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I can’t let that happen, can’t put Kayla at risk like that. It’s part of the reason why I’ve been keeping my distance from her. Ever since the day in the art studio when I snapped because she saw my painting, I’ve been battling my obsession for her with my obsessive need to protect her fromhim. Me.We are one and the same, no matter how much I prefer to pretend otherwise.
I drop to my knees, exhausted, but invigorated. Today, I’ve beaten it. I’ve beatenhim, and I did it all on my own.
LEAVING ME HOLLOW
‘EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD’ – LORDE
KOOKABURRA
Fucking welcome toHell Week. The bastard shock-chip be damned, I need tohurtthat woman. There’s no doubt in my mind now that she knows everything. The pool is a coincidence too far. Or too many. Whatever the malapropism should be. My brain’s too scrambled by the black body of water in front of me to function properly.
I tried to distract myself by talking to Ghost, but he dived into the water, freaked out, and hasn’t been seen since.
Maybe he found a way out.
I drop both our phones on a nearby bench, take a wide berth around the edge of the pool, practically skirting the walls where I can and head off in the direction that Ghost took.
“Where are you going?” Someone calls from behind me, but over the fear pounding through my veins and the blood roaring in my ears, I can’t discern who it is. Doesn’t matter, I haven’t got the words to answer them anyway.
I push through the double doors Ghost took, and find myself in a small, narrow corridor. There’s a door on my right, one on my left, and one straight ahead marked as a fire escape. I race towards it, throwing my full weight onto the safety release bar, but nothing happens. Desperation makes me teary. The chlorine fumes are clawing at my throat, threatening to choke me, and I need to get out of here.
I’m not good with water, but I’m especially bad with chlorinated pools.
Does Satan know that? Fucking bitch. I bet she does.
Panic sets in as I realise I’m trapped. I turn around and try the door on the right, but it’s locked. The door on the left is slightly ajar, and I push it open, hoping for an escape route. Inside is a small changing room with a single window. I rush to it, but it’s barred shut. I slump to the floor in defeat, my heart pounding.
As I catch my breath, footsteps approach. A tall, dark figure stands in the doorway. I can’t make out their face, but I can feel their presence looming over me.
“Who are you?” I ask, my voice shaking.
The figure doesn’t respond, but instead takes a step forward. I scramble to my feet and back up against the barred window.
“Stay back,” I warn, but the figure keeps advancing.
There’s a sharp pain in the back of my neck and when I blink, they’re gone.
I stumble forward, catching myself on the edge of a bench. My head is pounding and my vision is blurred. I reach up to the back of my neck, feeling for the source of the pain. But there’s nothing there.
What the hell was that? Something to do with the chip maybe?
I try to swallow, but my throat is dry. I take a step back. But it feels like the darkness is closing in on me, making it hard to breathe. This is a dead end. There’s no way out. What am I supposed to do? I told Ghost to face his fears, but there’s no way I can do the same.
And whereishe? I can’t believe that he might have found a way out and not come back to tell the rest of us.
Really, Kayla? How well do you know him? You’ve had all of a handful on conversations with him and you’ve let him cover you in paint and fuck you with a paintbrush. You’re acting like he has some sort of loyalty to you. He doesn’t give a fuck about you.
I shake that thought from my head. I need to focus on my fears. There’s three names left on my original list. Obviously I’m now adding Satan and everyone associated with this place. But the ones on the first list, they think I don’t know them, that I don’t remember, but I do. Until those demons are slayed, I cannot truly face my fears.
I stumble back to the poolside, not even aware of where my feet are taking me. I’m fevered, frantic, desperate and alone. It doesn’t matter that I’m trapped in this room with the others, because I’m locked in my own private hell.
I scramble backwards until my back hits a wall. Feeling behind me, I inch my way along until I find a corner.
I curl up into a ball, my knees pulled up to my chest. My breaths come in short gasps as I try to calm myself down.
But the fear won’t leave me. It’s like a disease, eating away at my insides and leaving me hollow.
I close my eyes and try to focus on something, anything, that will take my mind off the darkness that’s closing in on me. But all I can think about is how I got here, how I ended up in this place of torment.
