for the day. Then he would ask her what she had to do and truth was, she didn't have anyting urgent that had to be done. She didn't want to go out in public and she avoided it as much as she could. The only place she went was school.. and even that most of the time, she did at home. It was the look on Isaacs face that made her give in and say yes. It seemed like he really wanted to spend time with her and she still didn't know how to handle that... but she was getting there. Isaac was pleased with Claudias answer and left the room.
"Zac! Get out of bed you lazy ass!" Taylor yelled, grabbing the end of the bedding and pulling it off of his brother. It didn't bother Zac a bit. He kept on sleeping. "Zac.... I'm warning you....if you're not out of bed in ten seconds...I'm getting the hose!" Taylor threatened. Zac opened one eye and looked at Taylor.
"No you wont....this isn't your house.. you're not game enough." He said, closing the eye and started to pretend snore.
"ZAC!" Taylor yelled.
"Fine! If it'll make you happy... I'm up!" Zac exclaimed, sitting up on the edge of the bed.
"Thankyou." Taylor said, irritated. He was dressed and starving. "I'm going to the house. Don't go back to sleep.. we have to go look at houses today with Mom and Dad.." He told him. Zac rolled his eyes, saying nothing in return. Taylor sighed and closed the door behind him.
Claudia walked out of the five story office building and was shocked to see her mother waiting for her in the car. "Whats wrong?" She asked, opening the front passenger door and then got in the car. Angela smiled.
"Nothing.. I thought I would save you the walk home. Also, Isaac is at Cafe Bella, waiting for you. If I hadn't of come, you wouldn't know that now would you?" She asked, smiling. She was glad Isaac was taking time to spend with her daughter.
"Oh.. ok." Was all Claudia said.
"How was Kevin.. can he think of anything to help with your dreams?" Angela asked. Claudia cringed. She hated talking about her therapy sessions with her mother. It was like she was trying to be Kevin, asking a lot of stupid questions that would in the long run, do nothing to help her. Angela saw the look on Claudias face and dropped the subject. Cafe Bella was only a ten minute drive from the office and Claudia spotted Isaac, sitting at an outside table, waiting for her. Saying goodbye to her mother, Claudia got out of the car and approched Isaac. He gave her a huge smile when he spotted her.
"Hi there.. take your time why don't you?" He laughed. Claudia smiled.
"Sorry... I ah... it went longer than I thought it would.." She appologised.
"That's fine... that's fine.. Hey.. do you want anything to drink?" He asked, standing up.
"A coffee would be great... the coffee here is the best."
"Well.. two coffees it is then. I'll be right back." Isaac walked into the Cafe. The two of them were seated at an outside table. The weather was great, with the sun beating down on them and there was a cool breeze blowing. There wasn't a cloud in sight and there were many shoppers out and about. Claudia caught an elderly man staring at her face. He quickly looked away, embarrassed at his rudeness. She took a deep breath. This was going to happen all day if she let it. Claudia couldn't stop it. All she could do was prepare herself for it and ignore it.
"Ohmy... Claudia?" A voice said behind her. Claudia turned around, and looked at Adel.
"Hi.. " She said softly. She almost got up and went inside when she saw who was standing next to Adel. It was Grant.
"Hey Claud.. whats up?" He asked. "Oh.. wait.. I forgot... nothing.. you haven't got a life have you Claudia?" He said. Adel and Grant laughed, but it wasn't a friendly laugh. They were laughing at her. It still stung her when they did this. Adel used to be her best friend. Grant was her first serious boyfriend. She had thought they would have supported her through the aftermath of the attack. Insted, they had turned their backs on her. Adel wanted nothing to do with Claudia. Grant felt the same. Two more of her formal friends walked up behind Adel and Grant. It was Stacey and Joanna.
"Is that Claudia?" Stacey whispered to Joanna, just loud enough for Claudia to hear."Mygod.. with a face like that, I'm surprised shes out in public!"
"I know.. and alone at that.. poor thing... maybe we should be friends with her again... on second thought.. people might think we're freaks as well!" Joanna said, a horrified look on her face. Both girls giggled and Claudias cheeks burned as she blushed. She wished Isaac would come back.
"You know Claud... you used to be hot.. if you weren't a freak, I'd go out with you again.. did you know that Claud?" Grant said, smirking. Hot tears bruned Claudias eyes, and she refused to look at the group. There was no way they were going to see that what they were saying hurt her.
"Thats right... I would even consider being your best friend again.. but.. we do have a reputation to keep up.. if it got around that we were hangin with a freak.. well.. you know how it is.." Adel said. Claudia said nothing. She hated herself for letting them do this. The group had lost respect for her. They all thought she had done everything to herself. Thats what they had spread around the school. They said it was because Grant broke up with her. They often told her how pathetic she was. Everytime they confronted her, she didn't defend herself. She had given up on that.
"Hey.. Adel.. don't you have to go wash your hair or something?" Tiffany asked, stepping infront of her cousin. They were only cousins through marrage and they hated eachother. Tiffany was a year older than Adel and therefore had some authority over her. Without a word, Adel turned and started to walk away. Tiffany sat down in the seat where Isaac had been sitting only minutes before and smiled at Claudia. "Hi Claud."
"Hey.... thanks for that..." Claudia said softly.
"It's no problem.. Adel's just a bitch with nothing better to do than pick on those who she feels threatend by... " Tiffany said.
"She's not threatened by me.. she hates what I am because she knows what I used to be..."
"Yeah? Well.. to tell you the turth, I like you now... when you were with that crowd, I didn't think much of you at all... but now I know you Claud.. you're a beautiful girl, inside and out."
"Yeah.. whatever." She mumbled. Tiffany sighed. Claudia and Tiffany looked up at the same time when two coffee cups were placed on the table.
"Ike!" Tiffany cried, jumping up and giving him a kiss on the cheek. She then huged him.
"Hey Tiff... how are you?" Isaac asked, a huge smile on his face. He was obviously happy to see her. Claudia's heart sank, but she didn't know why. Maybe it was because she wanted all of Isaacs attention for herself. It was the first time in over a year that a boy or anyone for that matter had paid this kind of attention to her and she didn't want it taken away.
"Oh... so so I guess.. better now you're here! When did you get into town?" She asked.
"Last night.. We're staying at Clauds house until we find one of our own."
"We're?... a house of your own.. are you moving back here?" Tiffany asked. She was delighted at the thought of her blood cousin moving back to Tulsa. If the family did, they would be the only blood relations she had in Tulsa. Her Aunte was married to Adels dad, but they didn't live in Tulsa. Adel lived with her Grandmother. Isaac nodded as he pulled a chair from an empty table over. He sat down and smiled at Tiffany.
"Yeah... Mom and Dad wanted to be here... I think they're hoping that your parents follow them." He said, laughing. Tiffany laughed to. She then saw the sad look on Claudia's face.
"Ike and I are cousins" Tiffany explained to her. "His Mom is my Dad's sister.". Claudia instantly felt better. They were related.
"Were they some friends who were talking to you before?" Isaac asked Claudia, turning to face her.
"No." She said. That was all she said about them. Isaac looked at Tiffany and she mouthed the words 'Don't ask.'. Isaac nodded and turned the conversation around to something more pleasent. It was past ten in the evening when the three of them arrived at Claudias house. Angela, of course had been worried sick about Claudia, but she was also happy that she had had a night out with Isaac. The rest of the Hanson family were delighted to see Tiffany again and the feeling was mutual.
