Misguided Ghosts

Chapter Thirty-Six

Thirty-Six – Tay

When my eyes opened, everything hurt. My head, my back, my stomach, my arms, my legs. Everything felt like I’d been run over by a bus which had then reversed over me, just to make sure. I sat up slowly, feeling the leaves fall off my back. I stood up and dusted myself down as best I could, dislodging any plant matter from my hair and clothing. As I brushed the front of my t-shirt, pain flared through my stomach. It was only then that I realised that underneath the mud, the dark stain was actually blood. Lifting up my shirt, I saw what Caleb had done to me.

Carved into the pale skin of my stomach was one word. Mine. Over and over again, covering every patch of skin that he could. It was everywhere, the letters varying in how deep they cut into my skin and in size, written at every possible angle. I clapped a hand over my mouth and pulled down my shirt, hiding the foul word that now felt like poison. But then I saw my arms. It was the same story again, Caleb’s mark covering every piece of skin that I could. I didn’t dare to check my legs.

I took a few shaky steps forward, my legs only just strong enough to carry me. What was I meant to do, when my body had been so obviously graffitied? I shuddered at the thought of what else Caleb could have done to me while I was unconscious. He had kissed me. Who was around to stop him from doing whatever else he wanted to me?

Bile rose up in my throat and I doubled over, vomiting as neatly as I could, avoiding my bare feet. My throat burned and I couldn’t breathe. Pushing my damp fringe away from my cool face, I struggled to keep myself calm.

Now, now, Taylor. Just do as I say.

I shook my head, clamping a hand over my mouth and biting back the tears.

Go back to the flat. The woods aren’t safe at this time.

“Why did you bring me out here?” I moaned, feeling tears slip down my face. “I’m not leaving. I can’t go back looking like this.”

Why? Only you can see them.

Only I could see them? How was that even possible? He was in my head, so why couldn’t he make it so only I could see his mark. I didn’t belong to Ed anymore. Ed wasn’t even Ed. I didn’t even belong to myself.

I planted my feet and refused to move. I wasn’t going to leave the woods until Caleb gave me some answers and healed me. Not that he could heal me. Probably. I wasn’t sure of what I knew. He had lied and lied to me, causing endless amounts of problems, forcing me to return to the edge of that bottomless pit that I had only recently climbed out of. A sharp pain seared through the inside of my left arm and I turned my arm over, watching as an M appeared in my skin, the blood dribbling out of the wound and trickling over my already-bloodied wrist.

Go back to the flat or I’ll make more.

What had I done?

I moved slowly through the trees, not really knowing which way I was meant to be going. Instead, I retreated inside myself and allowed my feet to take me wherever they wanted.

When I got back to the flat, Ed was worriedly pacing the living room. The moment I opened the door and walked inside, he was in front of me, crushing me to him. He kissed the top of my head and then looked me straight in the eyes.

“Don’t ever do that again,” He begged.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I just needed to go for a walk?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Without your shoes?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It just happened. I’m going for a shower,”