Crissa. Listen to me.
“Stop talking,” I whispered to the demon. “I can’t hear if you keep whining in my head!” My whispered shouts were cut short by the same sound again. I spun around and searched for the cause of them. “Who’s there?” No one responded. “Huh.” I looked back at the bobblehead. “I should put this back where it goes.” My hand grabbed the little clown toy and I headed towards the register
Criss-s-s-sa. Stop. Stop!
As I pushed the kitchen doors open, I noticed the end of what appeared to be a fist, followed by a sudden force that whacked me across my face, knocking me to the ground. I dropped the bobble head and felt my nose pulsate from whatever hit me. “Ahh!” I tried to move, but the immense pain flooded my nerves. A metallic taste filled my mouth as my head throbbed, keeping me on the kitchen floor. The flashlight rolled around me, and as I reached for it, I noticed blood on my palm. “What the—” I touched my bleeding nose again and winced. My eyes froze as the light stopped moving, highlighting a pair of legs just outside the open kitchen doors. “William?” I looked up to see a figure, wearing all black from head to toe with their face fully concealed under a ski mask. I couldn’t see the person’s eyes or mouth, thanks to the lack of power, but I knew in my gut, they were no good.
Crissa!
“Shit!” I ignored Zeth’s voice and rolled onto my stomach to crawl across the tile floor, digging my nails into the grout to pull my weight. Blood seeped from my nose, pooling onto the floor as I desperately tried to get away. The sounds of the intruder’s footsteps shadowed me, slowly stalking behind as I tried to escape, but it was no use.
Let me take control, Crissa! Let me?—
“No!” The loud scream shot from my throat, burning it as the intruder gripped my ankles and dragged me in the opposite direction. My hands clawed at the floor, reaching and grabbing for anything to grasp onto, but they were too slippery from my bloodied nose, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get a grip on anything. “No!” My legs thrashed. “Let me go!” My fingers desperately scraped at the tile, tearing up my nails until they bled, trying to break free, but the person’s hold was too strong. “Please! Let me go!” Tears rolled down my cheeks as they forcefully dragged me through the kitchen, leaving a small trail of blood behind.
The kitchen door whacked my head as we broke through and out into the dining area. My hands continued to grasp onto anything they could, fumbling along the surfaces. I finally got a grip on one of the tables and clung to it, stopping whoever it was who hit me. “Ahh!” My arms struggled as I tried to pull my legs free. “Let! Go!” The masked person grunted, ripping me free from the table. They then kicked my side, knocking the air from my lungs. My body fell back, too stunned and hurt to fight as they continued dragging me through the pizzeria.
I shall handle this.
I felt Zeth’s presence try to force its way through, but deep in the pit of my soul, I felt something else. Something…dark.
“No.” My eyes raised to the masked intruder while lightning and thunder cracked outside the mall. “I can handle it.”
Without thought, I reached into the pocket of my pants and carefully pulled the pizzeria keys out, doing my best to keep them from making a sound. My leg kicked back, forcing the strange person to stumble as I swung my arm and stabbed them in the arm with the keys. The person groaned loudly and dropped my ankles. I quickly rolled back onto my stomach and found my way to my feet.
Impressive.
“Thanks,” I huffed at Zeth before stuffing the keys in my bra and taking off, running through the pizzeria and towards the arcade area. My body wriggled between two of the games and I crouched, trying to remain hidden in the dark.
You cannot hide forever, dear Crissa. They will find you.
“Shut it!” I whispered to the demon, silencing him. My hands brushed my hair from my face as I looked out into the pizzeria, searching for the intruder.
“Crissa,” the man sang my name and every nerve in my body seized. The man stepped into the arcade. “Crissa.”
It seems this human knows you. How intriguing.
I whacked my head to stop his voice before looking back at the masked man. He was looking down at the floor, following something around. And that’s when it hit me.
As admiring as your little glimpse of strength was, you made a mistake.
Tears filled my eyes as the man walked closer. “No,” I breathed softly. His face followed the trail of my blood and he stopped just a few feet away. I shook and covered my mouth, trying to keep quiet while my heart raced and breathing became erratic, knowing it was only a matter of time before he found me.
Lightning struck, illuminating the entire pizzeria, and the man looked directly at me.
He found you. What a pity.
I shot to my feet and tried to run away, but the man ran after me. He was so fast and agile, and just as I turned to look at him, I tripped over the mop and bucket I left out earlier in the night.
“Fuck!” I tumbled over the bucket and slammed onto the floor. Soapy water spilled everywhere, burning the wounds on my body as I groaned and struggled to move. My head spun and I felt dizzy, my vision slightly blurred from the fall. “Ahh,” I murmured as the man stepped closer. “No…no.” He bent down and picked me up, tossing my body over his shoulder. I was too weak to stop him and just lay there like a ragdoll as he carried me through the dining area.
I would offer to help, but at this point, it’s almost insulting to aid you. You made a fool out of yourself, Crissa. An absolute fool!
I tried to ignore Zeth’s voice, my head already pounding from everything else, but he just kept going on and on.
I am almost tempted to sit back and observe. The intentions of this human are so perplexing.
“I don’t care.” The words left my lips like a soft exhale. Tears flowed down my face as my nose continued bleeding down onto the floor behind us. “Put me down,” I whispered weakly. My hands balled into fists, poorly smacking the man’s back. “Put me down!” He adjusted his grip, which only hurt my side more.
