Truth or Dare

Chapter 7:

Everyone went over to where James was sitting. No one knew what to expect. Their one source of information and something had taken that away. I tell you that it is a demon. Get real That was a demon! Shit, Jenny got possessed? Get real! What was that? Who was that? What are we going to do? everyone was talking over each other. James looked over to where Jenny was out cold. Finally, he got his wits about him. Stop! he said louder than the others. They looked at him. Jenny knew that something was going on here. Who or whatever that was, they took our source of information away. We need to figure out what we can be in trouble for. We are going to have to be brutally honest here if we are going to attempt to make it. The fact that Jenny is gone means that what she knows, who or what is in her now knows about us. Do we have any notebooks here?

Steve grabbed some from the box that had the research stuff in it. He came back and sat down. OK what we know for sure is what something to do with our behaviors have caused this. Think for a minute, what about our behaviors would be considered a crime. We dont know if it is talking about crimes in the ancient times or now fuck! We need Jennys help with this. Damn, we need to know what the house considers our crimes and wait a minute. I was known for pushing people away and treating them like shit because I was so focused on getting into medical school. I ended up with my hand getting hurt. Steve wrote down as he spoke. James, your pride was your scholarship and that you wanted to play pro baseball more than anything your knee.

My abortion and getting mildly electrocuted. Jenny was right that we are being punished for our past. We have all used her and she is gone due to the house because she was hurting. Could it be that the demon that has her is trying to protect her? Shelly said. Could we have to figure this out because of the way we treated her? The only one that doesnt match was the one with Selene.

Nick spoke up. The house didnt write that one I did. All the others the house wrote. Everyone looked at him. I knew Selene would pick it and there would be no problems – sorry Selene. We had it marked so she could feel it. We wanted to get you and Jenny to hook up and that was best way. You two have been friends and we all know that you want to be more and were trying to help.

A card floated across the room and landed at Nicks feet. He ignored it and suddenly it began to rain cards down on Nick. Everyone looked up trying to see where they were coming from. They seemed to come from out of nowhere. Finally, he picked it up. Rage then anger crossed his face. Why would it ask this question? How did it know? This is insane. Total fucking bull shit. Then it was embarrassment. He didnt want to talk about this issue.

We need to tell the truth and find a way to get through this. We need to get James to a hospital and the only way is by the truth. What does it say Nick? Shelly asked. Nick we are all in this together and have to work together to get out. What did it say?

Are you an addict? Nick looked at the floor. Time to face the truth of what he had been dealing with. Son of a bitch. The damn doctors – when I was in the accident several months ago, they gave me pain pills while I was in the hospital and then more pain pills and more pain pills. I had to find a pain clinic that would continue to give them to me when the doctors stopped. So, if that counts as an addict then yes. Fuck, I couldnt stop. I got sick every time I tried to stop. I have managed to cut back, but I keep getting sick when I try to stop.

The TV turned on and static began to play. Everyones head spun. They all knew and could see that the power cable wasnt plugged in. The voice that had come out of Jenny came out of the static. Very good, youre learning. Punishment averted. The TV started to turn off.

Wait, please. Steve said. Is Jenny OK? He was concerned for her and felt like it was his fault that they were in the mess that they were in now. He was also feeling guilty for the way that he had treated through over the last several months when he needed a tutor for one of his classes and never paid her. He was realizing that he had taken advantage of her in many ways.

Interesting. So much concern when you were going to hit her earlier over something that you knew wasnt true. You took advantage of her and are beginning to realize that. She is sleeping. The voice said and the tv shut off. Matt went over to the tv and held the plug up. It hadnt been plugged in. He had unplugged it earlier. Everyone looked confused. How in the hell did that happen? What did the voice mean that Jenny was sleeping?

James was confused but at the same time beginning to understand what needed to be done. James got the direction of the conversation back on track. OK so honesty is the best and only way to go. We must be honest with ourselves and with each other to make it. It is the only thing that makes sense. We are being punished for the lies that we have spread and the way we have treated others. Nick, do you have the medication with you?

Yeah, why? I always have it with me.

Look at Jenny. James said. Jenny was sitting up with her hand out waiting for something. We have to be totally honest with this. You said that you had tried to stop and got sick. If we work together and get you into a rehab will you go and get clean? Do you want to get clean? If so give her the medication in the bottle.

Yeah, I have been wanting to for a long time and they keep making the pills so damn easy to get ahold of. Nick handed the two pill bottles over to Jenny and they vanished into thin air. She laid back down and was still again.

Slowly they were working out the puzzle on how to survive the house and the challenges that were ahead of them. Jenny and Set watched through the broken TV as everyone was having to confess their biggest secrets and fears. The more they talked the more that they were getting the burdens off their souls. Cheating on test, lying to the doctors, being unfaithful to others, everything came out. They were cleaning their souls of the wrongdoing to make way for new life experiences. Slowly they were learning the truth about each other.