A/N: Another day another chapter! Enjoy and don't be afraid to critique! I probably need all the help I can get!
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, unfortunately. They are owned by a Ms. Kelley Armstrong!
Everything past that was a blur. I woke to the feeling of being lifted onto something flat, then being lifted again to be carried somewhere. I heard murmurs, people talking quietly about the amount of blood lost, a head injury, and possible sprained ankles. I tried to open my eyes further, but it seemed that they would only open halfway, something heavy holding them down. My ears were ringing, but it wasn't loud enough for me to still hear the cries of that… that thing in the school. I needed to tell these people. I needed to tell them not to take me back there. I tried to pry open my mouth, and managed to get out a single sound before I was being hushed.
"Sh, sweetie. It'll be okay. We'll get you healed up and get you some help. It'll be okay." Her voice sounded shaky and tired, and I felt fingers softly brush my hair. Everything felt and sounded so far away. I could hear the sound of doors closing and an engine starting.
"A-aunt…."
"Sh, I'm right here, I'm not leaving." I had to warn her. That thing was dangerous, it was still there. I could feel its eyes on me.
"N-No. Do-on't take me b-b-back t-t-there." It was so hard to stay awake, to actually talk, but I needed to warn her, to warn anybody that would listen to me. "D-dangero-"
"We're headed to the hospital now, it'll be okay. We'll be far away from there." I still couldn't see here clearly, her voice the only thing identifying her. Still, the thought of us leaving that place allowed me to relax. I felt my eyes slowly drift close.
Apparently, I had slept for a while. I woke up staring up at a white wall with tacky painted flowers and butterflies. I felt a bit of a chill, but realized it was due to the hospital gown and the thin blankets that tucked me in. I blinked a couple times, trying to regain control of my senses. My head felt as though it was made of lead, pounding each time I moved my eyes. My hearing was slowly coming back, and I looked towards the sounds of soft breathing in the chair next to my bed.
"Dad." I croaked, letting out a small sigh of relief. He was crouched down, his head in his hands. At the sound of my voice, he jumped slightly and looked up with a tired smile.
"You're awake." He put his hand on top of my head, gently so as not to make my headache worse. "How do you feel?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck." I replied honestly, my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to clear my throat. "Water?"
He nodded and reached past me to grab a bottle of water off of the nightstand, along with a straw. He opened it and placed the straw in, then reached out to hand it to me. I moved to grab it, but froze when I saw the bandages on my hands.
All at once, everything hit me like a brick to the face. The school, the ooze, the window, the screeching of it as I was barely able to escape, the ghost. I shook my head.
That wasn't a ghost. There was no way that could be a ghost. It had touched me. I could still feel its hands wrapped around my wrists.
I could still feel its nails ripping through my skin as though I was made of tissue paper.
That thing could touch me.
I suddenly felt that I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. My chest felt tight, and my wrists and hands started to throb. I distantly heard my dad call my name, trying to get my attention, then the hustle of a couple nurses making their way into my room. I could hear my heart monitor take off.
It could hurt me.
I felt two hands grab a hold of my wrists, making me jump and scream. It was the Thing, I knew it was. It had found me. It was going to kill me, right in front of my dad.
"No!" I screamed, all raspy. I couldn't see anymore, all I knew was I was being attacked again. That I was going to die.
"Please! Don't hurt me! Get off of me!" I suddenly felt a pinch in my arm, and I felt my body slow down. As my eyes started to again drift close, I could hear footsteps and a quiet conversation.
"I've made the arrangements. I think it's best we take her there tonight, while she's calm." I could hear my dad say something in response to this voice, but it was too quiet to make out. I drifted off back to sleep.
I really hope this'll be the last time I wake up in a strange place. I thought to myself as I opened my eyes to see pale yellow walls. My brain felt foggy, but this time I remembered almost immediately why. I was out of control, they had to put me back to sleep, probably to keep me from hurting myself. I had seen it happen to other people before, when I visited my aunt while she worked with patients. It had been a scary thing to watch, but now I was realizing just how scary it was being the person put down.
I felt myself lying on a bed, not too big of one, but one that was pretty much perfect for my size. I looked around to see another bed on the opposite end of the room, the covers pushed around and the pillow lying on the floor. I glanced up as I heard the door to the windowless room open.
"Chloe! It's good to see you awake!" I stared at her, not talking, not knowing if she was just another ghost or someone that was alive. She was an older woman, gray haired and wide-hipped, with a kind smile on her face. She had made sound coming in, her footsteps shuffling along the floor. She was alive.
Or was she? The Thing had made some noise too. The creaking of the ceiling and the snapping of his face… but could I hear his footsteps?
"You must be so confused and scared, my dear! Don't you worry! Here at Lyle House, we make sure to take care of each and every teen that comes through here!" Just then, another woman walked through the door. This one seemed almost the opposite of the one now sitting on my bed. She was younger, her eyes tracing my movements. Her arms were crossed and her back was straight, as if she was expecting to tackle me down at a moment's notice.
"This is a group home for troubled teens. Your aunt and father deemed it best for you to stay here for a couple weeks, at least, to see if you can improve." Here words were clipped and straight to the point. I looked back to the first older lady as she spoke.
"My name is Mrs. Talbot, and the young lady over here is Miss Van Dop. We're just a small part of a team of nurses that will help you get better." She said with a smile, gently patting my head. I flinched a bit, but didn't move further as she made the gesture. As soon as she pulled away, I pulled myself up to sit. Making the assumption that they were alive, I allowed myself to speak.
"G-group home?" I asked quietly, feeling the dread pool in my stomach. This was exactly what I was trying to avoid.
"I heard you like movies, Chloe, but I can assure you that this place is nothing like what you've seen in those theatrical displays." She assured me. "You are free to go outside, as long as you stay in the designated area. You'll be continuing your classes with one of our teachers, Ms. Wang, and you'll also be able to email your friends when you like. There are others here too, and they'll assure you that it isn't so bad here. Just think of it as a quick break from society." I looked at her skeptically but nodded anyway. It would be better if I stayed on my best behavior. The better I behave, the quicker I would be able to leave.
"It's about breakfast time, so we need to head downstairs to dish up the food for everyone. We'll send up your roommate. She'll show you around the house. You will have a couple days of rest, before continuing your classes. Before then, you will be handed a chore list. Every person is expected to pull their own weight in this house." Ms. Van Dop said, before turning to the door with Mrs. Talbot. Mrs. Talbot turned to wave, saying "Elizabeth will be here shortly, get dressed and be ready to come on down when she gets here." I nodded as she shut the door.
