Chapter Five

Austin Started off the morning with his dad waking him up from his sleep which he found disturbing. He left him with instructions on things he needed to do before leaving for school. His dad had no idea he was suspended and He planned to leave it that way. Right after his dad left, he flew back on the bed.

After almost 2hours, he woke up to his phone beeping.

Nala

Remember the training by 5 pm

He smiled after reading Nala's text and went back right into trying to do what his dad told him to do. He started by trying to fix himself a meal. On opening the Refrigerator, "ugh, not again" he was disappointed at finding just cheese in it again. His dad made sure to leave him with enough pocket money, so he couldn't complain about the meal at home. He reminisced about the wonderful night he had at Ben's, he missed being around happy faces and eating good food. He couldn't stay home till 5 pm, the school was going to dismiss by 4, so he needed to keep himself busy till then. But he had no friends, he stopped playing chess after his mother's death so that wasn't an option for him. He only thought about going to his mother's grave again to spend some time and talk to her.

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She felt frustrated about everything going on and she hated herself for not trying to start a conversation with the guy who came to the cemetery yesterday. There was no sign of anyone or anything alive except the silence there, torturing her and tempting her sanity.

"Who was he?"

"What was he?"

After using most of the day to question herself over and over again while being in distress, it came to her attention that she hasn't even felt hungry for one second since she woke up. Before she could wonder how and why that was possible, she heard the same sound she heard yesterday. The gate was flung open but she saw no gate and she saw the same boy who came yesterday. She took to her heels and ran towards him with full force, before the boy could make sure he was balanced, he landed on the floor with her on top of him. Still laying on him. She smiled with relief on her face

"Hi" she smiled

Pushing her by the side, Austin quickly stood up, infuriated.

"What is wrong with you?

"Um sorry?" She said unapologetically standing up and trying to get the dirt off him but he quickly prevented her from touching him. "You have no idea how many guys would kill to in being in your shoes"

"To be in a cemetery with a Psychotic lady? I doubt that " he walked towards his mother's grave and she stood still, with her mouth wide open. How dare he speak to her in that manner, guys in her college would not dare stand in her way whenever she walked past the hall, speak more of addressing her in such a manner. She was tempted to walk away immediately but she needed him to leave this place somehow, she wasn't sure of what he was. She took in a deep breath and went after him.

"The name's Tasha, not that you asked but I'm doing you the privilege of knowing it"

Austin kept quiet, sitting beside his mum's grave, and ignored her.

"So what's your name?" she sat beside him. He ignored her, still concentrating on the name written on the grave. She noticed it and read it out loud "Mrs. Richard Joan".

Austin looked at her and returned his gaze right back at the grave.

"So who was the woman you came with yesterday?"

"What woman?" Austin quickly replied, looking confused.

"A lady was standing over you here when you were busy crying like a baby"

"I wasn't crying like a baby"

"Oh yes you were, cute little boy" she made fun of him, shaping her lips like she was trying to kiss him.

Putting his hands up again " what lady were you talking about?"

"Never mind, it probably wasn't you" she waved it off immediately. Staring at him deeply, she was sure it was him. Was he pretending not to remember or was he hiding something from her?

Austin wondered how she knew he came here yesterday,

"Are you stalking me?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yes. Are you stalking me?"

She stood up immediately, moving back slowly as he came unto her too, he held her immediately and she could feel his grip tighten and the aggression rise in his tone.

"Okay okay, I was the one who fell over yesterday and you came over there to check," she said pointing at the tree close to the pit.

Austin still held her tightly not knowing if to believe her or not.

"Just leave me alone" she released herself from his grip and watched him as he picked up his things and checked his phone. Austin checked the time hoping it was close to the time he and Nala agreed on.

After a few minutes of awkward silence without any of them speaking to the other. Austin sighed and asked the question which was already bothering him "How did you get here?"

" Oh, now you are interested?"

"How would you react if you were in my shoes?"

*Not act like a dick towards a lady"

"Oh no, don't play that card!"

"Play what card? You saw a lady at a cemetery, alone and in distress, you are supposed to come to her aid" Austin ready to reply to her almost immediately "I bet you are still single as it is"

" That is none of your business" he gestured for her to stand up " so how did you end up here"

"Well I don't know, I just …" she paused looking confused

"You just what?"

"I can't just figure out how I got here except I knew I was at a bar with my boyfriend.."

"your boyfriend?" He hid his face laughing

"What's funny, me being here or the fact I have a boyfriend?"

"Just surprised, someone would date a girl like you" he eyed her from head to toe, carefully assessing what she was on this time. Her armless silk gown was covered in mud, and above her knees showed her ebony thighs.

" Are you a sex worker?"

Tasha's fist tightened, but she managed to hide it behind her. How dare he assume a thing like that about her, he was lucky she needed him to get out of here. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves

" Do I look like one to you?"

He nodded his head, indicating she did.

"Well I'm not, I'm sorry if you aren't used to seeing ladies dress and go out to dates or night parties because I'm guessing you haven't been to one"

Austin couldn't mutter one word because he knew she was right and just when he could speak " So what about your boyfriend?"

Tasha smiled showing a sign of satisfaction, knowing fully well she got under his skin too.

" Well we had a few drinks and I fought with him"

"Not surprised about the fight"

"You don't even know what happened"

"I don't need to know, you are at fault"

"What exactly is your problem with me?" Tasha threw her hands up, frustrated.

"Nothing?"

"So you guys fought and what else?" Austin gestured for her to continue as he walked over a grave and she followed suit.

"Well then this stranger came up to me after he left, wanting to talk to me but I refused"

"Hmm, is that so?" Austin replied with a sarcastic tone

"Yes!"

"I was pretty wasted and he offered to help me home but I refused"

"All I could remember last is leaving the bar with him and waking up here" Tasha pointed to the spot under the tree as they came to a stop.

"All this just seems crazy but I don't know how I'm supposed to help you?"

"Where are we? I just need you to see me off to the nearest bus station"

Austin sighed " Okay, okay. This is Boston"

"BOSTON!"

"What is it?"

"Oh my God," she had her hands going through her hair. That's like two cities away from hers. "I stay in Brooklyn"

"Wow, that's like two cities away"

"Yeah, I'll be sure to find my way there, it's getting late already."

" Yeah let me just pick up my things, and we'll be on our way"

Austin made his way to where he left his bags to get them. Tasha knew she had to go with him to find her way out of here, but what if he was a Ghost and that white light led to somewhere else? She shook her head immediately Asif to get those thoughts out of her head.

"Come on, let's go"

Tasha was on her way to meet him and she felt she needed to hold him as they left so she doesn't get stuck here again. She didn't want to take that risk of being here another day. She wasn't even sure of when he would return.

"Ouch" Tasha cried out and fell to the ground, pretending to hit her leg on a stone. Austin pretended to be deaf to her wailings so she increased her tone "please help, this hurts so much"

He sighed and turned back reluctantly, moving toward her

"Apart from being extremely annoying, are you also blind?"

"Don't shout at me, I didn't see it" she raised her arms as Austin took them and help her get up. She was limping as Austin had her hands over his shoulders and he bent a little to help her walk. Her hands were cold like she was the queen of the winter season.

"Why are your hands so cold?" He asked as they approached the gate of the cemetery.

" Are they? I guess it's because…." Suddenly she was interrupted by a bright light, she had to raise her hands to cover her face. She felt her head spinning. She tried to say something but she couldn't. It was the same light she saw the other day as Austin left the cemetery.

"Hey!" Austin shook her unconscious body in his arms, she wasn't responding.