The Horrors

Chapter 17: Unspoken Bonds

The quiet murmurs of conversation continued, but I could feel the room’s focus shifting. My heart pounded as I gathered the courage to speak again. Lyn, Ave, Zz, and Sera all looked at me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

“I need to tell you something else,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I hesitated, the weight of my confession pressing down on me. “When things got really bad... Alicia wanted me to call her ‘Mommy.’”

The room fell silent, the air thick with disbelief and unease. I saw the shock in their eyes, the way their faces paled.

Lyn’s jaw tightened, and he leaned forward, concern etched into his features. “That’s... so messed up,” he said, his voice cracking. “How could she do that to you?”

Ave had taken off his headphones entirely now, looking at me with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “That’s beyond disturbing,” he muttered. “No wonder you were so terrified.”

Sera put her book down, her hands trembling slightly. “I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “You didn’t deserve that.”

Zz, who had been sketching intensely, finally looked up, his pencil pausing mid-stroke. “People like her shouldn’t be allowed to have that kind of power,” he said quietly, a hint of rage in his usually calm voice.

Hearing their reactions, a strange relief washed over me. For so long, I had kept the worst parts of my experience buried deep, afraid to let anyone in. But here, in this shared space of our pain and trauma, I felt seen. Understood.

“Thanks,” I whispered, my voice shaky but sincere. “For listening. It means a lot.”

We all sat there, absorbing each other’s stories and silent promises of support. In that small ward on the sixth floor, we found an unspoken bond—one forged in the darkness, yet strong enough to hold us together.