Midnight Pleasure

Chapter 5: Blue Lights

As we get close to the high school I can see the flashing red and blue lights, signifying that all of this is real. This isn't a sick joke, a horrible nightmare, or a case of mistaken identity, it's real. I can't help but replay all of the memories I had with Colby, dissecting them, trying to see if there was something I could have done to help him.

Help him.

It was then that I remembered he asked me to help him. Was someone after him? Was everything he did to me just to get attention so someone would actually look at him and figure out that he needed help? I felt sick. Nobody noticed the drastic change in his behavior, nobody questioned it. Why the hell did nobody question it?! He was obviously asking for help in some sick, twisted way, and nobody noticed.

Oh, who am I kidding? This is all too crazy. I'm just trying to find a reason to explain why he did all of this to me, and apparently I've resorted to coming up with the fact that he was being stalked and then murdered. Who knows what actually happened. It could have been an accident, that's most likely what it was, some sort of freak accident. God why won't that feeling go away? The feeling that something isn't right? The pit at the bottom of my stomach is growing bigger and bigger the closer we get to the high school. The hair on my body stands straight up and the back of my neck is starting to tingle.

"Okay Liz, I don't know where you're wanting to go. We can't go in the front parking lot because of all the cops and news reporters." Cherry stopped just a block from the school, we all looked at the lights flashing, mesmerizing us. If we looked any longer I'm sure we would have become hypnotized.

"Eliza, what are you wanting to do?" Jackson brushed his hand on my shoulder, jolting me back to the present.

"We need to go to the student parking lot where the fight was after school." Jackson was about to interject, probably to say that this isn't the best idea, but Cherry put the car in drive and zoomed around the school and into the parking lot. We parked in the same spot I was in earlier, everyone stayed in the car until I decided what to do. I opened my door and got out, Cherry immediately followed, then Levi. Jackson was still in the car, his eyes closed.

"Are you staying in the car?" I asked through the open door. When he opened his eyes I could have sworn they were glowing, but it could have been a reflection. That had to be what it was. He opened the door and got out and walked over towards me, standing directly behind me, almost like he was trying to be my protector.

I walked over to where Colby's hoodie was still laying on the ground, with all the chaos in the front of the school, nobody has come back here to clean up yet. I picked all of his belongings up, trying my best to not scratch any of the cd's more than they already were. I put everything in the car, but something was missing.

"I can't find the necklace he gave me."

"We'll find it. Levi, you're coming with me." Cherry said as she turned around to look on the other side of the parking lot. I guess that meant Jackson was with me.

"I threw it over here this afternoon, I think if we turn on our flashlights it'll reflect the light and be easier to find." I looked down to get my phone out, and when I looked back up I noticed two pairs of glowing blue lights shining in my direction. I had never seen them before, but I also had never been here at almost midnight, so who knows if they've always been here. I went to turn my flashlight on when Jackson stopped me. He was staring directly at the lights and I could tell he was nervous.

"We need to leave." He whispered to me.

"No, we're not leaving until I get that necklace." I started walking in the direction of where I threw his necklace, which just so happened to be where the lights are.

Ouch, there it was again, that pang in my stomach. It was like a warning, don't go closer or you'll die. I ignored my gut feeling and pushed on, getting closer and closer to the lights and the necklace.

Stop walking. Now.

I can't help but listen to my gut, knowing that it had never been wrong before. I was so close to the lights now. I reached out to touch them, it was like they were calling out my name. Just a few more inches, closer, closer.

STOP!

I jumped back, was that an actual voice? Jackson didn't say anything, so who said it? Am I going crazy? Have I actually lost my mind?

"Eliza, please come back to me." I froze, that couldn't be real. Someone was messing with me. That voice sounded so real, but it's impossible.

"Eliza, I miss you. Come back to me."

"C..Colby?" I whispered, terrified if I said his name louder that someone would hear me and send me away. Maybe that's what I needed, maybe I needed to be sent away and get some help. I'm obviously having a break from reality. The news of Colby dying was just too much. I'm probably still on the floor of Cherry's apartment, none of this is real.

"Eliza, it's me. Come closer, I want to feel you in my arms again." If this is all in my head, then what's wrong with indulging in the fantasy of my own mind? This is what I need, Colby to hold me one more time. I took another step closer, ignoring the yelling inside my mind telling me to turn around and go back.

"Eliza, do not move. Do not take another step." Jackson's voice was low, I almost didn't hear him. I contemplated on listening to him, but the mystery of the unknown was far too great. I took another step forward.

"Eliza, I'm warning you. It's not what you think. That isn't Colby."

"Well then what is it? It sounds exactly like him."
"Please, just trust me." He sounded desperate which I found odd. What did he know that I didn't?

"He's lying to you. Come with me." The voice said again, catching my attention. It sounded angrier than before, upset that I would listen to Jackson instead of him.

"Eliza, the voice, it's coming from the blue lights, right? Why do you think it's coming from that direction? It's trying to lure you into the darkness, somewhere you'll be alone. You won't be able to escape. You'll be trapped in the everlasting darkness, running but never going anywhere. Your screams won't be heard, you'll just be...gone." Jackson sounded like he had witnessed first hand what he was talking about. I took a step back, maybe he was right.

"Elizabeth!" I hear my mom shout. I looked around in all directions but I couldn't see her, I could only hear her.

"Elizabeth, help me! Help us!" Her voice was so close, it was like she was screaming in my ears. Where the hell is she?

"Eliza, your mom is here with me. Please come to us." I heard Colby say. I shook my head, this isn't real. My mom isn't here and neither is Colby.

"Who are you?" I asked with as much conviction as I could, upset that there was a slight waiver in my voice.

"Nothing good." I heard Jackson say, he was right behind me now, grasping my arms. He was trying to get me to turn around, but I was too angry. Who - what - was trying to lure me towards them? I could feel the heat rising in my chest all the way to my face.

"Who are you?!" I yelled, desperate to find the answers to my question. The only response was a sinister laugh that sent shivers up my spine. Whatever it was had bad intentions.