Hacker

Chapter 30 - Taylor

Penelope looks at me, grinning. "Nobody will miss you." She says, slicing me. I'm asleep. I can't do anything, but it hurts. She stabs me. "You should burn."
She then gasps. "Should I do that? Burn you? Burn you like the witches were? Ooo! Yes I should! I'm so smart!" She exclaims, before bringing out a match, and lighting it. She puts it to my hair, before stopping. "No.. Then I wouldn't get to have fun. I'll just do this!" She says, before putting the fire right to my wound, and just letting it burn my skin. I can't scream. I can't cry. I can't do anything. I'm panicking on the inside. What do I do?!

My skin is bubbling. Literally. She then takes away the match, and does the same thing to another sore! It hurts so so badly, but I can't do ANYTHING! CRAP! I want to cry. I want to weep. I want to scream and tell her to kill me and get it over with again and again, but I can't!! I can't do anything! Anything at all, but sit there, unconscious!! It frustrates me. I feel like a shaken up soda bottle, all that carbonation bubbling up, trying to get out but that damn lid, but that damn lid, won't let it!! So it just sits there, like a long, long fuse on a dynamite, never to explode. Just- spark.

Penelope looks at me, forcing one of my eyes open. "Now, let's mess up that pretty face.." She says, putting the match up to me.

I wake up, screaming as loud as I can. A nurse runs in. "Are you okay?!" She asks, panicked. I'm breathing hard. "Y-Yeah.. Just a.. Nightmare." I explain. The nurse frowns. "Oh. Another one?"
"Yep.."
"Do you want me to put you on some medicine?"
"No, the drugs only make me woozy. The nightmares still come, they're just weirder." I say. The nurse nods. "Would you at least like a water?" She asks. This nurse is so polite, but it's so dark I can barley see her.
"Sure." I say, smiling slightly. I'm shaking still. After she leaves, I curl up into a ball, tears threatening me. I hug myself, wishing someone, anyone was here with me. I wanna ask the nurse to stay, like a little kid, but I don't when she comes back and gives me the water.
"Be safe." She says, before closing the door.
"Right, right.." I mumble. I sigh, shakily, before taking a sip of the cold water. I lay back down, wrapping myself in the covers. I don't wanna go back to sleep. I turn on the TV.
Welp, looks like I'm having another practically sleepless night. I think to myself. Penelope keeps haunting me in my dreams. I'm talking to my therapist about it, but it doesn't seem to be helping! Ugh, if only I hadn't taken that job. That's why.. That's why I'm quitting. After I get out of the hospital, I'm getting a new job. A paying job, at Walmart. Yes, Walmart pays well. Then, after I have enough money, I'm going to college to study computer science. Screw that CSI crap. I'll leave that to the professionals. I just- don't know how to break it do Ethan and Daniel. They'll understand, right? They should.. Mom said if they're true friends, they'll understand and support me. But, what if they aren't true friends? Then what will I do?! I can't have another Penelope situation, I can't!!

I start crying, overthinking again. I cry until I'm sick. I get up, go to the bathroom, and puke into a toilet. I go back, sniffing, and my mouth tasting awful. I sip some water to drown it out, before going back to sleep, just to be haunted by more nightmares.

"Hey," I greet Daniel and Ethan as they walk into my room. They greet me back. "Listen, guys, I gotta tell you two something." I say. Daniel looks at me, ready for me to go on. Ethan looks confused. "Yeah, Taylor?"
I sigh, heavily. I need to get this out of my system. "I.. I'm not a secret coder anymore!" I blurt out. The boys look shocked. Daniel looks angry, and Ethan starts crying. "What?!" Daniel growls. He starts cursing me out. Tears spill. I beg passing nurses to let them leave, but they just look at me. "You deserve it." They say. Daniel takes Ethan in his arms, scowling at me. "You're a terrible person, Taylor." He says. Ethan looks at me, and stutters. "I- I don't wanna be your fr-friend anymor-more!" He sobs. I start bawling. Daniel huffs, and drags Ethan out, leaving me alone. I'm sobbing. I puke on the floor. Nobody cleans it up. They all scowl at me. "You're a terrible person." A nurse repeats. I only cry more.