The Haven Project

Chapter 12

Bryson's Point of View

I sat in silence, wondering what they could be doing to her.  Even though there was nothing I could do, I still felt as if I was somehow letting her down.  My misery was was a boulder pulling me down to the bottom of despair's endless pit.  After what seemed like an hour, I saw Sydney walk through the doorway with the two guards that took her.  I jumped to my feet and grabbed the bars of the cell, just watching as she was led towards me.  They opened the cell and she stepped inside.  I instinctively wrapped her in a huge hug and pulled her close.  She hugged back but it was hesitant, almost as if she felt obligated to.

"Are you ok?" I asked with a concerned voice.  "What did they do to you?"

"I'm fine," she responded.  "They just sat e down and asked me a bunch of questions."  Her voice seemed distant, and she had a strange look in her eye.  It looked glazed over and empty.  I knew they must have done something.

"Sydney, you can tell me.  What really happened?"

She looked me straight in the eye and only said, "Exactly what I just told you."  As I searched her eyes for the true answer, I saw a quick flash of what looked like fear.  I must have been imagining things because just as soon as it came, it left without a trace.

"Fine, don't tell me," I said as I sat on the ground.  I leaned my head back against the bars and closed my eyes.  I was so tired that I didn't even notice Sydney sit down next to me.  It had been a long few days, and I could really use some sleep.  Sydney laid her head on my shoulder, and the darkness of sleep wrapped me in its cold embrace.

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Bryson.

I awoke with a jolt and sat straight up.  I attempted to look around, but it was pitch black.  I couldn't even see my hand in font of my face.  Next to me, I could hear the steady breathing of Sydney; she was still asleep.  I stood up slowly, my back hurting from sleeping sitting up.

Bryson.

I spun around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.  I knew who it was, I just couldn't believe it.  I had seen them drag Samuel off; he knew that he was about to die.  So who was communicating with me?

I'm alive.

The words hit me like a snowball in the face.  I knew it couldn't be true, so why was I doubting myself?

I was wrong Bryson.  They were never going to kill me.

"No," I whispered into the darkness.  "You're dead.  You knew that you were going to die.  You're not Samuel."

You say this, yet your mind is filled with doubt.  You know it's me.

"I don't know who you are, but leave me alone.  Get out of my head!"  I dropped to the floor and covered my ears; as if that would help block whoever this was out.  I knew in my soul that Samuel was dead.  When they dragged him away, a piece of my spirit went with him, and nothing could ever bring it back.

You don't believe me?  Look up.

Light hit my eyelids, but I was too afraid to open them.  I knew that it wasn't Samuel, but he seemed so real.  At the same time, the voice also felt cold.  The curiosity to know got the better of me, and I cautiously opened my eyes.  Lying right in front of me was Samuel, or what was left of him.

I nearly threw up at the awful sight that my eyes beheld.  Samuel's body was laying on the floor.  It was all normal up until the face.  Where his mouth should have been, there were stitches to hold it shut.  His nose was broken with dried blood all over it.  In place of hesitant eyes were two empty sockets, each one like a black hole that was ready to consume me.

I took a step back and fell to the floor.  I tried to yell, but my voice was void of all sound.  The body of what used to be Samuel rose to its feet.  It took a shaky step towards me and reached out its hand.  I tried to move away but I was paralyzed in fear.  It held out its other hand and came even closer.  It wrapped both hands around my neck and began to squeeze.  I could feel myself gasping for air as I sat there, immobilized.  The light in my vision began to dance, and my life began slipping away like a raindrop down a window.  I started to black out, sinking into the darkness.  Then all at once, unconsciousness crashed over me like a black tidal wave.