Afterlife - Stephanie Hudson Page 0,50

down from my neck to my hand like something smooth I couldn't see, touching it, making it move without the feeling it was being forced. Almost like a lover coming up behind me and placing a soothing hand over my own.

My mouth dropped open but there were no words, I just gasped taking in more cold air. The hairs on the back of my head stood on end as if someone was getting even closer to my trembling frame, breathing down my body and freezing it without pain. My finger moved over the digits in perfect order as though they weren't my own. 1...4...5...2. The door clicked and my hand gripped the cold metal handle pulling it down. The door opened easily letting the warm air and light seep through the gap. My hand was released and was now my own again. I spun round quickly trying to capture a glimpse of I don't know what. My eyes came up empty just as my mind did. I could not explain any of it. Only that...

It was magical.

“So how was it?” Libby sat in her huge couch that looked as if it was going to eat her alive. A blanket wrapped around her legs with her fluffy slippers peeking out. She looked warm and also very hacked off.

“It was good. I actually enjoyed it would you believe?” She raised her eyebrows and then frowned. OK, evidently she couldn't believe it.

“Really... umm.” She responded now looking bored.

“Baby... honey...” Frank had joined her now giving her the first stern look I had ever seen him give. I suppressed a smile, not wanting to seem smug and make matters worse. After all she was just worried about me. I could see it in her eyes, the guilt I felt was like having a hole in my heart. She had lost me once, she was just scared of losing me again. It had taken a long time for me to even reach the mere shell of what I once was.

These thoughts weren't good. I think some pills were in order tonight otherwise I would never sleep. I rubbed my hand thinking of the warm sensation that took over my blood. My hand hadn't been my own earlier and the feeling hadn't completely left me yet. No it had stayed with me in a more delicate form but it sure felt good. It made all the fear go away and was replaced by a warming bliss so intense it had me struggling to keep my secret smile hidden. In the end I failed letting a small smirk escape before I got up and kissed my sister's forehead while ruffling her hair.

“Good night, I love you Lib's,” I said with warmth in my heart. I didn't give her time to reply as I ran up the stairs taking two at a time. The emotions I carried were like a heavy sack of spuds and I didn't want her to see the weight of my guilt. It was a strange sensation to be so mixed by emotions I seemed unable to control. One minute I felt as if I was floating with the comfort of my magical encounter and the next I'm drowning in a guilt that keeps pulling me under the tide of memories.

The rest of the week came and went without any more incidents. I had worked three more nights at the club and was getting the hang of it. I was now at the stage where I could serve behind the bar. Mike had become my little protector for the week. Bailing me out when I got the complicated fancy card machine wrong, sticking up for me when customers were rude and most importantly taking out the trash. This I was most grateful for.

I tried to ask about the Dravens, as my curiosity got too much for me one night, but everyone was always so vague. No one would reveal any useful information about them. It was always the same story as though rehearsed.

There were two brothers and a sister. The head of the family was the older brother Dominic Draven. I wasn't sure if I had seen the other brother. When they first arrived there were only men, so I knew I hadn't yet seen the sister. Dominic, I had seen once in the flesh and twice in my dreams. But that had been enough to start my obsession! My thoughts always seemed to be about him. I didn’t really understand why, it was