best friends ~ arne johnson

Chapter Four - Do Anything

     I stood over Arne, glass in hand, but I was unable to fight it. The exhaustion took over my body after months and months of no true rest. Months and months of no rest finally caught up with me. As my arm raised, Arne began to beg once more, "Cynthia, please! You have to fight. Don't let this thing win!" I couldn't... I couldn't fight anymore. Arne screamed as the glass entered his shoulder, "Cynthia! I lo-"

     I woke with an abrupt jolt and a scream, frantically looking around for any clue where I was. I immediately found Arne by my side; he pushed my hair out of my face and pulled me into his chest. "It's okay. You're okay. It was just a nightmare." Arne whispered. As he comforted and shushed me, I realized I hadn't taken in my surroundings at all, but if Arne was with me I didn't care all too much. I feel safe with him, even in my state. After a couple of seconds, I caught my breath and decided to open my eyes. It was a hospital room, dimly lit by the overhead lighting. As I looked around, I noticed a sharp pain in my thigh. I pushed the covers back to see my leg bandaged up. Arne noticed my new found composure and unwrapped his arms around me, opting to hold my hand to give me some space. "You punctured your leg. I don't know if you remember. We brought you here; Debbie is in the bathroom and the Warrens are in the waiting room. They're gonna figure out what's in you; they don't think it's a regular demon so they're gonna investigate a bit. We're gonna get you help." he explained, running his thumb over the back of my hand. There was a moment of silence before I spoke up, "Everyone's okay right? Please tell me I didn't hurt anyone too bad." Arne scoffed in disbelief, "Are you serious? You've seen your leg, Cynthia! Why did you... you could've stabbed me. I could probably take it better than you are right now. You're already not doing well, why didn't you just-" "If you think I would let myself do that, you're fucking insane! I would do anything to keep you safe.... God, I.... You're my best friend, Arne." I interrupted. He sighed, "You know, I should be saying all of this stuff to you." "Only if it's true." I laughed softly. Arne nodded his head and wrapped his arm around me once again, "It is."

     "How are you feeling?" Lorraine asked me as she walked towards me. I decided to try and get out of the hospital as quickly as possible. Even if I haven't healed completely, I was able to convince Arne that I was fine to go home. "Despite the piercing pain in my leg, pretty weird. It's not like before. I have more control now. I can feel it, but I'm still not entirely my own." I tried to explain. Lorraine nodded with a far-away look in her eyes, "We'll get this figured out. In the meantime, Arne, go take Cynthia home. Debbie, Ed, and I will go back to the Glatzel's house to try and find out how this all started. We're gonna get to the bottom of this, okay?" Deb pulled me into a tight hug, "Please be safe. Be strong. I love you, okay?" "I love you too, Debs. Be careful." I smiled. As she pulled away, she turned to Arne and gave him a quick kiss. The sight caused an all too familiar feeling stir in my stomach. I coughed slightly and began to wobble on the crutches I was standing on, "I'm gonna head to the car."

     I sat back on my bed, letting Arne wipe a wet cloth over my head. "God, you're burning up. Have you slept at all?" he asked incredulously. I shivered, "No, not really, and can you please take the cloth towel off? I'm freezing." Arne quickly tore the rag off and replaced it with his warm hand, "Better?" I nodded and leaned into his touch. "Cynthia, I need you to know I meant what I said earlier. I will do anything to protect you. I'd do anything for you, you know that right?" Arne spoke in a reassured tone. I smiled, "Yeah, I know.... Remember that time in second grade when you beat up Brock Smith because he stole my favorite doll? You were so pissed for being a scrawny little guy." Arne chuckled, "Yeah, I remember, I have the scars to remind me. I couldn't stand seeing you cry. Why?" "Because that's how I know." I beamed. Arne chuckled as he gave me that loving look in his eyes, "Cynthia... I-" I took his hand off of my head, "Don't. Just don't." His brows furrowed, "What? Don't what?" "Please don't say you love me." I whispered, looking anywhere but at Arne. He turned my head to look at him, "Why?" Tears started to well up in my eyes, "You know why, and it's cruel of you to pretend you don't." Arne was about to speak but I just shook my head, "Just go."

     Night time came around, and I was alone in my room. I could hardly stand it, but I couldn't muster up enough to talk to Arne, much less have in sleep in my room. As much as I wanted to sleep with Arne by my side, I don't know how to talk with him. Plus, it isn't right with him still being with Debbie.  After what felt like hours of tossing and turning miserably, I sat up and turned my bedside lamp on. When I turned forward, I saw the same old woman sitting at the edge of my bed. I cried, "ARN-" She held her hand over my mouth to muffle my screams, "You know, you are such a stubborn little thing, like a cockroach." I heard Arne start to bang on the door and shout, "Cynthia? What's happening? Talk to me, Cyn!" Guilt built in my stomach; me scolding Arne for telling me he loves me was the last he would ever hear from me. I was going to turn to the door but the lady gripped my face and turned me back to her, "You've been a little pain. I wanted to use you, but you are a piece of work. What I'm trying to say is, I'm letting you go... but not really." She dug her thumb into the wound in my thigh which caused me to wail in pain. The woman took this chance to blow a powdery substance into my face. As she disappeared, I felt the strings that controlled me go out of my grasp.

     I could still hear Arne's shouting from outside my room as I felt my body walk towards my bathroom. "Cynthia? I'm gonna kick the door down! Stand back!" Arne warned. When I reached the bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror. I noticed a white film over my eyes and dark veins littering my face. Before I could focus too long, I punched the mirror, causing shards of glass to litter the floor. I picked a reasonably large shard and brought it to my wrist. Before I could do any damage, I felt Arne's arms wrap around me, "Don't!" I couldn't tell if it was Arne's voice or the witch, but the strings that held me let go. 

     I fell to the ground, the pain in my leg finally coming back to me. I dropped the piece of glass and held on to Arne's arms. As I caught my breath, I noticed his shaking and sobbing form. I turned around and pushed his hair out of his face, "Arne?" His puffy eyes met mine, "I heard you scream, everything went silent, and then I heard the glass.... I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone, Cyn." I let out a small whimper in realization. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a firm kiss on his forehead, "Oh, Arn. It's okay. I'm okay." Arne sniffled, "What if I was too late? What would I do with myself? What if you left me where we left off? I wouldn't be able to live with myself." "Sh sh sh, you don't have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

     I sat in silence as Ed and Lorraine took in everything that I had told them of the night before. "We have another case with the same kind of totem that was under your bed. We think it's some sort of pattern where the possessed kill someone and then...." Ed trailed off. "And then what? What the hell happens?" Arne spat impatiently. Debbie ran her hand across his back in an attempt to comfort him, "Give him a break, baby." He took a breath and uttered a soft apology. Lorraine sighed, "Once the victim takes another life, they take their own to complete the ritual-" "So when she said she was done with me she meant that she was just going to kill me, but I didn't let her kill Arne. That's why, isn't it?" I blurted out. Arne stood up, "How are we going to stop it? What are we gonna do?" "We have to break the altar which the curse was cast from." answered Lorraine with a reluctance in her tone. Arne took a step back, "You have no idea where to find her do you?" When Ed ran his hand over his face, he got his answer. He stormed out of my living room and out of my front door; Debbie was right on his trail. "Arne, wait!"

     I let out a shaky breath and ran to my room, still limping due to the injury remaining on my thigh; I sat down on my bed. The effects of the possession began to catch up with me. My hands shook as I ran my hands through my hair, pulling out a couple of hairs with it. Shit. A knock at the door caused me to swiftly brush my hair out of my hands. Lorraine stood at my door, "How are you doing, sweetheart?" I laughed softly, "Well the best I can be, considering. How's Arne?" "He's just worried. He loves you a lot." Lorraine assured. "We're just friends." I stammered. She smirked and turned to leave, "I never said you weren't."