Chapter 4

"Dylan?" I call out, going into the room, looking around but no sign of him. Fear gradually creeping its way into me.

"Crystal?" I jumped, startled as I turn around swiftly to the direction of the voice contending with the sound of my heart beating rapidly in my chest. It's Dylan coming in with a glass of water, looking at me confused. Huh? How did he go get water so fast?

"What's wrong with you?" he asks, looking puzzled.

"How, I mean when, when did you leave this room?" I ask with fear and confusion filling my voice.

"Just after I gave you the soap. I also asked Betty for some aspirin. I'm sure you need them. Why?" He drops the glass on the dresser with a tablet of aspirin by the side.

"You weren't in the room while I was taking my bath?"

"No Crystal, I wasn't. Did anything happen?"

"No, nothing," I lied. "I was just asking."

"Are you sure?" He asks, unconvinced, but I nod my head anyway.

"I'm fine. Thanks for the medicine. I'll use it right away and take a nap."

"Okay then," he gives me a peck on my cheek. "I have to go do something downstairs now. I'll be right back."

"Alright babe," I say, faking a smile. I suddenly become weary of my environment as he leaves. Fear envelops me like ants on a cube of sugar, making my heart race faster than it did when Dylan proposed to me. Shaking my head, trying to rid myself of the fear, I quickly put on a polo and sweatpants afterward, taking the aspirin.

"I think I'm going crazy," I think out loud, lying on the bed with the intention of sleeping off this paranoia. Minutes, if not hours pass, and I can't even close my eyes for two seconds without a scary thought popping into my head.

Was I really hallucinating? Or was it just an imagination? 'No', I shake my head in disagreement. I can't imagine Dylan's voice telling me where the towels were, and they were really there. How he heard me chuckling so quietly or how he got exactly what I was thinking about is weird enough, not finding him in the room is strange and he denying ever being in the room is just insane. Just then, I remember what I saw in the woods.

Those sparkly white eyes that made me feel... vulnerable? Is that even the word?

"No, no, no," I say to myself, holding my head and shutting my eyes close, "It's all just in my head. Everything's fine," I try to reassure myself, "I'm just tired. I'd rest and it'll all be over. It's all in my -"

"Crystal?" Dylan cuts me off, and I jump in my skin out of reflex. "Are you talking to yourself?" Dylan asks as he comes in looking at me like I've grown a second head.

"No—no," I say, "I mean yes. Yes I was, but it's nothing. I was just bored."

Looking at me skeptically, he comes and sits on the edge of the bed looking at me, assessing my face. "Are you sure? You've been acting a little weird since we got here."

"Have I?" I asked, feigning confusion, but I bet he could see right through me. He could always read me like an open book. "I promise it's nothing, I'm just a little bit tired and hungry."

"Oh," his eyes suddenly widened like he had forgotten something. "I almost forgot. Betty asked us to come down for dinner, but I'll take my bath first".

"Okay then," I say, smiling, "I'll wait for you."

"Sure. Where are the towels, by the way? I don't think you packed any."

My eyes widen, and my heart starts beating fast again. He doesn't know where the towels are? He wasn't the one who told me where to get them? This is so creepy, fuck. Who was freaking talking to me, sounding exactly like Dylan. Or is he pulling a prank on me?

"Earth to Crystal", he snaps his fingers in my face, bringing me out of my daze.

"S-sorry" I say, not being able to control the stuttering. "Th-they are in the b-bathroom, in the drawer."

"Er," he looks at me questioningly, "are you sure you're okay?" He looks genuinely confused and Dylan isn't one to pull pranks. He'd laugh in the middle of everything. He can't keep up an act for so long.

"Yeah, sure. I'm waiting for you."

"Okay then. It won't take long". With that, he goes into the bathroom and I don't know if I should be more scared or not.

"This is really tasty, Betty," I say a few minutes into the food.

"This was the first food I learned to cook. Chicken sauce and pasta," she says, smiling proudly.

"And it's my favorite dish," Jake chips in, taking a bite of his chicken.

"Really? It's Dylan's favorite too."

"They both have more in common than they'd ever admit," Betty says and the three of us laugh, mine sounding more like a croak knowing it's a joke Dylan wouldn't find funny. I look to my right at Dylan, who is sitting opposite his father, and see he's not touched his food.

"Are you okay?" I whisper to him, and he nods, smiling a little and taking a spoonful into his mouth to prove his point. I just smile back, and we continue eating in silence.

Few minutes later, we're all done eating. Dylan goes back upstairs, Jake goes into the living room while Betty and I are doing the dishes in the kitchen. Small talking about our lives.

"Well, you can never tell when your past will catch up with you," she says, laughing after telling a story about how her college boyfriend came looking for her a day before her wedding and how she thought he'd ruin things for her, but luckily, he didn't. He just left with a broken heart and an invitation card.

"You're hilarious Betty," I say, laughing, truly enjoying her company.

"Been hearing that my whole life, kid," she says, drying her hands with a towel, "but I've never performed in a circus." We both laugh and sit at the table again.

"Well, people say I'm really great at fashion, but I've never found myself in a magazine. Not even a local one". Laughing again, we continue talking until I remember Dylan is by himself upstairs. I want to spend quality time with my husband before we go back, and he has to resume back to work.

"Er, Betty. Do you mind if I excuse myself?" I say, smiling with pleading eyes.

"Ah," she says with her usual loving smile, "A few minutes away from your husband, and you're missing him already."

"No," I say blushing a little,"it's just, he's alone by himself and-"

"It's fine dear. I'm sure my old man wouldn't mind my troubles either."

"Thanks," I say and smile, getting up to leave, but she holds my left hand gently.

"Don't thank me too soon", with that, she leaves my hand and goes into the living room while I head upstairs, her voice echoing in my head.