The walk to my car felt like it took forever, and it might have. Time doesn’t feel real.
“Little one.” A distorted voice said next to me. I whipped around, trying to find the voice, but I couldn’t see anything. “Come with me.”
I wanted to scream for help. Beg anyone to stop this, but I couldn’t. I nodded my head to that voice and started to walk towards it.
“Good girl.” The voice said. “Just follow my voice. Another few steps.”
“Ms. Gold!” I knew that voice. I trusted that voice. I tried to turn around, but my body wouldn’t listen. “Stop!”
I could have cried tears of joy when my body listened to him and stopped. I felt arms wrap around me and pull me behind a large body.
Some words were said that I didn’t understand, then I felt a push. My body instinctively started to move, following the direction I was being led to.
I could hear a door open, and I was escorted in. I don’t know who has me, or where we are going, but the feeling that I was safe took over. I trusted this person, whoever they were. I felt a hand reach around me, pulling the seatbelt tight across me. He made sure it was locked in place before the door closed again.
I watched with foggy vision as the front door opened next and the man slid into the seat. I could faintly hear the engine starting and the feeling of moving.
My head lulled and banged against the window, but I didn’t care or move. The cool glass felt refreshing against my heated skin. Words were spoken, but I couldn’t make them out. I could tell there were two different voices, but I could only see one blobby figure in the front of the car.
I just need to rest my eyes for a moment.
My eyes drifted closed, suddenly feeling immensely heavy. Sleep took me quickly.
I woke in a dark room. My mouth felt like I swallowed cotton balls, and a headache that felt like someone was drilling in there. I looked around, hoping to be able to determine where I was and if anyone was nearby.
Slowly, the room became focused, and I recognized it as Dante’s. On the bedside table was a glass of water and some Tylenol. I greedily popped two in my mouth and swallowed every drop of water.
The weird feeling in my body is still present, but it is slowly dissipating. I slowly sit up and swing my legs off the side of the bed. The room spins slightly. I place my hand on my head, praying the feeling vanishes.
I push myself up, stumbling a little before finding my footing. I walk towards the door, needing to find that voice and figure out how I got here. The last thing I remember was math class. The bell rang, and my memory became fuzzy after that. I can remember walking towards my car, then there was this voice. I can’t remember what they were saying, but I started walking towards it. Things become even hazier after that.
Each step I take feels like I am running a marathon. My body doesn’t feel like mine, and everything is harder than it should be. The headache gets worse with each step, but I refuse to let it stop me. I don’t care how much pain I am in right now, I need to find that voice. Something in me is telling me that I need to go to that voice, whoever it was.
I stand at the top of the stairs. My vision starts to tunnel, making the normal-looking staircase seem so much longer and uneven.It’s just a staircase. I can do this. Just one step at a time.I grab the railing and take a step down.
The first few steps are slow, but I made it. Confidence brimming, I let go of the railing and continued my descent. With each step, the feeling of needing to find that voice grows. But there is some part of me that knows I should stay away from it. A war in my head starts waging. That voice is loud in my head, telling me to go to them.
I grab my head as the voice becomes so loud I can’t hear anything else. I close my eyes, begging everything to stop. I should have gone to that voice. No. No, I should have stayed in Dante’s bed. I would be safe there.
A silent scream escapes as I feel my body starting to collapse. Strong hands grab my arms as my legs give out from underneath me. I can feel myself being picked up and carried, but my eyes stay closed as the voice gets even louder.
I used to think hearing Evan’s voice in my head was bad, but this voice is more menacing. More consuming. The weirdest part is that I want to listen to it. I want to please that voice.
I try to fight. To be free of the hands holding me, but they tighten their grip on me. Pulling my head into their warm, hard chest. The smell of expensive cologne starts to push through the haze in my head, and recognition hits me. That’s Dante’s scent. It must be his arms around me.
Slowly, my body relaxes in his arms. The sound of his voice begins to break through the voice in my head. I can’t understand what he is saying, but it soothes me. I can hear the melody in his voice, and as more of the fog lifts from my mind, I finally register what he is saying. Well, singing.
Dante quietly sings Don’t Stop Believin’ as he carries me through his house. I don’t know where he is taking me, but I don’t care. Just knowing that he is here and taking care of me after… whatever that was that happened makes my heart melt.
We finally walk into the kitchen and he gingerly places me in a chair at the table. He pushes my chair in, making sure I am stable enough before getting me another glass of water. He doesn’t even get a chance to place the glass down on the table before I grab it and drink the whole thing.
“What happened?” I ask as I place the glass on the table.
“Michael got the dress you found in your locker. He was going to bring it in, but he said something felt wrong. Instead, he called Rocco to come get the dress so he could stay at the school. Michael stayed until he saw you coming out of the school. He said you were walking like you were drunk. Stumbling over your feet. A glazed look in your eyes. Then you stopped and started walking away, as if you were in a trance. He called out to you, but you didn’t even acknowledge him. He chased you down. Caught up to you before something could happen.”
“Did he see who was there?”
“No. He saw someone running away, but was more concerned with your well-being than chasing him down.”
