Help Me

Pride

Mikey

Angry. Frustrated. Ashamed. Guilty. Cold. Confused. Off. Alone. Over-crowded. Hurt. Shaky. Mortified.

There were not enough words in the English language to describe how Mikey was feeling right now.

In his eyes the rest of the day had been awful, although they had been very productive. They'd filmed three covers, and now it was getting to the stage of pitch darkness surrounding them at all angles. The moon provided little light, considering it was shrouded by growing scud banks. With a strong grip on his crutches, Mikey violently shivered. Not only was it dark, it was also freezing. Probably the coldest day they had had for months.

The boys and Chris were no more than large masses in the dark, their silhouettes shrinking and growing in rhythm with moon's flickering light. Of course, each of them had their phones in hand using them as torches, and when together they created enough light to see by. Apart they just looked like random specks of light in the darkness.

Rye still wasn't speaking to him, a fact of which Mikey was both relieved and scared. Relieved that he wouldn't get any closer and hurt him, however scared because he didn't know what he'd do without him for the rest of his life. Whatever had happened between them... Mikey shook his head. He couldn't dwell too much on it now anyway, for the six of them were making their way back to the minivan which was a good twenty minute walk.

His hands were trembling, as he couldn't burry them in his pockets for obvious reasons, and so he gripped the crutches tighter. On top of that, he was trying to balance holding his crutches, with holding his phone up as a torch, as well as walking forwards. Even though the boys and Chris were joking around in front of him, the darkness still managed to hijack his thoughts, and bury itself deep within his consciousness. He hadn't realised how afraid of the dark he was until now. It was everywhere... And he could feel it grow and grow inside him.

A loud rustle in the bushes behind him had him spinning around, balancing awkwardly, shining his phone in the direction of the noise. But he couldn't be sure where it came from. He held his breath, hoping that if he was silent then he'd be able to hear the noise more clearly the next time. But seconds passed, and nothing happened. No noise.

Had he imagined it?

What if there was someone lurking in the shadows, waiting for his back to turn before they pounced?

Mikey spun around again, shining the light in all directions, stumbling and tripping in his frantic movements to see in all directions. When his chest felt tight he released the breath, the exhale shaking, and steam shot from his mouth in harsh puffs like that of a dragon breathing fire. There could literally be anyone anywhere around him... That man could be following him again...

Pull yourself together! How are you supposed to be fine if you freak out because you're alone in the dark?

Mikey looked towards the boys then, only just realising how far away they were. Forgetting himself, he steadied his body before setting off frantically after them. But he forgot that he couldn't hold his crutches, his phone, and walk quickly at the same time. After literally two steps Mikey stumbled, wincing when he jarred his knee. He came to a stop, breathing heavily, eyes closed, his whole body trembling; from the cold or the fear and adrenaline, he couldn't quite tell.

Perhaps it was both of them at once.

He could here the footsteps and voices of the boys getting further and further away from his stationary figure, and he knew he had to catch up. Otherwise something might happen. He could get hurt again, or one of the others could get hurt... He was almost sure that someone was out there with them.