Page 102 of The Dark Obsession

“That vest looks like yours,” Ben says quickly.

Rafael’s head snaps in my direction. “What about the underwear?”

I nod, heat rising up my neck and across my cheeks.

“The break-in,” Rafael says, looking down at me.

A thunderclap crashes in my ears as the realisation that Dale knows exactly where we are hits me as hard as a tank.

Rafael pulls me close to his body, his arm across my chest. “He knows we’re down here.”

I search frantically for a way out, a way to be safe. I grab Rafael, urging him to follow me, but he doesn’t move.

He’s studying the walls and approaches the mattress. He runs a finger along the rough, stone wall.

“We need to get out,” Ben says, coming to stand across from Rafael.

Adriel walks towards the stairwell. “He may already be here, just listening to us.” He nods towards the stairs.

I force a deep breath. The taste of the stale, old basement lingers on my tongue as I stare at the dark opening of the staircase. Flashing images of Dale and his manic smile envelope my mind. “We have only one option,” I squeak.

“What’s that?” Ben asks.

“To fight,” I say as quietly as possible; my whisper echoes around the basement.

Rafael nods in acknowledgement but puts his finger to his lips, silencing us all. He kisses my lips in a way I’ve never felt before—almost desperately. He holds my face between his battered hands, then regards me as if he’ll never see me again. The longing in his eyes causes an ache so deep inside my chest. My lips tremble as he walks away, leaving me feeling cold, he heads toward the mattress. He kicks the dirty, old mattress against the wall. A dust cloud erupts from its yellowing material, and it trembles, then slides down the wall.

I stand in shock, all of us staring open-mouthed at the gaping hole in the wall. I choke on the dust cloud as it spreads through the basement. A shadow lingers a few steps inside, my heart stops and knees strain to hold me up against their shake. It’s him.

Chapter 30

“Don’t!” Rafael’s voice barely registers with my stunned brain.

My legs have already carried me to the foot of the stairs. I can’t stop as I take two steps at a time, until an ear-splitting pop reverberates off the high ceilings. My leg gives up, no longer wanting to move. The sound around me—voices—gets louder. Although I can’t understand what they are saying, they seem to change pitch. They are shouting.

I fall heavily backwards. Each stone step hits me harder than the previous. I feel the icy stones beneath me, but there is no pain or fear; my body is unconcerned with what’s happening. Although in my head I scream, I’m screaming because all control I thought I had of my emotions or my limbs seem to have left.

What limbs?a small part of my brain asks.

“My legs,” I say to myself.

You can’t feel them because we don’t need your legs anymore.

I try to look around, but all I see is darkness. I try again, despairingly searching for a source of comfort.

A strange person ahead of me approaches, moving faster with each step.

My mouth hangs open. I recognise the curious stranger standing less than two feet from me. “You look like me,” I say to the mysterious woman.

Her blond hair sways from side to side as she shakes her head.I don’t look like you. I am you.

I can’t feel the usual sensation of confusion I’d usually get, the feeling of my eyebrows furrowing or my lips pouting. I can’t even feel my lips as they speak. “Impossible.”

My own laugh rings in my ears.I’m the part of you that doesn’t want to die.

The words should send a huge shiver down my spine, if I could feel it, though I can only muster an “Mhmm … What’s happening to me?”

We’re dying. So you’ve got to wake up.

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