The Dysfunctional

Chapter 12: Will She Live?

In an instant, I snapped out of it, and gripped the sharp weapon in my hand. I couldn't see the monster, but I could see a black tentacle trying to slither into Clark's neck. Pulling it out, Clark stopped screaming, but so did the things laugh. As Finch was Clark who he was, I was looking at the monster that killed one of my bestfriends. I took my machete to a raise, but it's tentacles reacted too quickly for me to move. It swung at me, but as it sliced me cheek, I only stood, looking down. I could feel the blood seeping out of my flesh soon evaporate, and the wound began to close. "Stella!" I could hear Finch scream, as the monster wrapped its tentacles around my torso, too tightly for me to breath. Her mouth expanded, and I could feel the sharp, countless rows of teeth dig into the flesh of my legs, looking out of her mouth, I could see Finch standing shocked, with tears running down his pale face. A smile came across my face, as I look at him. My last words to him were "Take care of her," and the last thing I saw was Finch gritting his teeth, and pulling out a gun before I was swallowed whole.

The putrid smell of rotten acid and flesh burned my nose. Sitting in the twelve foot tall monster, I felt tired. I didn't want to die here, but what choice do I have now? I never said thank you... I began to scream and punch around in the stomach acid, but it did nothing. However, I felt the jerking motion. and then *bang!* the sound of a gun, and soon the body I was inside fell. I could feel my own body begin to fall with it. "Give her back!" I was frantically turning, in search for his voice. Soon, I feel heavy, and dark circles cover my vision. I last thing I feel is the heavy splash of my body dropping, and the sound of flesh ripping. A pair of glowing eyes looks at me, but I cannot move, I cannot speak. I am paralyzed, but I can feel, hear, and smell. I cannot see. Clark is by his side, walking out of the cave. with me in his hands, Finch crawls out of the hole. "Wait here! I know how we can wake her up," Clark says, running off. Soon, I can hear the familiar sound of her four-wheeler. I can feel Finch's strong arms lift me up, but keeping me in his lap. As Clark starts driving off, I can feel the wind running through my hair. "So you're Finch, yes?" Clark questions. "Yes ma'am, I am," he replied. he holds me closer, and it feels like we're going up a hill. "So, what's your relationship with Stella?" she questions. I feel his body get tense and warmer. "Oh, well I'm not really sure. We met when I was digging in her old house. since then, I've just been watching over her, and then later the day Jazmin was supposed to have died, I ended up staying with her," is all he said, I could feel his body relax, and Clark spoke up. "Ah, so you're her lover then?" she questioned, turning off the engine. I could feel myself heat up. Finch stayed, answering her question, "N-no! it's not like that! I just...Don't want her to get hurt," he finished his statement quietly, and more to himself.

Sliding off, he gently set my of the soft grass. Although, my breath began to become rigid, and could feel nothing. I was feeling the breeze stop. The sweet lavender smell that Finch had soon faded. The last thing I could hear was Finch. "She stopped breathing!" he was losing it, and I could feel water trickling down my face. Is he crying? I could feel my chest being compressed, but then I felt nothing again. It kept changing, one minute, I was alive, the next, I was dead, but what makes me want to stay alive? I stopped breathing the last time, and then *Splash!* I sat up quickly, now freezing. "Wh-what the hell?" Clark stood and all Finch could do was stare at me. "Clark! you're ok!" I said in excitement. Clark got up, went to start the wheeler. All it did was try to start, and then died again. "It's no good. I'm afraid we'll have to walk back," she said, tilting her head to her side with a smile. "We're happy you're safe Stella," Finch said, looking at me gently. I looked up, and gave him a soft smile. I should get cleaned up, and Clark, if you want, you can come with us. its a little cramped, but you can come with us," I said as we all started to look back. She kept her hand on her chin for a second to think it over, soon giving me an answer. "If its not a problem, I'd like to come along," I smiled in excitement. Finch finally spoke up in the situation. "Look, it's obvious we need new clothes," he began. Clark looked up at him. "I can pack my things, and meet you at walmart if you want," so we all agreed.

Finch and I took the car, and Clark drove behind us with the camper. "So, when did you start thinking I was cute?" Finch brought out of nowhere. I put the hood on his hoodie over my head. "I never said that!" I protested, but he continued to argue. "No, but in your dream last night you did," and out of the corner of my eye, I could see the slightest smile on his face. "Tch," was all I said. Finch rolled the window down, and stuck half his body out of the window, staring at Clark, and waving like a huge dork. "What the hell are you doing!" I yelled, as we pulled into the empty parking lot. He quickly sat back down and didn't even answer the question. "What?!" he said like a child. I parked the car in the same spot as I did when I first got here. "You know what! It's dangerous!" He opened the door and smirked at me, narrowing his crystal eyes. "Awe, does someone care about me?" he said before closing the car door. I sat, blushing mildly. I sighed, and ran to catch up with both Finch and Clark. Clark backed up, a little scared of the current scenery. "It was empty," Clark look at me wide-eyed, and I casually walked through the broken glass. "And just how do you know that, and why are the doors shattered?" She questioned, following behind Finch and me. "I broke in when I got here," I calmly replied. Finch stayed silent most of the time, until we got to his clothing section. "I'm getting these," he said in monotone. He didn't even have to try them on. I walked up, and looked in the mirror section. I looked horrid. Blood dried to my face, and cuts and scrapes all over. Finch looked just as bad. His smooth skin now had cuts and bruises, but they were fading quickly. He had dried blood on his face from that thing he shot. I look at the clock as we walked out. 5:47. We've got at least two hours before sunset, and I'd like to go swimming sometime soon. Clark walked out with some new jackets, pants, and shoes. Finch grabbed hoodies, shoes, pants, swimming shorts, nice shirts, and pants, and some sweat pants. which is good, because that means he won't be taking mine again.

          As we hooked the car back up to the camper, we all agreed on going for a swim. Coming to a small lake, we brought the camper to a stop. Finch knew the safest spots, so he knew it was safe to swim in. Separated, we all went to change in the different forestry surrounding the area. It was easily seen the Clark had lost a few pounds. Her stomach was flat, and started to concave. I was second to meet back at the shoreline, in my competition suit. A blue and green one piece. Finch, despite being a guy, took the longest. He had the navy blue swimming shorts that he had picked up at the store. I couldn't help but look at his shirtless body. He did have a nice body figure. Turning to face the water, he began to stretch, but stopped to turn his head, looking specifically at me. "When you're done gawking, we'll all be ready stella," He said with a smirk and his eyes narrowed. "I-I wasn't gawking!" I said in my own defence. Clark however, decided to side with Finch. "Yes you were," she said, walking into the water.

"Hey Clark, where's Finch?" I yelled from the water, as she was only dipping her toes in so she could dry off. "I don't know, probably taking a piss!" She replied, giggling at her comment. Soon, I felt the water go still...Too still. "Gahh! Here I am Stella!" He screamed, jumping out of the water, soon throwing me over the shoulder. "What the hell! Finch! Put me down damn you!" I could hear him laughing as he ran up the hill to the camper. Setting me down, You could see Clark running in a slow pace in the distance. "Stella," Finch said, hold my face up in his soft hands, water dripping down his face. "Yes," say, trying not to stutter. I can feel my face growing hotter by the second. "You're doing it again.." i felt my breath hitch. "D-doing what?" Then, I could feel his face come closer to mine. "Your face is all red again, and you know what?" I could feel my body get tense, and my eyes grow wide at his next statement. "I know your secret, I freeze in terror.

He knows

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A/N Sorry guys! the book was deleted half through, so I had to retype half the chapter.