Half Past 12 I Was All Alone Novels & Stories

I was left alone in the great hall, lit only by the dim lights of the corridor. I tried to walk to my room, but my fingers dropped to my pocket instinctively and brushed the pendrive my father had given me. I stood like a fool in the middle of the hall looking at the wall clock. Tick, tock, tick, tock. It was almost 12 in the morning.

She said to me before she drove off. I smiled and waved her goodbye. I came home some minutes before midnight and I was all alone. I went inside and took out a bottle of red wine. I went to my room and sat by my window with my drink in my hand. I set a timer on my phone and counted down aloud from ten to one, "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, happy fucking new year. "

After what felt like forever, he cursed under his breath, walked back to the car, and the headlights pulled away. I breathed out in relief. My chest loosened, but the loneliness that followed was crushing. I was on my own. Completely. By midnight the rain grew colder. My teeth chattered so hard it hurt. I curled into myself under the broken roof of the gas station and let silent tears fall.

Everything was planned, even my freedom. I sat on the bed, staring at the book I had bought. I wasn’t in the mood to read it, but I opened it anyway. The words blurred in front of me, and I realized I wasn’t really paying attention. I put the book down and glanced at the clock. It was almost 3 PM. Carson still wasn’t back. The house felt empty again. ******** I couldn’t stand being in that big house alone. I needed to get away, even if just for a few hours. So I grabbed my phone and decided to text someone, anyone, just to break the silence.

And now I was awake and it wasn't even morning yet. I grabbed my phone to check the time and saw that it was just twelve o'clock in the midnight. I decided to listen to some music, hoping that it would make me feel sleepy again. But I started to feel thirsty, so I left my room, closing the door quietly behind me so I wouldn't wake Allen, who was sleeping in the room next to mine. I tiptoed and walked past his room, his light was off so he was probably asleep. I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a glass and filled it with water before gulping it down.

He knows the predator is in the room, but he can't see the teeth. I walk out into the hallway. The grandfather clock chimes. Dong. Dong. Dong. Ten o'clock. The house will be asleep by midnight. At 04:22, I will be reborn.

Twelve Days I woke before dawn, the number already settled in my chest the way it had every morning for weeks now, and found I couldn't fall back asleep, my mind too full of everything the last several days had unearthed. I dressed quietly and made my way down to the training yard alone, wanting, for once, to test something without an audience watching me fail. The castle was still mostly asleep around me, the halls dim and quiet, and I found something almost peaceful in the solitude, a rare stretch of minutes that belonged to no one's expectations but my own.

I had ten minutes until midnight and I wanted this moment to be special. I trekked to the forest surrounding the mansion, I walked until the distance drowned out the music and laughter. I lit the candle and exhaled. It was midnight. All was quiet. I felt the same as I did before. “Where’s my wolf?” My voice cracked. I stared at the crescent moon for answers. I gave it a few minutes, hoping and mentally pleading for change for a chance to live out my miserable life a different way. Nothing happened. I dropped the candle. This was useless. I should just go. “Mate.”

(Almost Two Years Later) (Piper POV) It was currently nine-thirty at night. I was alone in my room in the basement, and after working all day, I felt completely exhausted. Nevertheless, I had something important that I had to do before I went to bed. I placed a single candle into a chocolate chip cookie that I had stolen from the packhouse kitchen. I lit the candle and began softly singing, hoping to avoid anyone hearing me. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Daddy. Happy birthday to you.”

One thing remains constant though, I am never alone. ******** New Year's eve. I thought I’d be alone but Maya and Jessica had other plans. We counted down to the new year together on a yacht that I didn’t even know who it belonged to. I drank a little too much and danced a little too much. I laughed, cheered and sang along to songs I have only ever heard in passing.