Fear

30 • Dylan has gone too far

Realising the significance of my discovery, I hurried back through the winding corridors to find Tom. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and hope.

As I rounded a corner onto another corridor, my breath caught in my throat. There, on the ground, was Tom - but something was horribly wrong. He was curled up, sobbing and choking on his own blood. The walls and floor were splattered crimson, and his body was covered in fresh injuries.

"Tom!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty hallway. Panic surged through me as I ran to him, falling to my knees by his side. His breathing was ragged, each gasp a painful struggle.

"Hold on, Tom. Just hold on," I whispered frantically, my hands trembling as I tried to comfort him.

I needed help. I had to find someone-anyone. I stood up and sprinted down the corridor, but as I turned a corner, I slammed into someone.
The impact sent me sprawling to the floor.

I looked up, and my blood ran cold.

It was Dylan.

A menacing smile spread across his face as he saw the panic in my eyes. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Look what we have here."

He approached me, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Going somewhere, bitch?" he sneered.

I dropped to the floor and shuffled backwards towards Tom, my heart pounding in my ears. "Please, Dylan, just listen-" I began, but he cut me off with a harsh laugh.

"Listen? You think Tyler can save you now, bitch? You've already lost. It's game over for both of you. I'm going to kill you, and he can watch."

Terror gripped me as I glanced back at Tom, who was barely conscious. "Tom has already told me about your little escape plan," Dylan continued, his laughter echoing through the corridor. "You think you can escape this place? You think you can take him with you? Away from me?"

"Please, Dylan," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "Just let us go! You don't have to do this."

Dylan's expression darkened and he took another step forward.

My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out. I shielded Tom's body with my own, refusing to let Dylan hurt him any more. "Leave him alone!" I shouted, my voice trembling with defiance.

Dylan's eyes narrowed, and he took another step closer. "Pathetic," he spat. He raised his hand, and I saw the glint of a knife. Panic surged through me as he prepared to lunge.

There was no one to save us, no way out. I could only hope that somehow, we would survive.

Dylan's smile widened, his eyes filled with a sadistic glee as he raised the knife higher. "Time to die, bitch," he whispered, his voice cold and merciless.

Just as he lunged forward, everything seemed to slow down. My mind raced, searching for a way to protect Tom and myself.

Then there was a loud bang.

Dylan abruptly stopped, his eyes widening in shock. He staggered, the knife slipping from his grasp and clattering to the floor. Blood spread across his chest, and he collapsed, lifeless before he hit the ground.

I looked up, my vision blurry with tears. At the end of the corridor stood Tyler, a gun in his hand, still aimed at where Dylan had stood moments before. His eyes were full of fear. He dropped the gun and rushed over to me, his eyes wide with relief and horror.

"Emily, are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaking as he knelt beside me.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, but I pointed to Tom, who was still struggling to breathe. "Tom-he needs help. Get Sam. Please, Ty, hurry!"

Tyler nodded, his face pale. He stood up and sprinted down the corridor. I stayed with Tom, my hands covered in his blood as I tried to comfort him. "Hold on, Tom. Just hold on," I whispered, my own tears mingling with his blood.

The minutes felt like hours, but soon, Sam arrived with a stretcher. Tyler helped lift Tom onto it, and they hurried him away to the hospital wing. I stayed behind, my body trembling from the adrenaline and fear.

As the corridor fell silent, I sat there, staring at Dylan's lifeless body. The reality of what had just happened began to sink in. Dylan was dead. Tyler had killed him to save us. I didn't know what this meant for our future, but one thing was clear: Tom was finally safe.

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