42nd Country Road

Bleach

"We shouldn't have killed them," I said, looking at all the fallen men.

"I-I...I know," Mark followed up.

"We should go," Jack said, heading to a car. I nodded and followed him crawling into the back seat, while Mark crawled into shotgun. I gazed out the window at the passing terrain. I slowly drifted into sleep.

I woke up the smell of bleach. Bleach? The smell stung my nose and reminded me of when I stood for hours on end by the edge of the sink. I sat up looking around for Mark and Jack. I saw their bodies on the other side of the room we were in. I started to crawl over to them when I felt a cold grasp around my ankle. I whipped around to see a chain connecting me to the wall. I pulled my leg trying to shake the chain. But it was only caught by whatever was holding it back.

"Mark," I whispered. He shifted. I called his name again. His head perked up and looked up at me.

"Ya Ev?" He asked

"Where are we?" I asked again. He sat up and looked around.

"I... Don't know," He said. He stood up and started to walk to me.

"Mark, stop," I said. Motioning for him to stop.

"What, why?" He asked.

"I'm chained to the wall so that must mean you are to," I said, showing him the cuff around my ankle. He looked down to his ankle. Revealing a cuff. He looked at me. I was at the extent of my chain, so I couldn't go any farther. He got onto his hands and knees and tried to crawl over to me. I reached out trying to grip his hand. Our fingers barely brushed off of each other. A tear dripped down my cheek.

"You're so close," I whimpered.

"You're so far," He said, a tear falling down his cheek. I laid on the ground holding one arm out to Mark, and curling the other so My chin rested on my forearm. He did the same. Our fingertips barely touching. I looked deep into his eyes.

"Well, look who's woken up," A voice said from a corner in the room. I held my head up looking in the corner. A young man with red hair walked out.

"You know me as Aaron," He said grinning.

"How did you get us here?" I asked

"I'd like you to figure that out later for now. I want to know how you do it," he said standing right in front of me.

"How I do it?" I asked looking up to him. I moved into a sitting position.

"Yes," He replied staring down at me. I laughed a bit.

"Do what?" I laughed at him. I smiled looking at Mark. Aaron crushed my hand under his foot. I didn't move my hand away or even wince. The dark prevented the pain. Mark on the other hand was threatening Aaron with pointless lies. I understand, he was only trying to protect me.

"Don't make me ask again," Aaron said through his teeth. I smiled up at him while pulling my hand out from under his foot.

"You don't understand, do you?" I said, "I don't do anything. To her I am a puppet, To you I am a cure, to him... I am a prize,"

"Listen," Aaron said bending down and grabbing a hold of my neck, "You will tell me how you do it, switch back and forth between crazy and not crazy,"

"Listen," I replied mocking him, "It chooses, I have no control, so I suggest you let us go and run before it decides that it's about time for you to die,"

"That's the part that I'm hoping to see," He said letting go of my neck. That was it for the dark it pushed through and took over my mind.

"You're so impatient with her," I said.

"There it is," Aaron said with a grin on his face. I stood up pulling on the chain lightly with my leg.

"Handsome," I said, "Get Jack up," He stood up.

"Anything you say, Pretty," he said smiling. He went back and started to shake Jack. I faced Aaron.

"Now, what to do with you?" I said through my teeth.

"Do you have answers?" He asked angrily.

"Well, She's stubborn, I'm stubborn, but I'll tell you this," I smiled, " I always get out,"

"What?..." Aaron started to say. Mark Broke his chain, and then punched Aaron knocking him to the floor.

"Oh, I've missed you," Mark said, his dark voice filling my ears. His lips met mine. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me closer. I broke away. My lips brushing off of his.