Chapter 7: Secrets From The Past

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-Nathan-

I open my sleep deprived eyes to the sound of crying, it sounded like it was coming from Katrina. Slowly, I sit myself up and turn my attention to her curled up form. This was the third time she woke up tonight due to her unforgiving nightmares caused by the Doc. Her current state concerned Ali and I since the toxin didn't seem to be wearing off anytime soon. Carefully, I sneak myself closer to Katrina's quivering body to check her current status.

Up close, I could see the dark bangs under her wet blue eyes as they darted left and right in fear. Her body was covered in a cold sweat as she continued to fight back against the influence of the toxin. Around her body, were some of the crayons and pieces of paper we had been given. Two of the three pieces paper that I could see, had been drawn on. One held the picture of what looked like to be a burning car, and on the other looked to be herself bleeding while cowarding in a corner as a familiar figure approached her. The figure looked to be the Doc, but I wasn't for sure. The third picture was hidden underneath her and from what I could see, it held "~m ~~~ry!" This worried me.

Upon reaching Katrina, I sit myself down behind her, she doesn't seem to notice me move behind her. I sigh silently to myself as I stared at her shaking, she reminded me of myself when I was a little kid. When I was about her age, I had many night terrors. They happened every night for a few months and the only way I could be put back to sleep was my mother. Whenever I was scared from my awful dreams, my mom would come into my room and rub my back to soothe me. It worked on me very well when I was young and now I wonder if my mom's technique could work on Katrina. Slowly I reach my left hand over to her back and begin to gently stroke it. She flinches as well as tenses up to my touch before rolling over a bit to look at me. Our eyes meet, and I offer her a genuine smile. I feel her muscles begin to loosen up as she hesitantly returns the smile before returning her gaze to the door.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask in a silent whisper. Her eyes remain on the door as she shook her head. "What's wr-?" "Shh!" Katrina interrupts. Confused, I listen closely. At first, I heard nothing and thought that maybe, the toxin was making her hear things, but that couldn't have been right. Last I checked, her eyes were blue again and not orange. At this time, she wasn't under the toxin's influence anymore. "So, what did she hear?" I pondered.

My question was immediately answered as the sound of footsteps approached the door. "It's dawn. How did I not hear anyone else wake up?!" I yell to myself. Katrina's eyes were still glued to the door as we begin to hear someone grab the keys. I quickly grab Katrina's shoulders and start shaking her in fear, "Katrina, come on we need to hide!" I whisper. She remains silent and to my horror, I see why. Her eyes were once again orange, she was under the toxin's spell again. "H-he's coming. P-please h-hide y-yourselves." Katrina whispers. "No! Are you stupid? I'm not leaving you alone!" I retaliate silently. Katrina quickly shakes my hands off her and glares at me. "I'll be f-fine, just g-go. I'm too t-tired to move anyway." Katrina sighs while laying back down.

Before I can even protest to her lazy excuse, the door is unlocked. As fast as I could move, I grab sleeping Ali and quickly move us to the opposite corner of the room. Ali wakes up startled and I cover her mouth immediately. Knowing her, she'd scream to the sudden change, but at this moment in time, she needed to remain quiet. The door opens as I sit down with Ali in my lap on the opposite side of the room. We are all instantly greeted by a blinding morning sun and cover our eyes as it shines itself down into the basement. Luckily for us, we were still hidden under the basement's dark blanket, but Katrina wasn't. She was in the spotlight. A dark chuckle interrupts the silence as a familiar man began to descend into the basement. It was none other than Gabriel.

Silently we watch as Gabriel fully descends down the stairs with a cup of coffee in his hands. He stops at Katrina's body and nudges her with his right boot. Katrina reacts by looking up at him with curiosity and worry lacing her features. "What is he doing here? What does he want?" Ali whispers in my ear. I shrug and motion for her to continue watching, which she obeys. "Morning six, how are you feeling? You seem tired." Gabriel smiles. Katrina laughs at his words which confuses all of us. "I was actually f-feeling great, at least, until you s-showed up that is." Katrina rebels, "Also, my n-name isn't s-six, it's Katrina y-you idiot."

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