Gone

8.

The lightbulb went out on its own, without the help of a human being pulling its chain. I was still in complete shock from what happened only moments ago. I wondered if I would be able to sleep that night. I wanted to speak to the other girls to have clarification that Taylor was truly gone and that what we had heard had been real, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Somehow though, I fell asleep.

Bryson woke me up the next morning by tapping on my shoulder and slowly handing me a bowl of oatmeal. While eating everything I was given, I watched Kelsey shove away from her half-eaten oatmeal. The night began replaying over and over inside my head like a broken record. My head was pounding from everything that had happened for the past-... however long we've been here now. Out of instinct, I looked to my right to see if Taylor was there, but each time I did a wave of emotions came over me, "it had actually happened," I thought to myself. I still didn't want to believe it though, I can't wrap my head around it.

I watched Kelsey break down in tears, immediately covering her mouth to muffle her cries. It became normal at this point to see my best friends break down, as terrible as it sounded, it was true. Chloe from across the room whispered; "I miss Taylor..." I thought she would also start crying after what she had said, but she didn't. No one spoke for at least an hour or two until I decided to speak up.

"Kelsey, you were right..." she moved her eyes in my direction, not speaking.

"About what..?" Chloe asked for her.

"Bryson can't be trusted... I should've listened to you..."

"He fucking threw us under the bus Kassidy. Of course, he can't be trusted. Even from the start," Kelsey scolded.

"Maybe he did it for a reason?" Chloe suggested, "Lukas is pretty intimidating.."

"I don't care what kind of excuse Bryson has. It's his fault Taylor is dead now. And we're stuck here until we probably die like her..." As I watched Kelsey break down once again, I took Chloe's idea into consideration. After Kelsey fell asleep from crying, I began to hear talking in another room.

"Lukas, you don't have to worry man, I took care of it last night," Kevin publicized.

"But Kevin, you don't understand. It was never my intention to kill either of them," Lukas raised his voice.

"I just dumped her body in the woods down the road, we'll be fine man."

"Kevin, you have derailed my plan. Now, I have to think of more strategies to work around the shit you've created," Lukas groaned.

"Hm, well fuck you, Lukas. I'm going out for a drive," Kevin huffed. Before exiting, he said one more thing to Lukas, "Oh and Lukas, yeah I fuck up a bunch, but I know damn well you need me." After Kevin's little outburst, I slightly wondered where he was off to. Was he heading out to get the cops and be our hero, and blame Taylor's murder on Bryson or even Lukas? Bizarre thought, I know. Somehow, thinking to myself soon began to feel like another person was talking with me. Was this feeling possibly Taylor's spirit? Another bizarre thought.

Chloe began to speak, which I guess was her way of trying to lighten the mood and direct our thoughts to something else. "So, what are you guys doing after high school ..?" asked Chloe innocently.

"After high school?!" Kelsey began, "You actually think we're getting out of here?! Be realistic Chloe, we're not!"

"Kelsey stop!" I whisper-shouted, hoping Lukas wouldn't barge into the room and attack us, "You always do this... Chloe is trying her hardest to take our minds and thoughts away from here, and you always drag us back in..."

"Ohhhh, now look who's talking, Ms 'I wanted to leave without my friends.'" Kelsey snarked, giving me the middle finger. I just brushed it off, I had been around Kelsey for about 4 years now, it's kinda normal coming from her.