SafeWater

Chapter 3

 

“Ready to go out again?” Jacob asked when the next evening was upon us. I rolled out of bed sighing.

“Yeah, I guess.” I stopped for a moment. What? Is this now normal? I shook my head to clear it. Focus. Time to be a badass. I smiled reaching for my key necklace, letting my fingers brush over the delicate engraving of the room number. Jacob was reaching for the door knob and he became his shadow. He looked back and smiled. I showed him my pearly whites. We stepped out into the hallway. My hands were shaking with excitement and my blood danced in my veins. Jacob walked more confidently among the blackness and the decomposing bodies. They all faded into the background. It didn’t bother me to walk past a woman reaching out to something desperately. The little boy still dressed up in a suit slouched against the corner wasn’t that scary anymore. I wanted to laugh and scream about how I had beaten SafeWater, but I restrained myself. The world seemed a little less deadly, and I welcomed that feeling. Still having the giggle in my throat, Jacob lead us down the white cement staircase.

“It’s actually really pretty,” Jacob said holding his hand inches above the moss covered rail. “It’s the kind of pretty you see in an old doll. It’s almost magical.”

I giggled. It sounded strange to my own ears, “well, it’s no Narnia, but I like it.” I could feel my skin stretching into a wicked grin. Jacob laughed. Weird. We continued down the stairs, faster this time. I was happy, like this was a field of daisies. When we were around the third floor we stepped out and I started laughing again.

“This is so stupid!” I said between gasps of air. “We are running from water! Beware! The living moss might get you!” I mocked frankenstein’s monster. Jacob giggled.

“It will grow on your face! Ooooo!” He pointed at a greening wall. His hand was perilously close to it. “I’m going to touch it! Give me $5 if I touch it!” Jacob’s hand was centimeters away. My brain wracked, giving me a moment of clarity. I blinked a few times registering where Jacob’s hand was. That’s not dangerous, is it? Yeah, he’s not going to die. Right? Wait, where’s mom? Mom. Mom! She… she’s....

“Jacob, don’t!” I screamed. He jerked away, still smiling sickly. I ran up to him and put my hands on his shoulders.

“What’s the matter ‘sis? Why are you being a party pooper?” his voice was filled with exaggerated tones.

“Jacob, listen. Where are we?” I tried to jog his memory. Or at least clear it. He can’t be going insane now! I needed him. How do you sensitize someone? Maybe I should have taken psychology instead of art.

“On an island, duh.” He laughed.

I scowled, “W-who did we come with?” C’mon Jacob! Use that brain you’re always showing off!

He thought for a moment, “With mom, duh.”

I felt a little relief when his face sobered slightly. I sounded as if I were speaking to a child, trying to get him to admit his guilt. “Where is she, Jacob?” My throat closed up.

“She just over- no. she...” Jacob stumbled over the words. Yes, yes. His eye’s were in and out of focus. He took a step back blinking furiously. “Maya?” He asked in his normal voice.

“Yeah,” I hugged him. I could feel his bones slightly popping out of his back.

“Alright, we need to concentrate.” I snorted at this. It’s not like I just brought him back from the brink of insanity and possibly saved his life. No, that couldn’t be it because I needed to focus. “Thank you Maya for saving my life. You go and have yourself a good day,” I grumbled as he walked away.