Heartstrings and HighJinks

19: "Yes, general lieutenant sir!"

No, no, no, this can't be happening.

The sound comes again and as much as I try not to, I flinch. They all notice this of course. Kristy's expression is worried, but mostly filled with confusion. Kyle looks empathetic and understanding, he knew the cause of my fear. The only thing I'm truly scared of in the entire world.

While Caramel, she... looks amused. And here I thought I was the sadist. But really though, she looks as if someone just gave her a triple-layered, chocolate cake. She's that happy at my distress. I mean I'd do the same thing but still. She's supposed to be the emotionally intelligent one, not me.

Anyways, I try to ignore them and calm my breathing. But I can feel myself becoming more and more panicked. I'm on the brink of a panic attack, I can feel my throat drying up, no matter how much air I breathe it's not enough.

Blood was pounding in my ears. My heart thudding in my chest. My hands shaking. My feet tingling. My vision was disfigured as if I were looking through a fish-eye lens. I had to get away from the noise. I can't stay near this damned house any longer. Next thing I knew I was on the floor, cupping my ears, trying to tune the sound out.

Focus your mind. Calm your breathing, count backward from 100, skipping three numbers each time.

I recite all the advice Dr. Green gave me in my head, but I can't seem to do any of them.

"Stop, please stop", I mutter, my voice sounding tiny and distant, "I won't do it again, I promise. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"

Just when I feel like I'm about to lose consciousness, I feel someone's presence beside me, a warm hand on my back.

Kyle, finally.

"Hey, Parker?"

Oh

I swallow, trying to get words out.

"Yeah?", I say, my voice a hoarse whisper. I open my eyes to look at her. Her eyes reflect the fear in mine, mixed with worry.

"Close your eyes", she whispers, "we're gonna try something, you up for it?"

I open my mouth, trying to respond through my shortness of breath.

"Don't talk, just nod", she says, as I feel her hand slip in mine.

I nod.

"Here's what we're gonna do; take deep breaths okay? Ready... smell the flowers...blow the candles, again".

My eyes wrenched shut, beads of perspiration littered on my forehead, I take deep breaths thinking of calming thoughts.

Physics, school, studying, harry potter, percabeth. It's working,

Caramel talks again, her voice coming out in calming, measured whispers, "Good. See? You're safe. It's just us, just me, you, Kyle, Kristy, and about ten random people dressed in vampire costumes in a haunted house. Everything's fine"

I recover enough to hit her arm. A breathy chuckle escapes her at my actions and weirdly enough that calms me down more than anything.

After a minute or 45.98 seconds to be exact, I open my eyes, blinking to adjust to the bright light that now floods the room we were in. Kyle and Kristy are in front of me, standing while Caramel is crouched beside me still holding my hand. I look down at both her hands wrapped around mine, they're pretty small. Politely, I take my hands from her grasp. She shows no reaction to this just stands up, stretches her hand which I take, and pulls me up.

Relief still mingled in worry, floods the expression of all three of my companions. Kyle pats me on the back, pulling me into a short hug. I feel this is more for his reassurance than for mine. Kristy looks at me for a few seconds with glassy, wet eyes, before pulling me into an immensely tight hug. I let my arms dangle at my sides for the 5.65 seconds of awkwardness. And then there was one.