Is this Rare?

Chapter 35

I stand at the end of this dark hallway. Silent, motionless, and controlled by Andrea. Suddenly, I can hear distant voices but the words are muffled and I cannot understand them. A person steps closers to me and I can see her. An arm from behind reaches out to stop her, but she shakes the arm away and turns back to me. My vision is opened and I see more than the usual blackness.

The person's lips begin moving. The sound waves reach my ear. They begin in a hesitant whisper, "Chelsea?"

Even though I want to move, it's impossible. I remain still and silent, just as Andrea is making me.

"Chelsea?" The person says, in another hesitant whispers. I remain in the same posture as before. One last time, a female voice, calls out in a normal tone, "Chelsea."

This time, I inwardly twitch when I recognize the voice. Jennifer. My friend, Jenn. I can't break out of this spell. I think Andrea may be speeding up her plan, when Jennifer continues, "Chelsea. It's me, Jennifer. Or Jenn, whatever you call me. You remember Maggie and Ann behind me, right? We're your best friends. Remember? Chelsea?"

Of course I remember! But, obviously, I can't say that right now. I'm surprised that I can think it! Andrea must not be able to control my thoughts that well. Then, she is grabbing my arm and pulling me closer as she says, "Chelsea Avery. It's me, Jenn."

Unexpectedly, I jerk my arm up and grab her throat. I squeeze and begin to cut off her oxygen supply.

"C-Chelsea....." She barely chokes out.

Inside I'm hurting. I feel like I'm being pulled apart. I'm not like this. This is not me. It's Andrea. I must remember that: she is controlling me. This is not me. This is not me. This is not me. But to Jennifer, it is. She doesn't know about the amulet, or Andrea, or anyone controlling someone. It hurts me even more when my arm is raised. And, I feel the cool, metal handle of a knife clutched in my cold fingers.

"C-Chelsea, please, you don't have to do this. I believe in you. C-Chelsea! This is not you, Chelsea, trust me! This isn't you; the real Chelsea wouldn't kill her friend."

As she says this, my hand robotically raises higher.

"You're being possessed, Chelsea! Please! Don't! Just listen to me! I saved you from a knife. Do the same for me." She says strongly.

She places her hand near my neck and grasps at something. I feel a yank and hear a sound as something falls to the ground and lands in a pile of glass. I can see. I can hear. I can move on my own. My grasp around Jenn's throat, loosens. I fall back against the wall. I regain my balance and breath out, "Jennifer?"

"Chelsea!" Jenn sort of shrieks.

I whisper a little louder, "Jenn?"

"Chelsea?" Jenn questions me.

"Is that really you?" I ask, as the tear begin to flow from my eyes.

Jenn steps towards me, crouches down, and gently rubs a soothing position on my arm, "It's really me."

With a laugh and a snort, I burst out, "Are you crazy? I could have killed you!"

Jennifer puts her hand on my shoulders and assures me, "Trust me. I'm fine."

Jokingly, I elaborate, "You're stupid; you know that right? Risking your life to save my cursed one, I suppose that's what's you'd call it."

"Don't worry, I've done a lot of stupid stuff, but do you remember anything?" The slight traces of a smile play on Jenn's lips as she speaks.

For now I can't risk telling anything because Andrea is still so close, "No... Everything went blank from when I twisted my ankle and fell asleep." There is a moment of silence as Jennifer is trying to figure me out.

But, I quickly change the subject, "Where are the others?" Just then, Maggie steps forward and screams, "Jenn! Watch out!!"

I look around. What could be the problem? Look out for what? When I look to my right, a dark shadowy figure slowly comes into view. I jump back, instantly, and give a shriek at the top of my lungs. Luckily, Jenn grabs my arm before that demon could. She is practically dragging me, but I'm glad. Anything to get away from that evil creature.

"Run, Maggie! Don't stop!" She shouts instructions to Maggie. For some reason, I keep looking back and stumbling over my feet and rough patches of concrete. Jerking on my arm, Jenn instructs me, "Chelsea, don't look back!"

I keep my eyes forward, but can't block out the horrific moans and screams behind me. Suddenly, I'm jerked to a stop. I fall down, releasing Jennifer's hand to catch myself before my body slams into the hard concrete ground. The creature grabs my ankles and I scream, both in pain and fear, "NO!" I try my hardest it free myself from its grip, but I can't. It seems impossible. Jennifer stops and distracts it. I am released, but it is now moving for Jenn. I crawl away. Jennifer, who never raises her voice, shouts at the thing, "HEY! YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY FRIENDS!"

From where I sit, curled up against the wall, it looks as if Jenn has aggravated it. I stand, turn and run to Maggie. I don't watch what happens next.

Eventually, Maggie begins pleading with Jenn and shouting her name over and over. Slowly, I process the danger and shout out, "Come back!" But I sound weak. So, I just give up, not wanting to but barely having the strength to take another breath.

Ann, who is sitting on Maggie's back, and Maggie herself, keep shouting for Jennifer. But, they are not going to convince her, I know that. Jennifer is very stubborn, even if she doesn't look like it.

I hear her calling for us to leave and, getting frustrated at her, I stand up, walk up to her, and say to her face, "We're not leaving!"

Being the stubborn person she is, we eventually have no choice but to leave. We slowly make our way back through the city and back to the cabin where it all began. The cabin.