A Chilling Discovery
Maya shoots up from her bed, her hand clutching the bed sheets tight to her chest, beads of sweat slowly dripping down her face like rain on a window; her breathing is heavy as she scans the room checking for anyone or anything that might be out of place. Once her eyes had adjusted to the dark and she was convinced it was just another dream she loosens her firm grip on her bed sheets and steadies her breathing. She sits alone in the dark room as the nightmare flashes threw her mind in bits and pieces as she tries to put it back together again. She needs too, for the sake of that little girl. After arranging the dream in order and successfully getting her facts straight, Maya swallows unsure whether or not she can actually go through with this again. After a few moments in silence, she sighs, swings her legs over the bed, and gets ready to stand. She uses the nightstand to help herself out of bed, as her legs are still unsteady from the ordeal she has just gone through.
"I better get used to this…" she mutters thinking aloud. She slowly walks towards her cabinet where she had left her phone charging the previous day. She picks it up and tediously types in the phone number that is now stuck in her mind.
"This is Officer Wood who might this be?" A tired woman's voice responds from the other side of the line.
"You still haven't saved my number yet I thought I reminded you to do it yesterday?" Maya joked sarcastically though her face did not show it at all; she still looked drained from whatever she had seen whilst asleep.
"Oh, Maya is that you? I must have forgotten that again I will do it later. For now though; is there a reason you are calling me so early in the morning?!" The woman inquires obviously annoyed at Maya. Hearing Cam's response, she looks to the nightstand on the other side of her bed and checks the clock. This is something she regrets not doing as soon as she woke up as she sees the time '03:17' flashing in orange. She bites her bottom lip and furrows her eyebrows as she slowly turns back to the phone. As Maya brings it up to her ear she realises that Cam has been ranting at her the entire time.
'Phew missed out there.' She whispers into the empty room then brings the phone back to her ear to hear the end of Cam's sentence.
"Are you even aware of the time?" Cam finishes with a huff and Maya is quick to answer.
"No, I wasn't I'm so sorry I forgot to check it. But you know me Cam I wouldn't call you directly unless it was urgent." There is silence on the other end of the line indicating that Cam agrees and wants Maya to explain further, why she did call in the first place. "I had another nightmare again, and I have an especially bad feeling about this one."
"It happened again? Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? I will ring Thomas and Taylor; you ring Emma we will all meet up at the Station for 4:30 at the latest. Oh and tell her it is Captain's orders." Maya rolls her eyes at the unneeded extra comment. "Well what are you waiting for Maya an invitation hop to it!" Cam ends the phone call and Maya lowers her arms and sighs, she was hoping to get a little break but she knows that time is far away. Maya had hoped that after her ordeal with-
"Whoa you cannot just start halfway through and give away the major plot line Author! You have to build up to it do you not know anything? Ugh. Anyway, my name is Lily and I am Maya's older sister. Yes, I can speak to you it is very strange well get over it, because we have a story to tell. The right way this time, let us start at the actual beginning of it all. Then you have a background story. Yah!"
Maya is sat in her seat in her graduation robe and patiently waiting to receive her GCSE's. She has to wait longer then some as the GCSE's are handed last. Once her name is called though and she takes a deep, breathe puts on a smile and stands up. She begins to make her way onto the stage to get her picture taken, she then walks across to the Chancellor who says a few words to her and shakes hands with her. She then receives the parchment folder in her left hand before walking off the other side of the stage. Once sat back down she flips the mortarboard tassel to the other side to indicate she had graduated. Once all graduates had gone through the process they threw their hats in the air and the crowd cheered.
Maya made her way from her seat to the very excited Lily stood waiting for her screaming her name and waving her arms franticly to get her attention. She laughs to herself as she fights through the floods of people trying to exit the stadium to get home and celebrate. She finally makes it to her over excited sister and braces herself for a hug.
"Oh, I am so proud of you! And I hope you know that Mum and Dad are too, I bet they are looking down on you and smiling so brightly." Lily smiled warmly at her younger sister, but frowned as she saw that same expression on Maya's face. "I am so sorry Maya, I forgot you hadn't had time to-" Lily started.
"Forget them? Get over it? I am sorry if you can get over loved ones faster than others!" Maya accused whilst slowly raising her voice and starting to scrunch her hands into fists. "I am so sorry, if I cannot just let go of all the memories like you have. You did it so easily I wonder if you even loved them at all!" Maya finished with a burst of anger and her eyes scrunched up, her eyes shoot open as she gasps and sends her hand flying to her mouth as if trying to stop herself saying any more hurtful things. She looks to her sister who is now looking at the ground her eyes glistening with the threat to cry. "Lily I didn't…" she stuttered trying to take back what she had just said.
"It is fine Maya, it is better out then in after all. I know you don't feel that way really you are just angry and confused from the whole ordeal. Besides you know the reason I got over it so quickly." Lily states nonchalantly, rolling her eyes to look at her sister side on.
"I hate it when you go all Professor Psychic on me, even if that is what you graduated in. You shouldn't use it on your family, especially not on your youngest sister!" Maya pouted and looked to the ground as her sister laughed.
"Come on we have been here long enough, and created quite a scene let's get out of here. Where do you wanna go?" Lily inquired but before Maya could even get a word out Lily shrieked excitedly. "Great idea I am hungry too, and I would love to go to my favourite pizza place. How kind of you Maya!"
"What? I didn't even say anything!" Maya yelled as her now child-like sister dragged her from the football stadium out the back of her school where the graduation had taken place and towards her favourite pizza place. Maya rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself 'sometimes I wonder how you are the older sister' she thinks to herself.
After a lot of running and grabbing Lily before she ran into the road and got hit by a car they finally made it safely to Lily's favourite pizza place. Lily jumped up and down excitedly like a child about to get the sweets they have been asking for, for ages, or a toy they finally got given that they wanted for Christmas. Maya was still hunched over gasping for air, as she tilts her head up to look at her sister and lets out a chuckle.
"How on earth are you not out of breath? We literally just ran four blocks!" Maya enquired pausing in between every other word attempting to get her breath back.
"When it comes to my Favourite Pizza nothing can stop me from getting here! In addition, I have been going to the gym more recently. I guess I just want to get my body now that I have finally given birth to Cara, I want to get rid of the baby bod, plus I want to look hot in my bikini this summer; if I can get Evan jealous I am happy!" Lily explains as if it the most obvious thing in the world. Maya chuckles to herself as she imagines Lily playing in the water with Cara in a movie style scene where the water is glistening and everything is moving in slow motion and Evan is glaring at any man who looks Lily's way.
"I wonder if that will ever happen for me." Maya muttered under her breath whilst imagining the same scene without the baby and her and her crush in Lily and Evan's place. She is then pulled out of her thoughts as she has a sudden realisation. "Oh my god! I forgot to ring Thomas! I said I would call when the graduation was over he must be worried." She screams as blush starts creeping to her cheeks. She pulls her phone out and quick dials one of the numbers she is sure to never forget. She stands patiently whilst tapping her foot waiting eagerly for him to pick up.
"Wait Thomas? Is that the boy you-" Lily is cut off as Maya's hand goes flying to her mouth to stop her saying even more.
"Hey Thomas, how are you?" She announces to make it clear that she is currently talking to Thomas so anything that Lily would say would be heard. Lily's eyes went wide in response and she licked her sister's hand to get it off her mouth.
"Oh my god, how childish are you?" Maya yelled in response completely forgetting about the phone currently held to her ear. She went bright red and began to stutter. "I am so sorry Thomas, that wasn't aimed at you in anyway my sister just licked me, because I was covering her mouth because she was being annoying and-" she began to go off into a tangent and only stopped once hearing the soft sound of laughing coming from the other end of the line.
"Maya its ok, I know how childish your sister can be I grew up with her remember? She is only two years older than I am after all. How are her and Evan oh and what about Cara?" Thomas asks curiously, Maya's face fell thinking that he had forgotten all about the fact that she had graduated today, but that was soon followed by a gasp not letting Maya respond. "I almost forgot how stupid of me, how did your graduation go?" Maya's frown literally turned upside down into the biggest grin Lily had seen in a long time.
"I am gonna go inside, ok?" Lily stated more than questioned before adding on "Say hi to your boyfriend for me." In a whisper with a cheeky wink making Maya look like a tomato. Maya shooed her sister away and watched her as she walked away inside laughing to herself. Maya glared after her sister thinking of all the things she wanted to say.
"Maya?" Thomas asked snapping Maya back to reality.
"Yeah sorry I am here, it was great can you believe I finally got my GCSE's and I got everything spot on so I don't need to worry about messing up when I actually graduate next time." Maya explained. They began talking all about the ceremony and if anyone had messed up before talking about Thomas and how his Police work was now. After nearly an hour of chatting Maya decided that she probably needed to go as she need something to eat and Thomas needed to get back to work, so reluctantly she said goodbye. Little did she know she was not the only one reluctant to say goodbye. After hanging up the phone, she puts it back in her pocket and makes her way into the pizza place for the first time since she arrived outside.
"About time! I thought I was going to have to order the main meal and deserts without you." Lily stated not looking up from the menu whilst licking her lips. Maya laughs at her sister and sits on the chair opposite her.
"Well you can't because I am here now and can order for myself, but what about starters? You usually order something to eat before whilst waiting for the pizzas?" Maya asked confused however understood that she had had a starter already by the empty Nacho basket next to her. "Ah, I see you ordered without me." Maya pretended to act upset due to this realisation before laughing it off. They spent the rest of the evening laughing and catching up, the subject off their parents did come up and it lead to an emotional conversation but it left Maya feeling better about the whole situation then beforehand. They ended up speaking about anything and everything since it had been so long since they had both actually been able to sit down and enjoy each other's company. "So remind me again why we celebrated at your favourite pizza place when it was my practice graduation?" Maya quizzed Lily as she paid for the pizza and got ready to leave.
"Because I was hungry and craving my favourite pizza when you actually graduate I promise I will take you anywhere you want to go and I will pay for it all. That is what Mum and Dad did for me after all; it would only be fair if you got the same special treatment." Lily picked up her purse after she finished paying and threw her arm over her little sister's shoulder. "Come on, time to go. I'll drive you back to your apartment."
They both make their way out of the pizza place, and start walking back to Maya's flat along the way they continue to chat about the silliest and simplest things, they make plans to meet up and go to the beach together with Cara and maybe Evan if his busy schedule can allow it. This conversation also made for a great segway for Lily to start picking on Maya and questioning her about her not so little crush a certain someone. They finally stop arguing and decide to meet up before and after the beach as they need to go clothes shopping for cute bikinis for themselves and an adorable baby swimming outfit for Cara, they also need to by cute outfits that they can sunbath in but will hide their bikinis until they go for a swim. Then they talked about arranging a neighbourhood BBQ but would also need to go shopping for outfits to wear and makeup as well as accessories obviously. They finally arrive at Maya's flat, and say goodbye to each other with a kiss on the cheek.
"I will see you in a few days ok, remember to call I want to talk as often as we can!" Lily waved goodbye and Maya watched her leave and walk around the corner before turning to walk into her flat. She walked into the giant building and walked up to the third floor where her flat is located and unlocked the door, she flicked the light on and shut the door behind her before letting out a big sigh. She walked into her bedroom and chucked her robe and hat on her bedside table before collapsing onto the bed. She lays there for a few minutes; thoughts racing through her head, trying to quiet to the thoughts seemed to be impossible so Maya sat up straight with a huff. She decided that she was going to have to try to clear her head another way so she decides to take a walk through the park since it will be nice and quiet at this time of the night and the weather looks good. She gets up from her bed grabs a bobble and puts her hair up in a rough high ponytail, grabs her denim jacket of the coat rack and heads outside leaving the door unlocked; she bumps into her neighbour and tells her that she is going out and to watch the apartment for her.
She makes it outside and takes a deep breath as she breathes in the fresh night air; she stays in front of the apartment building just looking up at the stars for a few minutes before softly jogging down the steps and heading towards the park. She walks along the dirt path along the back road, listening to the sound of nature around her; she closes her eyes to listen better. At first, all she can hear is the sounds of the city the cars beeping and honking, the sounds from airplanes flying overhead and the sounds of bustling people. However as she gets further away from the city she, calls home she is soon able to hear the crickets that have come out and the birds that are going to sleep as well as the owls that are waking up. She can hear the steady flow of water from the small river that flows through the park, the wind as it flies through the air and rustles the blossoming cherry trees and magnolias and the warm breeze as it hits her face.
She starts opening her eyes but is too late when she goes crashing into someone and they both end up on the floor, Maya closes her eyes and with all her might, hope that it is someone she knows, and then worries that it might have been Thomas. Therefore, she opens her eyes again to check to see a man about Evan's age maybe slightly older staring back at her.
"Are you gonna get off me or what miss?" He asked sharply in a gruff tone. Maya sprang to her feet and apologised a million times, the man followed suit and dusted himself off, he however did not apologise; "Just watch where you're going next time all right?" he snapped after checking the time. Maya watched the mysterious man walk away into the shadows, mumbling and grumbling the whole time about how kids these days are so reckless and conceited. She thought there might be something suspicious about him but since nothing further had happened between them she shrugged it off and she herself began to make her may back to the apartment building.
Maya finally reaches her apartment and heads inside she gets changed into a thin two-piece pair of pyjamas before snuggling up into bed and falling asleep almost instantaneously after her action filled day. Little did she know her night was going to be just as tiring?
Maya opens her eyes to find herself in a room she has never seen before, she looks around confused she is crouched down hiding behind something she wants to move but can't, she hears the floorboards creaking and soon sees a shadow appear in front of where she is hiding and she instinctively hold her breath. She looks around and finds a window low enough for her to escape out of so she jumps for it and is able to make it through with a small cut, however she does not land so gracefully on the other side catching the attention of her pursuer. He appears at the window but she cannot seem to see his face he tried to fit through but cannot Maya takes this chance to run for it. She runs for as long as she can and she soon starts to realise where she is, Morkery Woods. She is running through the woods on the very edge of town, 'how did I get here?' she thinks to herself. She starts to slow down as she is running out of breath, she starts to calm down thinking she has lost him but soon regrets this as she hears a twig snap just behind her before everything going black. She comes to, to find herself locked in something. She moves to get up but finds that her arms and legs are restricted, tied down to something she looks and realises that she is tied down to a chair that is bolted to the floor. She begins to panic and this increases when she hears a metallic sounds echo throughout her surroundings, soon after Maya begins to hear a some pattering sound but it soon gets quicker and louder, she can't tell what is make the sound until something falls on her lap, shit. She knows where she is and she hates it, Maya starts to scream and try to break free she suddenly has a fear of being buried alive. The next half an hour is agonising as she is slowly buried alive. As she takes her last breath, hearing a spine tingling laugh, she wakes up.
She bolts upright clutching at her chest as she tries to steady her breathing, "just a dream, just a nightmare that was all" she mutters to herself having to pause between every other word trying to get her breathing pattern back to normal. She get out of bed and stumbles towards the bathroom where she splashes some water on her face to wake herself up and remind her that this is reality and that was just a dream. She sits on the side of the bath clutching the sink and looking at herself in the mirror. Maya knew that there was no chance in the slightest that she was going to get to sleep again so she curled up on the sofa and turned Scorpion on. She sat for the rest of the night half watching all the episodes of Scorpion in order but she could not focus on them completely as the dream kept trying to flood back into her head.
Maya looked to the clock to see that it was now officially time for the rest of the world to be awake so she rang Lily and told her that she had to talk to her and it was urgent, so Lily dropped everything and came over immediately. However, between the phone call and Lily arriving Maya had time to think about what she had just done. If she tells Lily about the nightmare Lily might start to physiologically examine her and Maya does not want that so when Lily arrived she made up an excuse but Lily didn't buy it what so ever. This is how every meet up between them went from then Lily asking what was up and Maya making up lame excuses that was, until their latest meet up where something happened that would change their lives forever.
They were sat in Costa with the usual routine playing out where Maya was still pretending that there was no nightmare until Lily stopped the charade. "Uh you know what I give up! If you do not want to talk about whatever is then fine! Just know that I have tried." Lily burst with anger but Maya could tell it was only there because she wanted to help and Maya was not letting her. "Why not talk about something completely unrelated, speaking of unrelated look at the news!" Lily stares at the TV screen with her mouth wide open as she listens and watches the news. Maya had not really noticed it was even on, she looked up to the screen and the colour drained from her face. It was the place, the place she was murdered in her dream; she didn't know what to do she froze like a lake in the middle of winter.
"Oh my gosh! That poor girl, buried alive in a silo like that can you believe it?" Lily turned to Maya still shocked that such a thing could have happened, she stops dead in her tracks when she sees the entire colour drained from Mayas face, she looked like a vampire.
"Actually I can…." Maya started slowly, her voice wavering as if she was on the verge of breaking down.
"Maya what do you mean, what are you talking about?" There was silence. "This is to do with what you called me for a couple days ago isn't it?" Lily whispered reaching for her little sister's hand. "I think it is about time you told me what happened don't you?" she smiled at Maya comfortingly.
Maya slowly nodded before saying something that Lily thought she would say in a joking way. "I was her. I lived her last moments. I ran away. I died."