She closes her eyes, sinking into my touch as I try to reconcile what the hell is happening. "Am I dead? Is that why I can see you?"
"No." She laughs. "You can see me because Iwantyou to see me."
"Fuck, Nikki," I choke on my relief, the forgiveness in her eyes as she watches me. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to die. I just wanted—"
I break off, swallowing the rest of my words.
I just wanted to be inside of you.
I just wanted you to know I love you.
I just wanted you to see that you chose the wrong guy.
I just wanted to have a little fun.
"What?" She prompts me, tipping her head slightly, so that her light blonde hair dips lower, brushing against the tops of her breasts and drawing my attention to the vivid blue bruises on her throat.
I blink, trying to adjust the view of her before me. But even as I do, she melts away right in front of me, becoming something... ghastly.
"Nick?"
Blood drips from her lips, but that's not the source of it. It's pouring down her face, cutting paths down her cheeks from a gash on her forehead.
Stumbling backward, I try to put some distance between us, not sure what the fuck is going on.
"Nick?" She advances toward me, her hands reaching out like she's begging for me to grab hold of them, to pull her to me and save her.
But I can't save her; it's too late.
I killed her.
Blood cascades down her face and drips onto her dress, but she doesn't go down or stop moving.
For a minute, it feels like she's a zombie, chasing after me like it's the only thought in her head keeping her moving forward.
It's a fucking horror movie.
The conversation from last night drifts through the air.
"You never say I'll be back..."Cole had said.
"In a horror movie. We're not in a horror movie."
"As far as you know."
"Nikki..." I raise a hand between us, trying to keep her from getting too close in case she decides to eat my brains or something. "You shouldn't be here."
"I know." She says. "But I'm so cold, Nick. Can you warm me up? It's freezing where you left me."
I jump off the step, skirting her as she moves toward me, possessed.
Water joins the blood pouring over her, creating a pool of it that spreads around her feet and outwards.
The wood floor is unsteady beneath me as the mixture dribbles beneath my shoes, taking me to my hands and knees as I slip in it.
"Nick?" She asks, descending overtop of me. "I'm scared. I think I'm dying..."
A sob breaks loose from somewhere inside of me as she gets next to my face, her cold fingers slipping beneath my chin and turning me to face her. "I think I want to go home now."
