Chapter
12
Nick’s point of view
It had been a few days but it seemed like weeks. Our management had sorted some
promotional stuff for us and we had to move to NY city for a few days. I was
glad, as I believed it would take my mind of things for a while. But, at the
hotel, we ran into problems.
"What do you mean you screwed up the hotel
arrangements?" Kevin fumed. As usual, he was making a big deal of the
smallest things.
"Sorry, Kev. It was a simple mistake!" our organiser,
Michael, stated in defence.
"Yeah, and because of this simple mistake, there are only
four rooms for seven of us!"
"Well its too late to do anything now!" Howie stated.
"How about you and Kristin take one room, Brian and Leighanne take
another, and us three will share the other two rooms." He suggested,
gesturing to AJ, me and himself.
"We’ll have to rotate so we each get a turn at sleeping in
the single room," AJ stated. "But who gets to use it first?"
"We might as well let D, since he came up with the
idea," I said, heading for my own room.
The others followed, but Brian ran ahead to join me, "Are you
sure you’re OK?"
"Yeah," I replied. " Guess I just have to wait for
her to come back, if she comes back!"
"Look, if you need to talk to me or any of the others, we’re
always here, OK?"
"OK, thanks, man!" I gave him a small smile and went to
mine and AJ’s room.
After settling in and hanging out with the guys for a while, I
decided to get some sleep so I was awake for the promo stuff the next day. AJ
complained about keeping him awake for the first hour or so after we went to
our room to get some shut eye.
AJ’s point of view
Once again, Nick’s tossing and turning caused enough noise to wake
me up.
"Nick, go to sleep, for God’s sake!" I moaned.
Nick sat up, "I’m sorry Bone, but I just can’t!"
"Why not? Is it about Jen again?" I asked, irritated.
"No, it’s just I feel like something bad is gonna
happen!"
"You’re just tired. Now try and get some sleep!"
I turned over and closed my eyes, pulling my covers over my head.
I heard Nick steady breathing a few minutes later, signalling he
had finally got to sleep. I followed suit and fell into sleep’s dark, quiet
embrace.
Nick’s point of view
I awoke as I heard noises. I nervously sat up and looked around
the near pitch black room. I could barely see a thing but I could sense someone
other than AJ and me in the room. Gulping, I whispered, "Who’s
there?"
I jumped as a clap of thunder resounded outside. Shaking
nervously, I got that premonition again. Something was wrong… big time. I heard
another, new noise. Like someone creeping around.
"Psst.. AJ? AJ, did you hear that?" I asked, my
voice a frightened whisper.
He gave no reply, but turned over to face away from me sleepily.
"AJ!" I shouted as quietly as I could, leaning over to
his bed and whacking him with my pillow.
He moaned angrily and I saw his eyes flicker open in the darkness.
He glared hatefully at me.
"Nick, stop that!!" he complained. "Stop hitting
me, man! What do you want now?"
"Did you hear that?" I asked ignoring his grumpiness.
"What? What rubbish are talkin’ now?"
"I heard a noise, like someone was creeping around
outside!" I claimed.
He groaned at me, "For the last time, GO TO SLEEP!!"
I protested but complied when he ignored me and fell asleep
himself.
Resting my head back on my pillow, I wiped cold sweat from my brow
and shivered as I drifted away.
When I woke up in the morning, I was in for a
shock. As I opened my eyes, my blurry vision focused on something very
threatening, placed right next to my throat.
***
