?
We struggled through the snow, me pulling her by the hand, refusing to stop. Refusing to let go. She whimpers in pain, teeth chattering in the frosty air. She's having trouble keeping up, but I know… if we stop… she'll just lie down in the snow, curl up into a little ball, and never move again. I can't let that happen. But then again, maybe it's for the best. If we die here, we'll never experience any more pain or suffering or loss again. I'll get to leave my broken battered body behind, my mind free. I'll get to be with Dad and Gramps, and Hannah and Beth…
no
No,
No.
NO!
I won't die yet, I refuse to die yet! I refuse to let her die as well, as she leans every ounce of her being on me. We have places to go and people to see again. I don't care if I wake up every day in pain, I don't care if I have scars. I don't care if I have fucking nightmares every night for the rest of my life! I… WILL… NOT… DIE… HERE! My pace quickens as my heart fills with courage and I feel her begin to let go of my hand.
I don't let her let go. I grab her stomach and throw her over my right shoulder, my body filling with adrenaline. She gasps in pain, the blood from her cuts seeping into my jacket. I shift her slightly so she's more comfortable...
And take off running through the trees.
?
Scraping, scraping, claws on the wall. Scratching away at the stone that trap me.
Scratch…
scratch…
scratch…
Oozing, oozing, blood on the wall. Drip drip dripping down to land on my hand.
Drip…
drip…
drip…
Putrid, putrid, the smell of the body. It hangs near me, a perfect addition to my Hell. My Hell.
The smell…
the smell…
the horrible smell!
Unblinking, unblinking, the eyes of the head. It stares at me, into my soul.
Watching…
watching…
watching…
I feel it, my sanity, slowly drip drip dripping away. Though to be honest, I wasn't sure I ever had it in the first place. The visions scrape scratch scraping at my soul. The smells of other places and other times flip through my head. My house, the pines, Sam's hair.
Wait, what?
The eyes of a dead man bore into my head, the inevitability of death closing in, the fear of insanity drowning my being… And I'm thinking about Sam's hair?!
I mean, she's pretty. Her blue eyes full of light, her hair always dancing in the wind when she runs, her small but athletic figure hugging me when we see each other…
Stop it.
Stop it.
But she's gone now, she left me with Mike. She doesn't trust me, Sammy doesn't trust me. She left me all alone, down in the deep dark cave like she could care less. Maybe insanity won't be so bad, as long as I can see my Sammy, my Sammy…
Stop it.
Stop it!
I should just lie here in my thoughts, free from the world. Free from Mike and Chris and Ashley and Emily and Matt and Jessica… And Sam. They all deserve what they got and I can avoid consequences if I just lie here against the wall and watch the rocks grow…
STOP IT!
STOP IT!
NONE OF THEM DESERVE WHAT THEY GOT! THEY DIDN'T KILL HANNAH! THEY DIDN'T KILL BETH! THEY WERE JUST BEING STUPID! AND I HURT THEM… I hurt them… oh man, I hurt them so bad…
I pull myself to my feet, the insanity that haunted me for the past year slipping away. The visions slipping away.
Finally.
I wander a bit, trying to find it.
There.
The wall Sam climbed earlier. If she can do it, so can I. I find a foothold and begin my ascent.
Ooh, spooky! I bet we can all guess who the mystery people are! :) Like I said earlier, this story will probably revolve around Ashley's POV, switching to characters when they need some attention. But yes, if it isn't obvious after reading this chapter, this story will take place in an alternate universe where everyone lives (past the end of the game). *wink* Sorry, did I forget to mention that? *runs out the door to avoid airborne tomatoes*
I love all of you people. Thanks for reading and see you guys on the flip side.
Byeeeee.