𝘽𝙇𝙐𝙀, colby brock.

003.

"what happened?"

"what happened?" colby asked as they walked through the forest. here the three were, trying to find sam.

the girl hadn't told them why she hated being in the forest, maybe it seemed like it but she never told them anything. not about all the bad memories that filled her brain while they silently walked through the deep forest. eyes following them as they searched.

she didn't want to think about it. things only got worse when you spent too long thinking about something you couldn't help. maybe that was why she had grown a passion for being a detective, to help others when she couldn't even help what had happened all those years ago.

"what?" val snapped, her stare becoming stern. she didn't want to talk about it either. it became way worse when you told the story out loud. the memories started becoming too real now, almost as if it was really happening again. she couldn't escape. she didn't want to escape.

she was back at her high school, the blonde boy sitting next to her at lunch. asher, she always loved him, he was her best friend. there was nothing that could get in between the two of them.

"so bell witch," asher said a wide smile spreading across his face. she knew that smile all too well, he wanted to get in trouble.

"ash," she sighed, smiling at the boy, "how many times do i have to remind you that my dad's a cop," she added glaring at the boy.

"forever,"

"whatever, fine." she said, her smile growing, "if i get in trouble i'm staying at your house since it's technically your fault."

she glared at the boy. she missed his face. how his blonde hair fell across his face and how soft his eyes were. he was like a brother to val, she loved him with her whole heart.

"we're just going in the forest, we won't get in trouble." he defended throwing his hands in the air.

"fine."

"i promise!" he said with a laugh. god, she missed that too. valerie would do anything just to have one last moment with him.

"you better. if i get in trouble with my dad one more time we probably won't talk to each other again.." her voice trailed off, her smile fading.

"hey, don't worry about that. team val and ash?" asher said, his fist raised for her to bump, and she did so.

"team val and ash."

"you ready?" valerie gathered her tray before getting up. asher nodded, getting up and following the girl to the trash can.

the setting changed again, now they were by the bell witch cave. the fence blocking any entrance.

"i thought you said we weren't going in the cave?" valerie asked, standing uncomfortably in front of the blonde.

"when?" he replied sarcastically causing valerie to roll her eyes.

"you're so annoying."

"but you love me," ash said with a wink before walking up to the fence. how could he fit through the fence? would it set something off if he did? there was only one true way to find out.

"you're an ass," she said with a laugh as the boy wiggled his way through the bars. he turned back to look at her through the bars, almost like a prisoner.

"you coming?" he said with a smile as the girl shook her head.

"no," valerie said and tossed the boy her flashlight, they had others in the bag. she didn't know this would be the last time she would see him.

and again, the setting changes. now the girl was at the hospital she and her dad went to earlier that day. her stomach dropped, the feelings too familiar.

"valerie garcia?" the doctor called out, looking for the girl. she stood up, following the doctor out of the room and into the hallway asher's room was in.

her dad was the one who found him, in the forest. she was with her dad when he found him too. it looked like he had been eaten by some sort of human, there was no way it was an animal.

"i'm sorry.." the doctor whispered, valerie's heart shattering into a million pieces. "we tried everything we could, the wounds were too deep."

"no," she whispered, sliding down the wall, "no!" she said louder. the doctor came over to the girl, comforting her.

"no, no, no, NO!" the girl said, hysterical now. she tried pushing the doctor away but he was too strong. she punched him. and again, and again, and again.

she didn't want to hurt him but she wanted to be alone. she needed time to think about what she had done. she was the reason ash was gone.

"i know you're going through a lot right now but you have to be strong." he comforted her, but she just kept punching him, crying more than she knew a person could.

"he was just a kid," she whispered, shrinking.

"i know."

the girl continued to cry as rage now boiled inside of her. not towards the doctor or asher or anyone else, but herself. after all, her best friend's death was her fault.

maybe if she had gone with him he wouldn't have disappeared. or maybe if she went with him into the cave. but she didn't, and now she would have to live with that regret. he would still be here if it wasn't for her.

"HE WAS JUST A KID!" the girl yelled out in anger, the doctor trying to distract her as they rolled asher out of his room and towards the morgue. she didn't deserve to see her best friend like that. she saw him through, making everything come down on her.

"HE WAS ALL I HAD!"

"valerie?" colby said, sprinkling water onto the girl as she regained consciousness. where was she?

the girl frantically looked around the forest, no she couldn't be here. this was too much for her. she shouldn't be here right now.

"no, no, no, no," she whispered, scooting back again the tree the other two had leaned her against.

"are you okay." kat asked, concern spreading across her face. valerie's eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them back. she was overreacting again.

"i'm sorry." val whispered closing her eyes. colby leaned down next to val against the tree. somehow he knew her pain, why she didn't like the forest. something terrible had happened to her and she didn't want it to happen to him, or kat.

"don't be," colby whispered, "we can take a break, or even quit if you want to." he added as the girl nodded.

"i just need a break, i'm sorry."

"don't be,"

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word count - 1124

we're just gonna pretend that ash is evan peters alr, also definitely didn't ball my eyes out writing this. 😀