A/N Hi for those who don't know I had major laptop issues and lost all the writing I had done. Hopefully I am finally caught up, and I hope some of you will still be reading! Big big apologies!
Wanted to get this out for you, so hope it's ready and not too disjointed.
No new messages. Texas placed her mobile phone back on the arm of the sofa, leaving her hand hovering over it, fingers drumming agitatedly against the hard plastic.
"What's up with you?" Leanne asked Texas from where she was sitting at the breakfast bar trying to revise for an upcoming exam.
"Nothing."
"Don't you have some photography project you're supposed to be doing?" Leanne said returning her attention the work she was doing in front of her.
Texas just shrugged indifferently, kneading at her temples to try and avoid the headache she could feel coming on, and letting out a loud sigh.
Leanne dropped her pen onto the open books and looked back up at Texas, "seriously, what is up with you?"
"Nothing," Texas repeated, then catching the look of disbelief on Leanne's face she asked, "have you heard from Jodie recently?"
"No," Leanne replied, "I thought you two had been joined at the hip recently?"
"No," Texas denied, probably a bit too forcefully as she noticed Leanne raised her eyebrows quizzically. Texas felt herself begin to blush slightly and hoped it had escaped Leanne's notice as she stuttered "its just I haven't seen her since New Year." Texas started tracing circles absent-mindedly on the arm of the sofa.
"So?" Leanne asked, "maybe she went home for the holidays, or is busy studying for exams, or preparing for lessons, like you should be," she said pointedly.
"I don't know, I just can't concentrate at the moment."
At this Leanne immediately jumped down from the stool on which she was sitting and crossed the room to sit beside Texas on the couch. "Is it because of Silas' trial coming up?" she asked taking Texas' hand in her own comfortingly.
Texas started at this, she hadn't forgotten that Silas' trial started in a couple of days, but somehow she seemed to have suppressed her feelings about this, or had she just replaced them with her confusion over Jodie. Texas immediately began to feel guilt well-up in her insides, that for the past couple of weeks she had been internally obsessing over something that was so insignificant really. So what if Jodie had kissed her. It was New Year, they were drunk, and it had been just as bit of fun. Texas tried to ignore the sinking feeling inside herself at these thoughts. She could feel her headache trying to come on again.
" Do you know what, I think I'm just going to go lie down for a bit," Texas forced a watery smile at Leanne.
"Okay, you know where I am if you need me." Leanne gave Texas' hand a reassuring squeeze.
Texas tried to keep her breathing steady as she took the long walk down the dark narrow grey corridor. She couldn't remember how she had got here as she looked around the dank cold brick walls, the sound of her boots making soft thuds on the hard grimy concrete below her feet. All around her she could her the sounds of men driven crazy by isolation, some weeping, some shouting, some laughing maniacally to themselves. Echoing all around her were the noises of metal bars being rattled by hands tightly gripping them, some of the hands protruding through the bars trying to grab at her as she walked past. Some of the men shouted out to her, "turn back little girl," but her feet kept carrying her forward into the ever-increasing gloom of their own accord.
Texas scurried forward, flinching and darting away from the bony grasping hands, deeper and deeper into the unknown darkness, not knowing where it led to, but unable to stop anyway. She could feel the adrenaline of fear coursing through her veins as her heart rate started to beat out of control. Finally what little light there had been disappeared and Texas found her-self plunged into complete darkness. An eerie silence settled over her, and she found herself yearning for the rabid noises of the men. Texas felt her breathing pique as she shakily raised out her hands in front of her gingerly continuing her way along, until she felt bars in front of her, and walls to each side. She wrapped her hands around the bars, pulling and pushing, but they were immovable. She tried hard, causing them to shake and vibrate under her efforts, but nothing. Then from the darkness a sinister voice, "are you scared little girl?" and then laughter.
Texas screamed. She turned on her heel and tried to run, but immediately ran into the cold metal of more bars. She turned again, but her found her escape blocked by further hard, cold, bars. Texas desperately tried to calm her breathing and think. There must be a way out. She held out her left hand cautiously and started trailing it along the bars, looking for where she had come from. She walked and walked, but there was no gap. All around her the laughter continued. In the black Texas was sure she could see a glimmer of red shining and dancing in the darkness. The voice seemed to come from the direction of that colour, "there is no escape." It seemed to grow and fill the space, making Texas want to cover her ears and block it out. "You are finally mine, just like you always should have been," the voice mocked her, wheedling and burrowing itself into her head.
Then there was an explosion of light, momentarily blinding Texas, forcing her to look down and cover her eyes with her hands. Carefully she squinted one eye open, then the other as they adjusted to the new brightness. Then she saw. She was imprisoned. Surrounding her on all sides were the straight metal poles of a cage. And on the other side stood an inconsequential looking old man. Totally average looking, with greying hair and skin, dressed in a knitted cardigan and beige trousers. Completely unremarkable apart from the red glow in his eyes.
"Hello again Texas," he smiled at her.
"Silas," Texas gasped.
"Have you missed me?" he leered, "or India?" Suddenly India was there, being gripped in Silas' arms pressed tightly against his body, one hand squeezing around her neck, so that it was turning her face an ugly shade of purple.
"India!" Texas shouted immediately running towards the bars reaching her hands out.
"Never let it be said I don't play fair Texas," Silas' eyes glinting a deeper and darker red, "I will let you choose who dies today…"
Texas cut him off yelling "me me me!"
"….tut tut let me finish…. Either your darling sister here", he pulled his hand a little tighter around her neck, "or..." then he cocked his head backwards indicating behind him where past the blinding light Texas could just about make out a figure. She strained to see, then her breathing stopped, her heart stopped, as she realised it was Jodie, shackled at the wrists so she was standing on the very tips of her toes her arms stretched out above her, clad in ugly rusty cuffs which were chained to the invisible ceiling above.
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Tex, hey Texas."
Texas felt her self being shaken awake. "Ummm, Jodie?" she gurgled as she started to come round, the remnants of a dream floating through her conscious.
"No, it's Doug," she heard a momentary low throaty chuckle. Texas raised her head from the pillow to shoot a frosty glare at Doug who quickly sobered up. "Come on you need to get up and dressed, it's the first day of Silas' court hearing today."
Texas felt a cold shudder run through her body, today was the day. The day where she was going to face her biggest demon in the flesh. She wondered if Jodie had replied yet to any of her messages. She could really use a friend today. She glanced at her mobile. No new messages. Texas flopped back onto her bed, dragging the duvet all the way over her head.
"Hey Texas?" She felt Doug shaking her again.
"I'm not going," Texas muttered into the mattress.
"C'mon I can't do this alone."
Neither can I thought Texas, but the person who I wish would be there for moral support doesn't seem to be talking to me at the moment and I don't know why.
"Texas please?" Doug pleaded.
Texas sighed, shuffling the covers off from over her head. She should be there she knew. For India. She had to make up for not being there for India when she needed her most. She internally shook her head at the idea that anything she could do would make up for that though. Even if she tried for the rest of eternity.
Texas cast a critical eye over her appearance in the mirror. She was sombrely dressed. Like she was going to a funeral again. Head to toe in black, so different from the usual colourful attire she usually wore. But then today she did not feel much like herself. Her face was pale and drawn, and the dark circles under her eyes only emphasised how bad she was feeling inside. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. She sighed as she straightened India's favourite scarf around her neck. She had debated whether to wear it, what if Silas recognised it as India's? In the end though Texas decided that she needed a piece of India close with her today. She saw Doug approaching slowly from behind. He reached out and gently squeezed her on the shoulder. "Ready?" he asked her. Texas nodded passively.
Texas sat nervously wringing her hands in the long austere corridor. She could her the large heavy dark oak doors opening and closing with a resounding thud. The sound of sharp heels clacked and echoed on the cold tile floor, and the hushed whispers of people passing echoed off the smooth marble walls. If ever there was a place of foreboding then this was it. Texas shook to know that somewhere in this building was Silas. The man who had brutally murdered her beautiful kind sister. Texas could feel a sob bubbling up in her throat. She couldn't be here. She couldn't see that man. It would kill, as seeing him in her dreams every night almost did. The flash of demon red eyes shot across her mind.
Before Texas could make a move to leave she saw Doug walking steadily down the corridor carrying two polystyrene cups of coffee. As he drew nearer he could see the frantic look in Texas' eyes. "Texas?" he questioned softly.
"Doug I can't be here, I'm sorry, I have to leave. Now." Texas stood up and started pacing the floor, dragging her fingers through her hair wildly.
Doug placed the coffees down on the table. "Hey it's going to be okay," he tried to soothe her.
Texas continued pacing. How was it going to be okay? How was having to be in the same room as that monster ever going to be okay? She could feel her stomach begin to bubble with hysteria. Waves of nausea washed over her as a small sob escaped her throat.
"I can't do this Doug, I can't, I can't." Texas felt like the walls were closing in on her, her head was spinning and she felt like her lungs weren't working. Why couldn't she breathe? Why was there no air?
Cool calming hands were holding her as Texas felt her eyes flickering open. She was momentarily disorientated before remembering where she was. Around her she could hear hushed voices and somebody saying, "I think she's coming round." She was aware of somebody gently cradling her then running and twisting their hands through her ponytail in comforting movements. As her breathing steadied she became aware of the sweetest smell of fresh flowers and fruity berries. It was a smell that was familiar to her. Texas tried to clear her head of the grey fuzz that seemed to have taken root there. Then a soft voice asked her "Texas it's Jodie, can you hear me?" Texas nodded her head shakily. "It's okay you fainted, but you're okay now."