Submerge

H E L P ?

M A S O N

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the unfamiliar room. I blinked, my mind foggy and sluggish, as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The memories of last night's chaos rushed back, each fragment crashing against my consciousness like relentless waves.

The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the cacophony of the party and the whispers of my sister that had haunted me. I shifted slightly, my body feeling heavy and unresponsive. The weight of the night clung to me like a shroud, and as I stirred, the reality of my actions began to settle in.

Last night was a blur. The alcohol, the chaos, the desperate attempt to drown out the pain of the anniversary. I remembered pushing Ethan away, the anger and desperation that had fueled my actions. And then, the stranger – Jacob.

My eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. Jacob had taken me from the party, brought me to his house. But why? What was his motive? I searched my hazy memories for answers, but the details eluded me.

I turned my head slowly, surveying the room. It was tastefully decorated, but an underlying unease lingered in the air. I sat up, the sheets falling away, revealing unfamiliar clothes. Panic clawed at the edges of my consciousness as I tried to piece together what had happened.

My gaze landed on the nightstand, and there it was – the syringe. A wave of nausea washed over me as I remembered Jacob preparing it, the drug that had offered a fleeting escape from the torment that plagued me. I touched my arm, feeling the lingering ache of the injection site.

As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, a dull headache pulsed through my temples. I steadied myself, taking a moment to assess my surroundings. The room was quiet, the only sound my own uneven breaths.

I stood, my legs wobbly beneath me, and made my way to the door. It creaked open, revealing a hallway that seemed to stretch into darkness. I moved cautiously, a sense of foreboding settling over me.

The house was silent, and the emptiness seemed to amplify the questions that echoed in my mind. Where was Jacob? What had he wanted from me? The answers remained elusive, obscured by the haze of the night.

As I descended the staircase, the house revealed itself in fragments – opulent furnishings, cold marble floors. It was a stark contrast to the warmth of my family home, and a shiver ran down my spine.

I reached the ground floor, my steps echoing in the silence. The air felt heavy with the weight of the unknown, and a sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach.

In the living room, I found him – Jacob. He sat on a sleek leather couch, a detached expression on his face as he stared into the distance. His eyes flickered toward me as I entered, and a cold chill passed between us.

"Mason," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "How are you feeling?"

The question hung in the air, loaded with an unspoken meaning. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I... I don't know. What happened last night? Why am I here?"

Jacob's lips curled into a subtle smile, a hint of satisfaction in his gaze. "You were in a bad state at that party. I thought I'd bring you somewhere safer."

My mind raced, trying to fill in the gaps. "Safer? Why would you do that? Who are you?"

He leaned back, the indifference in his expression intensifying. "Just a guy who thought he could help."

The unease in the room thickened, and a sense of vulnerability settled over me. I took a step back, my eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "Help? Help with what?"

Jacob's gaze bore into mine, and for a moment, I saw something beneath the surface – a darkness that sent shivers down my spine. "You've been through a lot, Mason. I thought I could offer you a way out, a respite from your pain."

His words hung in the air, anger and fear churned within me, a volatile mix that threatened to consume my rational thoughts. "What did you do to me, Jacob? Why did you bring me here?"

He stood, the silence between us stretching taut. "I wanted to help you forget, even if just for a little while"

I took another step back, my mind racing. "Forget? Help me forget by drugging me? What kind of sick game is this?"

"Oh come on! and what were these pills? candy?"

The realization struck me with a sickening force. A wave of vulnerability washed over me.

"I never asked for your help," I said, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation. "I never wanted any of this."

Jacob's gaze locked onto mine, "Sometimes we don't know what we need until someone shows us."

The room seemed to close in on me, the weight of the unknown pressing down. I turned and fled, my steps echoing through the empty house. Panic seized me as I reached the front door, my trembling hands fumbling with the lock.

As I stepped outside, the cool air hit me like a slap, and I felt the weight of the night closing in. I didn't know where I was, how far Jacob's influence extended, but one thing was clear – my path had taken an even darker turn.