“Can’t… what? Can’t talk to me? You’re already doin’ that, aren’t ya?”
I can’t respond. I can’t even get my mouth to open without chattering too hard, my teeth clacking together, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping Static.
“You’re perfect like this… did you know that?” he drawls, and I can only listen with my phone glued to my ear. I’m frozen with a fear I can’t explain I want.
“Your little body riddled and trembling, unable to control itself… Just as I remember it in that room. You remember that too, don’t you, little mouse?”
Some small squeak escapes me, and Static chuckles darkly.
“Yeah, you remember. How could you forget? You keep my collar right there on your shelf as a little reminder of our time together, don’t you?”
“W-wha-t-t?” I choke out, my words wet and snotty.
“You heard me, prize. I saw it. You can’t lie to me. But it’s okay… I left it for you. I’d rather you keep it and remember me.”
My eyes dart to the very shelf he’s talking about, and sure enough, there it is in all its black, tattered glory, where I stare at it from time to time. A reminder of the someone I becamewhen I was in that room. The someone I’m not sure I ever want to be again.
But Static…
He brings this out in me, and I can’t seem to stop it…
No matter how crazy it is.
“Okay… I don’t—don’t kn-know what’s going on o-or how y-you know t-this stuff, but you need to l-leave me alone.” I pull in a huge breath at the end because it feels like I’m suffocating.
“I think you know, but you don’t want to, do you?”
“What?” I ask, shaking my head as confused tears spring to my eyes and start to drip out.
“You don’t really want to know. You’d rather stay in the dark because the known is too scary for you.” There’s a long pause where all I can hear is the sound of his breaths through the receiver. They cause more goosebumps to prickle across my skin. “Isn’t it, Madison?”
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat at the harsh truth of his words.
“Tell me the truth,” he demands, and I fall victim to him.
“Yes.”
“Good boy.”
My face flushes hot, and I swallow heavily. “Oh, God.”
Static chuckles darkly. “God has nothing to do with this, my prize. It’s all you and me and our time together. Are you excited for more?” He leaves the question open-ended, but I don’t know how to answer that.
What am I even supposed to say?
The truth is too hard to admit—because even I can’t say it to myself—whatever it is… But I don’t think I can lie either because he’ll see right through it and call me out on it.
Either way, I’m screwed.
My breathing kicks up in the panic that ensues. Black dots dance in front of my eyes, and I think I’m going to pass out again. My palms grow clammy, and my hands start to shake uncontrollably. Static is speaking to me, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying over the loud ringing in my ears.
“Maaadiiiisooonnn,” my name is cooed so softly, I almost don’t hear it, but the heavy, breathy way it’s spoken causes chills to slither down my spine and settle at the base. I shiver uncontrollably as the tingles work their way back up and into my skull.
“That’s it, mouse. Listen to me. Breathe.”
And for some reason…I do.
I pull in a breath. And another.
