Part XVIII

Sitting on the bed, I started looking at the words written on the sheet, ready for whatever is to come. Betty is sitting beside me in a loose posture and I look at her with reassuring eyes at which she responds with nod and I look back at the paper, reading the words slowly.

"Crystal?" Betty says and I look at her in response, "no matter what happens, don't give up. Remember, pain is always better than death."

Her words are supposed to be encouraging but somehow they manage to instill fear in me. I nod once and try to fake a smile before looking away from her and at the paper.

I have to do this for myself, for Dylan, for my future. again and again, I whisper the words with my eyes closed but nothing seems to be happening except for the ever brewing fear that sticks with me, not wavering a bit.

What if I don't make it? What if I die? Dylan and I planned to die together in our bed when we're grey and old, not in a cabin by his own hands. I open my eyes and see Betty beside me, her eyes closed and her grip so firm on the sheet.

She's definitely not with me anymore. My heart beat quickens in fear and I look around, the atmosphere seeming to have changed. the once warm and calm ambiance being replaced by a cold and frightening aura.

Quickly, I close my eyes again remembering my yoga shows. expelling every form of fear in me, steadying my breathing, aligning my senses and staying as calm as I can, I whisper the words over and over again until I feel myself floating on air.

Slowly, the weather becomes colder, goosebumps appearing all over my skin but I strive to keep my concentration.

All at once, the weather becomes hot, scorching hot and I could feel burning sensations on my skin.

The weather keeps changing, becoming more intense than the last, threatening my concentration.

It becomes hot again and tears fall from my eyes from the burning pain on my skin and I try as hard as I could to not falter but failing as my eyes open and I see myself falling from the sky to ground.

Shouting and flailing my arms in the air, my heart jumps in my stomach in fear, feeling myself dying already.

Few seconds and I fall in a forest, hitting branches hard, sticks cutting at my skin and finally dropping really really hard to the ground with a loud thud announcing my arrival.

Pain shoots through out my body, my head heavy and hurting badly, my eyes hazy, nose bloody, the bones in my right arm feeling like they're shattered in bits.

I lay there helplessly, looking at the sky from whence I fell from through the little holes these tall trees would allow.

My nose keeps bleeding, my body weakens by the second and my eyes struggle to stay open. I guess this is it. I tried, but I don't think I'm going to make it. I don't even know where I am or what to do from here.

Dylan would probably be happier without me in his life. maybe Betty made it, they'll be happy together. Without me.

Tears roll down my eyes as I lay almost lifeless on the forest ground with tall hideous tress hovering over me, intimidating me with their green and healthy looking leaves and strong branches.

If only my bones were that strong and my body a little more alive, maybe I'd be able to fight again.

But sometimes, giving up is even harder than fighting. I guess I'd have to take the harder path now, I can't go on this way, feeling hurt and pain every second. It's better it ends this way. It's better I lose the war this way.

"I love you Dylan" I whisper to myself, not sure if the words even came out of my mouth. I close my eyes gently, making up my mind to not open them again. Death is the best option for me now.

Feeling myself reside into a dark abyss, I'm cut short by a cold tap on my cheek followed by a creepy voice.

"Not so fast young lady." On impulse, my eyes flip open and big black eyes bore holes in mine, looking deeply with a smirk on its face.

Unable to move away or even take a good look at who or what's infront of me, I stay put in fear and watch as it puts it's right index finger on my forehead. Immediately, my eye closes and I feel a strange energy surge through me, awakening my dead cells, strengthening my bones and returning life back to my body.

It removes it's finger from my head, my body relaxing and my eyes open to see him standing beside me.

"Get up." he says and without hesitation, I do as instructed without feeling any pain whatsoever. I still can't believe I was at the brink of death just two minutes ago.

Backing away from him in fear, my back hits a tree and I look straight up to his face that holds not even the slightest emotion.

"You should be afraid of me Crystal. You wanna know why?" he asks strolling towards me and I try to move back only to be stopped by the tree again, "because, I'm about to cause you even more pain than Jake could have ever done."

He stands mere inches away from me expelling the scariest yet familiar aura I've felt since I got to the cabin.

Shaking my head in fear, he looks me in the eye and smirks then turn around, walking slowly and picked-up a twig.

Who is he? Where am I? Where did he come from and what is he going to do to me.

"Who are you?" I ask with a trembling voice and he turns around immediately, smiling but still keeping a straight face.

"I'm your worst memory Crystal. I'm your worst nightmare." he stands tall, looking down at me with eyes that make me feel naked. almost as if he can see through me.

"Wh-where a-am I?" I ask again, not minding his previous response.

"I'm going to take you straight to your death Crystal. You won't make it out alive."

"B-but wh-where-"

"Enough of the questions now." he cuts me off raising his hand in the air, "I'm not one to talk." with that, he folds his arms.

"You'll be spending the night here with me cystal." he said coming towards me. "and you'll enjoy it."

I tried to run but he was faster than me. a heavy blow was planted on my neck, after which he tied me down.

"It's just a night Cystal", he said. dragging me long.