Thalassophile (Billy Hargrove)

Fight or Flight

Chapter 31
Unedited

"Barbra, we need to go now!" I dragged my best friend; she was hurt. I was hurt, but she was bleeding; I wasn't bleeding. Her wound was on her lower stomach. I cut my shirt and stuffed her cut; blood was still gushing out. "Kai, no, I can't." I was angry. Why was she giving up? Why was I the only one ever fighting? "No, Barb, comes on; if we get far enough, it won't find us." What exactly was it? Who or what was I running away from? "It can hear aghhhh." No, she's on the ground again. I had already given her my jacket and half my shirt; I had nothing more. "Here I got you." I put her arm around me, pulling her up. My heart rate picked up there was screeching. It was getting closer. It was mad. I needed to get us out. But how, where am I? "I'm slowing you down." Barb looks so pale; Nancy and I always tell her to tan more. Nancy, Nancy Wheeler is my best friend. She would know what to do; she is more brilliant.

"Barb, keep your eyes open." I was in my bedroom; only it wasn't my bedroom. It looked dark and cold; no, this isn't the time you need to focus on Barbra. "Hey, stop! Look at me. Don't close your eyes." Where was Mr Pie? I left him on my bed, oh wanted to just sleep; I wanted my parents; I wanna wake up. " Here, take this." Pulling another cloth tightly on her waist, I pulled it, and the blood slowed down. "Tell Nancy I'm sorry." Barbra was panting. She shouldn't be tired already.

"Tell her yourself." We needed to move before it found us again. "Please, Kai, I won't make it, you know." I think I hear my mom. No, that can't be. Mom isn't here; I'm alone; NO, I have a Barb; Barbra is still with me. "KAI!" "What?" "Leave me, save yourself. I forgive you. This isn't your fault." She is panting again; we aren't walking anymore. We are on the ground. Why is she out of breath? Why is she sweating so much? I'm trying to whip it off. Her skin getting cold. "Kai," Barbra is crying. My best friend, my sister, my everything. She is crying. I'm no one without her; I won't survive without her. No, she is still here. I'm gonna save her. "You can't save me." Why is my cheek wet? Water? No, those are tears, but why am I crying? "Kai promises me you will get out; promise me you won't give up." "Kai," it's getting harder for her to breathe. I press down on her wound, but my hands are covered in blood. It's leaking again. " Kai, promise me you will stand up for yourself, don't be afraid to love and be loud." "Why are you telling me these, Barbra." I was getting so angry I could scream, but it would hear me. "Because I might not be there to tell you anymore."

Why is she saying this thing? She is 17, a kid she hasn't even lived yet. "Don't dwell on Steve Harrington. I'm telling you someone better, way better, will come around, and you need to forgive Nancy and be there for her; you need to tell my parents I love them and Kai." There it was again, the screeching. It was closer now, almost as if it was downstairs waiting for us. I wouldn't go down there and see my mom and dad playing cards like they did when they returned from a long trip or watching tv while ordering in. Instead, it will be dark and cold, and that thing with no face will wait to kill us. "Your speech is going to have to wait for Barbra." I pulled her up again; it was more challenging now that her body was starting to go limp; blood was on the floor going down her right foot. I knew another way out, through the window; it would not outsmart me in my own house. This hurts her. I can see it in her freckled, kind face now plagued with pain; I'm pulling her out the window. We were on the ground again. Im going slower now. It's hard to carry Barb now. "Kai." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "There is a cave in the wood not too far from here. "Just a little bit more." "This isn't your fault Kai, fight. Survive." Why does she keep saying that? I can see it now. She is getting heavier; her legs are not moving anymore. It, limb, I'm pulling her entire weight. Im inside now. I can let her rest very soon, just a bit more; this way, we can stay hidden. "I love you, Kai Nadir." I felt her breath graze my cheek. My cheeks were stained again, wet from tears; why was Barbra, my best friend, my sister, everything alive, right?...

"Barb, Barb, wake up. We're safe now, Barb? Barbra, BARBRA!?" no, no, no, no, blood too much everywhere. She isn't breathing. My Barbra isn't breathing. Why isn't she breathing? What do I do? No, no, I can't breathe. Oh god, oh god, someone helps. Oh god, I can't breathe. "Barbra, no, don't leave me. I'm so scared; Barbra, no, I love you, please, I'm scared, I'm so scared. Mom, I want my mom. She knows what to do. She always knows what to do. "No, Barbra, you cant. I have nothing, I will have no one! I am. No, I'm scared. Please don't leave me. You haven't lived yet." She is cold and damp, but she doesn't look hurt anymore.

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Barbra is dead. It's been hours since she hasn't moved. She is dead. DEAD, four words repeating the letter D, the fourth letter in the alphabet I used to call Barbra Barb, was also four words. It could have been four hours. "You won't be able to tell me I told you so; you won't go to prom, you won't get to meet your celebrity crush, you won't get your first job, you won't graduate, you won't get married, you won't go to college." "But if you wake up, if you just wake up, I promise you can do everything, please." she won't move. She is gone; that's also four words. There it was again, the screeching. It was getting closer by the hour. I won't move. It can find me; I will also be dead here with you. You didn't keep your promise to me, and I won't keep yours; I can't get out anyways; there is no use anyways. I have no reason to survive to fight. I don't have you. There is noise outside the cave; I'm on my feet, fuck this is fight or flight; it's kicking in again. I stand before you; they won't get you even if you're not with... me anymore. It's getting closer; Im looking down at you, and your eyes are closed, your beautiful blue eyes are closed. "I won't let it hurt you; Im going down fighting; Im sorry, Barbra." I put my fist up, but I never got the chance to learn proper form; who cares? This thing doesn't have a fist. It's getting closer. I can feel it, hear it. This is it.

5

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"Kai!"

"Will?"

A/N: This chapter is different from the last one but the next one is gonna start from chapter 30's end. But this is crucial to the next chapter. Thank youuu🩷