Fluorescent

//Part 16\\

The Orphanage seemed so empty. No voices of children or even the sound of doors opening and closing. Yet, I didn't feel alone. I started walking through this hallway, my footsteps echoing into the silence. My vision was blurry and I was constantly bumping into walls. Sweat rolled down my forehead as my heart rate sped up. My throat became dry the farther I walked. This hallway seemed to go on forever. I couldn't stop myself from moving forward. Something was making me move closer and closer to the darkness that awaited me. I turned my head slightly and saw scarlet red all over the walls. It was as if someones bloody corpse was dragged across the wall. I suddenly got a pounding headache. It was so unbearable that I held my hands up to my head then dropped to the floor. A felt a sharp sting that lasted for about 10 seconds until I looked up.
A body hung loosely. A rope wrapped around the body's neck, snapping it. The hair had patches missing, resembling that she had been pulling at it. Her eyes had scratches and gashes all around them. Blood dripped slowly out of the sockets. Her mouth was cut into a smile up to her ears, with stitches holding it together. Her collarbones stuck out, as if she hadn't eaten for weeks. The arms were skinny and had cuts up and down. Her wrists were covered in what looked like doctors shot needles stabbed into her flesh. Her stomach was sliced open with organs and guts spilling out.
I threw up at the sight of it. Very confused, I walked a little closer.
That body was Alice.

I stood in shock. I cupped my mouth with my hands and fell to the floor once again. Tears uncontrollably fell from my eyes as I looked at my once beautiful best friend.
I looked at her chest, and saw her lightly breathe in.
"She's still alive?!"
I thought to myself.
I stood up and ran over to her.

"Alice?! Oh my god! W-We need to get you out of here! Why did yo- how did- Alice! What the fuck happened?!" I say while trying to get her down. The smell of rotten flesh and broken open bones hit my nose and I gagged.

"Y-you d-did this." She muttered out.

My eyes opened and I shot up.
I was covered in sweat and felt dried tears on my cheeks. I shut my eyes closed then opened them, reassuring that it was just a dream.
I inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. I sat up a little bit more and looked at my alarm clock.
3:27.

I sighed.
That was the worst dream I've had for a while. But why?
Why so gory, and why Alice?
Speaking of Alice, I haven't called her in about a month. We haven't planned anything, or texted, or even visited each other.
Hmm.

I soon got up and stretched. I couldn't sleep, not after that.
I opened my bedroom door quietly, then slowly slithered out. I walked to the bathroom while yawning.
When I opened the door, I saw Amber.
She seemed to be splashing water onto her face.
I smiled at the sight of her.

"Hey." I say in a raspy voice.

"Hey, why are you up?" She asked while turning the faucet knob.

"Bad dream.... I mean, nightmare." I say with a crooked smile.

"Why are you up?"

"Oh, couldn't sleep."

"Do you... Um, wanna like... Come sleep in my room?" She said while looking at the floor.

I smile, "sure."

She grabs my hand and we walk to her room.
The lights that ran across the walls were dim, but just light enough to see Ambers beautiful face.
We sat on her bed and just looked at each other.

I finally broke the silence by laying flat on my back, causing the comforter to make a crinkling sound.
I exhaled and closed my eyes.

I felt Amber snuggle up next to me and place an arm around my stomach. My arm made its way to where her head was laying on it. Her warmth relaxed me.

I kissed her forehead then mumbled,

"I love you."

After about three seconds she said,

"I love you too."

I was awoken by Ambers alarm clock, blasting, "Second and Sebring" by Of Mice&Men.
She lifted her head up and looked into my eyes.

"Good morning." She said with a smile.

I groaned then rolled onto my stomach, burying my face into a pillow.

"Get up!" She said while sitting on top of me.

"Ugh why? We've already missed breakfast." I say with my eyes still closed.

"But it's a new dayyyyyy! We can't just waste it!" She says as she gets off of me.

"Fine." I mutter.

"Yay!"

I lift myself up. I inhale deeply then exhale slowly.
Amber comes over and kisses me on the cheek.
I smile and get out of her bed.

I come up behind her and place my chin on her shoulder and put my arms around her waist.

"I'm gonna go get dressed." I whisper in her ear.

"Okay." She whispers back.

As I walked to the door she says,

"Cute butt!"

I turn around with a goofy smile and do a weird dance.

"Go!" She says while laughing.

I walk out of her room and right into mine.
I sit down at my desk and pick my phone up.
11 missed calls from Alice's mom? Wow.

F: Hey, what's up? Why'd you call so much?

AM: Oh thank god, you finally answered.

F: what's wrong?

AM: Honey, I know this is going to be hard to hear... *Starts crying*

F: Mrs. Wondress? Are you okay? W-what's wrong?

AM: F-Fluorescent... Alice has died from a suicide attempt....

F: W-what?

AM: she um... Hung herself... I found her, in her room... But it was too late.

AM:I'm very sorry, I know that this is hard to hear-

I hung up.

I stood there, in shock.
I felt like I was going to be sick.
My throat got dry.
My hands started shaking.
I didn't know what to do.
So many questions filled my head.

Why? Did someone hurt her? Was it even on purpose? Was she always like this?

I sat there.
My eyes wide and hands shaking.

Amber walked through the door.

"Hey I was gonna go to Burger King if you want- Fluorescent?! Omg what's wrong? Are you okay?!"

I sat there, not saying a word as warm tears ran down my face. My eyes started to burn as more and more tears came.

"Fluorescent! Answer me damnit! What the fuck is wrong?!" Amber says while trying to get my attention.

"She killed herself." I mumble

"W-what?"

"She fucking killed herself!"