In the Deep *Book Two* Water Trilogy

Seven

I had lied to everyone. Everything was a lie. I had told my boyfriend, the only person who I have ever loved, that I was going home. I told my best friend that I was working over time for the year book. They trusted me; they believed me.

And now I was on my way to my house, driving recklessly fast, because I had revived a note from Nahla in my locker that afternoon. It sad that there was something at the house I needed to see. My stomach twisted with the feeling of dread thy over came me.

When I got to my house all the lights were off. No one was home. Or, at least, I didn't think there was. I ran to the front door only to be stomped short at the sight of a note taped to the door. Bile rose in my throat. She had been to my house.

It read:

Audrey,

Too bad you didn't go to the game like your little brother, Connor, right? You might not come with me easily but your brother was pretty easy to convince. Do you remember that d warehouse that girl named Shelby based her Halloween story off of? That's where you'll find us. If you don't come, I'll make sure Connor knows the wrath I've been saving for you. See you there!

-xoxo, Nahla ❤

I ran back to my jeep and drove to the warehouse that had been abandoned for several years after a serial killer had used it to murder thirteen people.

The memory of Shelby reading her story went through my mind. She had written a short horror story, since it was October, for the assignment our English teacher had given us. It had been graphic and while I had cringed at it I had looked over to see Nahla smirking.

The gates to the warehouse were open. I sped to the closest area I could find before shoving my car into park and jumping out. My steps were loud as gravel crunched underneath me. A door was cracked and I didn't even pause before throwing it open and bolting inside.

"Connor!" I screamed. My voice bounced around, echoing back to me, and up into the rafters of the ceiling. "Where are you!"

Nothing. There wasn't a single sound. I expected him to yell back or give me a sign, a hint, as to where he was at. Why wasn't he struggling? Did Nahla already kill him? 

I walked slowly, examining the surroundings as best as I could in the little bit of moon light that was shining in through smashed windows or that creeped through small, dust free areas of glass. The warehouse was huge with random scraps of rusty metal and other things scattered dangerously around like an obstacle course. I screamed as a bag came over my head, shrouding me in complete darkness. I gripped frantically at the hands that clutched me. 

"How does it feel to suffocate, again?" a familiar voice questioned as the bag tightened around my throat. I couldn't answer as little lightning shot across my vision. Nahla shoved me down into a chair forcefully. The bag was yanked off and I gasped for air as my hands were ripped backwards and tied behind my back. "Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you yet." 

"You're not?" I mocked innocently which was rewarded with a slap. 

"No, not yet. Because I have something to tell you that is so much worse." Nahla let out a cold laugh. "Remember the last time we talked? What did I tell you?" 

I kept my mouth shut. Another hit to the face made me gasp. 

"Say it!" She screeched. 

"That Finn was going to move on. That he would leave me," I choked out. "And that it would be easy." 

"And guess who was right?" Nahla said with fake sadness in her voice. I stayed silent, my body shaking to its core. "He moved on, Audrey." 

She was taunting me. She wanted a reaction and I fought the urge to give her one. 

"I made you ignore him and he didn't even notice, did he? But he did notice something that had nothing to even do with you," she walked around me like she was a shark circling her prey. "You know his friend, what's her name?" She paused to think. "I believe it's Sarah, Sarah Anderson? As the football team scored... so did he." 

"You're lying!" I screamed. 

"They kissed-" 

"No!" 

"And he didn't even try to stop her." 

"Shut up!" 

She had to be lying. I loved Finn and he loved me too. He said he would always be there for me. 

"You said he would always protect you," Nahla said softly as she crouched down in front of me, a little bit of moonlight catching and glinting off her eyes. "But where is he now?" 

"I-" 

"He left you, Audrey. He moved on just like I said he would." 

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. My body was there but everything else was gone. Tears ran down my cheeks as I choked on my own sobs. 

"Where's my brother?"

"Dead."

"You can kill me now." 

Nahla cackled darkly. "Soon my love. Really soon."

Before I knew what was happening pain filled my body. She hit me and hurt me in every way possible. A knife cut me, not deep enough to kill but bad enough to scar. One ran down my side, another down my thigh, and the last one on my left cheek. Hot blood ran down my neck, soaking my baby blue shirt. 

My vision blurred and it occurred to me that Nahla didn't plan on killing me. She planned to destroy me mentally, physically, and emotionally until I gave up and let myself die. And I had no doubt that I would eventually give in. You can only take so much.  

I passed out. 

When I woke I struggled to sit up. My eyes were nearly swollen all the way shut and my entire body ached. It was freezing and everything was blue. The walls, the ceiling, the floor. It was all a deep blue and in the middle of the blue was me, covered in a browning red. My own blood. 

I touched the smooth surface I was sitting on. It was glass. I was in a box of glass at the bottom of what seemed to be the ocean.