karma → 5sos au

1.9

"Bry, you're so pale all of a sudden," Jess said, putting her coffee cup down on the counter. "It's only someone at the front door. Why do you seem so frightened?"

The knocking repeated, a little louder, a little longer. The doorbell chimed.

"Are you okay?" Jess asked. "I'll get the door."

"No - Jess - " Bryana tried to stop her, but the words caught in her throat. Her heart thudding like a sault of lions running across a savanna. "No! Don't!"

But she was too late.

Jess had already opened the door.

Ashton walked in, shivering from the cold under his black jean jacket. It looked like on Luke had, Bryana thought. "Hey, I'm Ashton," he said, smiling and reaching out to shake Jess's hand.

Jess introduced herself. Ashton looked beyond her to Bryana, ho was leaning against the wall, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness, it's only you," Bryana said breathlessly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Is that a compliment?" Ashton giggled. Jess smiled. Ashton's laugh was contagious. 

"We have to go," Bryana said, ignoring Ashton, unable to keep the fear out of her voice.

"Where are you going?" Ashton asked, unzipping his coat and slipping his Vans off. "I just got here."

"Bryana - what's wrong?" Jess asked. "You look so frightened. Was it the call?"

"Yeah. I - " She looked at Ashton. He didn't know anything about Luke. He only knew that she had broken up with someone after her car accident so she could go with him.

How could she begin to tell him what was happening? Especially since she could barely believe it herself.

"You'll think I'm crazy," she said, her heart still pounding rapidly.

"I already think you're crazy," Ashton joked, flashing her a warm, reassuring smile. "Hey - do I smell coffee?"

"Yeah - I just made a fresh pot," Jess said.

"I'd kill for a cup," Ashton said, rubbing his hands together to warm them. "It's freezing out there."

"We don't have time for coffee," Bryana said impatiently. "Luke - he's on his way here."

Darren's handsome face filled with confusion. "Luke?"

"Hemmings? He's coming here?" Jess asked, startled.

"That was Michael on the phone. He - he saw Luke. He knows Luke is back. He - "

"Wait..Michael? Who's Michael? And who's Luke?" Ashton asked, draping his coat over the banister. "What do you mean he's back?"

"It's too long of a story," Bryana said, closing her eyes, wishing she could just disappear. "And you wouldn't believe me, anyway."

"Try me," Ashton said, walking past her into the kitchen. He sniffed the warm aroma from the coffee maker. "Where are the coffee mugs?"

"Ash! You're not taking me seriously!" Bryana screamed.

Jess and Ashton stared at her, alarmed.

"Bry - " Jess started, but she was cut off by Bryana's shrill voice. 

"He's coming to kill me!" Bryana screamed. "Michael said Luke is coming to kill me!" Bryana knew she sounded hysterical, but she didn't care. Somehow she had to get it across to her two friends that this was an urgent situation, that all three of them were in danger.

"But, Bryana, why?" Jess asked, walking over and putting a hand gently on Bryana's shoulder. "Try to calm down. What did Michael say to make you so - so frightened?"

Bryana pulled angrily away from Jess. "Luke has come back from the grave!" She felt her face get hot. "He told Michael. He's come back from the grave - to kill me!"

Ashton stepped away from the coffee maker. He looked over to Jess, as if to say, What's wrong with Bry?

"I'm not crazy!" Bryana shrieked. "Luke was dead. Michael went to his funeral. But now he's back. Do you understand? He's back! He came back to kill me!"

"Maybe we should get a doctor," Ashton said, talking to Jess. "Is Bryana's mum home? Is anyone else in the house?"

"No. No one's home," Jess said. She turned to Bryana, who was glaring at both of them. "Listen, why don't we all go over to my house?"

"You don't believe me, do you?" Bryana cried, squeezing her hands into tight fists, so tight her nails dug into her skin.

"We believe you're very upset about something," Ashton said softly, slowly. "Why don't we go into the den and sit down? Maybe if we discussed it - "

"There's nothing to discuss," Bryana replied angrily. "Luke is dead. He's on his way. He's going to kill me. He could kill us all."

"Okay. Then let's get out of here," Jess said, looking at Ashton. "Get your coat, Bryana. We'll go over to my house. Luke will never find you there."

"I don't understand," Ashton said. "Is Luke the guy you used to date?"

"Yes," Jess said, pushing Ashton toward the front hall. "Bryana can explain it all in the car."

"Explain about a guy who's back from the grave?"

"You don't believe me! Well, I don't care if you believe me or not!" Bryana said, her voice shrill again. "I'm getting out of here, and now." She started toward the front hall, but Ashton grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"I believe you," he said. But he didn't sound very convincing. "But I think we should sit down for a moment, have a cup of coffee, and discuss - "

Before he could finish his sentence, the front door burst open, banging loudly against the wall, making the three of them jump and cry out.

"Ashton - you didn't close the door?" Bryana cried.

"I - I thought the maid would," Ashton said, his green eyes looking wild and frightened.

The storm door slammed.

They heard footsteps in the front hall.

Luke, walking fast, his eyes wide, stepped stiff-legged into the kitchen.

"Luke - stop!" Michael came running behind, his now bright red hair matching his cheeks, breathing hard, his face filled with terror. "Stop! Can you hear me?"

All three of them gasped as Luke staggered under the bright kitchen lights. It was hard to believe that it was Luke. He looked like a creature from a horror movie. A large patch of grey skull protruded through a square bald spot in his hair. All of his teeth were gone. Purple liquid dripped from his eyes. His skin was as green as grass and seemed to be peeling off his cheeks and forehead.

He glared at Bryana, his mouth opened wide in a toothless grin. He staggered forward. It seemed to take every ounce of his strength for him to move. One arm hung limp at his side.

"Luke - stop!" Michael screamed. He turned to Bryana. "I tried to stop him. Really, I tried. But he won't listen to me. I don't think he hears me!"

"Luke - " Bryana tried to cry out to him, but her words choked in her throat. She suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe, couldn't move.

I'm paralyzed with fear, she thought. So this is what it feels like.

He's going to kill me. I know he's going to kill me. And I'm just going to stand here and let him.

"Bryana, I'm back," Luke said suddenly. His voice could barely he heard. It was a rasping whisper, like wind blowing through the crack in a window.

"Bryana, I'm back. I came back from the grave."

"No! Luke- no!" Bryana managed to find her voice and scream.

"You shouldn't have left me to die, Bryana."

Luke raised his good arm high in front of him. In his hand he held a large, black-handled kitchen knife.