After Hours

Chapter 27.

Grayson's POV.

   I must have fallen asleep again for my neck hurts worse and the sound of several hundred footsteps sound above me. I look over to Vanessa and my heart lurches in my chest. She is asleep, but has thick blood pouring from her ears. She has big spots all along her arms and neck and has seemed to have scratched them raw. Her chest is rising and falling with shaky breaths. Jess' body is starting to decay and frankly, she looks scary.

   My arms are so sore and my neck has a horrible cramp in it. I look at myself in the mirror and my appearance literally makes me nervous. My hair is lying limp on my forehead, almost reaching my bruised and dark eyes. My jeans are baggy around my legs and my t-shirt is almost like a trash bag on me.

  "Please don't bring Ember in here," I beg to no one. "She can't handle this."

   The door creaks open, making me jump. Cameron comes in, followed by a dark haired boy. Cameron smiles at me and unties my arms from the rope. Wait, he unties my hands! I know he has done this before, but I never thought that maybe I could escape. The door is still open, but I don't have any weapons.

  "Grayson, this is Ethan. Ethan, Grayson," Cameron says and Ethan smiles.

   I notice Ethan's face has faded paint on it and it's questionable to me. "Lying to someone else, I'm assuming?" I spit out.

   Cameron nods and crosses his arms. "Ethan here was mysteriously found by a dumpster by me and Ember. Of course, I knew that he was with me, but Ember didn't. Her and her so kind of a heart let him come with us, which is what we had originally planned. Still playing along, I disguised him as one of Them and put him in the same stall I put her in. Great little actor he is," Cameron says and ruffles Ethan's hair.

  "What is wrong with you?" I ask, glancing towards the open door.

   Cameron walks over to me and throws a arm over my shoulder. He pokes my ribs roughly and sighs. "Hungry, are we?" he asks.

   He snaps his fingers and a whole table of food and drinks appear. All kinds of food line the table from chicken, ham, turkey, finger sandwiches, gelatin, cakes, ice creams, and many more delicious foods. I find myself walking over to the table, still focusing on the door. I reach for the food but my hand goes right through it. It's a hologram. I turn around, hands on my stomach.

  "Please, Cameron," I say and jump when Vanessa starts screaming again.

  "Gosh, that's annoying," Ethan says, putting his arm on Cameron's shoulder. "Perfect."

   Cameron walks over to me and takes my chin in his hands. He looks me hard in the eyes and I know what's coming next. He breaths in deeply and I feel my body shake. It feels like a truck is on my chest. I feel my feet be lifted from the floor, then I'm dropped again. I put a hand over my chest and breath in deeply. He's slowly killing me.

  "Wow, bro. That was cool," Ethan says, standing over me.

   I feel so weak. I just want to go to sleep, but I need to get out. Get out and find Ember. But wait, bro?

  "Are you related?" I ask in a hoarse voice.

  "Yep," Cameron says. "Whats it to you?"

   I shake my head and rise to my feet. I see myself in the mirror and sigh. Ember would be broken if she saw me like this. She doesn't need this image in her brain. Cameron shoves me against the wall.

  "We're siblings, that's for sure. But I still need to feed," Cameron says.

   He takes Ethan roughly by his neck and looks deep into his eyes. I can't help feel bad for Ethan. The look of terror on his face.

  "Cameron, what are you doing?" Ethan asks, tears forming in his eyes.

  "I was going to let you go and tell mom I said hi, but I'll tell her myself," Cameron says.

   Ethan claws at Cameron's arms, but Cameron won't let him go. Cameron takes a deep breath, deeper than he's ever used on me. He sucks out Ethan's spirit and Ethan falls limp to the floor, face gray and lifeless.

  "You're own brother," I whisper.

   Cameron shrugs and grabs my arm. Right as he does, I gather up all my strength and punch him hard in the face. I run over to Vanessa and kneel beside her.

  "I'll come back for you," I promise and run from the room, Cameron still on the floor.

   My legs feel so tired and heavy. I breath heavily as I run from the room. I hear Cameron's footsteps behind me, then hear nothing. It's dark in the room I'm in. I don't hear anything, and I walk forward, hands outstretched.

  "I just know you're going to jump out at me," I say to the darkness.

   I turn around and let out a small scream. He's the Shadow again and has a hammer with a spike on the end in his hand. I back away and run the opposite direction. I look behind me and see Cameron raise the hammer and bring it down hard on my back. I crumple to the ground, the pain in my back almost unbearable. He grabs me by my neck and drags my back to the room. I hear Vanessa's screams again, but everything seems to be fading in and out.

  "You idiot," Cameron says. "She will die."

   It's hard to speak, but I mange to croak, "Kill me. Please kill me. Not her."

   Cameron seems to consider my proposal, then an evil smile creeps onto his lips. "I'd rather keep you alive and make you suffer."

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