M.Y.T.H.S

+ Chapter Sixteen +

*Louisa's POV*

"Keeeeeegaaaaan" I complained, knocking on his door for the billionth time. I'd told him that I would come round to see him before dinner, and so here I was and here he was not.

Very quickly I gave up on any hope I had that he was inside, and turned to lean against the door, sliding down it and stretching my legs out across the hallway. Other people hopped over my legs on their way through to dinner, as I refused to move them while mentally deliberating whether or not I should get up and go to dinner anyway. But, I wasn't hungry and the floor here was surprisingly comfy. I guess waiting for Keegan wouldn't be too bad. I mean, he wouldn't be that long, he's probably just running late. Half an hour late, but maybe something important has kept him.

I sent him a text - no reply.

After everyone had come back from dinner, the evening heating turned on, and so I took off my jacket and used it to soften the door frame as I turned to lean against that. I'd decided against returning to my dorm for the night - Keegan's absence had me worried, and I'm not sure I could stand being around Felicite and Carter, and all the lovey dovey stuff that came with that package.

I leaned my head back and tried to force myself to sleep in this oh-so-comfortable position. It's not like I have anything important on tomorrow anyway. I can cope with a night of bad sleep. I plugged in my headphones, turned on a relaxing playlist, and proceeded to block out the noises coming from the other dorms, along with all sights as I shut my eyes.

*Dream/Flashback*

Shouts tore through the air, forcing their way under my bedroom door as if the room beyond wasn't large enough to hold them. Quickly they escalated into screams, and eyes wide, I drew my duvet up to my neck desperately seeking any security I could find. Silhouetted, a shadow grew under my door as someone approached and my breaths drew shallow before vanishing altogether. As abruptly as it had all begun, silence fell and the shadow vanished. My breath returned and I inhaled deep gulps of water, however the rest of my body remained paralysed with fear. Of the uncertainty, of what I'd find. Everything.

It seemed like hours passed as I listened for movement outside, but I'm sure it was only minutes.

As quietly as I could, I pushed off my duvet and swam out of bed, gliding lightly across the ocean floor towards the door. When I reached it, it allowed me to push it open silently, as if even the house dared not make a sound.

I was confronted with a scene that ingrained itself forever into the back of my eyes. The water was flooded with blood. Blood filled my air.

In the centre of the room, my parents were splayed out My dad's limbs were at an unnatural angle and his tail was ripped off. More blood than I had thought possible seemed to be pouring out of his wounds and staining our furniture.

My mother's gaze jumped around unsteadily before locking with mine. Half of her tail was cut straight down the middle and there were claws like marks deeply carved across her neck.

I think she called my name. However instead of sound only blood emerged as she gurgled.

Her eyes grew more urgent, and she tried again, this time croaking out a sound.

A creak escaped from the floor behind me, and hot bubbles tickled the back of my neck.

I met my mother's eyes again, and this time she formed words.

"Run, Louisa.

Louisa!"

"Louisa?"