Page 114 of Doesn't Count

No answer.

I take a single step onto the dirt pathway, the darkness luring me forward. Barren branches entwine together above me like gnarled fingers creating a trap, but all I can seeis us.

Carefree, happy, playful.

The late afternoon sun filtering through the trees heavy with vibrant green leaves as our hands are clasped tightly together. Her giggles behind me, her heavy breathing from trying to keep up as we jump over protruding roots and fallen branches. Girlish squeals whenever a bug gets too close, buzzing around her ear.

All I see is Ash, but she isn’t even here.

Another step forward.

“Ash?” I call again.

The only answer comes in the form of night critters skittering across the forest floor.

My heart thrums painfully inside my chest, forcing too much blood to pump through me too quickly. My vision blurs and my body starts to sway as panic latches onto me, digging its nails deep into my bones.

“Fuck!” I lurch forward, nearly jumping out of my own skin, my flesh stinging and itchy as a hand lands on my shoulder. “Ash, you scared me.”

Before I can even turn around, a deep, burly voice scathes my ear drums.

“Let’s take a walk.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Khaos

Dread like a shard of ice pierces through me leaving every nerve numb and frost bitten. For the last five years I convinced myself that I would only ever hear that voice in my nightmares, yet here it is scraping the canals of my ears like glass, making me want to bleed out.

It doesn’t surprise me when I spin around that Bordeaux hasn’t changed at all, not even the ripped, stained wife beater that he wears like a second skin.

In this moment, I realize two things; there’s never been a true God and if I’m wrong, then he isn’t my friend.

“Ollie.” My name sends shivers down my spine as it spews from rotten, misshaped teeth. “Been a long time, boy.”

The grip he has on my shoulder tightens as he leads me away from the woods and into the field towards the street. As the wind shifts, a body odor worse than rotting corpses strangles my senses making my eyes water and my stomach churn.

A million questions run through my mind at once, but only one sings louder than the rest.

Where’s Ash?

Something tells me even if I had the courage to demand answers right now, I’m not going to like them. I continue following Bordeaux to the street, my feet weighing me down like cinder blocks. Every single atom that makes up my body is on alert. Red flags blind my vision and war horns at a deafening decibel, sound throughout the night. Yet, I keep walking towards the gates of hell knowing exactly what waits on the other side. Unfortunately, what also waits is most likely Ash and I’d rather walk into those fiery pits barefoot than to run and save myself.

“Get in.” A chunky finger points to a beaten down beige Saturn.

As I open the door to the backseat, I quickly slip my phone out of my pocket and tuck it between the seats, hoping it’s forgotten.

The car rocks with the weight of the human pig as he settles into the driver’s side, turning back to face me with his palm outstretched.

I shrug, pretending I have no idea what he’s asking for.

“Don’t play stupid, Ollie. You’re phone.”

Digging into my pockets, I pull them inside out, then tuck my hands into my sweatshirt. I make a show of searching the car floor, my hand settling on the door handle.

“I must’ve dropped it outside. I’ll just go get it.” I pop the handle, but Bordeaux’s fist twisting the front of my hoodie forces me to stop.

“Fuckin’ leave it.” He shoves me against the seat.

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