New Ways

TWENTY

Sigrid

"Seems like daddy didn't pay the bills," I chuckled.

Amery didn't say anything in return. Utter silence filled the whole room, and my instincts told me to look for her in the dark. I got up from my seat and instinctively felt my way to the bar. I caught sight of Amery's silhouette and took a step closer to her.

"Am? You okay? Are you possessed? 'Cause in horror movies this is the scene where the victim turns around with a demonic face. Should I run first?"

"I-I am s-scared of the d-dark," Amery stuttered, her voice shaking. I reached out for her waist and slowly turned her to face me.

I held her hand and with my free hand I fished my back pocket for a piece of gum. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

I let go of her hand and moved up to cup her face, gently caressing her right cheek with my left thumb. I unwrapped the chewing gum wrapper with my right hand and as soon as I was done, I carefully pried her lips open with the piece of gum.

"Chew on this and mentally count to ten," I instructed. Amery effortlessly obeyed me and as she did I held both of her hands in mine. She gripped my hands and as soon as she was done, I felt her fingers relax again. "Better?"

"Yeah," she whispered, our fingers still intertwined. I proceeded to slowly let go, and that was when her grip tightened again. "No, don't. Not yet."

A loud thud came from one of the rooms. Both Amery and I jumped. I finally let go of one of Amery's hand and turned towards the noise. I tightened my grip when I heard thumping footsteps headed towards the living room. I caught glimpse of a black figure and then another from behind the first one.

"Catch him!!!" Gerard yelled when he noticed me.

Just like that, I let go of Amery's hand and sprinted across the kitchen towards the black figure. I tackled him in the stomach just in time and both of us fell near the elevator. He had already managed to press the elevator button when we landed on the floor.

Gerard jumped on the man in black and tried to pull off his mask. Unfortunately, he got punched in the nose and pushed off to the floor. I tried my luck now and reached for his mask but had my head shoved against the wall. The impact was so strong I felt my brain stop functioning for a moment. I pushed myself up on my feet and tried to reach for the man's shirt but he had already managed to get inside the elevator and close its doors.

I cursed and banged at the doors, furious that I was so close to catching him but missed by only a few seconds. I remembered Amery and immediately called out to her.

"I'm here!" She answered, her voice sounded closer to where I was standing. She might have had followed me out of the kitchen too when I let her hand go. I clumsily walked over to where I thought she might be standing and when I grabbed hold of her I pulled her into my arms.

"Are you okay? Were you scared? It's okay. It's okay now. He's gone," I spoke as if to comfort myself instead. I felt Amery nod in my shoulder and she squeezed me tighter.

The lights finally came back on and we let go of each other. My eyes searched for Amery's and I was relieved when I met her gaze again.

"Sig..."

"What?" I felt a sharp pain on my forehead as I frowned.

"You are bleeding."

"I am?" I asked, pressing a finger on my forehead. As I lowered my finger to examine it, drops of blood trickled down my right eye and fell onto my palm. "I am..."

I felt giddy, my vision suddenly darkening and then I couldn't remember what followed.