Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland 2)

Mum was busying herself making coffee, but she stopped to give me one of her stern motherly expressions.

“Maybe you should try to get out. It’s not healthy to lock yourself up in your room all day.”

“Hold on.” I wrinkling my brow in confusion. “You said I shouldn’t be going out. That I was too vulnerable. Now you think I shouldn’t be staying in? Which one is it, Mum? ‘Cos I’m starting to get really confused.”

I shouldn’t have taken my frustration out on my mum, I knew that. It wasn’t her fault we had a crazy guy breaking into our house and leaving roses on the counter when we were asleep, but I couldn’t think straight.

“I think you should be seeing your friends more. Sal hasn’t been round for ages. You two used to be inseparable. Why don’t you hang out with her today?” Mum asked as she filled the coffee machine and fussed over wiping the already pristine counters down.

“Mum, I haven’t spoken to Sal in months. You know, since she broke up with Brodie. Do you even remember that? Do you know anything about my life?”

Obviously not, otherwise she’d know to drop this right now.

She stilled and threw the cloth into the sink, rubbing her hands over her tired face as she sighed.

“I forgot. I’m sorry. What can I say? Since losing your brother, my memory has been all over the place. I went to see Meredith with my slippers on yesterday and left the car running in the car park throughout the whole hour-long appointment. I’m lucky I still had a car to come back to when I got outside. I’m hopeless.” She pressed the button on the coffee, but she’d forgotten to put a cup underneath and the scalding liquid poured out all over the countertop and onto the floor. “Oh, shit. Look. I can’t even make a bloody coffee.” She started to tear up as she grabbed a handful of paper towels to soak up the mess. I hopped off my stool to help her.

“I think we’re all a bit hopeless, Mum.” I felt guilty that I’d just snapped at her. “We’re all trying to get through this the best way we can.”

“I know.” She threw the sopping wet towels into the bin and then turned to face me. “But if you go out, Harper, it’ll help. Get yourself into the real world. I know it’s h

ard at first. I hated it too, but we have to start living again, or at least trying to.”

“Fine. I might head into town later. I’m running low on hair products. Maybe I’ll meet up with someone and go for a coffee too while I’m there.”

I couldn’t give a shit about my hair, and God knows who I’d meet for coffee. Maybe I could buy two coffees-to-go, head to the park, and leave one in the bushes for my stalker. He was the only person who seemed interested in following my life these days.

“That’s the spirit, love. A day with a friend will do you the world of good.”

“I’ll make sure I leave my slippers at the front door.” I grinned and gave her a hug, then left her to make a more successful cup of morning coffee.

I headed up to my room, still feeling the anger from his break-in coursing through me. I needed to find out where he was hiding. Maybe pay him a few visits of my own. He wasn’t the only one holding a grudge.

I locked my bedroom door and gave an involuntary shiver as I thought about him wandering around my home. Like a nervous child, I double checked the lock, even though deep down I knew I was safe. It was morning, and creatures like him didn’t come out to play in the light.

I made my way over to my desk. It was still pretty early, so I doubted there’d be many people on the group chat, but I logged on anyway. I needed to do something to take my mind off the violation of being broken in to. This chatroom was slowly becoming my lifeline. It made me feel less alone.

LadyStoneheart23 has joined the chat.

Regina_Phalange- Lol. I am fucking dying here.

Fucking_Alan- That’s it, Reggie, laugh at my misery.

Regina_Phalange- Only you, Alan. Only you.

JoeNotExotic- Come on then. Give us the low down. You can’t tell us that and leave us hanging.

EmoGirl – *Runs to get popcorn*

Fucking_Alan – We matched on Tinder. What can I say? She looked hot and her messages were dirty as fuck. I arranged to meet her at a bar in town.

JoeNotExotic- Didn’t you check out her Facebook or Insta account?

Fucking_Alan- We hadn’t got that far. I only knew her first name.

EmoGirl – Rookie mistake, Alan. Lol.

Fucking_Alan – Well, I know that now! Anyway, I rocked up feeling pretty excited to meet her. She was a sure thing, and she was hot as fuck in her Tinder photos. My night was sorted.