Never Say Goodbye

Chapter 25

 I gasp. She has been spying on me. I push this realization from my mind; I have more important things to worry about. Like not being able to move.

I try to push myself up, but I can't. I groan in frustration. I am immobile. I am useless. I am nothing.

Dr. Mákastí cackles in satisfaction. I feel Caleb's strong arms against my waist, pulling me up. But he can't. I am stuck to the ground, without the use of glue or tape. No one can help me. No one except Dr. Mákastí, and she isn't going to help me. She will never help me. She will go out of her way not to help me.

So I will go out of my way not to help her, too. I am determined. I am persevering. I am going to make Dr. Mákastí suffer. If it's the last thing I do.

With this determination in my eyes, I set out with a new purpose. Or at least, I try to. I close my eyes, and think that I can lift myself up, that I am stronger than her. I try to believe it. I open my eyes and try to lift myself up again.

It doesn't work. I scream through gritted teeth. I just didn't believe. If I want this to work, I have to believe. I try again. I close my eyes. I imagine that Dr. Mákastí is nothing, that she is just a mouse trying to hold me down. I open my eyes again and, with determination helping me, lift up my body an inch off the ground. I instantly fall back down again. It's a small accomplishment, but it makes me feel special. I smile. My arms shook, and I only lifted myself up an inch, but I did it nevertheless. I can resist her powers. I am stronger.

With this knowledge in my mind, I push myself up again. This time, my arms do not shake; my body comes far above the ground. I push myself to a sitting position. I resisted her powers. I can't believe I did it.

Dr. Mákastí stares open-mouthed at me.

"Remember when I resisted your powers?" I cackle, imitating her. "That was fun." I quirk my eyebrows and smile.

Anger flashes through her eyes. Then confusion. Confusion?

"I-" She doesn't speak robotically, like she usually does. "Where am I?" she asks. Before I can answer her, she falls backward, so her face is facing up. She opens her mouth wide, and she twitches uncontrollably. I open my mouth; I don't know why. Maybe I want to ask Caleb what's happening. I don't know. But I open it anyway. Dr. Mákastí screams a high-pitched scream, her eyes glazed over. I put my hands over my ears to muffle the sound, but I can still hear it. I can still hear the horrible, deafening noise. My mouth is still open, not producing any noise, just open. She twitches over and over again. The screaming doesn't stop, it just gets louder. A dark shadow travels out of Dr. Mákastí's throat. I don't bother to close my mouth. I don't even think about closing my mouth. I just stand there, open-mouthed, marveling at what is happening before my eyes: a shadow exploding out of Dr. Mákastí's throat. I gasp. I get a good look at the front of the shadow. It's not just a shadow. I can tell it's more. It looks like... it has a face. Like a spirit. Don't be silly, I tell myself. Spirits aren't real. But it looks so much like one. It's mouth is open in a silent scream.

And then it starts toward me. I back up. Caleb watches open-mouthed. He finally comes to his senses, and tries to grab the... the... spirit, but his hand goes right through him. The spirit charges toward my mouth. I fall back in the impact of the spirit entering my body.

I am engulfed into blackness.

* * *

I wake up with this man over me. He has a concerned look on his face. "Emma? It's me. It's me."

I don't know who this person is. Who is he? "Who are you?" I ask, shakingly.

"I-I'm Caleb. Don't you remember me? Oh, no. Do you have dementia? Oh, no." He shakes his head.