The Silent Game

Chapter 3

The smell hit me first. 

It was strong, a combination of disgusting body odours, cologne and alcohol. Harsh and bold colored lights filled my vision while some pop music blared noisily and harassed my ears. I felt lightheaded, my body pounding, vibrating with every beat of the bass. So much people, high school students, everywhere around me. I looked around, looked for Jack but he was nowhere to be found and I, oh god, I'm losing my skin. I could almost see imaginary hands reaching out to me, wrapping around my throat, gently, slowly. Pressing and suffocating. Fuck Jack, fuck everyone, I have to get out of here. 

 Someone pushed me and suddenly I was in the middle of the undulating crowd, jumpy and jittery from wandering hands and leering eyes. 

 I'm so so fucking stupid! I shouldn't have come. Damn, damn, damn Roni, you idiot. 

 Then I was running, dodging and stumbling. I knew nothing of where I was going. Just a jumble of things and people that I passed by, taking note of a few. There was a stair, a carpeted floor, a hallway, then doors. Locked, locked, locked, locked, unlocked. 

 I gasped, air flooding my insides in a rush. My knees buckled underneath me, dropping on the cold balcony floor. I struggled, the hands had been already too tightly wounded. I'm shifty and trembling. Unfocused. I bit my hand, preventing the screams that threatened to come out of me. Not here not herenothere. 

 I had to go away. So I remembered. Took control. Grounded myself. With a game. A silly little game. 

 Every movement was a blur afterwards as my body effortlessly went through the motions even in my hopeless state. 

 Until I, then I - 

 I was flying. Finally. 

 To a snowstorm. White, glistening white swallowed me whole. My hair whipped haphazardly around me as I looked around, mesmerized. I was cold and warm at the same time as adrenaline and excitement rushed and wrecked havoc inside me.

 A thrill shot through me as glistening, golden rain came down and danced rhythms with the snow. I was beating, trembling, thrumming with energy and overwhelming emotions that kept coursing and demanding to be felt. 

 I was lost, so lost in my wonderland yet in it, I felt found. I was home. 

 I heard a click, somewhere far far away that I almost didn't notice it and then slowly, I was easing out. Coming down. 

 The moon greeted my eyes along with the stars. I stood up, my eyes taking in the details I've missed. I took a step back in shock as I saw the figure bathed in the blues and whites of the moonlit night. A stranger so familiar that my heart trembled at the sight of him. Just like last time. 

He's here, how the hell is he here? I pinched myself, wondering if I was still detached but no, he was really here. Mouth parted, I stared transfixed on the boy who followed me to my wonderland. The boy with the silver eyes. 

 He was also staring at me, albeit curiously, while leaning on the glass door. 

 "I don't think you're supposed to be here." He said, his eyebrow raised. A shadow of a smirk on his face. 

 I shrugged,"No one is ever where they're supposed to be." I turned away from him, facing away as my heart pounded erratically inside me. My mind in a whirlwind. 

 "Touché " He muttered, amusement clear in his voice. 

I waited for him to leave but he was still standing behind me as my thoughts clamored for coherence.