On The Verge

Chapter 3- Midnight Mutterings

———————Chloe———————

⠀⠀The muttering was louder than ever, confirmation that the enunciations were originating from her room. Paige was muttering to herself. Nia's brown eyes made eye contact with mine as I slowly turned the door knob, my eyes fixated on the action.

⠀⠀The door swung open before me; exposing a bare, grey room containing only a bed and a small dresser. The walls were chipped and scratched, as if someone had spent hours angrily beating it. The second the door opened, the muttering abruptly stopped. I stepped into the room, a cold draft meeting my terrified face.

⠀⠀"Paige?" I whispered hoarsely. Silence answered me.

⠀⠀"Paige?" Nia tried, receiving the same response I had.

⠀⠀I slowly walked farther into the room, my eyes darting back and forth nervously. I turned to my left, where the bed stood stout.

⠀⠀That's when we saw her. She was laying on her back on the thin mattress. No blankets covered her motionless body.

⠀⠀Her eyes were wide, unmoving as they stared blankly at the ceiling. Her small mouth opened and closed, mouthing unknown words into the darkness.

⠀⠀I crept over to her and slowly held my hand out. Hovering it over her shoulder, I lightly brought my hand down and touched her soft skin. The moment my hand came in contact with her body, she leapt from the bed. I stumbled backwards in shock. Yet, I refused to lose determination. I came here to get Paige out, and that's what I was going to do.

⠀⠀I quickly noticed Paige had moved from her position on the bed and was now crouched in the corner, regarding Nia and I intently. Her eyes were dark, looking lowly at us from under her maddened brow. I slowly began walking towards her, my footsteps slow, not wanting to alarm her further.

⠀⠀"Paige. It's me, Chloe. I'm gonna get you out of here okay?" My voice trembled in fear, but a slight edge of fortitude was weaved within the terror.

⠀⠀Paige's green eyes softened slightly at my words and she stood up straighter, her features relaxing. I took my chances and went up to her, slowly putting my hand on her back. Images of moments ago, when I had touched her shoulder flash through my mind. Paige flinched, but did not jump away. A sense of reassurance flooded through my bones and I began leading her towards Nia, who had begun the task of opening the small window.

⠀⠀Paige walked like a stick figure; straight, upright. It was as if she were in a trance. Her eyes were wide and wild. Her hair that had been so nicely straitened earlier that day was now a tangled mess. Dark spots had appeared under her expressionless eyes. It was was if she was a different person than she was earlier that day.

⠀⠀At night, it seemed that Paige's demons possessed her.

——————Maddie——————

⠀⠀What could possibly be taking Chloe and Nia so long? They had been in the Sanitarium for over half an hour. I was starting to worry.

⠀⠀"Do you think they're okay?" Kendall wispered, voicing my thoughts.

⠀⠀"I hope so." I wispered nervously.

⠀⠀As if on cue, the window slowly swung open, revealing our friends.
Nia emerged onto the roof outside the window first, holding her hand out to a person inside the room.

⠀⠀I watched a shaky pale hand grasp onto Nia's. Nia pulled the hand upwards and soon, Paige emerged through the open window. She did not look like the Paige we had seen a few hours earlier. This Paige looked like something straight from a horror movie. From her hair, to her eyes, to the way she walked...

⠀⠀She looked haunted.

⠀⠀I remembered what her parents told us, about how she became a different person at night; a tormented soul. I regretted coming here. This was a mistake; I had always known it.

⠀⠀Nia stood on the roof, holding on to Paige as if she might run away, and for all we knew she could. Chloe emerged last, ducking under the window frame and carefully closing the window silently behind her.

⠀⠀Kendall and I bolted into action. We lifted the ladder into the air so that one end was securely dug into the damp grass and the other was balanced on the edge of the roof. The three of them began to walk down the roof, towards the ladders, when something stopped them; Paige.

(A/N: please leave a comment with your thoughts so far and be sure to vote!)