Ell Sadem

TEN: GLASS EYES

—Ella—

“Dude."

The darkness behind the door seems to undulate and twist, bulging as if about to spill out.

The guys' flashlights flicker and dim as they step over the threshold and into the yawning void, but they keep going. Their steps don't falter, they don't flinch or look at one another with any sort of worry; They just don't react.

My entire being shakes despite the warmth in the air pressing against me like the darkness that slowly pulls them into itself, consuming them; I should have never left home. I should have stayed in the house. I should have avoided Mar the way he avoids me at school.

Their lights flash bright, lighting the entire dugout for a fraction of a second before the shadows plunge back in, drowning out the feeble beams.

No way am I going to step foot in there. My pulse runs faster, my heart beats a sickening rhythm against my ribs, and the thick darkness threatens to choke me without their lights to push it back. They can't pay me to go in, and yet something tugs at me, and fear pushes me forward but somehow my feet stay rooted to the spot, unresponsive to my desperation. I need to go, I can't be alone—.

"Ell—!" Mar's muffled voice cuts off, frantic.

My feet move before my brain registers it and I plunge blindly into the darkness, my hands cold and my throat tight.

Brightness slaps me in the face, stabbing my eyes and leaving me effectively blind. I flinch back, covering my eyes as I squint, "Where's Mar?"

Robbie half turns and his brows raise, "Are you good? You look like you've seen a ghost."

“No,” I blink hard, the brightness still painful, "Where is he?"

“Mark?“ Evan stares at a wall, squints at it really, before glancing over. "Ella, he couldn't come."

"Don't play games with me, Evan." my tone snaps a little harsher than I meant for it to be. "Not with all that's happened."

He stares at me, his eyes wide. “Ella, I don't..." He turns to Robbie as if looking for help. "What did I say?"

He shrugs lamely, "Don't look at me, words aren't my friend either."

I shake my head; this is a prank. It has to be. He was just outside not five minutes ago, he's hiding somewhere in here. But there isn't anywhere to hide. I turn slowly, examining the dugout; The concave room sits empty with no doors, crates, or tarps. There's not a speck of dust on the concrete floor to leave tracks in, no way for me to see if he just slipped out from behind me while I came in.

A light breeze sends leaves over the threshold from the darkness outside, rattling like dry bones.

I saw him go in with them. I know I did. I had a whole conversation with him.

"Ella, when's the last time you slept?"

Sleep. When... I shake my head, turning my eyes to the ceiling; no light fixtures. I was just asleep. My eyes turn down as I rub a thumb over my tingling wrist, staring, clutching. What was I expecting?

"There's nothing here, we should go."

My eyes flash up catching Evan move toward me, the space above his head empty. How long has it been like that? I take an involuntary step back; there is nothing I would like better right now than to wake up. I swallow hard, but the lump stays.

A glance over Robbie's head finds nothing.

"Hey now," Robbie watches me wearily, his eyes nearly black in this lighting. "I don't know what's going on with you right now, but we're gonna get you home, okay?"