Thalassophile (Billy Hargrove)

Static dream

Chapter 35
Unedited

Get it together, Kai. I shook my head as I pulled into my driveway. I didn't know what was going on with me today, but I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. Maybe this was my brain's way of sabotaging the good that had been replacing the bad. I pulled down my sun visor and looked into the mirror. " Nothing bad will happen, Kai. You are safe. You are okay."

Mrs. Francisco was relieved of her babysitting duties once I graduated, finally leaving me home alone even when Mom and Dad were out of town. But as I took in the eerily empty house for the first time since I was 10, I wished I had Mrs. Francisco with me. I grabbed the phone from the kitchen and dialed Nancy's number, nothing, John, nothing. Were they still on about this rat thing? It was weird when Nancy told me I didn't know Driscoll, but from the sounds of it, something was wrong with her and her rats.

I decided to take a shower, eat some lunch, and even watch the news just to  get my mind off whatever it was that had my stomach in knots. I put on my PJs despite it only being 7. Normally, Billy would be off by now, but I knew with him having to stay late to clean the pool, it would be 9 by the time he got takeout and came over. I lay on my bed, reaching over, grabbing Mr. Pie, hugging him close to my chest. I leaned over and turned on my lights so it wasn't dark for Billy, and before I knew it, I drifted to sleep, telling myself everything would be fine.

It was dark in my room as I blinked my eyes open. I was still in my bed, but the lights were off. I could have sworn I left my lights on. I sat up in the dark, tossing my stuffed animal to the side. A slight breeze had the hair on my arms stand, I looked over to find my window ajar. Okay, why didn't I leave it open? I was on my feet in seconds, reaching for my light switch. I flipped the switch, feeling my stomach coil as the light wouldn't turn on. Was there an outage? No, the street lights are on. Just then, the floorboard outside my door creaked. My heart thumped in my chest.

Mom and Dad were gone for the weekend. Mrs. Francisco wasn't here. And Billy—wait. Billy? Was this him? I glanced at my clock, but shit it was out. No glowing red numbers, just darkness. Panic kicked in. I grabbed the heavy math textbook off my dresser, the one I always joked could kill a man. My fingers curled around it like a weapon. This was the part in every horror movie where the girl made a dumb decision, and I was not about to be her. I crept toward the door, clicked the lock, and slowly pulled it open. The hallway outside was pitch black.

Empty.

I let out a shaky breath. "Nice one, Kai," I muttered. "You scared yourself."Dropping the textbook back in its place, I turned toward the window but froze halfway. My stomach dropped. Something was behind me. I knew it. Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood there, paralyzed. My body screamed to run, to jump out the window, do something, but my feet wouldn't move. I was frozen, like prey. My lips quivered. I held my breath. But I wasn't going down like this. I had survived worse. I wasn't helpless. Not anymore. I snatched my blanket off the bed, ready to throw it over whatever it was and run. But just as I moved, the room vanished.

Suddenly, I was standing barefoot in the middle of a road, still in my pajamas. I spun around, disoriented. Everything looked real, too real, but the air felt wrong. Off. There was a low hum in my ears, buzzing like static, making my teeth clench. Then came the roar of an engine. I turned toward the sound, heart slamming in my chest. The familiar growl of a Camaro tore through the silence. I knew that sound. Billy. Relief hit me like a wave. But it didn't last. He wasn't stopping. I barely dove out of the way as the car swerved past me, tires screeching. I didn't even have time to scream before the world shifted again. Now I was somewhere else, darker, heavier, like breathing through wet cotton. Smoke burned my nose, and the sky was tinged with red. That's when I saw the sign. Rusted. Leaning. Painted in flaking white letters:

Brimborn Steel Works.

My blood ran cold. Then I heard it. Screaming. Not just any scream Billy's. My chest tightened. I took off running, twigs and gravel digging into my feet, but I didn't care, Seconds felt like years and before I knew it I was running into the warehouse. and there he was.

Billy, bloody, broken, hanging off the edge of a rusted staircase. His hand reached out for something. For me.

"Billy!"

I shot up in bed, gasping, tears already streaking down my face, hot and heavy, like wax melting off a candle. The room was lit. The neighbors were outside, laughing, grilling like it was just another summer night. But something was wrong. Something was missing. I looked at the. Clock 9:16. My jaw ached from how tight I'd clenched it. My teeth were sore. My ffeetet God, my feet hurt, likI'vely been running. And then it hit me. That wasn't a dream. It was a vision. A warning. And he was in danger.

I was out the door in seconds, grabbing my keys with trembling hands, barely breathing as I floored it down the road, pushing 70 miles an hour. I didn't even care. I couldn't. Because Billy, my Bill, was out there, and he had no idea what was coming. He always took the long way to grab Chinese. He'd drive right past Brimborn Steel Works. That's where it happens. That's where he gets taken. That's where the Mind Flayer finds him.

It's back. And it doesn't know I've seen it. But I have. And now it's a race against whatever darkness is crawling its way toward him. Whoever gets to Billy first decides how this ends. And I'm not letting him go. Not again. Not ever.

I will get to him first. Or I'll die trying.

Hey Everyone, long time no see. Last year was hectic, this is the last month writing this and this book will be completed soon. Thanks for being patient with me xx