Scarred For Life (Scream)

chapter xv.

Tara had kept her promise and stayed with me the whole time I had tried to sleep, unfortunately not able to get more than ten minutes at a time before being woken by a nightmare or pain. Sam had called my mom and she hadn't answered, but Aunt Sid picked up when I rang her, the sound of her voice sent me into a blubbering mess. Tara took over and explained everything, my godmother promised to try and get my mom.

They were finally discharging me, but I still felt as if I would be a prisoner. Sam, Tara, Chad and Mindy always babied me and now they had a reason to. I was the youngest of the friend group and they saw me as the weak little sibling. Sam walked beside me as I walked along on my crutches, a little unsteadily. "How-" I panted, pain radiating up my side. "did, you do this- l-last year?" We stopped as I took a breath of my inhaler.

She smiled slightly as they all slowed down, my exhaustion was evident and I knew they were all worried about me. 

Within thirty minutes we had made it back to the apartment, the lift broken and Chad eventually picking me up and carrying me into the apartment. "My knight in shining armour." I joked as he bowed and held out an invisible hat to me. "Dork." I snorted as he feigned hurt, Tara and Sam helping me into my room and to change.

As if we were back in Woodsboro' those eight almost nine months ago, it felt like before. Tara and Sam helping me to clean my wounds and staying with me until I fell asleep everynight. I hated being so dependent on somebody, but I was too exhausted to do everything myself and I knew that they were glad to help.

Once I had pulled on my vest and shorts, Tara helped to get me into my bed before both of the Carpenter sisters curled up on either of my sides. The exhaustion slowly took over, as I felt myself relaxing, Tara's fingers softly running through my hair.

Within ten minutes of sleep, I'd woke up drenched in sweat and shaking, my heart hammered in my chest as my blood roared in my ears. I whimpered out of pain and fear as my door slammed open.

I flinched violently at the sharp noise as soft arms wrapped around my body. "I've got you. sh. It's okay. You're okay. We're safe. You're safe. Ria, I need you to take a deep breath." Tears cascaded down my sodden cheeks as my head span with thoughts rushing in and out a hundred miles an hour.

Her hands grabbed onto mine and applied pressure to them, a grounding technique my dad had taught the friend group if they ever needed to quickly calm me down. "I got you. I got you baby." Sam quietly shushed me as she rocked me to and fro, the grief of the last attacks coming back to me. My dad's lifeless corpse looked up at me as I looked down at my bloody hands.

"Slumber party with the Surviving Five." Chad hollered, Sam rolling her eyes as a look of confusion washed over me. I slowly mouthed the phrase as I carefully got onto my feet and limped out of my room, Sam helping me. 

Tara and Mindy sat either side of me as Chad looked pleased with himself. "Did he just give us a nickname?" I asked quietly, Mindy nodding her head as Tara cringed. "You can't give yourself a nickname dingus." Mindy nodded as Chad shot me a look that feigned hurt and betrayal.

He pumped his fist proudly as Tara and I burst out laughing. I zoned out from exhaustion as Tara moved my head to rest on her shoulder. Clearly sensing the pain and exhaustion radiating throughout my body. 

I was vaguely aware of cute boy from across the hall being mentioned and the squeals of my friends before it was interrupted with bangs and groans coming from Quinn's room. Mindy groaned. "Looks like she's entertaining a gentleman caller, again." Tara quipped as Sam smirked at the comment.

Simultaneously, our phones lit up with a picture from Danny's phone. "Oh my god." I gasped as Tara helped me to stand up and rested my arm around her shoulder.