Haunted

n e e d l e

𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧 Gabriella 𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧

"Back to the moment I crashed into you, like so many wrecks do"

After our epic blow out the other night, I hadn't heard from Joey. It'd been radio silence and I was practically sweating with worry. I'd texted him like a hundred times and left at least twenty voicemails but still, nothing.

I'd searched pretty much everywhere for him, even his own house. So that left one place. I stared up at the rickety house and forced myself to walk up to the front door. I'd gotten Johnny to drive me here—after incessant begging—and he was waiting in the car.

I hadn't wanted to get anyone involved but I needed a ride. I still had a month until I could get my license so Johnny was the next best thing. He'd looked at me with sad eyes but I yelled at him to spare the lecture and thankfully he had.

I banged my fist against the door and prayed to god I wouldn't get into trouble. When the door finally swung open and I felt my stomach churn.

I didn't know Shane Holland. I'd seen him before, hanging around Joey and other lads but I'd never spoke to him. But here I was—heart in my throat—standing on his front porch.

"Is he here?" I asked, the words coming out cracked due to my fear, "Actually, I know he's here. Give me Joey back."

"Ah you're the girl he's been riding," He eyed me, and I felt sick.

"Send him out," I crossed my arms over my chest. "I won't take no for an answer."

"No," Shane snickered, and moved to shut the door in my face. I quickly reacted by wedging my foot in the door way and glaring at him.

"Give him back!" I yelled. "I won't leave without him."

I pushed at the door and forced myself into the house, "fuck yourself, Shane."

Shane's hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, making me freeze in fear, "what did you just say to me?"

"Let...go...of...me," I choked out, flailing my arms like a madwoman.

"Have you any idea who you're talking to?" He hissed. "Hmmm?" He squeezed my throat tight enough to scare me.

I held eye contact with him, fearing that if I didn't he'd kill me. After several long seconds he laughed and released me.

"You're a crazy bitch," he chuckled. "By all means be my guest," he gestured to the house.

"Joey?" I shouted, pushing past him and attempting to avoid the empty beer cans scattered across the filthy carpet. "Joey!?"

"He can't hear you, princess," Shane chuckled. "He's not here right now."

"Fucking bullshit," I snapped, running in and out of every room on the ground floor before sprinting up the staircase and doing the same upstairs.

When I reached the last door and pushed it open, I practically fell to the floor with devastation.

There was a stained mattress on the floor. Alongside that was a metal spoon with some sort of dark liquid, a lighter and a plastic bag with brown powder inside. Sprawled on top of the disgusting mattress was my boyfriend, with his eyes rolling back in his head and a needle dangling from the crook of his arm.