Hide and Go Seek

25. Alan

I can no longer feel my leg, which is definitely a bad sign, but I just can't bring myself to care. At least I don't have to deal with that kind of pain along with the cuts in my torso that Thing decided to do as a victory for luring my sister.

I struggle into a sitting position, some of the new scabs on my stomach and chest break open with the movement. I have become feverish and I suspect my leg has become infected as well. Because of my horrid condition The Thing cut most of my bindings knowing I wouldn't be able to escape. It was right; I could barely manage to sit up. I lean against the wall, desperately hoping It was just trying to mentally torture me as well. Surly Max can't be stupid enough to believe I was alive. Stupid enough to think that If I did somehow survive a fight against Thing that I would leave Australia without checking to see if she really left before following.

The Thing had bragged to me about how they tricked her as they cut a large V into my chest along with swirly shapes as if they were bored and doodling in the margins of a paper.

I press my head against the concrete wall trying to cool my head, when I hear the warehouse door open. I look up and see what I desperately hope is a nightmare– The Thing dragging a bound Max over to where I am.

"No!" I half groan half yell as It deposits Max next to me like a sack of potatoes. Then It leaves without looking at me. It skips out the door, before returning with a bucket. I grasp weakly at Max, trying to shield her as best as my ruined body will allow, every movement painful. Thing hefts up the bucket and dumps water over us both. Max sputters awake.

"Max!" I yell as she looks around, gathering her bearings. "You idiot! You were supposed to run! Not walk right to It!" Tears have started to mix with the water still dripping off my face. She blinks once, then twice, staring at me in shock.

"You're alive..." She whispered in awe. "I thought you were dead."

"You guys, I hate to break it to you, but there isn't enough time for a reunion. I'm ready to have some fun!" It says with a sick smile on its face as it yanks Max away from me effortlessly. Max's face goes white. She looks back at me and sees the blood on my shirt and my mangled leg. A look of anger and terror flashes across her features as she struggles harder against the ropes. It walks over to one of the few boxes in the spacious, empty building; a box I know holds weapons.

She walks back to Max holding a metal baseball bat.

"No!" I scream. I try to crawl over to Max but I collapse. I can't get over there. I scream along with Max as It brings the bat down on Max's arm bound to her side. I try again to crawl, but I am too weak to do anything. I scream in frustration and anger as I hear a crack. Max's screams become blood curdling. Watching It torture Max is worse than It torturing me. Max's screams bounce around in my head, more painful to me than the Thing taking a meat tenderizer to my leg. More tears run down my face as I use my arms to claw slowly along the concrete floor. It moves on towards Max's shoulder. Her screams die out into whimpers as she stares at me. I can see her eyes begin to roll to the back of her head.

"Not so fast." it says slapping her back to consciousness. Max jerks her head back as she snaps back to reality. Then the Thing makes its way over to me, the bat dragging behind her. I swallow hard. Better me than her. I think before squeezing my eyes shut. I hear Max call out, her voice breaking.

BANG, BANG, BANG. The door breaks in. My eyes fly open as I watch police swarm the building in shock. Max starts laughing in hysterics.

"It worked. It really worked."