17. 17 – Buck
17 – Buck
P anic.
Immediate panic surrounds us, the pushing and shoving throwing me off-balance as the tight space descends into mayhem.
“Brace,” I hiss. The three of us push in around Alyss, offering her a wall against the chaos that erupts around us as we’re plunged into darkness.
Someone starts to scream in the corner, the high-pitched wailing noise bouncing off the four walls.
Another thrashes at my back, pushing into me and threatening to knock me into the others. I plant my feet on the ground and hold myself steady. “You still with us, Trouble?”
Someone hits Chess from the other side, and Alyss is pushed off-balance, staggering into me.
“I’ve got you.” I wrap my arms around her, the movement too easy as I drag her into me. Panting, ragged breaths warm my shirt as I cup her head, holding her in place. “Keep breathing. The doors will open in a minute.”
“They want us panicked,” Hatter’s voice is loud, ringing out over the ruckus. “Take a fucking breath, all of you!”
A gurgling sound, and the screaming stops.
Alyss’s hands grip my shirt tightly, but she says nothing.
“Lyss.” Chess’s voice. “You still with us?”
“I’ve got her. She’s fine.” I run my hand over her hair, over and over again in a mindless attempt at soothing as the carnage around us begins to settle. I can hear Hatter pushing through the others, talking to them. Calming them.
She’s not shaking – or at least, not as badly as I am. In the dark, I can’t see her face, can’t tell what she’s feeling. “Trouble?”
She takes a breath against me. “I’m fine. Don’t… don’t stop.”
I can’t pick up any fear in her voice, despite her words. My trembling hands pause at that, before I force them to move, to trail through her hair again. “I’m a terrible comfort blanket, for the record.”
She huffs, a small sound that might be amusement. “You’re not so bad.”
My lips twitch, warmth filling my chest, but then I stiffen. “Uh - Chess. Take her.”
Don’t get too attached, Buck. She’ll be dead by the morning.
Hopefully I’ll be dead, too. Maybe all of us will. Nothing will be left of any of us aside from sacks of skin and bone, our lives and memories and regrets and deepest, darkest secrets nothing more than occasional murmurs on other people’s lips until we fade into oblivion.
Although I doubt anyone will talk of me when I’m gone.
I swear I can feel her eyes on my face even through the damn darkness, as Chess draws her away with a murmur.
He’ll look after her. Between him and Hatter, maybe she’ll actually have a chance.
A body brushes against mine. “You ready?”
Hatter.
I nod even though he can’t see me, my shaking fingers curling into fists. “I’m ready for this to be over with.”
This game.
This night.
This shitty excuse for a life.
Fucking hell, but I could really use a damn drink right now to see me through the pearly gates. If I don’t end up underneath.
My eyes slip through the darkness despite myself. Searching, as if I might be able to see Alyss in the pitch-black that surrounds us.
But then a god-awful screeching noise sounds above our heads, everyone slamming their hands over their ears. It goes on for long, tortuous seconds before it suddenly cuts out.
And the elevator doors slide open.