chapter 11

Chapter 11

Carl

12:24 am

I'm not going to die at school. Not like this I have so much life to live. Finish school, open my weed store and get rick. My 5-year plan. I have dreams, but this is a nightmare. I'm tugging on the frozen front doors. They still won't budge. There's a trash can a few feet away. I grab and throw it at the doors. The glass splinters but doesn't shatter. I gasp as the cracks repair themselves before my eyes. It's too much and I scream rushing for the stairs.

I have to get out of this building. There's a fire escape on every floor I'll try every single one. As I'm leaving the steps Jennifer's face is flashing in my head. She and that thing grabbing her. It was dark and possibly my mind tricked me. DOn probably picked her up. Yes but what scream if she knew it was him. No No it's the pills it has to be. But my gut is telling me it wasn't DOn. I'll be next if I don't leave.

Still leaping two steps the power goes off. Disorientated I miss steps and fall on my face hard.

"Help" someone yells "carl Don help me!"

I look at the door. It's where I left Jennifer. It's her voice, she sounds hurt in pain.

"Help! It's my ankle I think it's broken, it's cold, don't leave me please!"

It can't be her can it. I saw what happened. It can't be he, maybe it's Brittany.NO I'll never forget Jennifer's voice. Sadly it's carved in my mind forever. The lights come back on. Against common sense I stand up and move towards the door. Then I shift to go up the stairs.

"Carl Don't stop joking its Jennifer I'm cold" she is crying "whoever it is I'm hurt, I need help please"

I swallow "I'm coming hold on"

I grab the ice-cold doorknob and pull open the door. Everything goes dark again, dark and freezing. I instantly hug myself. I can't see a thing as I step forward.

"Jennifer" I yell

"Can you see the light" She calls out

I see a small light but it looks so far away.

" I see you I'm coming"

I keep walking for what seems like too long. My feet start crunching on what must be snow but shouldn't be possible. It starts to smell like outside a window must have burst open somewhere. I turn around but can't see where I came from.

"Hurry it's cold" she yells

I keep for the light her crying growing louder as I go. I know I'm not inside anymore and it's what is scaring me most. I climbed four flights of stairs. I'm sure of it.

"Carl" she whispers "their coming"

Dons voice joins hers "hey Carl"

"Carl"

"Caaarl"

"Carl, carl carl carl"

More voices begin a chant like whispers of my name. I don't want to be here anymore. I start running towards the light. It's the only choice I have. The voices are getting louder and closer. But the light which is a fire is only a few feet away. I need its heat, my body going numb. A few steps away the darkness vanishes replaced by light. I'm back inside in the basement somehow. The furnace is one step away from heat unbearable. Worse, I'm going too fast to stop. I trip on my own feet and face the tumble first into the fire. I scream at the initial burning sensation. I hear my skin popping then nothing but cold.