𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 ✔︎

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧

~

A/N:

warning:

this chapter contains the usage and consumption of illegal drugs.

~

The next few days were rainy and dull as usual but felt even more rainy and dull because I felt lonely and downhearted. My sixth affliction didn't seem to come. No clues or hints appeared regarding it. It was a quarter through the summer holidays and it was all over the news that it had been raining and bitter cold for a while despite it being August. Everyone had been talking about it. Only Aqua and I knew the truth.

One day, it was a day like no other. It was only two weeks since Layla had left and no one received any news or heard of her. When anyone called her, the phone went to voicemail and when anyone messaged her, it was not even delivered. Plus, I had not seen Mum for ages because Nina had told me that the carer said it was best for nobody to visit her as her memory had gotten worse and she had even become violent. So I decided to try and communicate with Aqua again on a normal day, rain thudding down on the ground and wind hitting my face.

I was wearing a puffer jacket and some old grey sweatpants with my hair scraped back in a high ponytail. I made sure my rose-gold butterfly chained necklace was on while I was waiting for the swirls to happen in a dark alleyway. Nothing occurred. It just felt dark and damp, rank whiffs of strong urine wrinkling my nose. While waiting, I observed a bunch of older girls or gangsters exchanging drugs in small plastic bags for money. They all stared at me, looking like they were wondering whether I seemed like a police reporter or not. I pretended that they were not there and urged for the swirls to start. But it never happened.

"Hi," said a girl with a scary face. She seemed hard and rough and looked like the kind of person you should never mess with. "You have any mates who're interested in weed?"

I shook my head. I knew it was an illegal drug but had not seen it before or heard of anyone consuming it. I was desperate to get away but my feet seemed to be stuck to the ground.

"How 'bout it, huh? That won't do any harm. You seem like a fresh one who's never tried any kind of lovely stuff. Come on, your first try will be free," said another girl. Her face seemed gentler but her hands were stuffed with little bags of drugs.

"Go on. A guy's just bought a kilo of a little of everything and we gave him a discount. Half price 'cause it's his second time," said another.

"No thanks," I mumbled.

"She's a sad one," someone said. "Oi, just try a bit. It'll make you feel better."

I had had enough. "Please. I don't want to."

"Inside you you do," said one. "Once you try a little, you'll thank us."

I hesitated. "Really?"

They all smiled. Some smiles were gentle. Others looked more like smirks.

I felt so pressured. They were all around me. There were about six of them, towering over me showing me the different kinds and the benefits and how happy it would make me feel.

"This one will make you more confident and alert," said the hard-looking one. "And this one will cheer you up and make you happy and bubbly. Almost like being drunk." She pulled out more from a large backpack. "This one will soothe your emotions. You might want to start with a little to get used to it."