42nd Country Road

Pretender

My mind put me in another place I didn't want to be in. A hospital bed. The light yet awful beeps of the machines next to me. My arms covered in needles and the nurses who never left you alone. I saw one of the nurses. I wanted to check what ward I was in. I stood up out of the bed and walked over to her.

"Uh.. Miss? What ward am I in?" I asked, she looked at me terrified.

"Uh....Uh You are in the psych ward," She struggled for words.

"Are you sure?" I asked inching closer to her.

"Yes I am," She ran over and hit a red button, I heard people screaming and doors slamming shut. I walked over to a mirror. I scared myself. I was one of them. My eyes were black. This wasn't real, I told myself.

I woke up with a jolt. It was still dark outside. Mark was still next me holding me tightly. I shifted a bit. Mark's eyes flew open. I closed mine quickly. I shifted again seeing what he would do. He got up and left the room, his heavy footsteps scuttling down the stairs. I heard the front door slam. I sat up looking for a clock. There was one on the wall. 2 a.m. I had slept for only two hours since Mark came into the room. I got out of the bed and started heading to Jack's room, when I heard moving from the downstairs. I ignored it and kept going. I saw him lying on his side facing his window. I crawled in as quietly as I could, not pulling any covers over me because I didn't want to disturb him. I grabbed the second pillow, holding it close to my body for warmth. It was so cold since the window was open. Jack rolled over pulling some off his covered on me. He then draped his arm over me, pulling me closer to his body. I fell asleep for the rest of the night

I woke up with the light streaming through the open window. I was facing Jack, whose blue eyes fluttered open. He smiled at me.

"Morning," He said.

"Morning," I said smiling at him.

"How did you sleep?" He asked

"Good," I said leaning closer to him.

"Good," He said giving me a little kiss on my forehead.

"I need to go check on Ethan and Mark," I said sitting up and stretching.

"Why, what happened?" Jack asked.

"N-nothing," I said, "Hey, I'll make you some breakfast, K?"

"Ya sure, alright," He replied. I stood up and walked out of the room, down the stairs, through the living room, out the front door and into the cellar. I turned on the light to see Ethan and Mark with chains around their necks, laughing.

"Morning, pretty," Mark said in his dark voice, "Took you long enough didn't it? Would you like to say hello to someone new and special?" He stood up and walked toward me the chains catching around his neck stopping him. I walked up to him so I was just out of his reach.

"Yes," I said as sarcastically as I could "I would love to meet your friend,"

"Perfect..." I interrupted him by grabbing the chains around his neck and hitting him. There had to be a better way to do this. Ethan who was sitting in the back looked normal.

"Ethan, you okay?" I asked

"Ya I'm fine I had to pretend to be crazy all night though which was hard," he replied

"Let's get you upstairs," I said going over to him and taking the chains off.

"What about Mark?" Ethan asked me

"I'll get him later," I said draping Ethan's arm around me helping him up and out of the cellar. He trips gripping my right shoulder. I open my mouth ready to say something about the pain, but then close it. I didn't want to worry him.

"Go up to your room and sleep, Ethan. You need rest," I said once we were inside

"But..." He said

"No, go to sleep I can take care of myself," I said shoving Ethan towards the stairs. He looked back at me and headed up stairs. I went back down to the cellar. I saw Mark on the ground. I grabbed his arm and started to pull him through the basement. How the hell was I supposed to get him up the cellar ladder. I then flipped Mark onto his back, so his head was facing the top of the cellar. I swung a leg over him, straddling him. I then laid my head down to his chest, listening to his heart. He moved a bit the breathed out. I stayed still with my ear still to his chest.