Page 46 of Little Psycho

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“Then lets go find out,” Dom states, leading the way and clearly not giving a fuck that it’s almost three in the fucking morning.

The adrenaline is pulsing through my veins as we approach the second floor, a mix of curiosity and fear bubbling beneath the surface.We scale the stairs, our footsteps echoing in the quiet night until we reach the door.

Without hesitation, Dom bangs on it, the sound reverberating through the empty streets.After what feels like an eternity, the door creaks open to reveal disheveled Five, his eyes bleary and confused.

“Where is she?”Dom demands, not bothering with any pleasantries as he pushes past Five and into his apartment, his fierce determination leading the way.

Five stutters in response, but we don’t have time to waste on his excuses.Our only priority is finding Calista and getting her to safety.

As we make our way through his apartment, a sense of urgency grows with each step.Finally, we reach a door at the end of the hall, hearing muffled voices from inside.With a shared nod and silent agreement, we burst through it, ready to face whatever awaits us on the other side.

NINETEEN

MEMORIES

IT’S BEEN A WHILE—STAINED

CALISTA

Cold wind seeps in through the fabric covering my body, making me shiver.Hugging my knees to my chest, I tuck my head between them and rock back and forth, something I’ve grown quite accustomed to ever since I managed to escape the prison I used to call home.

The sound of a car whizzing by every few minutes reminds me where I am, but the single owl hidden in the trees above me sets my nerves on high alert every time it hoots.So I open my eyes here and there just to take in my surroundings: the desolate park on First Street, with creaky sounds coming from the empty swings as they blow in the wind, dead leaves scattered on the ground, scraping against the cold, dry pavement, and one flickering street light poorly placed that barely lights up half the park.

My skin burns as if I’ve lit it on fire, and I try my best to not itch it.The inside of my thighs aches; the urge to cut grows stronger by the second.Why do I feel this way?Why am I having another breakdown?My ex-best friends.The incident in the alley.As much as I pretended I wasn’t afraid—that I had all the fucking confidence in the world—I can’t deny it now that I was absolutely terrified.But why give them the satisfaction?I want them to think they scare me, but they don’t need to know how much that’s true.

I went back to Five’s earlier, but something in my gut told me that they’d come looking for me, and I didn’t want to be there to find out what they’d do if that was true.So I snuck out while he was sleeping, taking my backpack full of everything that I own.I left no trace of myself, except for my scent embedded into Five’s sheets.

Will I go back?Maybe, maybe not.If my cover has been blown, then what’s the point?

I lift my head from between my knees and look around, suddenly feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up.Glancing around, no one is there, but that doesn’t stop my imagination from running a fucking muck.

Reaching into my backpack, I pull out the last pack of cigarettes I have and take one out, lighting it with shaky hands and quivering lips.The wind blows out the first flame, annoying the fuck out of me.Using my other hand as a shield, I flick the lighter again, this time successfully igniting the end of the paper, a bright orange glow briefly blinding me.

The smoke fills my lungs as I take a long drag, a strange sense of calm washing over me.With each exhale, I feel a bit of the tension leaving my body.I’ll figure this out, I tell myself, flicking the ash into the blowing wind.But for now, until I figure everything out, I retrieve the notebook with my list on it, a smile creeping dangerously onto my face.My finger traces over the names that are crossed off, gently gliding up to the next name, a chill wracking my entire body.

Mother

Father