My Strange Addiction

Episode 15

Halia's eyes widen as Aiden sprays the creature, and it squirms, mouth open in silent scream. Aiden tilts his head. "Lol why isn't it screaming?"

Halia looks at Ashlyn, who's covering her ears, and realizes it is screaming. The phantom noises Ashlyn always hears... it's THEM.

"Aiden come on!" Ashlyn demands.

"I think we can take em! There are more bottles–"

Halia wraps her hand around his wrist. "No! There's too many of them!"

She pushes him forward, quickly taking another spray before sprinting behind the others the rest of the way. She's the last one in the room, slamming and locking the door behind her before slumping against it. In through the nose... out through the mouth...

BANG BANG BANG

Halia jumps, feeling the vibrations of the creatures on the other side slamming on the door. Holy fucking shit...

"We should... put the couch up against the door," Ashlyn suggests.

They do just that and find spots on the floor along the walls. Halia sits in the corner, between Ashlyn and Aiden. She looks around and realizes Aiden is the only one not shaking. Then he chuckles. This little psychopath, Halia thinks.

"Why are you laughing this time?" Tyler snaps.

"It's like we're in a zombie movie," Aiden answers jovially.

"And that's supposed to be funny?"

"Yeah."

"Is he insane or something?"

Aiden doesn't reply, suddenly noticing Ashlyn's arm. "Your arm is scratched up? I thought you got out of the way in time?"

Halia hides her arm, but Aiden catches her quick movement as Ashlyn answers, "...You did. I think this happened at the Sorrel Weed House."

The room goes quiet. Halia glares at Aiden since he's still looking at her. My arm is fine, stop looking at me, she thinks. But of course he's not a mind reader, so he keeps looking at her with a concerned smile.

Tyler stands, face contorted with anger. "You mean you knew it was real and didn't think to mention it to any of us?!"

Halia readjusts so she's kneeling on one knee, not even bothering to hide her scratched right arm anymore, ready to defend Ashlyn if Tyler takes it too far. So far, Ashlyn seems to have a good handle on the situation in a defensive matter, because she reasons, "I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think it was real. And right now isn't exactly a good time to talk about it, we should be coming up with a plan or–"

"And why should we listen to anything you say? This is all probably your fault in the first place."

Halia's patience is the first to snap, and she shoots up to her full height, ready to push Tyler against the wall, but Ashlyn holds her back, and Halia inhales sharply as Ashlyn grabs her injured arm. She finally comes to her senses and drops back down to the ground, clenching and unclenching her fist and glancing at her scratches.

"Alright, fine," Ashlyn says, starting to make her way to Tyler. "I get where you're coming from. Maybe I should have said something. And if blaming me helps you deal with the situation better, so be it."

When Ashlyn grabs the front of his collar and pulls him forward, he exclaims, "Hey! What are you–!"

"But if you aren't going to make yourself useful, make yourself scarce. Playing the blame game and figuring out what's going on can come after we are safe enough to talk it out.The facts are those creatures can kill us at any moment. Instead of arguing, our time is better spent coming up with a plan. So unless you are going to help me do that," Ashlyn releases her grip before finishing, "keep your trap shut and don't cause trouble."

Taylor, Logan, Ben, and even Aiden all look shocked, but Halia just smirks with pride at her best friend standing up for herself, then at the dumbfounded look on Tyler's face.

Aiden lets out a low whistle. "Well that was unexpected." Go off queen, he thinks.

Halia snaps her head toward him with a glare. "Shut up!"

"And you need to stop taking this so lightly!" Ashlyn orders Aiden.

"Aye, aye!" he says, raising a hand in surrender.

Ashlyn breathes out, and Halia stands up, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Ashlyn looks up, and Halia gives her a smile. "You got it," Halia whispers.

Ashlyn straightens and takes charge. "We need weapons and materials, so let's gather up everything in the motel room and sort through what we can use."