Day 1

Day 1

Your character moves into a new apartment. On the surface, the place seemed

ideal, but his/her first night there, your character discovers a terrible problem

with the place that he/she didn't take into account...

Day 1.

So on the day that I moved into that new apartment on Friday Street, little did I know that my life was about to change. And not for the better, I might add. Still that’s not really the start of the story.

You see, when I left college with the firm intention of becoming a teacher - yes, I do love kids – desperately wanting to do well in my first year of full on teaching, who knew that by the time I moved into my own apartment that all this would have happened. I had wanted to teach ever since I started school and watched all those grown ups earn respect from the pupils in their classes. That was my ambition and so I worked hard to get to that point. I was portably a goody two shoes but that didn’t matter to me; I didn’t have that many friends because all I wanted to do was learn and pass my exams.

Finally I graduated from college with a my Diploma firmly in my hands, and the promise of a teaching position if I moved to a school in another city far away. That took a certain amount of courage, as you can imagine – moving to a city where I knew no-one, where the streets were strange to me, where shop-owners would stare at me, where I was no longer a part of the community but a total stranger.

During the first two years of my position as teacher in that city school, I was fortunate enough to join with another female teacher who offered to share her apartment with me. That was very lucky, because it meant I wasn’t quite so lonely, and we had something in common. It also helped with the finances; as a newbie in teaching, my salary wasn’t what you would call wonderful!

Still, for the past two years sharing has worked , so when my flatmate announced she was leaving to get married I was shocked. I had to start looking for another place to live, as she was giving up the lease at the end of the school term.

Hence my long hard slog looking for an apartment that I could afford on a single salary. My search led me to this one, which is the apartment that changed my life.

It was a pretty ugly little place, set in a block of apartments in a poor area of the city; there always seemed to be lots of teenagers hanging around on street corners, and I did feel a bit intimidated. But, hey, I could afford it on my own, I could buy a few bits and pieces of furniture and just maybe I could make a few friends and have those sort of parties that you see in all the TV programmes , where everyone is smiling and enjoying each other’s company.

You know I mentioned all the teens hanging around; that’s the crux of this story. As it happened I was walking back from school one evening during the dark winter and one of the teens detached himself from the group. Trying not to look as scared as I felt, I asked him what he wanted. “ Nothing” was the reply, “just checking you out” Oh, God, what now…… At that moment, a car pulled up alongside me, and a voice boomed out, “ Get away, you little punk”! With that the teen boy disappeared into the darkness and my rescuer, for that was what he was, got out of the car and offered to escort me to my door. Not likely , I thought, I don’t know you, either. He did introduce himself by name, and although I sort of recognized him, I refused his offer. Walking steadily and trying not to show fear, I continued to the door of my apartment block. He followed me! I took the stairs , two at a time, trying to get to my door before he could see where I lived. Thrusting my key into the lock and rushing inside, I leaned against the door catching my breath. I heard his voice in the hallway calling out” Hey, Miss Jones, it’s only me, I live upstairs, don’t be scared”, but my fear was greater than ever. If he lived upstairs he was in the same building as me. Time to move on, I thought, and the very next day, went to my principal at school and handed in my notice. I couldn’t stay there , in that city where I knew no-one, no-one knew me, and so I went back home to my old small town, lived back home with my parents, found a job in my local library and applied to my old school for a position.

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Day 1:

It was with a sigh of relief that Hayley sunk into her the plush armchair she had just bought. Although the pattern was dated and the fabric frayed, she didn’t care. All that matters was that it was hers, just hers. As with everything in her tiny, one bedroomed apartment, she couldn’t help but feel proud. She had finally done it. Her, Hayley Wright, a daddy’s girl with an abandoned inheritance, and walked out and left.

She had found her safe haven.

Nobody knew she was here. She had packed her bags and left, stopping at an ATM on the way. She doubted her parents would approve of the fact that she had just withdrawn a sizeable amount from their account but she didn’t care. It wasn’t as if they needed the money, not any more. Her happiness deflated when she thought of her friends, her little brother. She would miss them. Miss the celebrations, the sadness, the companionship.

Hayley reminded herself of the reasoning behind her actions, her sacrifices. He wouldn’t find her here. He would move on, forget about her, find a new plaything. She knew she wouldn’t be so lucky. She could still feel his hands around her neck. She could still see the glint in his eye that told her there would be trouble. The alcohol on his breath still choked her.

She could never forget him.

She still tried though. As she microwaved one of the cheap meals she had brought from the local store, she tried to put him from her mind. While she showered, she tried to ignore the chill on her neck. Flicking through mindless tv programs, she tried to ignore the eyes she imagined following her every move.

As the hands the watch crawled towards the morn, sleep claimed her. It dragged her down, suffocating her with unwanted images. They spread through her mind like acid, torturing her.

Hayley woke with a start, no more rested than she had been hours earlier. Her eyes scanned the room furtively. Slowly, ever so slowly, her heart beat calmed as she realized she was alone. There was no one here. She was safe.

Coffee, she thought, I need coffee. She headed to the small kitchenette, raking her hands through her hair. Despite her reassurances, she still felt uneasy. She concentrated solely on the pot in front of her, losing herself in the familiarity of it. Like she had when she was a child, Hayley couldn’t help but feel that if she followed the procedure flawlessly, she would be fine.

It was a voice that ruined her hopes. A deep, gravelly voice she had come to dread. Slowly, wishing with all her might that she was wrong, she turned to face its owner.

There he was.

The man who had torn her heart from her chest. Even now, she couldn’t help but admit he was handsome. It was his rugged good looks that had drawn her in, his beauty hiding something much more ugly. No one knew where she was. She was alone. She cursed at her own foolishness. Had she really believed she could run from this monster?

“Welcome home sweetheart.”