SUPPRESSION •Complete•

FATEFUL NIGHT

FATEFUL NIGHT

Me: "Anisley?"

I stumbled through the halls tripping over various debris. At one point my foot got stuck on a bra strap and if it weren't for the ledge on the wall I would have fallen on my face. I did manage to lose half my drink though. The amber liquid sloshed from the cup, immediately staining the carpet. But none of that mattered, not while I was so high that Cloud 9 couldn't reach me.

I had popped a colorful pill not even an hour ago and was feeling the full effects of it already. The hallway faded in and out and sometime it looked like I would run into a wall but really it was the floor. But that wasn't what mattered, what mattered was the fact that Ainsley was still pretty sober.

It was our last summer before we started high school and we wanted to party it up like never before. Lori and Jayla went major buzzkill on us and bailed. But Kayla was hitting it hard with some sophomore boys down stairs. I left her in very capable hands to go find Ainsley.

This was only Ainsley's first ever high school party. Where as Kayla and I had been doing this since seventh grade. I promised Ainsley I wouldn't leave her side, but when I went to go get us some drinks she vanished.

I left it alone for an hour but then I decided I should find her. Sometimes these parties could get out of control, especially summer ones.

Me: "Ainsley!"

I shouted her name a few more times, trying to carry my voice over the loud music. I'm sure the neighbors were going to call the police any minute now. This party was getting way out of control. And if the police came I'd be in a shit load of trouble. It probably be best if I grabbed Ainsley and Kayla and ditched for a quieter scene. Kayla might need some persuasion though.

I was about to call her name again when I heard a very distinctive cry for help. I knew immediately Ainsley was in trouble. I knew immediately what her distressed voice sounded like. I knew she was in trouble and I had to find her.

I followed her voice, my head seeming to clear almost instantly. I started opening random doors trying to find her.

Ainsley: "No, no!"

She screamed again and again. I started to panic, so many different thoughts passing through my mind. Every single one blanketing me with guilt.

When I finally found her I could do nothing but watch from the hallway. I didn't have the strength to help her and no one could hear her cries over the music. I was weak, pathetic, and I just stood there. I don't know if she saw me there that night, but I could never face her again. And I didn't. That was the last time I saw Ainsley, and her face would be branded into my mind forever.

Ainsley: "No, please don't. Someone help! Please stop!"

Nothing was ever so clear then her words that night. She called and cried but I couldn't answer her. My words never came and I haven't let them out since. What use were they if I didn't know how to use them? So I suppressed them and I kept suppressing them but sometimes they slipped through.

But they didn't deserve to. I didn't deserve to have them.

•••

A very different side to Freya in this chapter. And just to be clear this was a flashback to the summer.