The Burning Girl

Chapter 27 - A N N A

Fuck this. I'm done waiting for anyone to help me. I'm going to help myself.

I sit up in Jules' bed, my face itchy from drying tears. My watch says it's 2:30 in the morning, and that it is time to go. 

I've been putting my plan together as soon as Jules left when he thought I was asleep. I need to get into the barn and grab anything I can find, then hotwire a car and get the hell out of this place. This rat's nest.

Climbing out of bed, I pad across the cold concrete floor of his room. The soft glow of light coming from his tattoo machinery illuminates the ground in the finality of red and the assurance of green, the on and off switches a calming blue and his laptop charger a dull yellow. I pick up my boots and lace them back onto my feet, before pulling one of his soft grey hoodies over my head. I pull the hood up, tucking my hair inside and drawing the hood low to throw my face into shadow. I crack the door open a jar and listen for any sign of life before easing my way into the corridor. I slowly make my way back to my room, careful not to be seen by anyone, and avoiding the security cameras. I let myself back into my room and pack a duffle bag with a few changes of clothes, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, a coat; lifting it onto my back and heading back for the corridor. But then I hear a sound that makes my blood run cold, coming from Arran's room.

A high pitched laugh that I could recognize anywhere.

It's the laugh that lives behind the white mask, the one that haunts my nightmares.The red mist of my blood fills my mind, the memory choking me with its vividness. I fall to my knees, the memory sending me into a panic. I bite back the bile that rises in my throat and pinch myself hard to stop falling back into the darkness. I slow my breathing and lift my eyes to my door. The light underneath the door is slowly blocked by the shadow of someone's feet. Heavy breathing follows and the giggling continues. My heart is pounding so much that the rush of blood to my head drowns out the sound. I have no idea what's happening as I feel a large boom coming through the ground. Dust scatters down from the ceiling as if the whole building is shaking. This sudden realization is enough to wake me out of my panic attack and I slowly crawl towards the door, ears straining to hear the doctor's voice.

"Tom, go and find out what that was. And find my nephew!"

He pauses

"No! It's fine. I'll get her myself. We need a proper meeting anyhow."

At that the door handle rattles and I leap back, suddenly terrified of who the man is. I scramble to find a weapon, lacing my door keys through my knuckles for a temporary weapon. The door creaks open and a shadow falls across the ground.

"Hello Anna, it's been a while. We haven't met yet. I'm Jim. Jim Everett." 

My whole stomach drops and I feel as if I'm about to be sick. My body is twitching for me to get the hell out of my room, and just run. But he's blocking the door.

"So, you're the one who's ruined my life?" I manage to grind out, my body filling with adrenaline.

"I suppose you could say that. However, I see it more as a gift."

I snort. "Really? Kidnapping me and faking my death. I'd hate to get something from you for Christmas."

"Oh, no need. I've already given you the greatest gift of all," he snarls.

"Which is what?"

"Life."

At that, he makes to grab for me, but I land a hard punch to his jaw, sending him sideways and run for the door. 

He screams, clutching his bleeding face. "Get back here!" He yells after me, but I'm already charging down the hallway. I take a few hard turns, in order to confuse him and try to shake him loose. But I have a feeling that he's already radioed for back up.