Boy in Pink

Chapter 33

A/N: oof, this chapter is a very bumpy rollercoaster and a MASSIVE turning point of the book (in my opinion, of course) so good luck! Read at your own risk please)

I sat down next to Braedon in Science The bell soon rang, and the teacher, Mrs. Wiltzius, started talking about a future presentation we’d be working on. Braedon and I’s seats are by the door, which had a big window next to it, showing into the hallway. I just spaced out, staring out the window as I usually did. I only zone out because I know I won’t learn anything about the presentation.
But, as I stared out the window, I heard something. Footsteps. Down the other hall. Whose footsteps are those? The footsteps turned. It was a figure. But, It didn’t seem like I knew them… They didn’t look like a student from here.
When they met my gaze, they stopped running and just stared at me, their head slightly tilted.
“Uh, Braedon…?” I whispered and poked his arm, still staring at the figure. He looked at me, and saw me looking through the window. He then did the same.
“Rory, what’s wrong?” He asked as he looked back at me.
“You don’t see it…?” I murmured, still staring at the figure, non-blinking.
“Rory, what’s ‘it’?” I kept my eyes on the figure. It was almost like we were having a staring contest. Suddenly, my eyes hurt, so I blinked. When I reopened my eyes, I gasped audibly. The same figure - who was still staring at me - was different.
They were wearing a muzzle and a straight jacket. I froze. Uh, how? How is that possible? How… Just then, more footsteps were heard down the hall where the figure first came from. The figure then bolted in the opposite direction, almost like they were being chased… what the-
Join me, Rory… join us… Let us in and you'll be free… we’ll stop, and the pain will be gone…
I held my head in pain. STOP TALKING, IT HURTS! I screamed in my head, holding back painful tears.
“Rory?” Braedon asked when my head fell onto my desk, my eyes crunched closed in pain.
“Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine…” I lied, keeping my eyes closed. Ugh, damn migraines…
“You're obviously not okay,” he whispered, moving my hair away from my eyes and putting his hand on my forehead. “Oh god, your forehead is so warm…” He then raised his hand and waited for Mrs. Wiltzuis to call on him. Finally, she did, and he asked her if he could bring me to the nurse’s office.
“Of course,” she told him, and he nodded before helping me out of my seat. I stumbled as he gently pulled me up, my legs feeling like cooked noodles.
“Take a second, okay? Your legs are probably asleep,” he whispered as Mrs. Wiltzuis continued to talk about the presentation. I nodded, taking deep breaths before letting him help me out of the classroom and into the hallway. I grasped his arm and the wall, begging not to fall. Begging the voices to leave. And begging me not to give in. “Rory, I need you to…”
Give in. Let us in. We won't hurt you… We’ll make the pain and suffering you feel go away… We’ll make everything go away… the nightmares, the blood, the darkness, the voices… I shook my head.
“I can't… ngh!” I moaned in pain, holding my head.
“Rory, can't what? Can't calm down for me?” Braedon asked me in a gentle tone. I grabbed onto his arms, and he supported me. I let the tears fall.
“I'm sorry… but I can't hold them back anymore…”
“Them?” He whispered in a confused voice.
“The voices. Run.”