The Grey's Curse

Chapter Thirty Seven - Hope

It felt like I was reliving the day Dad died. There was the same painful pit in both my stomach and heart, the pain was excruciating yet numbing at the same time.

"Please, no...not again" Was all that I could whisper "Are you sure? Are you absolut-" My words were cut off by a sob that released the dam of my breakdown.

I stared at the ground with my mouth agape and I was sure my eyes were frantically zigzagging all over the place as I tried to grasp what I was just told 'She's gone...' I could tell that Tanner was barely hanging on by a thread so I knew that whatever happened was bad.

'What did happen?'

I could feel a panic attack start to form in my chest as my breathing started getting heavier and more frantic "Oh no, oh no no no" I muttered repeatedly and slid my hands on my knees trying not to fall over, I felt numb but yet I could still feel my heart shatter in into pieces "What-what happened?!" I didn't mean to yell but it had burst out of me.

Tanner flinched at my yell, his eyes tearing up as he began to explain "It happened so fast.." his voice was quiet "One minute we were talking and then the next she had a knife" his voice was shaky and tears were cascading down his face.

I felt sick.

"She cut herself in the throat" he continued "She did it so that I could get out of the room, I'm so sorry" he was nearly sobbing when he apologized but all I could hear was a ringing in my ears.

"I can't do this anymore, I can't, I can't!" It felt like everything just hit me 'This is like Dad all over again' I felt like throwing up "Please no" I whispered as my legs buckled and gave up on me, making me fall to the floor.

'I can't, I can't'

I could feel Tanner come up behind me and pull me in a half hug but I didn't do anything, I didn't even know what to do.

"I'm so sorry Mars" he whispered to me, his voice was scratchy and defeated. I sniffled and stiffly leaned into his hug.

Unfortunately I couldn't mourn for her for long as the footsteps from earlier returned and steadily got louder the longer we sat here, Tanner sighed and slowly leaned back from the hug but keeping me at arms length "I'm sorry but we have to-to go" he wasn't shaking as much as he was earlier but he was still trembling.

I looked at him blankly with tears running down my face. he saw me unresponsive and took my hand gently and tugged me along with him "It's goi-going to b-be okay Mars I promise" all I could do a was stumble after him like a brainless zombie.

We were once again running in the hallways with no clue on where to go or where we're even going "Hurry! if we arrive too late we're dead!" I heard a males voice echo behind us. I snapped my head back and saw a group of men running in our direction with a stretcher and a body on it that knocked the breath out of me.

"It's Mom..." they were trying to wrap gauze on her as they ran, it was hard to tell where but it looked like they were doing something to her throat, confirming what Tanner said earlier.

"Come on, we have to go Mars!" Tanner grabbed my hand and ran in the opposite direction of the men behind us, but my eyes stayed firmly on Mom "I'm sorry Mom, I'll find you" not even the monster would stop me.

I turned to Tanner with glossy eyes "Tanner they have my mom! Their actually helping her...maybe she'll make it" I couldn't help but feel hopeful and wishful 'Please hang in there Mom' it was hard to leave her but it would be stupid to chase them down for two reasons; one being they have more numbers then us and two we would interfere in them helping her recover.

He looked back at them "I really hope she does" I knew he felt like it was his fault 'Which I know isn't true' but I did wonder what happened 'How did they take her here? The last I heard of her she was still in the hospi- 'Dr Smiley!' I gritted my teeth in anger.

'That little worm!'

I felt like I was nearly at my breaking point 'I don't know how much more of this I can take' I felt like everyone that I knew apart from Tanner screwed me over time and time again and I was sick of it.

I took in a deep breath and tried to calm myself.

'Come on Maria, now's not the time' I reminded myself and faced forward again with a fire burning in my eyes 'I will finish this' it felt like just seconds later we finally reached the end of the hallway with a single door at the end.

I looked at Tanner and saw him take in a breath as he looked at me with lingering sadness and guilt in his eyes and I slowly reached for his hand, giving him the decision to hold hands or not.

He hesitated but slowly interlocked our fingers and hands together when he did, I finally relaxed a little and looked back at the door "There could be anything behind this door" I paused and tightened my hand around his.

"But no matter what, it won't separate us again, I can promise you that" he squeezed my hand and I took in a shuddering breath.

"Are you ready?" I asked; making sure he was ready to continue. He tightened his grip on my hand and gave an affirmative hum in response as I cautiously approached the door.

'We've made it this far'

Steeling my nerves, I grabbed the cold and rusty door knob tightly, took a final deep breath and swung the door open.

'I see a figure but who is-wait'

I stiffened and looked in the room with narrowed and angry eyes.

"You" I breathed out.