Chapter 23 Cassie
Cassie
Now
It’s not bad down here.
Cold, but quiet.
Peaceful.
Water surrounds me, swallows me.
I’m melting away. Letting go.
My mind wanders, my thoughts float around.
I’m okay.
This is okay.
Just when it feels like I’m so far gone that I won’t be coming back, I’m yanked up, my lungs painfully filling with air as my face breaks through the surface.
I want to resist. I need to fight. But my body won’t let me. My arms can’t move. I’m powerless. This is when I die, isn’t it?
Shivers, so strong.
Water droplets flick off me and onto the tiled floor as I’m being pulled out of the bath, out of the room. Onto a soft surface. The bed?
I’m scared but paralyzed.
My vision is blurry.
It’s a man.
Darren!
No, Darren isn’t here. But I’m too scared to think about who else it might be.
“You’ll be fine.” It’s his voice. At least I think it is.
He sounds rattled, out of breath.
What is he going to do to me? What has he already done?
I have to go.
A towel is wrapped around me. A robe? It’s thick and fluffy. I sink into it.
“I heard…” I start but can’t form a full sentence.
I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.
Some commotion? Someone here.
I was in the tub.
Tired.
So tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
“Everything is fine, okay? Nothing happened.”
Something happened.
I need to find my phone. Call Darren. The only one I can trust.
Help. Help. Help.
“You don’t need help!” He’s screaming.
Was I speaking out loud?
“Don’t…” my voice is a whisper. “Let me—”
“You’re dreaming. You’re having a nightmare.”
I’m stuck in a cotton ball. Muffled and comfortable but unable to move.
“I’m awake.”
This time I know I said it out loud.
One hand reaches behind my head, while another one slips inside my mouth. Two fingers press down the back of my tongue and then I’m rolling over, retching.
I throw up over the comforter, the disgusting smell only bringing up more, my hair caught in the slobbery mess.
I glance toward the door. It’s so far away. He looms over me.
“Stop moving! You need to rest, Cassie.” There’s an edge to his voice. So sharp it might cut me.
“It’s not a dream,” I say, but I don’t know if he hears me because I can’t feel his presence anymore. His shadow is gone, along with that cologne he wears.
I must remain alert. I need to fight this.
I’m awake.
And then I’m not anymore.