𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫? - 𝐓𝐌𝐑 𝐀𝐔, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨

015 - feeling uneasy

(A/N: good luck for this chapter!!)

I walk out of the call room, my face probably as white as a ghost. After He hung up, I took a few minutes to process what happened.

I walk slowly and notice Astrid on a call in the booth beside me. She's speaking into the phone in a panic, and I can't help but eavesdrop. I feel guilty for listening, but then I remember what she did, and that guilt fades away.

"I'm sorry, okay?" She says into the phone.

Muted sounds come from the other ends, sounding as though they are yelling, but I can't make out the words.

"I know, I know," Astrid responds, rolling her eyes. "I was supposed to wait, I know." A pause. "When? Okay. See you."

Shrugging it off, I walk into the main hall again. Still shaken up from earlier, I decide not to sit down again. Instead, I go to the beach.

I walk across the sand, the small waves occasionally hitting my bare skin. It's refreshing, and the break gives me a chance to breathe.

As a wave reaches my feet, I lightly kick it away, causing a small splash. I've always liked water, ever since I was a little kid. I'd beg my dad to take me to our local beach; it was our spot. Until he died.

I pause, closing my eyes to take a deep breath as I hold back tears. I distract myself, but something hitting my head gets me out of my trance.

My eyes flick open, but instead of seeing clear, my vision is blurry. My head hurts badly, and everything turns black as I fall onto the sand with a thump.

**

Waking up feels like a dream. I feel dizzy as I try to sit up, the world seems to be glowing around me, I hear noises coming from every direction. I want to die right now.

"Hello?" I call out, voice shaking. "Is anyone there?"

I'm met with no answer, but the noises gain volume. I catch a few muttered words—Whitley, love, pay, kill, help, gone. What is happening?

The voices grow too loud to bare, and my hands slam onto my ears hard. An awful scream rips from my throat.

"Help!" I yell, horror creeping into my voice. "Help me!"

A tear rolls down my face. Taking a deep breath, I finally open my eyes—though I hadn't realised I closed them—and take in my surroundings. I'm in the middle of the forest, but it doesn't feel as comforting as usual. The darkness surrounds me, and the terrifying noises send a chill through my body, leaving me drenched in sweat.

"Someone, please! Help!" I scream again, tears streaming down my face. My voice is hoarse, and I don't believe anyone will hear me, but it's worth a shot.

Taking a deep breath, I attempt to swallow away my tears, and finally stand up. The dizziness doesn't help, but I manage to walk past a few trees. I look around anxiously, waiting for someone to jump out with a knife. But no one does.

From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of someone. A shadow. I keep my eye on them and watch as they run past trees.

Hope fills my body. "Hey! Help me!"

Without so much as even a glance towards me, they pass another tree and disappear. All the hope in my body fades away.

From the distance, I hear laughing.

"Hello?" I run towards the direction of the laughter, and reach a clearing. I look for a sign of someone, but find nothing. Only shadows surrounding the clearings. Shadows of more people. Laughing.

I swallow, attempting to call out again. "Help!"

Then they're gone.

Hopeless, I fall to my knees and let myself sob into them. I'm going to die. I'll finally fulfil my mother's wishes.

I won't be a disappointment.

As I cry, memories flash into my mind. But this time, they aren't bad memories. I see my dad teaching me how to swim. I see Minho and I talking in his treehouse. I see Braedyn and I as we're drunk. I see the bonfire. But my thoughts are interrupted as a recognisable voice calls out to me, and all hope comes flooding back.

"Ley!"