The house is full of water, from floor to ceiling.
There's a dark creature trying to capture the two people trapped inside the walls.
There's one way to escape.
One way, and one escapee.
"Are we fine?" Katie closed the door behind them and leaned against it. She looked small and scared. Her eyes darted around the room frantically, as though she was searching for an escape.
"I haven't heard from you in five years, Katie." I reminded her. "I'd say we're not perfectly fine."
Katie sniffed. She looked around the room, smiling. "I mean, I like this new you. From what I've seen online, you're adventurous and fun."
"You've been stalking me?" I narrowed my eyes. Katie came over to the bed and sat down, running her fingers across the creases in the blanket.
"Let me explain the last couple years to you." Katie said, her eyes widening into a plea. "After that night, I was rushed to the hospital. There was poison running through my veins and they had to suck it all out to keep me from dying. It weakened me and there were moments when I did almost die. That thing in the water left a permanent mark on my health and the doctors decided that a lot of rest was what I needed.
"I was taken out of school and I live at home all alone. I used to watch you. For the first couple weeks you would stand outside the house, looking for me. I hid because I was scared. I was scared that something had happened to you. Now I'm finally breaking out of nightmares and my parents want me to join the world again. You have been the link between me and the world for several years. I look at your pictures and figure out what I should be like when I meet you." She stopped, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh, Katie." I took her hand and gave her a hug. "Whatever has changed, we'll work hard to overcome our differences. We have a week to become good friends again."
"Thanks." She wiped her eyes. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting you to welcome me back so easily."
I grinned. I was about to say something when my mom barged in again. "We're going out to The Dining Sailor. You girls can eat something from the fridge."
"Okay," I watched as she closed the door. Katie was looking at my cabinet, where I kept my books and movies. She looked over at me and laughed. "Movie n' food night." She said in her fake accent.
I jumped off the bed, my head flooding with the hundreds of memories that flowed out of that phrase, and hurried over to the cabinet to choose something.
***
I stood behind the counter that divided the kitchen from the living room. A slender glass stood between me and the TV. I filled it with water and poured in some powder, turning it into a fizzy pink. Bubbles rose as I stirred it around, the spoon ringing against the glass sides.
Katie lay on one of the couches, her eyes focused on the movie. A group of cheerleaders danced across the screen, their arms waving as they caught the attention of several boys in the audience. I shook my head, a smile spreading across my face. Katie and I had been so encaptured by teen romance movies as kids. It was nice to relive those fun moments.
"Do you also want a fizzy?" I called.
"Yeah." She got up, heading over. "I can make one. I haven't had one since I saw you." She pulled out a glass and filled it with water. I grabbed mine and headed back into the living room, dropping onto a large beanbag. I took a light sip of the strange drink and smiled, sighing with satisfaction.
"Uh, Jenn?"
"Yeah?" I looked back at her. She was staring at the water, her eyes wide.
"I swear I just saw something in the water." She hissed. It looked perfectly clear. "It was... something black."
"I think you're just paranoid." I smiled.
She looked up at me, her face lighting up a bit. "Probably." She left the cup on the counter and came back to the couch. "Paranoid or not, I don't want to drink that anymore."
I looked back at the glass and frowned. It was sitting on the counter, the water rising and falling in a strange rhythm. It rippled and grew still. The TV flickered for a minute and the lights dimmed.
"Jenn, we're home." The front door burst open. I jumped, letting out a small scream. Katie laughed but it was threaded with strings of fear.
Paranoid or not, I didn't want to be left alone in the house any longer.
-
This is a shorter chapter. I realize that parts of it are a little cringey but please bear with me. I'm going to start posting as I finish chapters. So it won't be consistent because during the school week I don't always have a ton of time to write but I can try. Hopefully the next chapters are longer.
Thank you to everyone who has read or is reading. I really appreciate you guys. Comments really help so if you notice a mistake or really love a certain part, please point it out. That is how I grown as a writer.
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