I pull my phone from my pocket and open my text thread with Cedrick.
Me:
I’m here.
My heart is pounding in my throat. I really can’t believe I’m doing this.
I never wanted to come here to begin with, but now, I’m here voluntarily.
It’s crazy how much can change in just a few months… how muchsomeonecan change me.
My phone buzzes, and I glance down, choking on my own heartbeat as I read the words before me.
Cedrick:
Ever play hide n seek darlin
Cause youre about to
A loud bang sounds from somewhere inside the building, and a scream erupts from my throat, eyelids shooting open wide.
Cedrick:
Run
I don’t think twice. I shove my phone back in my pocketand take off across the gravel parking lot—but instead of running away, I run toward the danger. Closer to where I know he’s waiting for me.
My breath is stuck in my lungs, and I pull in deep lungfuls of air with each panting gasp, to no avail. I’m choking on air as I reach for the doorknob and find it open. I run into the darkness without thinking about where I’m going—only that I need to try and find a place to hide, but it’s freaking dark, and I can’t see a thing.
Unfortunately, Static knows this place like the back of his hand, so no matter where I go, he’ll be able to find me with ease.
I need to… make this difficult for him. I needhimto chasemeto know if this is worth it, thatmaybe…
I shake my head rapidly, making myself temporarily dizzy from the force.
No.
That’s not what this is about.
This is about… Static and Madison’s reunion. Nothing more.
It can’t be.
Ican’t be.
I ram into a wall with a painful grunt. “Shit,” I groan, all the air pulled from my lungs. My hands reach out and clamp onto the splintered wood, which I hold onto for dear life as I work to catch my breath.
“You’re too slow, my treat,” Static’s voice sing-songs somewhere in the distance, and I shiver as goosebumps wrack my body.
I should’ve worn a sweatshirt instead of just jeans and a t-shirt.
“I’m not too slow. You’re just crazy,” I mutter to myself as I push away from the wall to start running again.
I squint my eyes in the dark as I scramble down a narrow hallway lined with doors. This part looks familiar, I think, but I can’t remember for sure because the last time I was here, things were… a bit hazy, to say the least.
But I trudge on, feeling my way along the wall, hissing as paint and splinters chip their way inside my skin but never stopping, regardless.
I’ll be damned if I let Static get me.
