R U There?

CHAPTER 11: Breakdown

I let out a heavy sigh, the only sounds in the silent car. I feel Ryan's eyes on me but I shake it off as I see him continously glance my way with an unreadable expression in my periphiral vision. He looks behind him, at Lyla with a worried expression. I bite my lip as I hold back a look of deep concern and trying to focus on the road before me. I have to be the strong one for us all, I have to be able to think for the group for now.

All we could do was hope she would be okay. I drive slowly to not make the ride bumpy and possibly worsen Lyla's condition. Is she sick? Ill? Who knows at this point. We only know one thing though, the asylum was the only cause to this.

"What should we do?" I hear Ryan's shaky voice quietly speak. I think for a moment tapping my fingers on the steering wheel as I do so. "What could we do?" He rephrases his question.

"When we need to get Lyla to my house, then when... if she wakes up we need a plan for how to get rid of this demon from you..." I touch his chest with my pointer finger signafying it was him. "And the sickness or whatever made her cough up blood..." I focus back on the road with a slight frown.

"What if one of us--" Ryan blurts out worriedly but I interrupt him quickly, not wanting to worry about that at this time.

"Don't even finish that sentence Ryan! None of us are going to die!" I whisper yell but sigh look at the road holding back tears that threatened to pour over. I use my left to steer and have my right just relaxing. I pull over not able to contain it any longer. I place my hands on the steering and let tears spill out of my brown eyes. I see Ryan frown in my periphiral vision, and I just sigh before getting out of the car. I sit on the hood watching the night sky. I just sob into my hands as they shake.

"Fuck!" I scream unable to contain how loud it was. I scream and I bring my fist down harshly onto my car seeing it dint slightly. Fuck, that's going to leave a bruise or two. I hear the car door open from behind me and I just wipe my tears away.

"Hey," Ryan speaks softly sitting beside me on the hood of the car.

"Did I wake up Lyla?" I ask softly looking anywhere but his pretty, green eyes.

"No... Well, yeah but it's better she's awake rather than passed out," He reasons and I nod still not looking at him. "No one will die, I promise you." He speaks softly and I flinch at a hand on my back but it starts to comfortingly rub circles slowly and dearly. "I will make sure of it okay?" He reassures me, but I still don't dare look at him. I fear that if I do, I may cry again. "Kirk," He calls my name however I still look down too ashamed to look up. "Hey." He places his hand on my chin and directs it to look at him. I don't fight it or look away, instead I just smile softly. If only he knew, he wouldn't be doing this... I frown, Ryan notices and tries to cheer me up.

"Hey, where's that cute smile huh?" He grins and I turn red unsuccessfully holding back a smile along with a laugh.

"Cute?" I look up at him with the same expression we had before Lyla interrupted. He turns red at what I said and tries to cover it up with scattered words.

"Ah, I don't think you're cute! Not that you aren't--" He gives up and I chuckle softly to which he smiles. We stare into each others eyes and he starts to get closer slowly. I gulp and I curse at myself. What if Lyla sees us? What would she think? But if I say something Ryan will think I don't want to kiss him. Wait. I want to kiss him? I turn red at the thought.

I move myself closer to his ear and whisper: "I'm pretty sure Lyla can see us," I move away and see him redder than before as he turns to see Lyla starting to sit up. "Come on," I get up and walk to the rusted car door. I open it, in response getting a loud creak and annoying. I start the engine again and apologise for waking Lyla up. I start to drive normally now seeing as Lyla is up yet I am still cautious just in case something happens. I turn up the radio slightly and see Ryan wince slightly.

"You okay Ry?" I frown upon seeing him wince. "Is it the radio?" I ask softly and he nods to which I turn it down. "What... What did you feel?" I ask hesitantly secretly preparing for the worst thing.

"It might be... The demon again." He breathes out shakingly. "But I might be wrong!" He says worried upon seeing our reactions. "It might just be me overreacting in this type of situation!!" He holds up his hands, waving them in defense. I just gulp in response.

"W-what happened when Kirk turned up the radio," Lyla seems to be shaking in fear or sickness, it's hard to tell but either way she definitely needs her rest. 

"Lyla, lay down please. You need all the rest you can get!" I take my eyes of the road as I shout in concern. She does as I say grunting softly yet clearly.

"W-well, my hearing got fuzzy as if I was getting transported somewhere else... Or perhaps it was pain?" Ryan barely gulps back his anxiety, his voice shaky from fear. 

"Pain?" I question looking for more elaboration from the taller. 

"Like, if this fuzziness is because static makes this 'demon' uh... weakened?" He explains looking out the window. 

"Well, whatever it i-is we definitely need to make sure you are n-never around it!" Lyla exclaims holding her stomach as she coughs up more blood. I get more fustrated and practically yell. 

"God damn it Lyla! Stop and get. Some. Rest!" I groan, rubbing my temples. God this is all too stressful for some stupid teenagers. I need a cigarette. I see the two look at me with surprised expressions, it's a true expression I have never yelled or shown anger towards them before... "I apologise, this is all just getting to my head... Too stressful." I sigh loudly and the other two nod softly understanding my emotion. "Let's just get home first and then discuss some sort of plan, okay?" I look in the rear view mirror at Lyla who nods my direction, this time fortunately not speaking. "For now Ryan, we should discuss this... 'demon' that 'posesses' you." I glance his way my serious look softening at his frowning face. 

"I don't even know where to start..." He looks my way before turning to look out his window when his eyes meet mine. 

"Start with the door... Actually, did you feel it's presence before that?" I ask focussing on striped familiar roads with a tired gaze. "Like when you left the asylum or when you were in there... Did... Did you feel anything?" I speak more clearer and in depth. I see Lyla giving Ryan and I a beyond confused look before I shoot her a 'dont worry' look of reassurance.

"Perhaps I did feel something..." Ryan catches my attention and I listen carefully just in case I miss something, anything. "But whatever it was that I felt... I feel it now." I feel a wave of anxiety wash over me.

Oh shit, something is about to go down.

1306 words!

Sorry for taking longer to publish this chapter!!

-charlie :))