A Faltering self (Distorted Reality book 2)

Chapter 27- An Old Friend

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Everything is completely on autopilot at this point. I had to get away and to a place away from all the chaos. Should it really surprise me that I ended up here then? I park my car and don't even think about the incident from the other day, all I know is that this is my place to be free, so here I am, headed for the bridge once more.

My feet take the path with no hesitation, that is until I notice another figure standing at the railing. Someone else is here, and I'm almost tempted to turn back. I need to. Coming here was to get away and be alone for a little bit, so how can I do that if someone is already here? I don't want to be with the ones I do love, so why stay with someone I don't?

I don't even care if it seems rude, I turn back around to head back through the path and find another place to be alone. That is until the voice stops me. The stranger's words are something that makes my skin tingle in the worst way. Like pin pricks all over instead of like soft sand.

"Hello, Darling."

I'm not sure what to think about my reaction, but I push myself back to heading in the opposite direction. I don't have the energy or stability right now to try and deal with this interaction. Obviously, he must think I'm someone else. I don't even give him, 'You must have the wrong person.' I just pretend I didn't hear, yet it doesn't stop him.

"Come on, Madison. Don't treat me an old friend like that."

My pace is back to frozen, even more so that it's odd the way his words are heard. Like they are but also felt, almost radiating in the air. As if they're in my head and ears at the same time.

What is he?

I don't even let my thoughts convince me what is happening isn't. It's too real to be denied for what it is. Just like with Iris, this is someone here that's not. Someone either my mind is trying to convince me is real or not of this realm.

This is it, isn't it? I finally cracked.

...

Or this is a demon.

Lord, which is this?

By the unnerving settling throughout me, I take it as that he is real, but a demonic force. That it is a demon.

'Careful.'

I try to head away, to run away, but I can't. Today has been too much, and against my better judgment, I turn around. I'm careful not to say anything, but I stare him down. Trying to figure this out. I'm not sure why I'm not terrified, or I guess I am, but not sure how still, I'm able to find the courage to stand my ground.

My eyes lock on him sceptical of what it's next move is.

Don't show weakness or weary.

His face does faintly seem familiar, but I can't pin where I've seen it before. His eyes are the most that draw me to that conclusion. The blue is reminiscent of the ones I've seen plenty of times before, but I'm not sure if they're more familiar to the boy in my dreams or the ones I just ran away from.

He steps closer to me with a smile that I'm even less comfortable with. I'm stuck between horror and confusion as I try to make out what's happening. My confidence slipping of this truly happening. Or at least it being anywhere beyond me still lying in my bed and that's why everything has been so wrong today.